Samsung Galaxy Note8: Everything we know so far

Samsung Galaxy Note8 rumor roundup

Despite the ill-fated Galaxy Note7 launch last year, Samsung is definitely not giving up on the Galaxy Note series. The Galaxy Note8 shall be the start of a new chapter for this series. Here's what we know so far about the phablet.

1.) A bigger display than the Samsung Galaxy S8+? 

Since the Galaxy Note series generally have bigger displays than their Galaxy S counterparts, it should come as no surprise that the Galaxy Note8 is tipped to have a bigger display than the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+. 

A Chinese tipster claimed in May that the Galaxy Note8 has a 6.3-inch display. This is supported by @evleaks who shared that there would be a 6.3-inch edge-to-edge AMOLED display on the Galaxy Note8. 

2.) Similar design as the Galaxy S8? 

The Galaxy Note series typically follow the same design language of the Galaxy S series, hence we do not expect the Galaxy Note8 to deviate much from the Galaxy S8. 

Based on the renders revealed by @OnLeaks and 91Mobiles, the Galaxy Note8 is likely to have a similar bezel-less design as the Galaxy S8. The chassis of the Galaxy Note8 will also be thicker as it requires more space to house the S Pen and a dual-camera module on the back. To put its size into perspective, here's a quick comparison with the Galaxy Note7 and Galaxy S8+: 

• Galaxy Note8: 162.4 x 74.5 x 8.4mm 
• Galaxy Note7: 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm 
• Galaxy S8+: 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1mm 

3.) On-screen fingerprint sensor? 

Samsung missed an opportunity to equip the Galaxy S8 with an on-screen fingerprint sensor. Would the Galaxy Note8 suffer the same fate? It appears that Samsung is still unable to overcome the technical issues of implementing the on-screen fingerprint sensor.

A Samsung official reportedly told Korean publication Naver that the on-screen fingerprint sensor will not come to the Galaxy Note8 due to "various technical limitations such as security". An industry insider also claimed that the integration of the on-screen fingerprint sensor failed as the area occupied by the fingerprint sensor looked brighter than the rest of the the screen.

The renders provided by @OnLeaks and 91Mobiles reinforced these reports that we are unlikely to see the Galaxy Not8 with an on-screen fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor would be located on the right side of the camera bump and is separated from the rear camera lens by the LED flash.

4.) Dual rear cameras 

With most of the competitors launching phones with dual-camera modules, Samsung is probably pressured to follow suit if it does not want to be seen as lagging behind in extra camera capabilities. It would be timely to bring this feature to the Galaxy Note8 and most reports agree so. 

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared in April that the Galaxy Note8 would be Samsung's first dual-camera smartphone. In addition, Kuo believes the dual-camera is "the most important upgrade" in the Galaxy Note8. The dual-camera module consists of a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, both of which have optical image stabilization and six-element lens.

Perhaps the strongest evidence of a dual-camera module appearing on the Galaxy Note8 would be the company's unveiling of four sub-brands of ISOCELL at 2017 MWC Shanghai in June. One of the four brands is known as the ISOCELL Dual, which has the features of zooming, depth sensing and low light shooting (LLS). 

A trusted source of SamMobile added that the dual-camera module on the Galaxy Note8 would be the best in its class with superior image quality (better colors, sharpness and reduced noise) and better bokeh effects (also known as background defocus) than existing dual-camera solutions. However, the source states that the Galaxy Note8 will consist of two 13MP lens (RGB + Monochrome) with f/2.0 aperture and OIS. 

Detailed renders provided by @OnLeaks and 91Mobiles confirm that the Galaxy Note8 will come with a dual-camera module on the rear. This will contribute to a thicker chassis of up to 9.5mm. 

5.) News App 

As Bixby Voice supports U.S English, Samsung could be prepping to launch a news app called News Today. SamMobile reports that the news app also supports podcasts and can be commanded by Bixby Voice. This could very well be Samsung's first native news app.

6.) Accessories 

The Galaxy Note8 could launch alongside two other accessories. They are the Bixby-powered Bluetooth earphones and smart speaker. 

ETNews claims that Samsung is still deciding whether to sell the earphones separately or bundle it with the Galaxy Note8. The Bixby-powered Bluetooth earphones reportedly have noise-cancelling technology to improve call quality. This could be Samsung's answer to Apple's AirPods. 

The Wall Street Journal also published a report about Samsung working on a voice-activated speaker which is powered by Bixby. While no specific launch date is mentioned, it is believed that the development of the smart speakers was hampered initially by the "big data issues" of Bixby Voice. 

Although Bixby Voice is finally available in U.S English, we are not expecting the smart speaker to be released anytime soon. An anonymous source told The Korea Herald that Samsung does not view the smart speakers as marketable and is likely to take a wait-and-see attitude before entering the market. 

7.) Price and Availability 

Samsung has confirmed that it will be holding its next Unpacked event on 23 August in New York City. Would the Galaxy Note8 be available right after the launch event? Well, there are a number of dates being discussed at the moment. 

Samsung Mobile President, DJ Koh reportedly revealed at a press conference in Taiwan that the Galaxy Note8 will be rolled out in two waves; South Korea, the U.S and the U.K will be the first markets to get in early September. 

Reliable tipster @evleaks claims that the Galaxy Note8 would be available in the second half of September with a price tag of €999 (~S$1,550), making it the most expensive Samsung phone yet.

Korean publication The Bell believes the Galaxy Note8 will be available for sale on 10^th September while component makers in Taiwan said the earliest availability of the Galaxy Note8 will be in September. 

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