Samsung Galaxy Note 9 release date, specs, price, rumors

May 31, 2018 UPDATE – In terms of the latest Galaxy Note 9 news, there hasn’t been a ton of new information from the company itself. With that said, there have been several leaks that seem to suggest that the phone might not be as impressive as we had hoped.

The Galaxy Note 9 will be an upgrade over the Note 8, there’s no doubt about that. What is concerning, however, is that all the information we’re seeing about the device suggests that it will be an iterative upgrade rather than some sort of revolutionary change.

Galaxy Note 9 Concept Images
Image source: GalaxyNote9News

At this point, the Galaxy Note 9 is likely pretty far along in development, so it’s not likely that we’ll be seeing any major changes in terms of feature and design at this point. However, if the news we’ve received thus far about the features on the phone (or lack thereof) is true, the phone will be largely the same as the Note 8 – albeit with some power upgrades and other tweaks

When we first got reliable news about the Galaxy S, many were disappointed in the lack of new features. When the phone released, it was clear that the general public felt the same due to the lackluster sales that we’ve seen thus far. Samsung really needs a win with the Note 9 to make sure that this generation of smartphones is an overall success, but if the device is iterative like its predecessor that might not be an easy task to accomplish

There is some debate as to whether or not the new phone would feature an in-display fingerprint scanner, but most reliable news points to the Galaxy S10 releasing next year as the first Samsung phone to ship with the feature.

In terms of the news we know thus far, it’s pretty safe to expect that we’ll see the Snapdragon 845 like we saw with the S9 earlier this year or the Samsung proprietary chip that was present in phones sold outside of the US. We’ll also see gorgeous screen and a significant amount of RAM that may very well make it one of the fastest phones on the market.

Long story short, the Galaxy Note 9 appears to be an upgrade over the Note 8, but not a device that reinvents the wheel. That may not be a problem normally, but considering the fact that the S9 struggled to put up decent sales numbers it may spell trouble for Samsung.

February 8, 2018 UPDATE – While Samsung fans will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting the imminent release of the Galaxy S9, some news has also emerged on its Galaxy Note 9 cousin.

Although the release of the Galaxy Note 9 is undoubtedly several months away, a new concept outlines one possible revision for this phablet.

YouTube channel Concept Creator has produced a design that is notable for being entirely free from bezels; a physical parameter that is already being strongly linked with the forthcoming Note 9.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Concept
Image Source: Concept Creator / YouTube video (screenshot)

Of course, such renders are certainly not official, and often feature information that turns out to be wildly erroneous. But designers do put a great deal of effort into these concepts, and they can often provide an interesting and accurate impression of the final device.

Aside from the huge display, cutouts feature near the top of the screen for the ear speaker, front camera, iris scanner, and other sensors.

While Concept Creator has decided against releasing any potential specifications for this Galaxy Note 9 concept, other details can also be gleaned from the design.

The concept features icons for network strength, Wi-Fi and battery on the right side of the ear speaker, with the front camera, iris scanner and other sensors located on the left of the device.

What does this new Galaxy Note 9 concept predicts?

Concept Creator also predicts that Samsung will retain the 3.5mm headphone from previous releases, with a loudspeaker, a USB Type-C port, and the S Pen stylus located towards the bottom of the handset.

It is notable that the designers have opted for a metal and glass exterior, with curved sides notable on both the front and back of the device.

The vertically-arranged dual-camera system benefits from extra space, as the fingerprint scanner has been embedded under the display of the mobile. It is largely anticipated by many Samsung analysts and Android followers that this feature will indeed materialize in the final release.

Meanwhile, the Bixby button and volume rockers are located on the left side, while the power button is placed on the right.

Concept Creator also predicts that the Galaxy Note 9 will be released in red, blue and black colors.

Overall, the design provides some insight into how the Galaxy Note 9 may turn out, most notably with regard to the massive OLED display. It certainly seems that removing bezels from mobile devices will become increasingly popular, and this is a feature already being strongly linked with Samsung handsets.

