Samsung’s recent Galaxy S flagship phones have gained huge popularity in the recent years. The company is now working on the launch of Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Fresh information coming from a South Korean publication has revealed that the firm is working on improving the performance of iris scanner on Galaxy S9 duo.

Iris scanner can identify the user by detecting the complex patterns of each iris. The Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8 smartphones are equipped with a dedicated 2-megapixel lens for iris scanning. After the launch of Galaxy S8 duo, hackers from Germany had revealed that the iris scanner available on both phones could be easily spoofed by using a photograph of the eyes or contact lens of the user. At that time, Samsung had retorted by saying that the hack is unrealistic as it requires hackers to steal the smartphone and snap a photo of the owner’s iris.

According to The Korea Herald, Samsung will be adding 3-megapixel iris scanning lens on Galaxy S9 and S9+ that will be able to identify users instantly even if they are wearing glasses or when they are in very bright or dim light conditions. A spokesperson from Samsung has said that compared to other biometric recognition feature such as fingerprint and facial authentication, iris scanning is the safest one when it comes to carrying out banking transactions on smartphone.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ May Get Unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2018

As of this writing, fingerprint and iris scanning are the only biometric recognition technologies that are available on Samsung Pay for authenticating payments. The South Korean company is reportedly working to bring more mobile banking apps to support the iris scanner feature. The company is also aiming to bring iris recognition feature on budget phones by late 2018 or early 2019.

In related news, Synaptics has recently announced the world’s first in-display fingerprint scanner called Clear ID. It is speculated that the company is mass producing Clear ID in collaboration with Samsung. Since then the rumor mill has been claiming that the new fingerprint scanning technology may be made available on the Galaxy Note 9 that is rumored to debut in the latter half of 2018. There is no confirmation on whether the in-display fingerprint scanner would be arriving on Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+.

(source)

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has received impressive initial sales in the home country of South Korea. According to The Investor, the three major carriers of the country have received 270,000 new subscribers in the starting two days of making it available at the stores.

The Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders that began on Sept. 7 came to an end on Sept. 14. During the said period, 850,000 Galaxy Note 8 units were pre-ordered. Interestingly, during the pre-ordered period of 13 days, the Galaxy Note 7 could receive 380,000 pre-orders. Hence, the Galaxy Note 8 has received twice the number of pre-orders than its predecessor in a short span of 8 days.

On Sept. 15, SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus South Korean carriers received 200,000 new subscribers for the phablet and on the next day, it received 70,000 more subscribers. The publication claims that the 270,000 new subscribers accounts for 32 percent of the total number of pre-orders the phablet received. In the first day of sales, the Galaxy Note 7 could add 160,00 new subscribers whereas the Galaxy S8 could at 260,000 new subscribers.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Gets Over 250k Pre-Orders In India

Market analysts are of the view that the Galaxy Note 8 will continue enjoy better sales as its only major rival, the IPhone X is scheduled to release globally on Nov. 3. Samsung has confirmed that the 64 GB Galaxy Note 8 is more popular than the 256 GB model in South Korea. Also, the most preferred color variant of the phablet in the home country is Midnight Black followed by Deep Sea Blue.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 which is available on pre-orders in various countries of the world is scheduled to release on Sept. 21. At present, the phablet is available in 42 countries and it will be coming to more markets in the coming weeks.

DJ Koh who pioneers the mobile division of the company had recently confirmed in an interview that Samsung will be releasing a foldable Galaxy Note in the next year. Since the company is known for unleashing Galaxy Note smartphones in the latter half of the year, the foldable Note is speculated to debut in Q3 2018. He has also confirmed that company is working on Harman-powered AI speakers. As far as Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders are concerned, Koh said that the initial numbers have exceeded the expectations of the company.

(source)

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Samsung still retains the position of being the world’s largest smartphone maker but a recent report has indicated that the company’s market share in China is on the downward spiral. This is said to have become worse since the Galaxy Note 7 explosion issue which happened last year. Samsung has successfully staged a strong rebound with the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and recently announced the Galaxy Note 8 in New York. Even though the Galaxy Note 8 is yet to go on sale, the reviews it has got shows it is a worthy replacement for the Galaxy Note 7. 

The statistical report credited to be from the Korea International Trade Commission (KITA) showed that Samsung sold 48 million smartphones in China in the second quarter of this year which ended in June, as more customers seem to go for cheaper local brands over Samsung’s high-end devices. The company’s Q2 performance meant it ranked in the sixth position in China.

Samsung’s rival, Apple held onto the top spot with 171 million shipments and the tech giant is followed in quick succession by Huawei, OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi respectively. Huawei was able to claim the second spot with 132 million units while OPPO came in in third with 124 million units shipped in Q2 2017. Vivo recorded 108 million smartphone sales to occupy the fourth spot and finally, Xiaomi shipped 68 million units in the quarter under review. The report attributed the rise of the Chinese smartphones to their moderate prices and high build quality which provided amazing value for money. About 63% of the smartphones sold in China in Q2 were said to be said to be low- and mid-range products with a price tag of less than 2,000 yuan (~US$305.60).

In addition, the report also revealed that about 63% of the smartphones sold in China in Q2 were low- and mid-range products with a price tag of less than 2,000 yuan (~US$305.60). Premium phones priced around 4,000 yuan or more only accounted for only 6.4 percent of the total second-quarter sales, with iPhones taking up a large chunk of that figure.

Read More: iPhone 10th Anniversary Edition Case Possibly Leaks Official Name

The report enjoined Samsung to ramp up efforts to restore customer confidence in its smartphones as only 7.2% of Samsung phone owners in China repurchased Samsung products in the second quarter. This way lower than 53.4% for Apple iPhones and 25-26% for Oppo and Vivo. Even though Samsung remains the world’s number 1 smartphone maker, it has to put in more efforts to regain customer confidence in its brand and establish a base of loyal customer again in the world’s second largest economy.

(source)

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Samsung had relaunched the refurbished edition of the Galaxy Note 7 as Galaxy Note Fan Edition in the first week of July. The smartphone was exclusively available for purchase in the home country of South Korea. Fresh information suggest that the Galaxy Note FE units are completely sold out and the South Korean company has no plans to replenish its stocks.

Reports had revealed that Samsung had released only 400,000 units of the Galaxy Note FE in South Korea. The Note FE was sold around $265 cheaper than the original Galaxy Note 7 phablet that was discontinued because of its battery related issues. It was sold for $620 in South Korea.

In order to ensure that the Note FE does not meet the same fate as the Note 7, Samsung added a smaller battery of 3,200mAh capacity instead of the original 3,500mAh battery. The rest of the specs of the Note FE were same as the original Note 7. The company had also included Bixby AI on the Note FE.

Samsung had timed the launch and sales of the Galaxy Note FE in such a way that its stocks would get sold out before the arrival of the Galaxy Note 8 flagship smartphone. The pre-orders of Note 8 are already going on in the home turf and it is expected to be available in the market from Sept. 15. Even though Samsung is unlikely to sell the Note FE again in the home country, it is reviewing overseas releases.

Samsung’s mobile chief, DJ Koh had recently told the media that he did not want to cover the mistake that was committed by the company. After thoroughly investigating the issue, Samsung was able to find the fix for the issue. For 100 days, the company had tested 200,000 phones and 30,000 batteries. It was found that the Galaxy Note 7 explosions were caused by its batteries. He added that the Galaxy Note Fan Edition was launched not to make money, but to prove that the recall decision was carried out because of the batteries and not due to other defects.

Read More: Galaxy Note 8 Awarded with A+ Grade for the Most Innovative & High-Performance Smartphone Display

As far as Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the company is quite sure users will not encounter battery related risks. The Galaxy Note 8 that features a huge display of 6.3-inch has a larger and wider chassis than the Note FE (or Note 7). Also, it features a smaller battery of 3,300mAh capacity. Koh also said that despite the fact that the Note 8 features a smaller battery, it can deliver better battery performance because of the power-efficient chipset present inside it.

(source 1, 2)

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Last year, the Galaxy Note 7 had to be discontinued within few months of its official in launch in August. Today, a report from South Korea has revealed that a Galaxy S7 exploded when it kept for charging.

Samsung had launched the Galaxy S7 in the first half of 2016 and it was provided in exchange for the recalled units of the Galaxy Note 7. On Aug. 14, a 20-year-old Galaxy S7 user had left it for charging and at around 3 AM it exploded. The sparks resulting from the fire not only damaged the flooring and furniture of her bedroom, but also resulted in severe burns on her hands.

The user claimed that she has been using the official charger from Samsung to charge her Galaxy S7. She said that she had been using the smartphone since July 2016 and she did not face any problems since with it before. After her Galaxy S7 exploded, she gave the phone to the service center which returned it to her in two days. For further investigation, she gave the handset to the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS).

Read More: Galaxy Note 8 Awarded with A+ Grade for the Most Innovative & High-Performance Smartphone Display

An official from KATS said it would take some time to complete the investigation as the previous probe on the Note 7 lasted for around six months. A representative from Samsung Electronics said that none of the Galaxy S7 devices that have been sold so far had met such a consequence. He added that are waiting for the examination reports from KATS.

