No matter how you look at it, 2016 was a year most could look back and say that it was a year to forget, and that’s without including the various political upheavals. For Samsung in particular, 2016 was the worse year in its history, one that was dominated by the Note 7 scandal. So in this article, we’re going to look at the latest Galaxy Note 8 rumors and try to determine if it could save Samsung.
Galaxy Note 8 rising from the ashes
Samsung will likely be glad to see the back of 2016. What with the Note 7 fiasco, being sued, and the possible breakup. However, 2017 is expected to be a big improvement for the South Korean company because of rumors about two new handsets set for release that year.
These handsets are, of course, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8, with the first being near 100% certain of being released. However, there is still some doubt about the Note 8’s existence, as the Note range had been thought to have been on the rubbish pile after this year’s troubles. And who could have blamed Samsung for taking such action? After all, it had spent millions of dollars developing the handset, only for it to fall from grace quickly, costing it and its suppliers so much money.
But in what could be one of the bravest steps ever taken by a tech manufacturer, it could well release another of its phablets in the form of the Galaxy Note 8, and if the rumors are accurate, this all-new device could hit the shelves sometime in Q2 2017. Here’s what the rumors are saying.
Dual-screen display
A new form factor has long been called for by critics and users of smartphones worldwide, and Samsung has proven itself to be a pioneer in this field thanks to its Galaxy Edge devices. However, many consider them to be just scratching the surface of what is technologically possible, and it would appear that Samsung has finally decided to push the boat out because it agrees.
The Galaxy Note 8 is rumored to be one of the most uniquely designed handsets for the past decade or more because the rumor suggests it will come with an outwardly folding dual-screen display! These displays will reportedly be located on the front and rear of the device. Although there are no details on this, some have suggested that Samsung will cautiously introduce this design, meaning that at first a small amount will be released so that it can judge consumer response. Then if all goes well, it will reportedly release more of the Galaxy Note 8 devices with foldable dual-screen displays.
AI voice assistant
S-Voice was once Samsung’s pride and joy, an AI assistant which it hoped would take on Apple’s Siri. However, as the years have gone by, it just wasn’t accepted, so now it could be replaced.
Samsung is said to be working with some of the original creators of Apple’s Siri, and the replacement is reportedly named Bixby. Apparently, it will enable a user to use voice commands to order a pizza or book a restaurant table. In doing this, it will combine conversational language and super-fast data searches. It will also be able to retrieve results via third-party applications, respond to voice queries and dictate messages.
Non-Samsung battery
Recent reports surrounding Samsung’s reluctance to take a chance with batteries could be true, as reports about the tech giant doing a deal with its rival LG Chem are circling. Apparently, LG Chem could be one of a few suppliers of batteries for all future Samsung handsets and not just for the Galaxy Note 8.
This is seen as a good move by the tech giant as it attempts to repair the damage done to its reputation. This move would remove any doubt as to the safety of the battery in future handsets.
Improved camera
Just over a month ago, folks at Yahoo spotted a Samsung patent application which revealed it was working on a new camera. This application did not directly specify that it was for the Galaxy Note 8, but it was for a phablet-sized device, which, for the most part, the S range of devices has not yet reached. However, it did state that a new user interface which would incorporate new touchscreen gestures for zooming would be developed.
Additional camera rumors have the Note 8 featuring a dual-lens setup similar to what is found on the iPhone 7 Plus. All that is known is about the specs of the camera is that it will have two 20MP rear sensors.
Increased RAM and internal storage
Dual-screen displays would mean more battery power and that more overall grunt are required to power such a device. So the news that the handset could have a massive 6GB of RAM only helps such a rumor be believed. As for onboard storage, it’s thought that a starting amount of 128GB is likely, as is the continued use of MicroSD expansion cards.
Whatever Samsung decides to do with the Galaxy Note 8, it certainly has a lot to lose but even more to gain. So for that reason, we cannot see a reason why it would not come out fighting in 2017. After all, it’s not the only tech giant facing tough times at the moment, as Apple has faced declining sales. So it too will have something to prove in 2017, all of which means next year could be one of the most exciting in mobile technology.
