Samsung's greedy when it comes to flagship smartphones. One simply isn't enough. The Galaxy S5 represents the pinnacle of its smartphone endeavors, and the Galaxy Note 3 is its current top-of-the-range smartphone/tablet hybrid. Announced in September 2013, it's already halfway through its life, and it'll inevitably be replaced by the Galaxy Note 4 around the same time this year. It's early days, but rumors, speculation, and gossip are already giving us some clues about the next big thing from Samsung, so let's take a closer look.
Updated on 05-23-2014 by Williams Pelegrin: Several reported features of the Galaxy Note 4 have been leaked, as well as the September 3 unveiling of the unannounced handset. We've added them in below.
It'll almost certainly be called the Galaxy Note 4
Samsung likes numbers, and if the Galaxy S5 has proven anything, it's that the company isn't afraid to keep counting upwards. We doubt it'll start adding meaningless code numbers to the title, or the word "new" to its title, so expect the Note 3 sequel to be known as the Galaxy Note 4.
A leak has given the Galaxy Note 4 the model number of N910, and Samsung is apparently using the codename Muscat internally. The Galaxy Note 3′s primary model number is the N9000, so this does seem logical, and we can also expect the company to add numbers on to the end, so as to differentiate between different versions.
When will Galaxy Note 4 be announced?
Samsung likes to show off its Note hybrid devices at the IFA tech show in Berlin, which takes place September 4-10 this year. If it's to stick with tradition, we'll see the Note 4 during an Unpacked event around this time. However, there is a chance it'll be revealed a little earlier, if Samsung follows the strategy it employed with the Galaxy S5.
At the beginning of April, anonymous Samsung sources told the Korea Times the company was considering holding an event during the IFA show this year, and was "in the middle of finalizing the specification" for the Note 4.
Meanwhile, AndroidGeeks, which correctly leaked last year's Galaxy Note 3 launch date, reported that the Note 4 will be unveiled on September 3, two days before this year's IFA kicks off. According to the report, Samsung will begin sending out invites to the event in mid-August.
What will GN4 look like?
Aside from looking very big, we don't know yet. According to Samsung executive Yoon Han-kil, who spoke to Reuters on a variety of subjects, this year's Galaxy Note will have a new design, but he didn't elaborate any further. However, he did talk about the company's need to break into the premium market. Does this mean we'll finally get a metal Galaxy phone, or will the Note 4 take on the curved screen seen on the Galaxy Round?
How big will the screen be?
A massive screen is the Galaxy Note range's claim to fame. The original Note had a 5.3-inch display, the Note 2 upped this to 5.5-inches, and the Note 3 has a giant 5.7-inch screen. It seems the only way is up for the Note 4, and if it's another 0.2-inch rise, then it will have a 5.9-inch display.
There's a chance Samsung may not follow tradition with the Note 4. A leak published by GSMArena indicates it'll stick with the 5.7-inch screen from the Galaxy Note 3, and instead increase the resolution to make it standout. This fits in with the current trend, and could mean the Note 4 is Samsung's second phone of 2014 to feature a 1440p display.
Samsung considers bendable display for Note 4
The size of the display may not be the headline feature though. At the beginning of January, a Samsung patent was uncovered showing what could be the Note 4, complete with a curved-edge display, making it look like the screen doesn't have a bezel. The design is different to existing Note phones, due to there being no hardware Home button on the front panel. There is a slot for the S Pen stylus, though. A source inside Samsung told this Korean publication a curved screen was "one possible option" for the Note 4.
Subsequently, Samsung's Lee Younghee spoke to the Wall Street Journal, and said the firm is considering using a flexible display for a future Note phone. There is a difference between a display which is curved, and one which is flexible. Samsung has currently only experimented with the former. Apparently, Samsung's still at the early design stages for this unofficial phone, and it's not certain it'll end up being the Note 4 at all.
What about the resolution?
The Note 3 has a 1080p resolution screen, just like the Galaxy S5. However, by the end of the year, phones with a 1440p resolution will probably be more common, perhaps starting with the LG G3 before the summer. Will Samsung opt for a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution for the Note 4?