The Galaxy Note 7 that came with a slim chassis boasted a large battery of 3,500mAh. The batteries were sourced from Samsung SDI and Amperex Technology Limited for the Galaxy Note 7. The overheating was caused by the batteries from both suppliers. Batteries from Samsung SDI short circuited because of insufficient space between protective pouch around the battery and the internals. Some of the batteries from Amperex Technology did not have insulation tape and others had sharp protrusions that damaged the separator between cathode and anode.

Samsung is quite confident that the recently launched Galaxy Note 8 will not explode as it features a smaller battery. Moreover, the Snapdragon 835 chipset is quite power efficient which will make the Note 8 to last longer even though it features a smaller battery. However, a battery life comparison between Note 7 and Note 8 has revealed that the former will deliver better battery performance.

(source)

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In the last week, Samsung debuted the Galaxy Note 8 flagship phablet with much fanfare through a launch event in New York, U.S. It is the new Galaxy Note phablet after the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 that met with an early death because of its faulty battery. The Galaxy Note 8 promises to deliver a better battery life with a safer battery inside. During an Interview with The Investor, DJ Koh, the mobile chief of Samsung more information on the battery performance of the Galaxy Note 8.

The Galaxy Note 7 came with a 3,500mAh battery in a slim chassis of 7.9 mm. On the other hand, the Galaxy Note 8 sports a new full-screen design and the thickness of its chassis is increased to 8.6 mm. Moreover, it features a smaller battery of 3,300mAh capacity. Even the Note 8 is a larger phone, Samsung seems to be playing safe by including a smaller battery.

According to DJ Koh, there are some reasons on why Samsung decided on using a small-sized battery on Galaxy Note 8. First of all, the Note 8 is powered by 10nm Snapdragon 835 processor. The Note 7 featured the 14nm Snapdragon 821 chipset. The inclusion of an improved processor inside in the Galaxy Note 8 enhances its power efficiency by 30 percent.

Read More: Rumor: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 China Launch Could Be On September 29

He added that the Note 8 allows the users to improve the performance of the battery by adjusting its use according to the way they use the phablet. This again improves the efficiency of the Note 8’s battery. He went to say, “I can guarantee battery safety.” Even after two years of using the Note 8, it will be able to maintain 95 percent of the battery capacity. It appears that Koh is also trying to say that the smaller battery in Note 8 will not result in poor battery life.

Some critics have claimed that the Note 8 does not have “wow” factors. DJ Koh responded by saying the upgraded Note 8 has been released after conducting customer surveys.  He further said that, “Customer demands are diverse. Some always want new features, while others want a phone that can be used for two to three years. We are not sticking to innovation itself. We will seek innovation that can be truly embraced by customers.”

Koh said that the Samsung sold 11 million units of the Note 5. He expects that the company will sell more than 11 million units. However, at present Samsung is more focused on selling more units of the Galaxy S8. The South Korean publication claims that the company aims to breach the target of 48 million units for the Galaxy S8 duo.

(source, via 1,2)

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was launched in August last year, but due because of the faulty battery problem that caused the phablet to explode suddenly, it was discontinued in October. Soon after the discontinuation of the Note 7, Samsung had claimed that it would be offering some discounts to those Note 8 buyers who owned a Note 7 by trading their current smartphone. The South Korean company has fulfilled its promise as it has confirmed that such Note 8 customers will be receiving a massive discount.

The Galaxy Note 7 came with a dual-edge curved display and a slim chassis with a large battery of 3,500mAh battery. The phablet had to be recalled twice. The investigation of the Note 7 explosions revealed that the phablet featured a small battery casing that led to short-circuiting. It also revealed that Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with different batteries were introduced after the first recall, but these batteries came with wielding defects.

Samsung offered full refunds to customers who purchase the Galaxy Note 7. It had also offer trade-in discounts as well. However, the popularity of the phablet was such that were some customers who held on to their Note 7 as they argued that its benefits outweighed the risks associated with the battery.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Revives The Phablet Lineup With Dual Cameras & Infinity Display

The Galaxy Note 8 is unlikely to explode because it is larger device than the Note 7 and it comes with a smaller battery of 3,300 mAh capacity. During its unveil event, Samsung confirmed that customers who bought Note 7 will have to trade-in their existing phone to get a hefty trade-in discount of up to $425 through Samsung.com. This discount will make it will cut the cost of the Note 8 into half, with the U.S. carriers selling it between $930 and $960. The unlocked Galaxy Note 8 is priced at $930 in the U.S.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders starts on Aug. 24 and it will be available for buying from Sept. 15. The phablet features a 6.3-inch Infinity Display S-AMOLED with QHD+ resolution. In the U.S. and China, the Note 8 will be available with Snapdragon 835 chipset and the other markets will be receiving its Exynos 8895 version.

The official camera samples of the dual camera setup featuring 12-megapixel wide-angle lens + 12-megapixel telephoto lens have been revealed. It features an 8-megapixel front camera. It features a S Pen stylus, a USB-C port and a 3,300mAh battery.

(source)

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have been receiving overwhelming response since the time it was made available on pre-orders. A research conducted by Strategy Analytics has revealed that the Galaxy S8 duo have increased the average selling price (ASP) of Samsung smartphones in the second quarter of this year.

During Q2 2017, Samsung’s ASP on phones reached $235 which is the highest ever figure in the last three years. According to Strategy Analytics, it has happened solely because of the strong sales of Galaxy S8 and S8+. In 2016, the ASP of Samsung’s phones was $232 and it had fallen to $227 in the second half of 2016 when the South Korean company had abruptly suspended the production of the Galaxy Note 7 because of its faulty batteries. Samsung’s highest ever ASP on smartphones was in 2013 when it had reached $289. At that time, the company had sold flagships like Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.

The research firm has also claimed that Samsung had sold 19.2 million units of Galaxy S8 duo in the second quarter of this year. It also revealed that the South Korean firm sold 93 million smartphones in the same quarter which is around 21 percent of the global market. Its budget phones have also been well-received by the consumers.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+ Sales Have Surpassed S7 Series by 15%

Samsung had disappointed its fans when it had to discontinue the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 phablet. However, by releasing Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ with stellar features, it managed to regain the trust of the consumers. Its ASP is expected to increase all the more in the remaining half of this year with the launch of the highly anticipated Galaxy Note 8.

At present, Samsung is sitting on the numero uno position in smartphone market across the world. However, the only country where it has been failing to achieve good sales is China which is also the largest smartphone market in the world. Currently, Samsung occupies the sixth spot in the Chinese smartphone market.

There are numerous popular smartphone brands like OPPO, Vivo, Huawei, and Xiaomi as well as lesser known brands in China that are selling smartphones with dual rear cameras. However, Samsung has not released a single phone that is enabled with dual rear cameras in China. Hence, rumors have revealed that the South Korean company will launch several dual camera phones in the near future. Some of the rumored dual rear camera phones that are expected to release in China are Galaxy J7 (2017) Chinese edition, Galaxy C7 (2017), Galaxy C10 and Galaxy Note 8.

(source|via)

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Samsung relaunched refurbished units of the Galaxy Note 7 as the Galaxy Note FE earlier this month. Availability is still only in its home country for now (and in limited quantities) and there has been no official confirmation of it being available in other countries.

In spite of the recent launch of the refurbished version, Samsung still has hundreds of thousands if not more than a million units in stock that it didn’t relaunch with a smaller battery.

Those units will be recycled, and according to Samsung, it plans to recover over 157 tons in minerals including gold, silver, copper and cobalt from the process.

For those of you who don’t know, a ton is different from a tonne. 157 tons is equivalent to 142.42 tonnes. That is a lot of minerals if you ask me.

Other parts of the Note 7 such as displays, camera modules, processors and memories will be reused in other products. Some will also be used as replacement parts for damaged Note FE units.

READ MORE: Snapdragon 845-Powered Galaxy S9 Appears on Geekbench As Samsung SM-G9650

Samsung says it will carry out the recycling process in an eco-friendly way that meets environmental standards. The recycling process will be carried out in conjunction with foreign and local companies.

(Source, via)

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Samsung had begun the sales of Galaxy Note Fan Edition (refurbish Galaxy Note 7) in the home country of South Korea on July 7. Since the phablet has received amazing reception, reports are claiming that the Galaxy Note FE will be debut in other regions later this month.

The South Korean company had previously confirmed that it will be only selling 400,000 units of Galaxy Note FE in South Korea. Information coming from local carriers have revealed that the number of mobile subscribers have reached 24,000 since July 7. Before the Galaxy Note FE’s release, the average rate of daily device activations was 15,000. The 60 percent spike indicates that the Galaxy Note FE is selling well in South Korea. The telecom operators are silent on the number of Galaxy Note 7 units that have been sold so far.

Black Onyx and Blue Coral color variants of the Galaxy Note FE are quite popular compared to other options such as Gold Titanium and Silver Platinum. An official from the South Korean company had said that the limited edition Galaxy Note FE’s stock will not be replenished once it gets sold out.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) Chinese Edition Showing Its Dual Rear Cameras Surfaces in Leaked Photos

An insider has confirmed to The Investor that the Samsung may debut the Galaxy Note FE in other markets by the end of this month. However, he has not revealed which markets will be receiving the Note FE. It appears that the Note FE would be made available in limited markets.