Indeed, a patent that was recently linked online indicates that the Korean consumer electronics giant has already discovered how to deliver a bezel-less display, without the notch associated with the iPhone X.

The text of this document outlines tiny holes to be included in the screen, with these accommodating the front camera, iris scanner, earpiece, and other sensors.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also gone public on his belief that the Galaxy Note 9 will be the first handset from Samsung to deliver an optical fingerprint reader. This is a technology that the Korean Corporation has been tinkering with internally for several years.

December 28, 2017 UPDATE – The Galaxy Note 9 promises to be a standout phablet next year, and concept images of the device are already appearing.

It should be noted that the release date of the Galaxy Note 9 is still some way away, with the phablet likely to hit the stores in September 2018.

But a new concept indicates that an embedded fingerprint scanner may be part of the design for the next generation handset, with an all-glass and metal exterior also notable.

This is something that Samsung has been tinkering with for some time, but it seems that the Note 9 may finally deliver it.

December 7, 2017 UPDATE – The latest news from Korea provides further insight into the makeup of the Galaxy Note 9, as the next generation of Samsung products is readied. The Galaxy Note 9 will arrive in the latter portion of the year, probably marginally before the next-generation iPhone from Apple. It will be the flagship Galaxy S9 that is released first, with some sources indicating that this could even be before the Mobile World Congress; the traditional setting for Galaxy S range releases.

Galaxy Note 9 Features
Image Source: Samsung.com (screenshot)

But already rumors from Samsung’s native land are circulating rapidly, as the consumer electronics giant works on the development of this next-generation phablet. The Galaxy Note 9 is an important release for the product range, as Samsung will be able to display more ambition with this phablet, after it was somewhat conservative with the Galaxy Note 8.

This was deemed necessary in order to recover from the disastrous exploding Galaxy Note 7, but with the reputation of the Galaxy Note range now restored, Samsung can push the boat out more firmly with its forthcoming release.

New storage module

And the latest reports suggest that Samsung has already begun mass-producing 512GB eUFS storage modules for mobile phones. While this could appear in the Galaxy S9 generation, it is more likely that it will be earmarked for the Galaxy Note 9. Samsung has traditionally reserved its technological innovations for the phablet, and this makes sense considering that it must demonstrate some difference between this device and the Galaxy S range.

Samsung claims that the new 512GB chip will still retain the same physical dimensions as the current 256GB version. This means that the Galaxy Note 9 should remain compact even while offering more storage.

Other aspects related to the new unit are equally noteworthy, with the Korean manufacturer claiming that the drive will be capable of saving an impressive 130 files of 10-minute UHD (4K) videos. Samsung also notes that the unit will deliver improved data transfer speeds, reaching 860Mbps for reading and 256Mbps for writing.

Micro SD talk

Speculation is already rife that the introduction of a 512GB unit will result in Samsung permanently removing the micro SD card slot. The suggestion is that users simply will not need any more memory than the native quantity being provided by Samsung in its forthcoming devices.

But this has certainly not been confirmed as of yet, and it would perhaps be a tad surprising if Samsung removed one of the most popular aspects of the Galaxy range. This flexible card technology provides Samsung handsets with an edge over those released by Apple, with the Californian corporation having stuck resolutely to its guns on the micro SD issue.

“The new Samsung 512GB eUFS provides the best embedded storage solution for next-generation premium smartphones. By assuring an early, stable supply of this advanced embedded storage, Samsung is taking a big step forward in contributing to timely launches of next-generation mobile devices by mobile manufacturers around the world,” Jaesoo Han, executive vice president of Memory Sales & Marketing at Samsung Electronics, commented.

October 27, 2017 –  The major news on the Galaxy Note 9 is actually primarily related to its Galaxy S9 cousin. It has been reported recently that Samsung will not integrate the fingerprint sensor in the Galaxy S9 within its display, suggesting that this may instead be delayed for the Galaxy Note 9 generation. This would certainly correlate with previous Samsung policy as it has become common practice for the Korean manufacturer to save its more advanced features for the phablet series.

