Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date and news

 

 update: It's here! The Galaxy Note 3 has been officially unveiled to world at Samsung Unpacked 2013, as part of IFA 2013.
With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now out of the way the door has been thrown open for the Korean firm's other high-end smartphone to get a reboot in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
Rumours are circulating about Samsung's next super-sized handset, suggesting it's going to get even bigger - even though the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 raised eyebrows with its larger size
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Samsung executive J.K. Shin has confirmed the existence of the Galaxy Note 3, revealing it will feature a non-flexible 5.9-inch OLED display.
Samsung Kazakhstan has also slipped up, accidentally revealing the Galaxy Note 3 on its official website alongside the Galaxy Z4 Zoom and Galaxy Tab 3 10.1.
Watch Samsung's IFA 2013 press conference for all the news as it's released:

Galaxy Note 3 release date and price

Update: the rumors weren't far off, the Galaxy Note 3 will be rolling out September 25.
After a tentative Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date of September 4 was leaked a while back the Korean firm has now revealed that it will be holding an Unpacked event on that date at IFA 2013.

We've already had one Unpacked event this year which saw the introduction of the Galaxy S4 and "Episode 2" (as Samsung is calling it) carries the tagline "Note the date" - wonder what it might be announcing?
You can expect the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to carry a hefty price tag, probably in line with the Galaxy S4 - making it more expensive than its Chinese rivals the ZTE Grand Memo and the Huawei Ascend Mate.

The Note 3 will probably set you back at least £550 (around $800/AU$770) give or take, plus there will be regional variances too.
In terms of when you can expect it to hit stores a report in Taiwan is suggesting the Galaxy Note 3 release date is set for September 27 - which would be three weeks after the launch event.
However, a later report from the Three network in the UK says that the Galaxy Note 3 release date will actually be September 24 - which would be even closer to the launch event.

Does the screen need to get bigger?

Update: the now revealed Note 3 has a slightly taller 5.7-inch display, with the same width as its predecessor.
The screen has sized up a bit, but the weight is actually down. The Note 3 tips the scales at 168g, compared the 183g of the Note 2. Due to sheer size it's still a two-handed device though.
Early reports pointed towards a whopping 6.3-inch display, which would see the handset dwarf the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate and 5.7-inch Grand Memo.
Other sources have claimed that the Galaxy Note 3 could actually pack a slightly more modest 5.9-inch AMOLED screen.
We thought Samsung may have let the cat out of the bag on its own website after listing a smartphone accessory compatible with screens from "4- to 6.3-inches", potentially hinting at a massive display bump for the Note 3 - although with the announcement of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 this is now less likely.
Screen size, then, remains a mystery but that's not the only quandary we have regarding the display on the Galaxy Note 3. Oh no, there are now reports suggesting it will be the first phone to sport a flexible OLED display.
Samsung did show off such a display at CES 2013 - although it wasn't part of a phone at the time and we reckon there's still some way to go before it's ready to hit our handsets, but it certainly gives us food for thought - especially now there are reports that Samsung is mulling three designs, one of which includes a flexible option.
We're also hearing that the Galaxy Note 3 may actually pack a 5.99-inch, Full HD display (although this came from unknown "inside sources"), as well as word that Samsung is potentially working on a number of variants with varying screen sizes.
Could this be Samsung replacing the Note range, or adding more feathers to its super-sized cap?
With JK Shin "confirming" the existence of the Galaxy Note 3, the Samsung exec is also reported revealing the 5.9-inch OLED display the super sized handset will pack.
The 6-inch screen size gets another shout out as part of an image leak on Twitter, with @punkpanda noting the screen was "accounting for 84%" of the front of the device.
A full HD resolution looks to be pretty much on the cards whatever size the screen ends up being after more leaks pointed towards 1080 x 1920 for the Galaxy Note 3.
Update: A couple of images have popped up on ETrade Supply apparently outing the display for the Galaxy Note 3 as a 5.68-inch affair.

Credit: ETrade Supply

More multi-tasking and enhanced S Pen

With a big screen comes big possibilities. The new Galaxy Note 3's combination of large display and S Pen stylus are designed to make running multiple apps in windows easier and more intuitive.

Windowed apps have long been a part of Samsung's TouchWiz software, but the Note 3 has given it an overhaul. The S Pen can used to open the Air Command wheel to launch apps or write directly on the screen.

To keep all those windows manageable, you can set a window's size by drawing a box, then turn into the app you want. That way you can have two side by chats or browser windows, or any set of multiple apps you choose.

