The Galaxy Note 8 unveiling is less than four weeks away. While Samsung fans wait for the next-gen phablet, the device has received certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States. It means the Korean electronics behemoth has thoroughly tested the device, and the phone is now be consumer ready. The Galaxy Note 8 unveiling event will take place in New York City on August 23rd.
Four versions of Note 8 get FCC certification
The four variants of the Note 8 that received FCC certification are: SM-N950U, SM-N950U1, SM-N950XU, and SM-N950W. Of them, the SM-N950U is believed to be the base model. The new Note 8 will support both GSM and CDMA networks to ensure full compatibility with the US carriers, reports Android Authority. The phablet is said to be compatible with LTE band 66.
Interestingly, the FCC certification did not contain any evidence of the 600MHz band 71, which T-Mobile will start supporting later this year. The Galaxy Note 8 and LG’s V30 were rumored to be the first smartphones to support T-Mobile’s 600MHz band. The FCC documents do not reveal the phone’s design or hardware specifications. The Note 8 specs are no longer a secret, anyway.
Fresh renders leaked ahead of Galaxy Note 8 unveiling
Gordon Kelly of Forbes has obtained Galaxy Note 8 renders from smartphone accessories maker Ghostek, which had accurately leaked the Galaxy S8 design in the past. The renders show the device from all sides. The renders reiterate the giant Infinity display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, which has been tipped for a long time. The Note 8 is said to sport a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display.
The renders also show the Galaxy Note 8’s biggest feature: a dual-camera setup on the back. The cameras are arranged horizontally. Unfortunately, the fingerprint scanner will remain on the back panel. Samsung has decided not to include the in-display fingerprint solution due to technical and security issues. On the Note 8, the LED flash and heart rate sensor sit between the fingerprint sensor and the dual camera system.
Samsung has retained the 3.5mm headphone jack, which should be a major relief for consumers who love the traditional headphones. The Note 8 also features a USB Type-C port for charging. Gordon Kelly notes that Ghostek’s renders are based on information obtained from supply chain sources. Ghostek seems fully confident in its sources given the fact that the renders are for its Cloak series of cases. Ghostek is currently preparing them for launch, notes Kelly.
Samsung’s sister firm reveals Note 8 dual camera details
The Note 8 dual camera setup seems to be a certainty. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently told investors that the Note 8 dual camera would consist of a 13-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 12MP telephoto lens. In June, Samsung unveiled a new dual camera sensor called ISOCELL Dual, which is expected to be used in the Note 8. Now Samsung’s sister firm has revealed key details about the dual camera setup.
Word in the supply chain is that Samsung Electro-Mechanics will be the sole supplier of dual camera sensors for the Note 8. Samsung Electro-Mechanics revealed that the dual camera would include a “Smart Zoom” feature that will offer 3x optical zoom. There will also be a “Refocus” feature that will measure the depth of field to let users blur the foreground or background even after the photo has been taken.
The improved sensors will ensure that the Note 8 camera performs well in low-light conditions. The phone’s camera will have two more features called the Background effect and Perspective View. These features will allow users to edit photos after they have been taken to make them more appealing. The Note 8 dual camera is said to be better than the iPhone 7 Plus.
Galaxy Note 8 hardware specs
The Galaxy Note 8 is expected to pack 6GB RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. There will also be a microSD card to let you further expand the storage. It will run Android Nougat out of the box, though Samsung may push out an Android O update later this year to Note 8 users. The rumor mill claims the Note 8 will sport a smaller battery than the Galaxy S8 Plus. The S8 Plus packs a 3500mAh battery, but the Note 8 is expected to come with a 3300mAh battery.
The Galaxy Note line with its giant display and S Pen stylus has always focused on multitasking and multimedia consumption. A Samsung executive said during its latest earnings call that the Note 8 would bring “richer multimedia functionalities.” It will be the Korean company’s strongest product for multimedia consumption.
Note 8 pre-orders to open on August 25?
The Galaxy Note 8 unveiling will happen on August 23, and pre-orders will begin soon after the announcement. A recently leaked Samsung document suggested that the company will start taking pre-orders for the Note 8 on August 25 in Australia. The company has since pulled the document from its site. However, the Australian pre-order date indicates that Samsung could start pre-orders in other regions such as the US, China, and Europe on the same day.
Note 8 is rumored to be Samsung’s most expensive flagship smartphone ever. At least one storage option of the device would cost above €1,000 in European markets. Industry experts will closely monitor the Note 8 launch and subsequent sales numbers because it is a successor to the disastrous Galaxy Note 7. The real test for Samsung will not be the Galaxy Note 8 unveiling, but rolling out the device without major technical issues.