This means that the Galaxy Note 9 is likely to be the first ever Samsung device to benefit from an integrated fingerprint sensor. This would certainly be good news for those consumers thinking of picking up a Galaxy Note 9 unit, as the positioning of the fingerprint sensor in the Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8 has been strongly criticized.

There have also been reports suggesting that Samsung may surprise market analysts and release a Galaxy Note 9 model featuring a foldable display. This has been mooted for a supposed Galaxy X release, but Samsung could yet alter its release strategy for 2018 based on the performance of the Galaxy X in Korea.

It is believed that the Galaxy X may be released exclusively in Samsung’s native South Korea initially, with the release of the device then contemplated for Western marketplaces based on its success or otherwise in Korea. But instead of releasing the Galaxy X in markets such as the United States, Samsung could instead decide to produce a specialist version of the Galaxy Note 9 featuring a foldable display.

Whether this would then become available in Korea as well remains to be seen, although such an adventurous device would surely require a global release. With Samsung already in talks with manufacturers of bendable screen technology, and with the hierarchy of the company having explicitly indicated that there will be some form of foldable Galaxy device in 2018, it could be that the Galaxy Note 9 series features this functionality.

The S Pen stylus is also likely to be a major focus of the Galaxy
Note 9 release, as it is arguably the most obvious distinction between the phablet range and its Galaxy S cousin. Perhaps the speaker system that has been linked with the peripheral previously could see the light of day next year, which is a tantalizing prospect for Samsung consumers.

Reports are also escalating which suggest that the Galaxy Note 9 could benefit from the first ever 4K display in the history of Samsung. The Korean manufacturer is expected to migrate to 4K technology sooner or later, and has indeed been linked with producing a device with 4,000 pixel capability on several occasions previously.

With Apple having pushed the boat out with the iPhone X, and then selling out its new device extremely rapidly, Samsung needs to respond with something outstanding next year. It seems that the Galaxy Note 9 will certainly fit the bill, and deliver several outstanding new features.

UPDATE 10-19-2017: Samsung is continuing its preparation for the Galaxy Note 9, which will appear in 2018. It is fair to say that 2017 has been an extremely successful year for the Korean corporation, and it also hopes to build on its strong position in the coming months. And in order to do this, the manufacturer is looking to iron out some of the criticisms levelled at the current generation Galaxy Note 8.

Galaxy Note 9
Pexels / Pixabay

Fingerprint scanner in Galaxy Note 9

According to recent media reports, central to this will be a relocation of the fingerprint scanner. This was somewhat criticized in the last generation for its awkward position on the rear of the phone, with its proximity to the camera often resulting in fingerprints being inadvertently placed on its lens.

But it is believed that Samsung has been beavering away behind the scenes to produce a design for the Galaxy Note 9 that would see the scanner returned to the front of the phone. This was indeed the original location for the fingerprint scanner in the Galaxy Note range.

However, KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the most renowned names in technology circles, suggests that an embedded fingerprint display may dominate the front panel of the Galaxy Note 9. And it seems that Samsung has no particular plans to switch to a facial recognition system, as Apple has with the inclusion of Face ID in the iPhone X.

S Pen upgrade

In other news, it seems that Samsung is planning to upgrade the S Pen stylus included with the Note 9 as well. BJ Kang of the Korean company’s Global Product Planning Group indicated that this will be a major focus of the Galaxy Note 9 generation. The executive stated that Samsung is currently exploring “ways to improve upon signature features like the S Pen”.

Certainly the S Pen is a key aspect of the Galaxy Note series, as it is a stylus that essentially sets the device apart from the Galaxy S flagship. The S pen has previously been linked with an innovative design that revolves around a speaker system, and this could potentially see the light of day in 2018.

Galaxy Note 9 camera

Another report has suggested that the Galaxy Note 9 may feature a particularly impressive camera, with a 24-megapixel snapper being linked with the phablet. In recent generations, Samsung has been reluctant to increase the megapixel rating of its cameras, instead of focusing on improving feature sets and functionality.

But it now seems that the Galaxy Note 9 could benefit from a greatly upgraded camera, if reports from close to the Samsung supply chain are to be believed. The photographic quality of the dual-lens camera included in the Galaxy Note 8 has already been praised, and an improvement over this technology should certainly be impressive.