Just like the South Korean Galaxy Note FE, the international edition is expected to be priced considerably less than the discontinued Galaxy Note 7 and it is expected to feature 3,200 mAh battery, Android Nougat OS, and partial support for Bixby AI. Rumors claim that the international edition of Note FE will be driven by Snapdragon 821 chipset instead of the Snapdragon 820 that came with the Galaxy Note 7. The Galaxy Note FE is selling for KRW 699,000 (~$608) in South Korea.

The Galaxy Note FE is made from recalled Galaxy Note 7 units. However, Samsung will not be refurbishing all the Galaxy Note 7 units as some of them will be recycled or used for internal testing purposes. Samsung is expected to unleash the Galaxy Note 8 by the end of August and make it available for buying at some point in September.

(source|via)

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Samsung has finally relaunched the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 as the Galaxy Note FE (Fan Edition) in South Korea. As the rumor mill had revealed, the Galaxy Note FE has similar specs as the original Note 7, but it sports the user interface of Galaxy S8 along with the Bixby AI.

LG Uplus is already receiving pre-orders of the Galaxy Note FE with a pricing of 700,000 KRW (~$611). The South Korean company will be selling only limited units of Galaxy Note FE. Samsung will be selling only 400,000 units in the home country. There is still no information on the availability of Galaxy Note FE in other markets.

In South Korea, the phablet is available in four colors like Black Onyx, Blue Coral, Gold Platinum and Silver Titanium. The original Note 7 was also made available in same color options. With every order of Note FE, Samsung is also providing a cover case that matches with the color of the handset. It features a distinctive logo of Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition on its rear panel.

Is Galaxy Note FE Safe to Use?

Samsung states that the Galaxy Note FE is made from unused Galaxy Note 7 and unused components. Because of the faulty battery issue that caused the Note FE to explode, Samsung recalled 3 million units of the phablet and met with big financial loss. Since disposing so many Note 7 units could lead to environmental hazard, Samsung decided on selling refurbished Galaxy Note 7 which could also help in softening its financial loss.

In January, after investigating on multiple instances of Galaxy Note 7 explosions, Samsung confirmed that the faulty battery was the cause of the problem. Hence, it laid down an 8-point safety check procedure to ensure that the battery used in its phone is completely safe. The original Galaxy Note 7 came with 3,500mAh battery, but the newly launched Galaxy Note FE has a reduced battery of 3,200mAh capacity.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Coming in 64 GB, 128 GB Storages; Would be the Most Expensive Galaxy Note

Samsung Galaxy Note FE Specifications

The Galaxy Note FE comes with a 5.7-inch S-AMOLED screen that produces a QHD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. It is driven by Snapdragon 821 chipset that includes a quad-core CPU and Adreno 530 graphics. The SoC is coupled with 4 GB of RAM and a native storage of 64 GB.

It sports a IP68 certified chassis that features that is fitted with security features like front-mounted fingerprint scanner and an iris scanner. It also comes with an S-Pen. It sports the same software that is available on the Galaxy S8 which includes features like “Always On” function and Bixby AI without a dedicated button for it. It includes a 3,200mAh battery.

(source)

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Rumors have revealed that the Samsung Galaxy Note FE (Fandom Edition), the refurbished Galaxy Note 7, would be launching in the next week on July 7. It seems that the arrival of the refurbished phablet seems to be close at hand as the smartphone has already appeared on GFXBench benchmarking platform.

On GFXBench, a smartphone with Samsung Galaxy Note 7R has appeared. It has a model number of SM-N935. In April, the SM-M935 refurbished Galaxy Note 7 was spotted receiving certification from Wi-Fi Alliance. The original Galaxy Note 7 that has been discontinued has a model number of SM-N930. Initial rumors have suggested that the refurbished Note 7 would be launching as Galaxy Note 7R. However, newer reports have suggested that Samsung would be launching it as Galaxy Note FE in order to prevent the consumers from remembering the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7.

Rumors have revealed that Samsung would be releasing the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 with the same specs as the original Note 7. However, one of the most striking changes that can be noticed on the GFXBench listing of Note 7R is that its 5.7-inch screen carries support for full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The original Note 7 featured the same-sized display but it carried support for Quad HD resolution of 2,560x 1,440 pixels.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s Horizontal Dual Rear Cameras Revealed Again in Real-Life Image & Render

The probable reason why Note 7R is listed with FHD screen is that the South Korean firm allows users to adjust the resolution of the screen on its premium flagships. By default, the resolution of the screen is set to full HD. The Galaxy Note 7R is powered by Exynos 8 chipset octa-core processor that clocks at 2.6GHz. It indicates that it could be driven by the same Exynos 8890 chipset that powered the original Note 7.

The GFXBench listing of Galaxy Note 7R reveals that it is equipped with 4 GB of RAM and has an internal storage of 64 GB. Its main camera of the phone is of 12-megapixel and its front-facing camera is of 5-megapixel. As it was revealed before in the rumors, the benchmarking listing also indicates that the Note 7R will be loaded with Android 7.0 Nougat.

Like the original Note 7, the Galaxy Note FE is expected to feature an iris scanner, a fingerprint reader, a microSD card slot, IP68 certified waterproof and dust resistant chassis. It is also expected to carry support for wireless charging. The Galaxy Note 7 had featured a 3,500mAh battery, but the Galaxy Note FE is pegged to arrive with a smaller 3,200mAh battery.

(source|via)

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Just two days ago, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 had starred in a 360-degree video. It had not only revealed the design of the phablet from all angles but it also showcased its horizontally arranged dual rear cameras. On Wednesday, the Galaxy Note 8 had surfaced again in a real-life image as well as in a render.

The Galaxy Note 8 images show that the phablet sports a glossy appeal. The rear side of the phablet features a pair of horizontally stacked dual cameras that is coupled with a dual-LED on the right. Below the flash is a heart rate sensor. And, on the right side of the dual-LED flash is the fingerprint scanner.

The Galaxy Note 8 leaks that are appearing consistently show that it will not be facing an onscreen fingerprint scanner. It is rumored that Samsung had encountered problems in pleasing the fingerprint scanner at the front. Hence, it may have opted to place it on the rear side of the Galaxy Note 8. The left edge of the phone seems to feature the volume controllers (does not feature separate volume buttons) and a Bixby AI button. The right side of the Note 8 appears to feature a Power key.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note FE (Fandom Edition) Arriving in South Korea on July 7, Reveals WSJ Report

The front panel of the phone is not clearly visible in the render. However, it does suggest that it features bezel-less design. Also, the upper and lower bezels of the front panel are quite thin. Hence, it seems that the Galaxy Note 8 will continue to feature the Infinity Display that Samsung had introduced on the Galaxy s8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones. Rumors have revealed that the Note 8 would be coming with a 6.3-inch display and like the Galaxy S8 duo, the upcoming flagship phablet will also support an aspect ratio of 18.5:9.

The Galaxy Note 8 leaks have revealed that it will be available in Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895 chipset versions. The SoC is expected to be supported by 6 GB of RAM. Rumors have it that it may also come in 8 GB RAM model for select markets like South Korea and China. The Note 8 360-degree render has revealed that Samsung will not be axing the 3.5mm audio jack on the phablet.  The Galaxy Note 7 that met with premature death featured a 3,500mAh battery. However, its successor is rumored to be packed with a 3,300mAh battery. Speculations indicate that it would be launching at the end of August. However, some other sources claim that it would be launching in the second half of September.

(source|via)

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Samsung is yet to officially confirmed on the Samsung Galaxy Note FE (Fandom Edition) launch date. However, a report from the Wall Street Journal states that Samsung may debut the Galaxy Note FE in South Korea on July 7.

Even a previous report had hinted that the Galaxy Note FE would be launching on July 7. However, another report that surfaced after it stated that the Note FE’s arrival has been delayed and it will be debuting at the end of July. However, the fresh report from WSJ seems to confirm that the Note FE will finally debut in the next week.

Samsung will be introducing the Note FE in South Korea initially. The phablet will not be landing in the U.S., but it will be also releasing in some other countries. However, there is no information on the countries that will be getting the Note FE. In South Korea, Samsung will be selling 400,000 units of Galaxy Note FE that will be made available through the three leading carriers of the country. The company was initially rumored to sell 3 million units of the Galaxy Note FE, but it seems that considering the strong demand for the phablet, the company may have increased Note FE units for the native market. It will be selling with a price tag of 700,000 KRW (~$613) in South Korea.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 360-Degree Video, Renders Have Surfaced to Reveal its Impressive Design

The Galaxy Note FE is the refurbished edition of the Galaxy Note 7. It will be featuring the same internal changes albeit some changes like a smaller 3,200mAh compared to the 3,500mAh battery of the discontinued Galaxy Note 7. The Galaxy Note FE is also speculated to come loaded with Android Nougat OS and carry some support for Bixby AI.

The Galaxy Note FE will be hitting the South Korean markets few months after the release of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in the country. However, the South Korean company is of the view that the Galaxy Note FE’s sales will not disturb the sales of the Galaxy S8 duo. It is speculated that Samsung will not be manufacturing more units of Galaxy Note FE because it is already working on the launch of Galaxy Note 8 that is expected to get unleashed in August or September this year. It rumored to be debut with a costlier pricing of around $900.