Rumors spread that Samsung would use a 1440p screen on the Galaxy S5, which didn't happen, so one on the Note 4 is certainly possible. A Chinese source posted a basic spec list for the Note 4 at the start of April, showing the device with a 1440p display.
Another report suggests Samsung may go down the same route as Oppo, offering a standard Find 7 smartphone with a 1080p screen, and a premium version with the full 1440p display. We heard similar talk related to the Galaxy S5, but in relation to the materials used for its construction.
The same leak which suggested Samsung will stay with the 5.7-inch screen size seen on the Note 3, also listed the Galaxy Note 4 with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution.
Handwriting recognition could change the way the Note 4 is unlocked
A Samsung patent has hinted the Note 4 may come with advanced handwriting recognition, which will make better use of the S Pen stylus. The first aspect of this new feature may improve security on the phone. Instead of using a PIN code to unlock the phone, or a pattern system like Knock Code on LG smartphones, the Note 4 may recognize a signature drawn on the lock screen using the stylus.
Additionally, by writing the name of an app, or a specific command, the phone could be unlocked with the app automatically opening, or the command being carried out. For example, calling the office, or your partner, without having to do anything other than writing their name and the word "call" on the lock screen.
Is Samsung testing out new features for the Galaxy Note 4?
According to a report from SamMobile, Samsung is experimenting with four features: Multi Network for Booster, Aqua Capture, Swipe to Launch Motion Launcher, and Smart Fingerprint.
Multi Network for Booster could end up being the Download Booster feature found on the Galaxy S5, which allowed you to use Wi-Fi and a mobile data connection for faster downloads. Some carriers weren't too keen in letting consumers use the feature, and it will likely feel the same way if it comes to the Note 4. Meanwhile, Swipe to Launch Motion Launcher will likely exhibit the same functionality that's found on the HTC One M8 in that you can wake up the Note 4 or go into the camera app with a swiping gesture.
Aqua Capture will presumably allow you to take pictures underwater while improving from its previous iteration, which was found on the Galaxy S4 Active in the form of Aqua Mode. Finally, Smart Fingerprint will likely be an iteration of the fingerprint scanner found on the Galaxy S5, allowing for greater functionality of the scanner. SamMobile notes that these features aren't final and they could change over time, though we're likely to hear more news about possible Note 4 features in the coming months.
How about the other specs?
Snapdragon 805 Processor: Let's start with the processor. Samsung has chosen the Snapdragon 801 for the Galaxy S5, which it could also repeat with the Note 4. However, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 805 is expected to be ready for the second half of 2014, making it a possible candidate, too. Some reports have linked the Note 4 with Qualcomm's 64-bit Snapdragon 810, but its 2015 release date makes this highly unlikely. No matter which of these processors it has, it will be a very fast phone.
4GB RAM: In the past, Samsung has stuffed plenty of RAM inside the Note phones, and this year may be no different. Its newly developed LPDDR4 mobile memory – smaller, faster, and more energy efficient than current options – could make 4GB of RAM possible on the Note 4.
128GB Memory and a huge battery: A Chinese report agrees, and adds the Note 4 may also come with 128GB of internal memory, and a battery between 3,600mAh and 3,800mAh in size. It also mentions 4G LTE, 4K video recording, and dual-band Wi-Fi.
Waterproof: Like the Galaxy S5, there's a good chance the Note 4 will be waterproof. Samsung reportedly cancelled a large phone antenna order in favor of ones that would be easier to waterproof, but the technology wasn't available at the time the Galaxy S5 was in production. It could make it into the Galaxy Note 4, though. We'd also expect Android 4.4 KitKat to be installed as the operating system. Compatibility with the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, and the Gear Fit is also almost certain.
20.7-megapixel camera: Finally, rumors have suggested Samsung will fit a 20.7-megapixel camera to the Note 4. We've seen evidence Samsung is planning to introduce 20-megapixel cameras across its high-end devices in 2015, but stated it would stick with 16-megapixel cameras throughout 2014, so we'll have to wait and see on this one.
We're still several months away from the Galaxy Note 4′s official launch, so we'll be updating this article as more news emerges.
Updated on 05-20-2014 by Andy: Added in more rumors of a 2560 x 1440 pixel screen, a possible model number for the device, and talk of a flexible, 5.7-inch screen.
Article originally published on 04-19-2014
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