The countdown has begun! The Galaxy Note 8 unveiling is just a couple of days away. Samsung will show off the phablet on August 23 in New York. Leaks about Samsung’s next-gen flagship offering continue to surface online, and Samsung itself has become one of the most reliable leakers. A reliable tipster has now revealed that the Korean company will offer some free goodies on the Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders.
Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders set to get more exciting
It’s not a big surprise considering Samsung had offered free items to Galaxy S8 pre-order customers as well. The upcoming Note 8 will be a powerful (and expensive) phablet. If the freebies can help Samsung get more Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders, it wouldn’t hurt. VentureBeat contributor Evan Blass has learned from inside sources that Samsung would offer two options to the pre-order customers.
https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/898734035647647744
You can choose to get a free 360-degree camera or a 256GB microSD card plus a convertible wireless charger. If you are not interested in 360-degree VR videos, the choice of a microSD card and a wireless charger seems exciting. Blass did not mention which camera Samsung would be giving away. It will most likely be the Gear 360 camera launched earlier this year.
The convertible wireless charger has now become a standard feature in Samsung’s flagship smartphones. The pre-order bundle represents more than $100 in savings if you purchase those accessories separately. For instance, the Gear 360 costs $180, and the wireless charger is listed on Samsung’s website for $90. A good 256GB microSD card could set you back by anywhere between $120 and $200.
A different ‘pre-order gift’ for European customers
Evan Blass said in another tweet that Samsung would offer a different freebie on Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders in European markets. Instead of the choice for a 360-degree camera or a 256GB microSD card and wireless charger, European customers will get a Samsung DeX dock as the pre-order gift. Samsung launched the DeX with Galaxy S8 earlier this year. It allows you to turn your smartphone into a computer by connecting it to a mouse, a keyboard, and a monitor.
https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/898651370236108802
These are not the only freebies Samsung plans to offer with the Note 8. According to ETNews, the Korean electronics behemoth will also be giving away a transparent protective case to Note 8 buyers for free. This is not limited to pre-order customers. The site claims the free accessory will have a market price of $17 to $26. You can use it until you buy the accessories of your choice.
It is not yet clear whether Samsung would offer any discounts or special offers to people who purchased (and eventually returned) the Galaxy Note 7 last year. Samsung would want to get the Note 7 owners onboard with the Note 8. Many of them might be skeptical of buying a Note phablet again. We will find out soon. The Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders are expected to begin soon after the announcement.
Galaxy Note 8 release date and price
There have been contradictory reports about when Samsung would start accepting the Note 8 pre-orders. Some reports claim it would start on August 24th while other suggest the pre-orders would run between September 1 and September 10. Most tipsters, including Evan Blass, agree that the Note 8 would go on sale on September 15. Korean media claimed earlier this month that Samsung had finalized the Sept.15 release date, and it was unlikely to change.
Samsung hasn’t revealed the Note 8 price yet, but the rumor mill claims it will be the company’s most expensive smartphone till date. The Galaxy Note 7 was sold at $850. The Note 8 is rumored to have a starting price of above $1,000. The device will be available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB internal storage options, though the 256GB model will be sold only in select Asian markets.
Galaxy Note 8 listed on Samsung’s official website
The world’s largest smartphone vendor seems to be having a difficult time controlling its excitement. Just a couple of days before the Unpacked event, the company accidentally listed the Note 8 on its official online store. Samsung eventually removed the listing, but not before folks at Android Police had spotted it. The listing was for the 64GB unlocked version of Note 8 with model number SM-N950UZKAXAA.
The listing confirmed many of the rumored features such as a Galaxy S8-like Infinity display, an S Pen stylus, and Bixby AI Assistant. The Note 8 is said to have a 6.3-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 processor, 6GB RAM, and a 3300mAh battery. Samsung is taking extra care this time to prevent a Note 7-like battery fiasco. The device would also feature a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB Type-C port.
The Galaxy Note 8 will be Samsung’s first smartphone to come with a dual camera system on the back. The dual camera, along with an improved S Pen stylus, will help Samsung differentiate the new Note from the Galaxy S8 Plus that was launched earlier this year. The display size is no longer a differentiation factor. Samsung needs to convince power users that the Note 8 is distinctly different from the S8 Plus.