(source)

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Samsung is releasing two Galaxy Note series smartphones this year. The Galaxy Note 8 flagship smartphone of 2017 is expected to debut in August or September. Before the Note 8 arrives, Samsung would be launching the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 with Galaxy Note FE (Fandom Edition) moniker. Previous rumors have suggested that the Note FE would be unveiled at the end of this month. However, newer information available on ET News, a South Korean publication, claims that the Galaxy Note FE may get official on July 7.

According to the publication, the Galaxy Note FE was expected to launch in the South Korean market by June 30. However, the company has decided to delay its launch by one week. One of main reasons why Samsung has delayed the launch of the refurbished phablet is that it wants to increase the number of Galaxy Note FE units available from 150,000 to 450,000.

The Note FE is expected to be available with a pricing of about $620 in the home country of Samsung. It is rumored to be available in colors like Blue Coral, Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium and Black Onyx. The original Note 7 was also available in the same four colors.

Raed More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Will Be World’s First SD836 Phone: Rumor

In order to attract more buyers, the South Korean company is also rumored to include Bixby AI assistant. an official from a cellular operator company revealed. However, a representative from Samsung has said that it cannot be confirmed whether the Note FE will feature Bixby AI. He further stated that the firm will work in various ways to ensure that the expectations of consumers are set. The Galaxy Note FE would be arriving first in South Korea. It won’t be coming to the U.S., but the phablet will be arriving in other markets soon.

Previous leaks have revealed that the Galaxy Note FE has a distinctive ‘R’ letter mentioned on its rear side to let the buyers easily understand that it is refurbished edition of Note 7. One of the major changes that is arriving on the Galaxy Note FE is that it features a smaller battery of 3,2000mAh capacity. This seems to be a sensible move as the faulty 3,500mAh battery caused the original Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to explode. Rest of the specs of Note FE are rumored to be as that of the original Note 7.

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The month of June has started and Samsung is expected to launch the refurbished edition of Galaxy Note 7 at the end of this month. Earlier rumors have claimed that it will be arriving with Galaxy Note 7R moniker, but fresher information has revealed that the refurbished phablet will be called Galaxy Note FE (Fandom Edition). One of the first rumors of Galaxy Note 7R rumors have claimed that it will be priced at 700,000 KRW (~$625). The Galaxy Note FE has been spotted on a Korean retailer site with a pricing of 699,600 KRW ($625).

The listing of Galaxy Note FE suggests that the Galaxy Note FE will be available through South Korean’s telecom operators like SKT, KT and LG U+. It not only reveals its pricing but also its entire specifications. The phablet features a 5.7-inch quad HD dual-edge curved display that supports a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels and it is powered by Exynos 8890 chipset. The SoC is accompanied by 4 GB of RAM and it includes a native storage of 64 GB along with a microSD card slot.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Front Panel Appears in a Leaked Video; Reveals Huge Infinity Display

It has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a front-facing selfie snapper of 5-megapixel. Other specs include USB Type-C port, iris scanner, fingerprint reader, IP68 certified body, Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS and 3,200mAH battery.

Previous rumors have revealed that the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 would be sporting identical specs as the original model. The only major changes that will be seen in the refurbished model is the presence of the latest Android Nougat OS and a smaller 3,200mAh battery instead of 3,500mAh that belonged to the original phablet. However, the listing of Galaxy Note FE on the Korean retailer site shows Marshmallow OS instead of Nougat. Since Note FE is listed with a 3,200mAh battery on the Korean retailer site, it confirms the rumored information on smaller battery.

The Galaxy Note FE leaked photos had surfaced in the previous week to show that there is distinctive letter R mentioned at the rear side of the device to make buyers know that it is a refurbished Galaxy Note 7. The South Korean company has confirmed that it will be disclosing white paper report which will contain transparent details on what went wrong with Note 7. The phablet has already received certification from various bodies like FCC, Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG.

(source|via)

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A video of an alleged dummy unit of Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has surfaced to showcase its design from all angles. As expected, the phablet can be seen gracing a vertically aligned dual camera setup on the rear panel.

Apart from video, the Chinese source has revealed three images of the purported Galaxy Note 8. Its dummy unit has 3D print unit which is speculated to be also available on the rear Note 8 when it arrives. In another image, it is shown kept beside the Galaxy S6 Edge+ that has a huge screen of 5.7 inches. A render of the Galaxy Note 8 in Coral Blue has also been leaked by the source.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-nafkh36R4

The Galaxy Note 8 is heavily speculated to feature rear-facing dual camera setup. However, it won’t be the first Samsung phone to come with twin rear cameras as the rumored Galaxy C10 is expected to feature it and release before Galaxy Note 8. The video shows that the Galaxy Note 8’s twin rear cameras will be assisted by dual-LED flash. A heart rate sensor also appears to be present below the dual camera module.

The Galaxy S8 duo have been well received by the audience and critics, but the placement of rear-mounted fingerprint reader is not user-friendly. Reports have revealed that the reason why Samsung placed it on the backside of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ was that it encountered problems in embedding the biometric recognition feature under the display.

The dummy unit of Note 8 shows that its rear side does not featuring a fingerprint scanner. Also, the feature is not present on the front which indicates that Samsung may embed it under the display of Galaxy Note 8. Speaking of the screen, the image that shows the Note 8 beside the Galaxy S6 Edge + indicates that the former will be arriving with a massive screen. Speculations have it that it will feature a 6.3-inch display that will support Quad HD+ resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Wins SID Display of the Year Award

The top bezel of the phone seems to house a selfie snapper and an iris scanner. It seems that the Galaxy Note 8 would be coming with a dual-edge curved screen that will offer an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. There are two separate buttons on the left edge for controlling volume. Below the volume buttons, there seems to be an exclusive button for launching Bixby AI. The power button is present on the right side of the phablet.

The Coral Blue render of Galaxy Note 8 shows the S-Pen stylus beside it. The phablet appears quite similar to the Galaxy Note 7.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 phablet is speculated to come in Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 9810 chipset variants. It is expected to get unveiled either in August or September this year.

(source|via)

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Samsung is prepping up to launch the refurbished version of Galaxy Note 7. A South Korean publication has claimed that the reincarnated edition of Galaxy Note 7 will be arriving at the end of the next month. And it will be launching as Galaxy Note FE and not as Galaxy Note 7R as recent rumors have revealed.

Why does Samsung want to call the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 as Galaxy Note FE? The “FE” is an abbreviation for “Fandom Edition” that will be targeted towards the loyal fans of Galaxy Note 7. Naming it as Fandom Edition seems to be a better approach rather than launching it as Note 7R as it would remind users about the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7.

The original Note 7 had to be discontinued in October 2016 within 3 months of launching it because its faulty battery caused it to explode suddenly. Even though the news about the explosion of Galaxy Note 7 started coming from various parts of the world, it was reported that many loyal fans refused to participate in the global recall of Galaxy Note 7. Hence, Samsung had to finally release mandatory firmware updates which rendered the Note 7 useless by turn it off completely.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 To Feature 6.3-inch Display, Dual Rear Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy Note FE has received approval from Wi-Fi Alliance, FCC and Bluetooth SIG. These certifications indicate that the arrival of the Galaxy Note FE is close at hand. Even though the phablet is speculated to launch in June end, a recent report has revealed that its launch may get delayed as the refurbished Note 7 is yet to receive certifications two more South Korean agencies in the country.

Samsung is reportedly preparing 300,000 units of Galaxy Note FE that will be sold through leading carriers of South Korea. The Note FE is also expected to launch in China. It is poised to come in color options like Blue Coral, Black, White and Silver. In South Korea, it is pegged to cost around 700,000 won ($625) whereas in China, it may cost around $520.

The Galaxy Note FE is rumored to come with the same specs of the original Note 7. Instead of the 3,500 mAh battery present on the original model, the Note FE is speculated to feature 3,200mAh battery. It will be also running on the latest Android 7.0 Nougat OS.

(source)

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Samsung is preparing to launch the reintroduce the Galaxy Note 7 into the market. The refurbished Galaxy Note 7 is speculated to launch as Galaxy Note 7R. The alleged smartphone has been certified by Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in the U.S. which means its arrival in the country is drawing near. However, rumors claim that the Note 7R will be launched first in the home country of South Korea.

In the previous month, the Galaxy Note 7R had received approval from Wi-Fi Alliance and now FCC has approved three models of Galaxy Note 7R with model numbers SM-N935S, SM-N935K, and SM-N935L. In South Korea, it is speculated to be available through three major operators such as SK, KT, and LG.

Read More: Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Likely Price, Market & Launch details Emerge

Newer information suggests that the Galaxy Note 7R would be available in color choices such as Coral Blue, Silver, Black and White. These color variants are the same ones that were available with the original Note 7.

As far as specs are concerned, the Galaxy Note 7R is expected to feature the same specs as the original phone. However, the Note 7R is speculated to come with two modifications. Instead of the 3,500 mAh battery on Note 7, its upcoming refurbished variant is expected to house a 3,200 mAh battery. Also, the Marshmallow OS would be replaced with the newer Android 7.0 Nougat on Galaxy Note 7R.

