Samsung has had its sweet time cornering the market on phablets. Now, less than a week before Apple introduces larger screen smartphones that are expected to cut into Samsung's share of the segment, the company is attempting to reclaim some of the buzz with its own line of big phones.
Samsung has just unveiled the Galaxy Note 4, the latest version of the phablet line that started the company's success with large smartphones. The device, which represents an upgrade from the previous Galaxy Note 3, was shown off during the company's "Unpacked" event at the Berlin IFA trade show.
Similar to the bigger version of the iPhone 6 that has been detailed in leaks, the Note 4 has a 5.7-inch display. The screen represents an improvement in both resolution and quality. The Super AMOLED display has a resolution of 2560x1440. This means that the device falls under the category of Quad HD. The resolution on such smartphones is currently the highest possible in smartphones. The device also comes with a 16 megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization that helps prevent blurry images and a 3.7 megapixel front camera with a wide shooting angle. The Galaxy Note 4 also comes with the S Pen stylus that appeared in previous versions of the phablet line. However, the stylus for the new device is said to be more sensitive than older versions.
Samsung also announced the Note Edge smartphone, which is basically a new take on the Note line. The device comes with a curved display, which is unique as far as Note models go. It has a 5.6-inch display that wraps around the right side of the phone.
According to the reports, the Note Edge will cost more than the Galaxy Note 4. The device is said to be a premium product targeted towards smartphone buyers who want something different.
The Galaxy Note 4 was unveiled with the Samsung Gear VR headset, which was developed with Facebook-owned Oculus. The headset, which is a wearable device that wraps around the eyes, is only currently compatible with the Note 4.
Samsung did not provide any information on pricing. However, the Galaxy Note 4 is expected to ship in October while the Note Edge is expected to be available later this year. There's no word yet on when Gear VR headset will be available.