Galaxy Note 3 operating system conundrum

Update: Samsung has confirmed that the Note 3 will launch with Android 4.3.
We can be pretty sure that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will roll up running Google's Android platform, but which particular version that will be is not so black and white.
Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie was expected to be announced at Google's IO event in May, but it failed to materialise and since then we've seen the search giant launch a new version of Jelly Bean, Android 4.3.
However if history has taught us anything it's that assuming is for fools - as we've seen numerous handsets launched with older versions of Android - but Key Lime Pie is pretty unlikely and there's no guarantee the Galaxy Note 3 will arrive with Android 4.3 on board.
It could well run Android 4.2 out of the box, but he latest reports do point towards the Note 3 running Android 4.3.

Galaxy Note 3 specs

Update: Samsung has released the all the dirty details on the Note 3's internals. Like the Galaxy S4, there will be two different version for the 4G LTE and 3G markets.
The LTE version of the Galaxy Note 3 will pack a quadcore 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor. In 3G markets it'll have a 1.9GHz Samsung Exynos octacore. Both versions will have a fat 3GB of RAM. That should make it a multi-tasking monster.
There's a 3200 mAh battery in there as well. Samsung is claiming that step up in cell size means 30% more video watching time, compared with the Note 2.
The big screen won't be the only feature Samsung will want to shout about though, as you can expect the Galaxy Note 3 to be packing some serious tech under the hood.

Check out Samsung's Your Mobile Life to discover loads more about the infinite possibilities of the GALAXY Note II

It could be another industry leading handset (the Note 2 was the most powerful smartphone when it launched) with reports suggesting it will follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy S4 with a ridiculous octa-core chip.
And like the Galaxy S4 the Exynos 5 Octa version may not be available in some markets with Qualcomm's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core chip likely to feature in some variants.
Update: There are now reports that the octa-core version of the Galaxy Note 3 has been put on hold with no launch for the UK, US or Australia in the near future. Looks like we may have to settle for quad-core after all.
As this device will fall into Samsung's "Note" family you can expect the fabled S-Pen to make another appearance here as it looks to rub shoulders with the Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1.
According to Android Geeks a software engineer has spilled the beans on the S Orb camera feature which is apparently destined to debut on the Galaxy Note 3, after reports earlier this year suggested it would arrive on the Galaxy S4.
The usually reliable SamMobile has also had its say on the Note 3, with its own "inside sources" claiming the handset will be the most powerful in the world with a octa-core processor, eight-core GPU, 3GB of RAM, 5.99-inch Full HD display and a 13MP rear camera.
There's been further leaks surrounding that 13MP camera, with news claiming the snapper will sport optical image stabilisation tech, which will apparently give traditional cameras a run for their money.
Update: According to "industry officials" the Galaxy Note 3's camera could well support 4K video recording, although we reckon this is highly unlikely.
4K recordings would take up vast amounts of storage on the handset and there are very few devices the video can be properly enjoyed on at the moment.
The suggestion of 3GB of RAM was given another boost by a second source "confirming" the memory of the Note 3 and since then reports that Samsung has been ramping up production of 3GB RAM has added further fuel to the fire.
Apparently the Galaxy Note 3 will measure 8mm in thickness and weigh in at 183g, so slimmer than the Galaxy Note 2, but pretty much the same weight.
With all that power, and of course the huge display the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is going to need a decent battery and the latest from the rumour mill points toward a 3450mAh power pack which would beat the 3000mAh battery in the Sony Z Xperia Ultra.
Update: It's not just what's on the inside that counts, with Samsung tipped to launch the Galaxy Note 3 in a trio of colours - black, white and pink. It's all very exciting.

Plastic or metal?

Update: Yup, it's plastic, but the back cover features faux-leather and stitching, for emphasis on a nice in-hand feeling.
Many were hoping the Samsung Galaxy S4 would see the Korean firm change its way when it came to chassis construction - ditching the plastic for a fancier metallic finish, but alas this wasn't the case.

The whole plastic vs metal debate isn't over though and now rumours are suggesting the Galaxy Note 3 could well sport a hard alloy case.
SamMobile sources reckon the HTC One has "worried" Samsung, leading the manufacturer to consider a new material for the Note 3.
We've also seen an image slip out online claiming to show the metallic body of the Galaxy Note 3 and a completely new design language for Samsung - although we're not overly convinced by this.

Those hoping Samsung will pull out some premium materials for the Galaxy Note 3 may have their dreams dashed as inside sources claim the handset will follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 in terms of design.
More images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 have surface, this time showing off a rounder handset which bears more of a resemblance to the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4.