The original Note 7 that was launched last year in August came with a pricing of 988,900 won ($869). However, the refurbished Galaxy Note 7 are expected to cost 700,000 won ($615). This leaked information suggests that the Note 7R would be $250 cheaper than the Note 7.

A Korean publication had revealed recently that the Galaxy Note 7R would be releasing at the end of coming month in South Korea. The arrival time of the Note 7R in June seems to be suitable because it is arriving almost two months after the release of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ that went on sale from April and also it is launching around two months earlier than the forthcoming Galaxy Note 8 that is speculated to debut in August or September.

(source|via)

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At present, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are hogging all the limelight. However, its predecessors, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge from 2016 are also immensely popular flagship smartphones. A new report from Strategy Analytics reveal that Samsung has sold more than 55 million units of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge until the end of the first quarter of this year starting from March 12, 2016. It further states that 7.2 million units of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were sold in the first quarter of the year.

The higher sales of Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge could have probably happened because of the discontinuation of Samsung’s other flagship of 2016, the Galaxy Note 7 and the late arrival of Galaxy S8 duo in April this year. According to the report, Samsung had a market share of 23 percent in the first quarter as it sold 80 million smartphones out of the 92.8 million units its sold.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Renders: Infinity Display, Thinner Bezels & Quad Cameras

Since the reputation of the smartphone business was marred by the Galaxy Note 7 debacle, Samsung aims to make a full-fledged recovery by the launch of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones. Hence, both the phones are available with unmatched features like larger dual-edge curved screens, iris scanner, facial recognition, Bixby AI assistant and more.

The sales of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are expected to surpass last year’s models. There were 550,000 reservations made for Galaxy S8 and S8+ in just two days of pre-orders in South Korea. It was 150,000 than the Galaxy Note 7 and 5.5 times more than the Galaxy S7 pre-orders for initial two days in the previous year. To meet such a high demand, the South Korean company has reportedly produced twice the number of S8 and S8+ units for 2017 in comparison to S7 and S7 Edge units in 2016.

According to KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo the Galaxy S8 and S8+ have received phenomenal market response since their launch. The analyst had previously forecasted that Samsung would ship 40 to 45 million units this year. However, the market feedback has significantly increased for the full-screen design of the Galaxy S8 duo after their launch because of which the analyst has revised his forecast by stating that Samsung may ship 50 to 55 million units of Galaxy S8 models.

(source|via)

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Earlier this week, a leaked photo of Samsung Galaxy S8+ prototype featuring a dual camera setup had surfaced. Speculations started swirling that the alleged phone could end up releasing as Galaxy Note 8. Now, well-known analyst from KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo, has predicted that the Galaxy Note 8 would be the first Samsung phone to come with dual rear camera.

According to Kuo, the Galaxy Note 8’s dual camera feature will beat the image quality of the dual rear snappers present on the iPhone 7 Plus phablet. Also, it will be on par with the twin rear cameras of the forthcoming OLED iPhone (aka iPhone 8). The analyst also added that the dual rear-facing camera feature will be “the most important upgrade” coming on the successor of Galaxy Note 7.

Kuo has predicted that the dual rear camera of Galaxy Note 8 will include a 12-megapixel Dual Pixel sensor for wide angle shooting and another 13-megapixel tele shooter sensor. Both the cameras are expected to support Optical Image Stabilization and 3x optical zoom. The recently leaked render suggests that the Galaxy Note 8 may feature a vertically arranged dual rear camera setup.

Read More: Some Users Are Complaining of A Reddish Tint on Their Samsung Galaxy S8 Screen

The analyst has further added that the Galaxy Note 8 would be coming with a 6.4-inch OLED screen that will carry support for QHD+ resolution. Depending on the region, the Galaxy Note 8 would be featuring either a Snapdragon 835 SoC or an Exynos 8895 chipset. Like the Galaxy S8 duo, the Note 8 may come with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Apart from spilling beans on the camera details and leaked features of Galaxy Note 8, Kuo has also revealed what sort of reception Galaxy S8 duo are receiving during their pre-order period. He has claimed that the market analysis carried out by KGI Securities has revealed that the reception of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ has been better than what was expected since their launch. Previously, he had predicted that Samsung would be shipping 40 to 45 million units of S8, but current market response has compelled him to revise the shipment predictions. Fresh forecasts indicate that Samsung will ship 50 to 55 million units of S8.

The full-screen design of the Galaxy S8 has received overwhelming response from the market. The new form factor will be able to attract high-end smartphone buyers. KGI Securities had previously stated that there are no attractive selling features on the Galaxy S8. However, the analyst now claims that market response has exceeded the expectations.

(source)

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Samsung revealed early this year that there will indeed be a Galaxy Note 8. The announcement doused the rumors saying the Note series had been cancelled due to the Note 7 mishap.

Following the announcement, we have received more info about the device which should launch in the third quarter of the year. There has been a leak of a possible schematics and specs of the device which greatly resembles the recently launched Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. There has also been a leak of the phone’s codename, “Great”.

One enthusiastic designer has put together a render of what he believes might be the Galaxy Note 8, using the info available at the moment.

There is not much to the image as it is obvious that this is just a Galaxy S8+ with a stylus. The only major difference is the inclusion of dual rear cameras, a feature absent on the new flagship but one that isn’t surprising either. The reason is because a few days ago, a real-life image of a dual camera Samsung phone bearing a sticker with the same model number as the Galaxy S8+ surfaced online.

The story behind the image is that Samsung initially considered launching the S8+ with dual cameras and even went ahead to make a prototype before shelving the idea. Does that mean that Samsung won’t make a dual-camera phone? Not at all. Actually they might have shelved it so that they can use it in the Galaxy Note 8.

READ MORE: Huawei’s Earnings Affected as it Spent More Revenue in Rivaling Apple and Samsung

The render is also missing a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and a front-mounted one. So its either Samsung is copying Sony’s style and putting it on the side or it has placed it right under the display.

Do note that these are all speculations and nothing is confirmed yet. What do you think about the Galaxy Note 8 render? Is there any feature(s) you would like to see in the device? Do let us know in the comment box below.

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The last may not have been heard about the ill-fated Samsung Galaxy Note 7 which was subjected to a global recall following the battery defect that resulted in several recorded explosion cases. It was reported recently that Samsung had confirmed plans to sell refurbished units of the Galaxy Note 7 in select markets around the world. The Korean giant did not reveal specifics as to when the device will ship or the price and regions where it would be sold.

A new report has, however, revealed some details about the proposed launch and its likely price. According to the report aired on China’s CNTV, the refurbished Note 7 would hit the market by June this year and the product will sell in emerging markets like India, Vietnam, Africa and so on where customer place more emphasis on price than any other consideration. That is not to say safety would not be a priority, Samsung has added an extra level of security to forestall any mishap in the future.

The report also gave some insight on the likely price tag of the Galaxy Note 7 and it is expected to be 3 to 5% cheaper than the original price. For a refurbished smartphone, the price may still be too high but that may not play a big role in the long run. However, the figure may be inaccurate, we hope it would be available for up to half the initial price.

Read Also: [Updated] Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Relaunch: Arriving with Safer Battery, Cheaper Price in June

While some may be wondering why Samsung chose to use the Note 7 again, the report also revealed that they were compelled by Korean environmental law. Under Korean laws, the metal components used on smartphones must be recycled and used twice. So, if Samsung had crushed all the recalled units as some would have wanted, the company could face a huge fine. We are talking about over 4 million units here.

(via)

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Samsung has been in the news since several months. In the second of 2016, it was in the headlines for the Galaxy Note 7 debacle. And from the last quarter of 2016 until today, the rumor mill has been consistently revealing leaked photos and specifications of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ that are going to be officially unveiled today. The Seoul-based tech giant is also in the news today for denying a replacement device for a faulty Galaxy S7 Edge to a Singaporean man unless he signs a non-disclosure agreement that states that he won’t be publicly criticizing Samsung over the faulty device.

Lim Dao Qing Brian From Singapore had purchased the Galaxy S7 Edge on Feb. 17. The S7 Edge could last only till Feb. 23 as it died after overheating. It could never turn on again. He went to the Samsung store to get it exchanged under warranty. However, in order to avail an exchange, Lim was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which includes the following text:

“By accepting the Mobile Device, you agree not to directly or indirectly (including anonymously or by pseudonym) make, issue, release, disseminate, publish or re-publish to the media (including without limitation, Facebook, Twitter, or in any other way on the internet) or to any person or entity any statement, comment or remark that would tend to disparage, derogate, criticize, embarrass or humiliate Samsung (including, Samsung products, services, employees, agents or executives).”

Even though Lim was trying to avail a replacement as his S7 Edge is in warranty, Samsung’s NDA states that it “is a gesture of goodwill” on its part to provide him with an exchange. Here is the snapshot by Lim that shows Samsung’s NDA:

Related: Samsung Already Going Up in Flames Before Galaxy S8 Launch?

Since Lim refused to sign the NDA, he was not provided with a replacement phone for this faulty Galaxy S7 Edge. On sending an email to Samsung to address the issue, he was assured that someone was looking to the matter. On March 24, Lim contacted Samsung Mobile Singapore on Facebook and he was told that the customer care will look into the issue and get back to him next week.

