Following the grand success of its Galaxy S8 flagship, a confident Samsung indicated a few days ago that it would launch another flagship smartphone in the second half of this year. The upcoming device is certainly going to be Galaxy Note 8. Earlier this year, Samsung’s mobile business chief had confirmed that the company was working on a safer, better, and more innovative Galaxy Note 8.
Galaxy Note 8 concept fixes some of the Galaxy S8 drawbacks
We have seen numerous Note 8 leaks, rumors, and concept renderings. Samsung has to do an impressive job to regain the Note brand’s appeal after the Galaxy Note 7 disaster. Designer Ivo Maric has teamed up with YouTube channel Concept Creator to create a stunning Galaxy Note 8 concept. It is based on recent leaks and rumors. Maric has also taken inspiration from the Galaxy S8.
This concept is basically an improved version of Galaxy S8. The Note 8 has become slimmer and sleeker. It has the same gorgeous Infinity display as the S8. The display covers the almost entire face of the phablet. The concept Note 8 has a 6.4-inch screen, slightly bigger than the S8 Plus’ 6.2-inch display. Of course, there is also a built-in stylus.
The designer imagines the Galaxy Note 8 with a vertically-placed dual camera system on the back. The dual camera setup is widely expected to come with the Note 8. Leaked images showed a few weeks ago a Galaxy S8 Plus prototype with dual cameras. The feature was reportedly dropped from the S8 Plus at the last moment because it wasn’t mature enough.
Apple, LG and a few Chinese vendors have already added the dual camera on their flagship devices. Samsung’s current Galaxy S8 lacks the feature. The dual camera system will allow Note 8 users to take wide-angle photos. KGI Securities analyst told investors last month that the Note 8’s dual-camera system would be even better than the iPhone 7 Plus. In fact, it could even match the 10th anniversary iPhone 8.
Fingerprint sensor integrated in the display
Interestingly, there is no fingerprint sensor on the back of the Note 8 concept. It means the fingerprint scanner would be embedded in the display. Samsung had tried to place it under the display on Galaxy S8, but had run out of time to implement it. The rear panel is an awkward place for the fingerprint sensor.
Beside the in-display fingerprint sensor, the Galaxy Note 8 is expected to feature iris scanning and facial recognition, the same biometric security options that Galaxy S8 offers. If the Note 8 indeed comes with the rear dual-camera system, and the fingerprint scanner integrated into the Infinity display, some potential Galaxy S8 buyers may choose to wait for the Note 8.
Samsung to unveil Galaxy Note 8 at IFA trade show?
In a press release announcing its first-quarter results, Samsung said it would release a new flagship phone in the second half of the year. The statement suggests that Samsung would stick to its regular Note refresh cycle rather than rushing the phablet’s launch. The Note 5 was launched in August 2015 and the ill-fated Note 7 went on sale in August last year.
Recent comments by IFA Executive Director Jens Heithecker have sparked speculations that the Note 8 could be announced at the IFA trade show in Berlin. Heithecker said recently that the IFA event would be an ideal place for Samsung to unveil the Galaxy Note 8. He added that Samsung would have the largest presence at the IFA this year, though he stopped short of confirming the Note 8 announcement.
The IFA unveiling is a possibility considering many previous phones in the Note series were announced at or around the IFA show.
Galaxy Note 8 features and specs
The Galaxy Note 8 is rumored to feature 6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB of internal storage. The Korean and Chinese versions of the Galaxy S8 Plus are already available with 6GB RAM and 128GB of built-in storage. It will reportedly be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Samsung’s in-house Exynos 8895 chipset depending on the region. The same processors run the Galaxy S8.
The Note 8 is rumored to feature a 4000mAh non-removable battery. By adding a non-removable battery to the Galaxy S8, Samsung has shown confidence in its eight-point battery safety check program. The eight-point plan ensures that the batteries are not vulnerable to overheating and explosions.
You can also expect some surprise features with the Galaxy Note 8. Historically, Samsung has used the Note line rather than the Galaxy S series to push the envelope. For instance, Samsung first introduced the curved OLED screens with Galaxy Note Edge. Also, the Korean company has kept the S Pen stylus exclusive to the Note lineup. People who want a stylus wouldn’t mind waiting for the Note 8.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus have shattered all the previous launch records, said Samsung. The Korean company said the S8 launch was the “best ever” in its history. The S8 and S8 Plus pre-orders were 30% higher than the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.
