A new report claims Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 4 on Sept. 3. The smartphone is expected to feature a 5.7-inch QHD display, UV sensor, and go on sale shortly after its announcement.
Samsung had introduced its first Android tablet a few months after Apple unveiled the original iPad. Rather than trying to directly compete with the 9.7-inch iPad, Samsung focused on portability. The first Galaxy Tab debuted at IFA in Berlin in 2010 and featured a 7-inch display.
Samsung had an even more portable tablet with telephony built-in when it unveiled the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note at IFA in 2011. It was clear that the company was attempting to create a new category in mobile computing by converging a small tablet and smartphone into a single device. The Galaxy Note was met with mixed reviews and most critics believed Samsung's 'giant' smartphone was too big for most and would become a niche product that would eventually be killed off.
The critics were wrong. Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note 2 at IFA in 2012 and launched its current Note 3 at the trade show last September. The company has already sold over 60 million Galaxy Note phablets and is about to increase that number with its upcoming Galaxy Note 4.
A new report from The Korea Times claims that Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 4 at an event in Berlin on Sept. 3, two days before IFA 2014 kicks off. The publication's source says that "Samsung is apparently looking to rush the Galaxy Note 4 out the door to try and combat Apple's new iPhone - 'iPhone 6' - which is due out the same month."
Apple is widely expected to launch a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 that will directly compete with Samsung's flagship Galaxy S5. The company will also introduce a second iPhone 6 model, which will boast a 5.5-inch display. The larger iPhone 6 marks Apple's entrance into the phablet market Samsung created, and the handset will go head to head with the Galaxy Note 4.
Samsung reportedly has a few tricks up its sleeves to combat the 5.5-inch iPhone 6. The Galaxy Note 4 is expected to feature a 5.7-inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440, easily trumping the 1920 x 1080 Full HD display Apple is expected to use in the 5.5-inch iPhone 6.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is also expected to be the first smartphone to ship with an ultraviolet sensor built-in. The sensor will reportedly measure UV radiation levels and advise Note 4 users via its S Health app to take necessary precautions like applying more sunscreen or to limit sun exposure. The company is also expected to shift from using the fingerprint scanner introduced with the Galaxy S5 to a new retina scanner that will unlock the Note 4 via its user's eye.
The Korea Times also claims that Samsung will begin sending out official invitations for its Sept. 3 Galaxy Note 4 unveiling event "soon." The Note 4 is expected to go on sale shortly after its unveiling. As always, we'll keep our eyes and ears open for any new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 details and keep you updated.