Since there was no update from Samsung, Lim sent an image of the NDA to Samsung Mobile Singapore on Facebook. He was replied that the “this is a standard agreement and procedure between Samsung and our customer as one-to-one exchange is only applicable under special circumstances such as your case.”

The text on the NDA clearly suggests that after the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco the South Korean company does not want to get publicly criticized and get into a new controversy for a faulty device. It is not known for how long the company has been asking its customers to sign a NDA to exchange a faulty phone. Also, it is yet to be known whether Samsung’s customers outside of Singapore have also been also been asked to sign such an agreement.

(source)

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Updated on Feb. 22: Samsung India has refuted the report that stated the company would be releasing refurbished Galaxy Note 7 in India soon. A Samsung India spokesperson said, “The report on Samsung planning to sell refurbished Galaxy Note 7 smartphone[s] in India is incorrect,” Also, there is no official confirmation on the release of refurbished Note 7 in Vietnam, the other region that was stated in the report.

Here is the original report:

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been discontinued because of its faulty batteries. During the recall of the phablet, reports claimed that despite being aware of explosions many users refused to return their Note 7 handsets. Such was the popularity of the Galaxy Note 7. Fresh information coming straight from Korea reveals that the Seoul-based company will be re-launching the Galaxy Note 7 in emerging markets.

Starting from June, refurbished edition of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will be sold in Vietnam and India, The Korea Economic Daily reported. There is no confirmation on how will Samsung sell its refurbished Galaxy Note 7 in India since the existing laws do not provide permissions to manufacturers from foreign countries to sell their refurbished products in the country.

The Note 7 was launched with a 3,500 mAh non-removable battery. However, its refurbished models are expected to feature smaller batteries of 3,000 mAh or 3,200 mAh capacities.  Apart from the change in the battery department, the refurbished Note 7 is also expected to come with a redesigned chassis. It is likely that the Galaxy Note 7 may not feature a dual-edge curved display in a bid to launch a very safe device.

The original Galaxy Note 7 was launched with a starting price of $849. In emerging countries like India, it costed INR 59,990 ($895). Speculations suggest that its refurbished version will be available with an affordable pricing.

Related: Samsung Exynos 9810 Set to Take on the Snapdragon 835

The discontinuation and recalling of 2 million units of Galaxy Note 7 has caused the company to suffer losses of about $5.2 billion. However, selling its refurbished edition would certainly help in cutting down the losses.

The Harris Poll’s recent survey on the 100 most recognizable companies in the U.S. based on their reputation revealed that Samsung’s ratings have gone down to 49^th position after the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. Last year, it held the 7^th position. Its reputation rating has dropped has fallen to 75.17 from 80.44. Companies with 80+ ratings are considered “Excellent” and those with ratings of 75 to 79 are said to be “Very Good.”

In a bid to regain trust, Samsung confirmed in the previous month that the Galaxy Note 8 (codenamed as Baikal) would be “better, safer and innovative.” Some of its rumored specs include 4K display, Snapdragon 835, Bixby AI, and Continuum-like feature that will allow its user to use it as a full-edge PC by connecting to an external display.

Will the relaunch of Galaxy Note 7 help reinstating its reputation? Do share your thoughts by pouring in your comments.

(Source)

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 rumors have started swirling after Koh Dong-jin, President of Mobile at Samsung Electronics confirmed that the company would be releasing a better, safer and innovative Note 8 in this year.

The Galaxy Note 7 was unveiled to the world with much hype in August 2016. However, Samsung had to discontinue the phablet in October because its faulty batteries caused it to explode.

When Samsung discontinued the Note 7, reports started swirling that the company may axe the Note lineup. However, Koh seems to have debunked these rumors as he revealed in a recent interview to CNET that, “I will bring back a better, safer and very innovative Note 8.”

He further added that, “we found through the investigative process, we knew there are lots and lots of loyal Note customers.”  Moreover, Tim Baxter, President and COO of Samsung Electronics America has also stated that there are many Galaxy Note 4 and Note 5 customers that are waiting for Samsung to release an upgraded Note phablet.

A press release dated Jan. 23 reveals that the root of cause of Galaxy Note 7 explosion were the two kinds of faulty batteries the phablet featured. In the future devices like the Galaxy Note 8, Samsung will be incorporating 8-point battery safety check system that includes various kinds of inspections such as durability test, visual examination, x-ray inspection, charging and discharging tests and more.

Related: LG G6 to Feature Snapdragon 821 as the Galaxy S8 Requires Entire Snapdragon 835 Initial Supply

There is not many information available on the features that will arrive on Galaxy Note 8. However, Samsung is expected to release it in the second half of the year. At present, the South Korean company is concentrating on announcing on the release of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus smartphones.

Fresh speculations suggest that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus would be launched on March 29 in the U.S. and Europe. It is expected to available for buying in the week that starts from April 24 in these markets. However, it would be coming to South Korean markets on April 14.

(Source)

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Samsung has officially announced that the two kinds of batteries from two different manufacturers caused the Galaxy Note 7 to explode.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 that was launched in August 2016 had met with record pre-orders and sales. Since the Galaxy Note 7 explosion issues started coming up from various places from the world, Samsung began the first recall of the phablet in September.

The recall was carried out because of the potentially faulty batteries and possession of the device could prove fatal to the users Hence, the company had to discontinue Note 7 completely by October as it could not resolve the issue. It is estimated that the recall cost of the Galaxy Note 7 will be $5.3 billion.

Within three months of announcing the recall, Samsung announced that 96 percent users across the world had returned their Galaxy Note 7 phones. To ensure a smooth recall process, Samsung had sent messages and emails to Note 7 owners.

It also collaborated with its carrier partners to release a software update that would disable the charging abilities of the phablet. The Galaxy Note 7 is also banned on airplanes by the Department of Transportation (DOT). In order to assist its customers in a convenient recall, Samsung employees were also sent to airports to collect Note 7 from users.

To rebuild trust in Samsung and to ensure customers’ safety on future products, the company wanted to identify the exact reason behind the Galaxy Note 7 explosions. Earlier today, Samsung had held a press conference to reveal the reason. It took nearly a month for the company to find the root cause after initiating the global recall.

Related: Samsung Galaxy S8 Leaked Photo Surface Yet Again; Reveals Huge Curved Display, Premium Design

A New Lab for Reviewing Note 7 Explosions

Samsung built an exclusive testing lab equipped with 700 researchers, 200,000 devices and 30,000 batteries to find out what caused Galaxy Note 7 to explode. This was done to test various features of the device such as wireless charging, normal charging, water resistance, USB-C charger, iris scanner, and third party apps.

Samsung also collaborated with three independent entities such as UI, Exponent and TUVRheinland to assess other aspects such as the hardware and software of Note 7 and manufacturing process, logistics and handling.

Faulty Batteries Caused the Issue

Findings from investigations done by Samsung and independent research teams revealed that both the batteries from different manufacturers that were used in Note 7 had flaws. Negative electrode deflections were the problem with the Battery A that came from the first manufacturer whereas the Battery B from second manufacturer was marred with abnormal ultrasonic welding burrs in its positive electrode.  It shows that the industry’s growing desire to release thinner smartphones with longer battery life has impacted the manufacturing processes of batteries.

A new Battery Advisory Group has been formed by Samsung with specialized consultants and experts from different universities. An 8 point safety check system has been created to check the quality of batteries. It includes various kinds of tests for durability, visual inspection, x-ray examination, disassembling, leakage, voltage, charging and discharging and a 5-day testing in real-world environments.

By revealing the root cause of Galaxy Note 7 explosions, Samsung aims to build better smartphones by following improved safety standards.

(Source)

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The reason behind Galaxy Note 7 explosions will be officially revealed by Samsung through a press conference that will be held on Jan. 23 at 10 am KST in Seoul. It will be live streamed on Samsung’s website.

The Galaxy Note 7 flagship smartphone from Samsung was officially unveiled at the beginning of August 2016. Even before it reached more markets, news about overheating and explosions started surfacing. Samsung carried out its first Galaxy Note 7 recall in September 2016.

Samsung tried to fix the issue by relaunching the Note 7 in October. However, the Galaxy Note 7 units continued to explode. Hence, the South Korean company had to permanently discontinue the phablet in the same month. Samsung and its carrier partners have been sending out software updates that prevents the device from charging again. Such an attempt was done to compel Note 7 users to return their handsets.

Related: Samsung Says 96% of Galaxy Note 7 Phones Have Been Returned

Samsung has investigated into the issue, but the actual reason that has caused Galaxy Note 7 units to explode has never been announced. After carrying out comprehensive investigations for several months, not only by Samsung but also by independent organizations on Note 7 incidents, the findings will be revealed through the upcoming press conference on Jan. 23.

Investors want the South Korean company to reveal a convincing reason for the Note 7 debacle before the alleged unveil of Galaxy S8 smartphones in April. In its statement, Samsung has also said that it will announce new measures that it has implemented in response to the incidents. Rumor are rife that the defective batteries may have caused the Note 7 explosion incidents.

After the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, the rumor mill started claiming that Samsung will discontinue the Note series. However, a recent report from South Korea has revealed that Samsung will not give up on the highly popular Galaxy Note brand. Hence, a Note 8 is speculated to release later this year.

