Released alongside the Galaxy Gear yesterday was Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 smartphone, the release date and specs of which are respectively similar to the new smartwach and preceding Galaxy Note 2. Launching globally on September 25 (October for the U.S. and Japan), the Note III builds on what made the Note II so popular with users while combining a slew of next-generation features with beefed up technical specs.
Much of what was disclosed at yesterday’s press event was relatively common knowledge after both a Samsung executive confirmed the Note III’s very presence at the event prior to it kicking off and innumerable leaked photos that Samsung neither confirmed nor denied. Those offered significant insight into what the Note III would be all about and as of yesterday, we finally have validation on all counts.
The Note III, complete with the Galaxy Note series’ signature stylus S Pen, boasts a 5.7-inch Super HD AMOLED display which is .33 inches larger than its predecessor but also lighter. The battery runt at 3200mAh, the operating system of choice is Google’s latest Android 4.3, and all will run on a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. There will be two variants, one offering 16GB of internal storage and the other 32GB though both will be equipped with MicroSD support for an additional 64GB. All versions of the device will come with a robust 3GB of memory. There is a 13MP rear-facing camera that comes with autofocus and a number of great functions.
Connectivity is available viaLTE, HSPA+, WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, an infrared blaster for using the Note 3 as a universal remote, MHL 2.0, and GPS/GLONASS.
The casing is made of polycarbonate, a far cry from the likes of Apple’s signature anodized aluminum, but Samsung tried to compensate by forging a faux metallic bezel and faux leather backplate complete with fake stitching.
The specs for the Note III are certainly a step up from its previous device and the features are just as user-friendly. Samsung included a number of great operational capabilities that often sway users to purchase its device in favor of the more limited Apple iPhone 5, though sometimes they can appear rather gimmicky as they’re lack of necessity can be called into question.
The S Pen might be a turn off to some as well, despite the number of features tailored just for the Galaxy’s stylus, seeing as how swiping cues and voice-recognition are more trendy these days.
The Galaxy Note 3 will be launching in 140 countries alongside the Galaxy Gear on September 25 though won’t hit retail shelves in the U.S. and Japan until October. TechRadar thinks you should “expect the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to carry a hefty price tag” though we’ll be sure to report just what exactly that is when that information becomes available.
In the meantime, let us know your first impressions of the Galaxy Note 3 and how you think it will fare.
