Samsung has listed a new variant of its just-released Galaxy Note 4 phablet on its website. Verizon Wireless is set to get the Note 4 Developer Edition soon, which is the same Galaxy Note 4 it offers but at a lower price and with an unlocked boot loader.
We've watched smartphones take the place of feature phones as more users have viewed an always-on Internet connection as a necessity, rather than just a toy for geeks. The popularity of devices like Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy series have made both companies the biggest players in the smartphone game by a wide margin.
Apple released its latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in late September and the larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays have proven to be extremely popular with consumers. The smartphones are still sold out when purchasing from Apple's online store but can be tracked down in retail stores, along with deals to entice customers into switching carriers or trading in older smartphones to reduce the overall cost of the upgrade.
While Apple has accused Samsung of copying the look of both its iPhones and iPads, the company's latest and larger iPhones take some "inspiration" from the large smartphone trend Samsung began. The iPhone 6 Plus also marks Apple's first foray into the phablet category Samsung pioneered with its Galaxy Note series. The company is already on its fourth-generation phablet and the just-released Galaxy Note 4 is available on all major carriers in the U.S. and will be competing directly with the iPhone 6 Plus and Google's Motorola-built Nexus 6.
Samsung has never been shy about flooding the market with variants of its existing smartphone lineup and we recently reported that the curved display Galaxy Note Edge phablet is heading to Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile in the near future. Verizon is slated to offer the Note Edge, and Samsung has quietly confirmed the carrier will also offer a new Galaxy Note 4 variant.
Samsung has listed the Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition on its online store and has listed the phablet as "coming soon." The Note 4 Developer Edition is the same 5.7-inch Quad HD display phablet Verizon is currently selling off contract for $699, but includes an unlockable bootloader. That makes it easier for developers and tinkerers to test the device and allow the installation of custom ROMS, steps which let users remove the confines Samsung and Verizon are notoriously known for placing on all of their Android devices.
The Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition is listed as coming soon and Samsung has priced it $662.53, which is actually $30 lower than the Verizon non-developer Note 4 off contract. The Verizon Note 4 Developer Edition is reportedly waiting for FCC approval, which is why Samsung can't sell it yet, but it's expected to become available
Once we hear any news on when you can expect the phablet to officially go on sale, we'll report back.