(Source)

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The Galaxy Note 7 was pulled off the market after a second spate of explosions started with the replacement units. Samsung, in a statement released on Tuesday says over 96% of all Galaxy Note 7 phones have been returned since the recall began last year.

Samsung had released the Galaxy Note 7 in August to critical acclaim only for things to go south when reports of some devices bursting up in flames started to circulate. Samsung decided to issue a recall after carrying out an inspection of the phones. Replacements were later sent back to those who had returned their phones. But that was not the end of Samsung’s woes as the replacement units still kept having issues.

Things got so bad when a Galaxy Note 7 exploded on a Southwest Airlines flight and the Federal Aviation Authority had to ban the phone from flights.

Samsung had to issue another recall and eventually kill the Note 7 but it wasn’t easy getting people to part with the phone as some felt since they didn’t have any issue with their phone, they should not have to return it. To solve the issue, the company had to roll out an update that disabled the phone from charging.

READ MORE: Samsung Aims to Sell 60 Million galaxy 8 Units Says Reports

Samsung has said it will release the results of its investigations about the Note 7 fiasco this month even though independent investigations have said it was the phone’s design that caused the battery terminals to come in contact with each other leading it to overheat and catch fire. Despite the Note 7 scandal, Samsung’s shares have hit a record high.

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After the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 debacle, the South Korean company is expected to equip Galaxy S8 with stellar features to get back those customers who have lost faith in the brand. Fresh speculations indicate that the Galaxy S8 may arrive with 8 GB of RAM and UFS 2.1 flash storage.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 that was launched earlier this year features 4 GB of RAM. Previous rumors on Galaxy S8 had suggested that it would be featuring 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB native storage.

However, the S8 is now rumored to arrive with twice the amount of RAM present on Galaxy S7. Ice Universe, who is known for revealing leaked information of Samsung smartphones has revealed on Weibo that the Galaxy S8 will feature 8 GB of RAM built with 10 nm fabrication technology.

The leakster has also said that the Galaxy S8 would feature a newer and faster UFS 2.1 flash storage chip. The Galaxy Note 7 that has been discontinued featured a slower UFS 2.0 flash storage.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Rumors

Recent rumors have also suggested the S8 would be arriving in two editions. The Galaxy S8 is expected to feature a 5.1-inch display and the alleged Galaxy S8 Plus is pegged to incorporate a 6-inch display. Even though ‘edge’ is not present in their monikers, speculations are rife that both are likely to include dual-edge curved screens without Home buttons.

As early rumors have claimed, the Galaxy S8 smartphones for the U.S. and Chinese markets are poised to feature Snapdragon 835 SoC whereas other regions are expected to receive their Exynos 8895 SoC variants.

Related: New Samsung Galaxy S8 Renders: Curved Display and No Home Button

The larger Galaxy S8 is also speculated to be the first Samsung smartphone to come with a rear-facing dual camera module. The smaller variant is expected to house a single rear-facing camera.

Some of the other expected features of Galaxy S8 include Bluetooth 5.0, Android 7.0 Nougat with Samsung Experience UI onboard along with rumored Bixby (male) and Kestra (female) AI power assistants.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date, Price

The Galaxy S7 was announced in February this year, but new information coming from South Korea have claimed that the Galaxy S8 release date has been pushed to April 2017. It is also speculated that the Galaxy S8 would be costlier than the Galaxy S7.

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Samsung’s replacement Note 7 started shipping about two weeks ago to owners but it seems the company’s woes are far from over. Yesterday, a Southwest Airlines flight had to be evacuated while still at the gate because of a smoking Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

This is a serious case because it is a replacement unit certified by the company as safe. In an interview with The Verge, the owner of the Note 7, Brian Green said he had picked up the phone at an AT&T store on 21st of September.

Before boarding the plane, Mr. Green says he powered down the phone which was at around 80% battery level as requested by the flight crew and put it in his pocket only for the phone to start smoking. He brought it out, threw it on the floor and thick grey-green smoke was pouring out of it. A colleague of his who went back on the plane to get his belongings said the phone had burned right through the carpet and singed the sub-floor of the plane. Brian Green says he has only charged the phone using a wireless charger since he picked it up.

READ MORE: OnePlus CEO Teases OnePlus 3 Running Android Nougat

A replacement Note 7 has a black square to indicate it is a replacement. After running the phone’s IMEI through the recall eligibility checker, the message gotten was that the phone isn’t affected by the recall program.

Source: The Verge

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Samsung’s latest flagship is the stylus-toting Galaxy Note 7. Sporting a 5.7” 2K Super AMOLED screen with dual curved edges, 4GB RAM, 64GB  ROM,  12MP f/1.7 rear  camera, 5MP front camera, a 4096 pressure sensitive S-Pen, iris scanner, fingerprint scanner, and an IP68 certification; the Note 7 does has a lot to offer. But at a price. A price of 6000 Yuan ($900)!!!

Another phone which will probably be having such a high price tag is Apple’s new phone, the iPhone 7. Although it has not been released yet, we already have a fair knowledge of what to expects following months of leaks.

The iPhone 7 (Plus) is said to come with a 5.5” 3D-touch screen, dual 12 MP cameras on the back, a 5MP front facing camera, a fingerprint scanner, and doesn’t come with a 3.5mm jack. It will also be ditching the 16GB storage option.

READ MORE: Samsung Note 7 Can Hit Peak Brightness Up to 1048 Nits

While the Note 7 does have several interesting features, Apple’s iOS operating system is a force to be reckoned with.

Now the question is this. If you are given 6000 Yuan which of these devices will you be purchasing? Let’s know your answer in the comment box and the reason for choosing it.

Image Source: PConline

The post The $900 Smartphone Flagships: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 or iPhone 7? appeared first on Gizmochina.

Smartphone screens are one of the most important components of new-age handsets. If we jump up the screen size from 4-inches to 6.44-inches, there would still be a few options for customers and note that we are still talking about phones and not tablets. We all know the massive Xiaomi Mi Max with its 6.44-inch display and some of you may think, who would be crazy enough to buy this giant smartphone. Well, as we revealed before, turns out, quite a lot of people love the large screen size, and the sales of this relatively new phablet could have very well crossed the 1.5 million mark within two months of its launch.

There is no doubt that Samsung dominates the smartphone industry with its super popular Galaxy series. And the latest Galaxy Note 7 is one of the best phablets with an amazing display, probably the best in the market right now. However, the curved edge screen and the waterproofing technology does come at a cost, and if by chance, you happen to break the screen on the Note 7 (which should be less likely considering it comes with the new Gorilla Glass 5 panel), then you are left with two options, replace the screen on your device or just use the same money to buy a brand new Xiaomi Mi5 smartphone.

According to the folks over at PhoneArena, who had a chat with Samsung’s support, replacing the Note 7’s screen would be a costly affair, costing somewhere around $270 for the entire process. This does include the screen replacement, handling, shipping and other related charges. But it would surely make a dent in your pocket.

At this price, you would get a brand new Xiaomi Mi5, albeit the standard version. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 820 chip, 3GB RAM, a 5.2-inch 1080p with Gorilla Glass 4 protection and comes with a decent camera as well.

READ MORE: Xiaomi Mi5 Review: A Beast of a Smartphone, For Less!

Now, you would argue that if you were paying this much, you would rather replace the screen than buy the Mi5. I would have agreed, but think what happens if you drop your phone the second time. Buying an insurance would probably be the wiser choice, but even with that, you would be paying around $210 ($129 initially + $79 deductible) for the replacement (Samsung’s Protection Plus cover).

What are your thoughts?

NOTE: I love the Galaxy Note 7 and I know it’s one of the best phablets you can buy right now but after reading the replacement cost of its screen, I realized that you could actually buy a decent flagship for the same price. Hence, this article.

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Samsung formally unveiled the Galaxy Note 7 is an action packed ceremony on August 2, thus effectively putting to rest the avalanche of rumors surrounding the device. But the rumor mills never go to rest, especially on this sleek gadget as there are news about a 6GB RAM of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in the works somewhere.

The Galaxy Note 7 was released with a 4GB RAM as the custom RAM size on all variants of the device but the Note 7 had earlier been rumored to have seen an upgrade from 4GB RAM to 6GB RAM. However the launch of the device was thought to have put to rest that rumor.

Now, facts have emerged from a recent filing on TENAA that there is actyually a 6GB RAM in the works. The filling revealed what could be a top-end version of the Chinese edition of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 packing a 6GB RAM pairing up with a monstrous 128GB of built-in storage.

The TENAA listing was made public on August 4, with model number SM-N9300, and corresponds with a GeekBench posting about a device with similar model number, both showing the Galaxy Note 7 (SM-N9300) llistedas a 6GB RAM packing version.

Ordinarily, we had wondered the need for a 6GB RAM on the Galaxy Note 7 from the technical point of view, considering that apps are getting smaller in size, Android is also getting slimmer and running too many background apps would only drain the battery faster. But then, we are talking about China where a lot of mobile phone manufacturers have ventured into production of flagships with 6GB RAM in order to outwit competitors. The OnePlus 3 is the latest with such feature and it won’t be a bad idea if Samsung offers a 6GB RAM version on the Note 7 at least to ensure it doesn’t lose a few customers to the extremely strong competition in the country.