Whether these new changes would result in an increase in price remains to be seen, but it does appear that the Galaxy Note 9 will be teetering extremely close to the $1,000 cliff based on the latest leaked information.

UPDATE 10-17-2017: Samsung has officially confirmed that it will extend its phablet range with a Galaxy Note 9 release in 2018. This means that the Galaxy Note series is back on track, after the infamous exploding Galaxy Note 7 proved to be a total disaster for the Korean corporation.

Significant Samsung executives Cue Kim and BJ Kang have indicated that the Galaxy Note 9 is already being planned by the consumer electronics giant, in an interview with Samsung Newsroom. The two execs emanate from the Global Product Planning Group core of the Korean company.

The Galaxy Note 9 could be the first ever 4K mobile from Samsung when it is released.

Although the Galaxy Note 8 has just been released, rumors are already emerging on the forthcoming Galaxy Note 9. This major phablet will undoubtedly be one of the mobile highlights of 2018, and one of the most notorious names in the smartphone niche is already providing his predictions on this handset.

 

Image Credit: Tùng Hà (facebook.com/tunghamai)

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Samsung will make some major design changes to the Galaxy Note 9 that will help to establish what will undoubtedly be a major smartphone release. Although the Galaxy S series is still considered to be the Samsung flagship, the Galaxy Note range has proved extremely popular for the Korean manufacturer over the last few years.

Galaxy Note 9 display

Kuo suggests that two of the three main companies expected to compete for the contract to manufacture displays for the Galaxy Note 9 have already shipped parts to the South Korean mega-corporation. These firms are understood to be Samsung subsidiary Samsung LSI and BeyondEyes; it seems that the Korean company is already making preparations for the release of the Galaxy Note 9.

In-display fingerprint scanning is widely considered to be an important feature for the smartphone niche in the coming years, with several manufacturers currently working on delivering the technology. Apple and Samsung are certainly among these, but the likes of LG have also been linked with similar devices.

However, delivering such functionality will be far from easy. Indeed, it was strongly anticipated that the iPhone X would be the first mobile device to deliver this feature. But the Apple flagship experienced supply chain delays which meant that it was impossible for the Californian corporation to provide the fingerprint system in its current generation of products. The iPhone X instead relies on Face ID facial recognition technology.

Of course, it is not guaranteed that the Galaxy Note 9 will feature this display technology, and another possibility is that it could emerge in another Samsung device first. Indeed, with the flagship Galaxy S9 to be released at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona early next year, it could be that this integrated functionality will be delivered in the Galaxy S9 ahead of the Galaxy Note 9.

However, there is precedent to suggest that it would make more sense for the integrated feature to debut in the Galaxy Note 9. Samsung has attempted to provide extra functionality and specifications in the Galaxy Note series in an attempt to distinguish its phablet from the more affordable smartphone. This has led to many major features being introduced in the Galaxy Note range, before later migrating to the Galaxy S series, and this would seem to be a natural move with the integrated fingerprint scanner.

PREVIOUS UPDATE: – 2018 promises to be an interesting year for fans of Samsung devices, as the Korean corporation may also debut the Galaxy X. The standout feature of this smartphone is likely to be a foldable display. However, the technology that has been showed off by Samsung at numerous trade shows over the years could also feature in the Galaxy Note range as well.

The likelihood is that it will be one or the other for the foldable screen in 2018, and if the Galaxy X does emerge then it is far less likely that a bendable screen design will feature in the Galaxy Note 9. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what emerges in the early months of next year, as if the Galaxy X is on the horizon then it is strongly tipped that Samsung will announce this device at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, which takes place in January.

Aside from the integrated fingerprint scanner, the Galaxy Note 9 is set to be one of the most technologically advanced smartphones in the history of mobile technology. It seems quite likely that this device will be the mobile release that finally debuts 4K technology in the Samsung product range, a feature that has been linked with the releases of the Korean corporation for quite some time.

