Samsung is riding high on the massive success of the Galaxy S8. The Korean company is in no mood to kill the Note line despite the last year’s fiasco. Samsung confirmed recently that it has been working on a safer, better, and more innovative Galaxy Note 8. The phablet has been popping up in the rumor mill and supply chain leaks for months. Now a new leak sheds light on its display and other features.
Galaxy Note 8 leaked image by Twitter users
The latest leak comes from Twitter users PoyocoTech and Ice Universe (via The Android Soul). The leaked sketches suggest that the Galaxy Note 8 will have narrower display angles than the current Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Previously leaked videos have revealed that the Note 8 would use the same Infinity display as the Galaxy S8. Despite narrower display angles, the phablet is expected to retain the 18.5:9 aspect ratio that Samsung adapted on the Galaxy S8.
Samsung Galaxy Note8 looking dope ! #Note8 #Samsung #NextGalaxy #iPhone8 #UnboxYourPhone pic.twitter.com/lyq15zr0Py
— Poyoco Tech (@PoyocoTech) June 6, 2017
One of the sketches shows a dual-camera system on the back. The cameras are arranged vertically. The heart rate sensor and dual LED flash are placed below the camera setup. This is not the first time a Galaxy Note 8 leak has pointed to a dual camera system. Hands-on images leaked by Priceraja showed the dual cameras in their full glory.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is deeply connected within the Asian smartphone industry supply chain, reported back in April that Samsung would add a dual-camera system on the back of Galaxy Note 8. The analyst said at the time that the camera setup would consist of a 12MP wide-angle lens with dual photodiode (2PD) and a 13MP telephoto lens. Kuo claims the Note 8 dual cameras will be far better than the iPhone 7 Plus.
Will AKG supply earphones for the Galaxy Note 8?
Today’s leak indicates that the Note 8 will retain the 3.5mm headphone jack. It will be tuned by Vienna-based AKG, which is expected to be responsible for manufacturing earphones for the Galaxy Note 8. AKG is part of Harman International, which Samsung is in the process of acquiring for $8 billion. AKG also makes earphones for the current Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus.
The Galaxy Note 8 is going to be similar to the S8 in more than one ways, claims the rumor mill. It is said to be powered by the same Exynos 8895 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processors that run the Galaxy S8. The Note 8 is expected to feature 6GB RAM. The Chinese version of Galaxy S8 Plus already sports 6GB RAM. The Note 8 would have a 6.3-inch Quad HD display, slightly bigger than the S8 Plus.
New features coming to Note 8
There will also be some major differences between the Note 8 and S8. Today’s leaked images do not show a fingerprint sensor on the back panel, which means the feature would be embedded into the Infinity display. The Galaxy S8 has the fingerprint sensor next to the rear camera. The rear panel is not the most suitable place for the fingerprint scanner. It will also come with an S Pen stylus, Bixby AI assistant, and a USB Type-C port.
Faulty batteries are no longer a concern. Samsung has proved with the Galaxy S8 that its eight-point battery safety program can prevent manufacturing errors. The company is also working to release a detailed white paper on the Galaxy Note 7 episode, which should help it further improve the safety of Note 8.
Galaxy Note 8 release date
Sources familiar with the matter recently told GalaxyClub that Samsung is testing the Note 8 with Android 7.1.1 instead of the beta versions of Android O. Other reports have also claimed that the Galaxy Note 8 would run Android Nougat rather than Android O at launch. It means the device would arrive a few weeks before Google rolls out the new Android version. It’s unlikely that the Korean company would test the phone using Nougat and launch it with Android O.
Sources told GalaxyClub that Samsung was planning to unveil the Galaxy Note 8 at the IFA show in Berlin, which begins on September 1. If it is accurate, it indicates that Samsung doesn’t want to delay the Note 8 launch. IFA executive director Jens Heithecker also suggested in April that the phablet could be unveiled at the IFA. He told media that the Korean giant would have the largest presence at this year’s IFA, though he stopped short of confirming the Note 8 unveiling at the trade show.
Meanwhile, Samsung is planning to launch refurbished Galaxy Note 7 devices in select markets. The refurbished devices are unlikely to be sold in Western markets. They would be sold under the moniker Galaxy Note FE rather than Note 7, and pack a smaller 3200mAh battery compared to the original one’s 3500mAh. Samsung had recalled nearly four million Note 7 units due to faulty batteries. The refurbished version will be sold at 30-50% discount, according to Korean media.