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Samsung was one of the first companies to popularize the concept of phablets. And there will be no list that doesn’t include the company’s popular Galaxy Note series. Today, Samsung released the sixth generation version of the new Galaxy Note model and like expected, it has skipped a generation when it comes to naming, as the phablet will be called as the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

Here is our live hands-on video from the Samsung Unpacked event made by Linus:

The company’s Note series has always featured top-end specs and this year’s edition is no exception. However, this year, Samsung seems to have taken most of the specifications from the Galaxy S7 Edge model that was released a few months back. Not that this is a bad thing, but the company usually has a tradition of equipping its Note series flagships with even better specs that its flagship Galaxy S series. Nevertheless, the phone is a beast and it comes with powerful specs like the Snapdragon 820 quad-core chip, 4GB of RAM and a capable 12MP f/1.7 aperture rear sensor. Furthermore, the Note 7 is going to be water and dust resistant since it’s IP68 certified. And then there’s the MicroSD card slot, which was absent in last year’s generation.

Samsung seems to have taken design cues from the S7 Edge for the new Note 7 as this particular model also comes with dual edge curved display, a first for the series. It’s a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED panel with 2K resolution, making it a bit larger than the S7 Edge model. Like tradition, Gorilla Glass protects the screen, and this time it’s the new Gorilla Glass 5! As for the battery, the phone will feature a decent 3500mAh capacity one inside.

Apart from the powerful specs, the Galaxy Note 7 comes with an iris scanner as well. You get a fingerprint scanner as well, just in case you want another option. But the company claims that the iris scanner is much more secure than the fingerprint sensor. Apart from unlocking the smartphone, the iris scanner can lock apps, photos, notes and folders as well.

The Note 7 also comes with a new Stylus called S Pen, which now features 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity (2x when compared to the last generation) and is water resistant as well. The software also gets an upgrade, now coming with cleaner colors and better-looking visuals. It’s Android 6 based UI but the company has promised Android 7 Nougat update later.

The phone will be available for sale from August 19 in Blue Coral, Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium and Black Onyx colors. Pricing is expected to be on the same lines as previous generation Note series models.

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Samsung Mobile Korea has released the first Galaxy Note 7 TV ad. The advert which is just 30 seconds long confirms a couple of features like multiple phone lock options such as fingerprint and the regular pattern lock. The advert teases other features such as multiple old rotary dial telephones submerged in water which indicates the Note 7 will be waterproof (a first for the Note series), allowing the phone to be immersed in up to 5-feet of water for a duration of 30 minutes.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTWyapuLNdI[/embedyt]

There is also a lady holding a blurred out phone in one hand (which is probably the Note 7) trying to take a selfie while holding a light bulb to her face with the other hand. This translates into the Note 7 featuring a LED flash in front.

Another teaser is the presence of multiple highlighter pens used on different texts. We interpret this to mean that you will be able to copy multiple texts with the Note’s S-pen and choose which you want to paste when you want. So that eliminates the issue of a new copied text overwriting the previous one.

READ MORE: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Wallpapers Leaked

We also see a bunch of neon numerical lights from 0 to 5 and a question mark, with a text above it that translates to ”5, then 6?”.

This isn’t difficult to decipher. It’s no news that Samsung is skipping the 6 and moving on to 7 in the naming. The reasons for this is to have a uniform name with the S-Line of the same year (S7 and S7 Edge) and stop the assumption that the Note series offers older technology because it has a lower number. (The latter reason is weird though).

Samsung ends the Note 7 TV ad by confirming the release date is in August. Next Tuesday to be precise.

The note series has been very successful since the first generation and every version is always keenly looked forward to. The Note 7 is going to be better by featuring the new Snapdragon 821 SoC, a bigger battery, an iris scanner, and a dual-edge curved display.

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We all love wallpapers but we love changing them more. The wallpaper on our phones sometimes reflect our mood or the kind of person we are.

Our phones usually ship with a bunch of wallpapers from the factory. Sometimes these wallpapers are really beautiful, other times they are just meh. So if you are itching for a bunch of  factory wallpapers to spice up your phone you should probably check out these Galaxy Note 7 wallpapers leaked by Sir Hydarnes.

The S-Pen image which we have seen in leaked photos of the phone is also included and comes in 4 varieties.

The ones above are compressed, if you want the full resolution images which are in PNG, you can download them here. It’s about 28 MB in size.

READ MORE: Galaxy Note 7 Leaks in New Video

The Galaxy Note 7 is the successor to last year’s galaxy Note 5. Samsung is skipping the Note 6 name so that all their flagships for each year can have the same number. The device will be officially launched in New York on August 2 and will feature dual-curved edges, an iris scanner, a new S-Pen, and a beautiful coral blue version. It will also sport a USB Type-C port, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and will come with a Snapdragon or Exynos processor depending on the region.

Do you like these new wallpapers? Let us know in the comment box below.

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Yesterday, a device with the name Xiaomi Capricorn, which we believe is a code name for the Mi Note 2 was spotted on Geekbench with a Snapdragon 820 processor. Although we mentioned that it might probably be the base version of the phone seeing that it is clocked at 2GHz and the RAM is just 3GB, it seems the Mi Note 2 will be featuring a snapdragon 821 processor.

An industry analyst, Pan Jiutang posted on Weibo that while Samsung’s Note 7 is going to be the first Snapdragon 821 phone, and Xiaomi will be the first Chinese phone maker to release a Snapdragon 821 flagship.

But ASUS announced the Zenfone 3 Deluxe with SD 821 yesterday, right? Yes, they ANNOUNCED but it most likely won’t be available for purchase yet until way later in the year. So that explains Pan’s statement.

ASUS is known for announcing a device months before it is available for release. The Zenfone 3 was announced in May and it is still not available for purchase in July. Samsung on the other hand usually has the phone available for purchase the same month as its announcement. Same as Xiaomi.

Someone posed a question at Pan Jiutang about LeEco’s supposed July 15 release for a SD821 phone (LeEco has an event on July 15). His response was that if LeEco releases a phone at this event, it should most likely be a SD652 version of the LeEco Le 2 (released previously in India) or even a dual camera version.

The Snapdragon 821 processor is a slightly upgraded version of the SD 820. The clock speed has been raised from 2.2GHz to 2.4GHz and GPU (most likely) upgraded from 624MHz to 650MHz.

The Mi Note 2’s price will probably exceed 3000 Yuan ($449) seeing that it is expected to come with SD 821 SoC, 6GB of RAM, dual cameras, and a curved screen.

The post Xiaomi Will Be The First Chinese Manufacturer To Release SD821 Flagship Says Analyst appeared first on Gizmochina.

Finally, after the numerous speculations, leaks, and rumors, the next generation of Samsung Galaxy Note is going to be launch on 2nd August and Samsung has officially confirmed that it will be called the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 !

Samsung has shared media invites for the 7 Unpacked 2016 event which will take place at 11:00 a.m. EDT in New York on August 2, 2016. Simultaneous launch events will take place in Rio de Janeiro at noon and in London at 4:00 p.m. The invite itself is pretty minimalistic and shows an S pen and a loading icon.

What we already know by now is that the Note 7 will feature top of the shelf hardware and is supposed to sport either 5.7 inches or a 6 inches display. The leaked prototype images confirmed that it will be a huge phablet with a curved display like the S7 Edge and Samsung’s trademark Home key button beneath the screen.

As it has become a norm these days with Samsung, it may release different devices for different markets. Note 7 is also expected to be launched in 2 variants, a Snapdragon 821 and another one with Exynos chipset. Rest of the features may be static like the Super AMOLED screen, Dual Pixel camera as the Galaxy S7 Edge. RAM may vary between 4GB / 6GB depending on the model and the market.

As for now, let us just wait for the official launch and in case you want to watch the event live, there will be a Live streaming of the New York event at www.samsung.com and Samsung Newsroom (news.samsung.com/global)

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New prototype photos that are attributed to be actual rendition of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 have been seen online. The images were actually posted on Twitter by Tech leaks guru Steve Hemmerstoffer (@stagueve).

The leaked photos have been coming out in succession since yesterday and it looks like that of a prototype Galaxy Note 7, with the test unit number embedded at the top. The images can best be described as that of a huge phablet whose display is curved and Samsung’s trademark Home key button sitting at the bottom.

Even more images of the Galaxy Note 7 prototype surfaced today, showing the device powered on and displaying what should be Samsung’s TouchWiz UI’s low battery warning notifications.  The display also shows a lot of modules just at the top of the screen which may just confirm that the device might pop with an iris scanner on the right of the earpiece since we know the front facing camera is at the left of the centrally placed earpiece slit. The rest of the modules are likely light and camera sensors but the two openings on the right couldn’t be anything else but for an iris scanner.

 Just as a reminder, the Galaxy Note 7  is touted to sport a Snapdragon 821 or Exynos chipsets depending on the target market, 5.8-inch Quad HD AMOLED screen, 4GB / 6GB of RAM, and the same Dual Pixel camera that is on the Galaxy S7 Edge. The device’s S Pen stylus would come with new capabilities. The  Note 7 will most likely be unveiled August 2, and should start at $800.

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