We can expect an outstanding dual-camera to be included in the Galaxy Note 9, while other spec upgrades are also baked into the cake. Thus, the Galaxy Note 9 could well be capable of 512GB of native storage, with RAM memory also likely to receive a boost. Finally, it is almost certain that the Snapdragon 836 processor will be included in this smartphone, after it was strongly linked with the recently Google Pixel 2, despite ultimately not coming to fruition.

With the smartphone year having largely unfolded by now, attention is already turning towards next year’s Galaxy Note 9. This sequel to the Galaxy Note 8 promises to be an outstanding phablet, in what could be an exciting one for Samsung. The company has already established itself as an outstanding seller of mobile devices in 2017, and may be able to build on this in a year in which Apple should be more conservative with its iPhone range.

Although this phablet is still some way away, major manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung are always well ahead of the game with their technology. There is no doubt that preparations are already being made internally at the Korean company for the release of the Galaxy Note 9, and already rumors are emerging regarding this device.

Image Credit: Tùng Hà / Facebook.com

Concept images

With a good deal of speculation due regarding the design of the Galaxy Note 9, already concept images are emerging. Benjamin Geskin, a well-known name in the mobile industry, has already produced a set of renders for this forthcoming phablet. And the images actually provide an interesting insight into what Samsung may ultimately deliver with this next-generation device.

There are similarities with this imagined Galaxy Note 9 and both the iPhone X and existing Galaxy Note 8. However, Geskin believes that Samsung will certainly improve the display included in the Galaxy Note 9, and this will be a central feature of the smartphone.

Facial recognition

Thus, one of the key decisions that Samsung will have to make with the Galaxy Note 9 is whether or not facial recognition hardware is included in the device. There have been few rumors from close to the Korean corporation suggesting that it is particularly tinkering with this technology, but it will undoubtedly be considering the possibility after the Apple Face ID system emerged.

Foldable technology

Another possibility for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in 2018 is the introduction of the foldable technology that Samsung patented some time ago. A prototype of this unique physical element was revealed at a trade show some years ago, and it has been thought over the last few years that it is now feasible for this foldable technology to be included in consumer devices.

Indeed, Samsung has been linked with producing devices with foldable screens previously, but has always held fire on this possibility. One of the problems with this implementation is that it would undoubtedly push the price of the Galaxy Note 9 northwards, and this is something that the manufacturer would surely wish to avoid. Already the pricing of both the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone X has raised eyebrows in some quarters, and clearly Samsung would prefer to deliver a more value for money unit when the Galaxy Note 9 is unveiled.

There is also a strong argument for including the foldable technology in the Galaxy S9, which will probably hit the stores in March next year. With this series still being considered the flagship of Samsung, it could make more sense for the Korean company to include folddable technology in the S9 instead.

Interestingly, the president of Samsung’s mobile division, Koh Dong-jin, has already confirmed the intention of Samsung to release a bendable smartphone at some point next year. This would certainly be a headline of the consumer electronics year, and the technology would obviously lend itself very well to a large phablet such as the Galaxy Note 9, enabling users to place the folded device in their pockets.

Bixby improvements

Aside from the foldable screen, one of the major areas of potential improvements with the Galaxy Note 9 is its Bixby personal assistant. This software still lags behind Apple’s Siri, and it would help users of Samsung products significantly if it was more adequately able to understand the spoken word.

Battery life

Another possible improvement with the Galaxy Note 9 could be the inclusion of a larger battery. It was understandable that Samsung wished to play it safe in this department this year, as the company obviously wished to avoid a repeat of the disastrous exploding Galaxy Note 7. But there is potential for the Galaxy Note 9 to deliver a large cell, providing improved battery life. This would certainly be welcome, particularly if it could be extended to two days.

Galaxy Note 9 Price

Finally, there is no doubt that the Galaxy Note 9 will be an expensive unit. The release and pricing of the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone X this year almost absolutely guarantees this. But it would certainly be a nice token for consumers if the price tag of the Galaxy Note 9 was frozen from this year’s edition. This would keep the Galaxy Note 9 price under the psychologically important $1,000 mark.

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