Samsung is expected to include several new features in the forthcoming Galaxy S8 Plus, with the anticipation being that these will ultimately trickle down into a Galaxy Note 8 release later in 2017. In previous generations, the Galaxy Note has been more powerful than the Galaxy S series, with this contributing to the exalted reputation of the phablet range.

But after the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, it seems that Samsung is reconsidering the way that it positions its major devices. Murmurings indicate that Samsung may release two phablet devices during its spring launch, with the larger of these two, the Galaxy S8 Plus, featuring a 6.2-inch display. This would make the scale of the handset similar to that of the Galaxy Note 7, which had 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm dimensions and a 3,500 mAh battery; the latter having already being linked with the forthcoming Galaxy S8 Plus.

S Pen stylus

However, one way that Samsung could differentiate between the two devices is with the inclusion of the S Pen stylus with the Galaxy Note 8. While this has been a staple of the Galaxy Note range for some years, the company is not expected to include a similar device with the Galaxy S8 Plus.

Indeed, the S Pen could very well be a major focus of both technology and marketing in the Galaxy Note 8 generation. An integrated speaker is expected when the S Pen for the Galaxy Note 8 emerges, with Samsung apparently working on some revolutionary features for this stylus.

But in other aspects, the Galaxy S8 Plus is expected to act as a testing ground for the Galaxy Note 8, with Samsung needing to produce a particularly stable device after the exploding Galaxy Note 7 was recalled. This will mean that there is a significant amount of design crossover between the Galaxy S8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8, with Samsung ensuring that features are tested in the real world before being integrated into the next generation phablet.

Slimmed down bezels

Early Galaxy S8 leaks have hinted at a device with extremely thin bezels and a virtually wraparound display, and it is expected that the Galaxy Note 8 will also reflect this ethos. This would suggest that the next generation phablet will be approximately the same size as the doomed Galaxy Note 7, but also incorporating a larger display.

4K display

Rumors this week have also suggested that the Galaxy S8 will benefit from a 4K resolution display, and if this is indeed the case it is an absolute certainty that we will see a 4K resolution screen as part of the Galaxy Note 8 spec list. There is no doubt that 4K resolution is becoming a bigger part of the mainstream technology landscape, and with Samsung having been so associated with screen technology it would be a natural move for the corporation to embrace 4K in 2017. Samsung has been the largest seller of television sets for some years, and thus the Korean company’s display technology is particularly lauded.

LineageOS

In other news this week, it has been announced that support for LineageOS has been stepped up for several devices. LineageOS is a free and open-source operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android mobile platform, providing smartphone and tablet owners with an alternative to mainstream OS.

With LineageOS having migrated to the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge and Galaxy Note 8 tablet, it is expected that the operating system will be available for both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 when these two devices emerge. This will Provide purchasers of the two flagship Samsung phones with an additional operating system option this year.

Slim handset

Aside from the reliability of the Galaxy Note 8, it is obvious that the device must also deliver an impressive package in order to make consumers forget about the Note 7 debacle. While Apple has long since been fixated on ensuring that its device releases are particularly slim, it is suggested that Samsung will attempt to do something outstanding in this department with the Galaxy Note 8.

Recent reports have even indicated that the depth of this device may be less than 8mm, making this the slimmest phablet that Samsung has ever released. Considering that this will be coupled with a significant increase in the size of the device’s display, and one can see that there will be a sizeable design evolution with the Galaxy Note 8.

Wireless charging

Another interesting area related to the Galaxy Note 8 is the wireless charging capabilities of the handset. It is increasingly expected that Apple will introduce a revolutionary new wireless charging system when the iPhone 8 is released, and that this will enable users of the iconic device to charge the iPhone 8 from a distance of 15 feet. This has never been achieved in any other smartphone previously, and thus heaps pressure on Samsung to improve the wireless charging capabilities of the Galaxy Note series.

There hasn’t been a huge amount of information in the media about how the system in the Galaxy Note 8 will operate, but there have been rumors from close to the Samsung supply chain that the company is working on an ultra-fast form of wireless charging. This has been patented previously, and with Samsung always keen to match Apple in every smartphone department, it has plenty of time to implement this in order to ensure that the Note 8 can compete with the iPhone 8.

Core hardware

One can expect the Galaxy Note 8 to be hugely powerful in order to provide an outstanding virtual reality and graphics experience. And the latest hardware being linked with this device is the Exynos 8895M. When paired with 6GB of RAM, this will ensure that the Note 8 is arguably the most powerful phablet on the market.

4K display

There is still no official news on the Galaxy Note 8, other than Samsung confirming its intention to release the device later this year. However, reports are multiplying which suggest that the Galaxy Note 8 may benefit from a 4K display. BGR reported on this possibility recently, also suggesting that this will pave the way for the device to be virtual reality compatible.

Virtual reality

Business Korea has also been reporting on this possibility, suggesting that the device will be particularly compatible with the Gear virtual reality wearable device. The publication quoted an unnamed Samsung executive as saying that “Samsung will introduce 2K resolution displays in the Galaxy S8, but it will use 4K resolution displays in the Galaxy Note 8 to realize improved virtual reality functions. I heard that it will connect with new Gear VR wearable.”

Virtual reality is becoming an increasingly important part of the technology landscape, and companies such as Apple and Samsung are clearly attempting to acquire a slice of the VR pie. It is stated that Apple is more interested in augmented reality than Samsung, but both of these technology giants are clearly considering this sphere carefully.

Release date

The release date of the Galaxy Note 8 still remains up in the air, with the unveiling of the Galaxy S8 having been moved back compared to previous years. It is thus largely believed that the Galaxy Note 8 may arrive later than previous releases in the series, although an August date is still likely, considering that the iPhone 8 will hit the stores in September.

S Pen speaker

Analysts still believe that Samsung will integrate a speaker into the S pen stylus included with the Galaxy Note 8, following a patent being published by the US Patent & Trademark Office back in September. “When the pen is being stored in the Galaxy Note body, the speaker, which is in the pen shaft, carries sound through the pen and exists at the top of the pen via a new speaker. When the pen is removed for the Note device the sound simply travels from the internal speaker through the pen shaft opening,” the document notes.

This opens up some intriguing possibilities for the stylus included with the Galaxy Note 8, with Samsung likely to promote this as a major innovation and selling point of the device.

Harman clue

Finally, expect the Galaxy Note 8 to have an automotive focus. Samsung announced its purchase of the car audio manufacturer Harman back in November for $8 billion, clearly with the intention of achieving a major footing in the connected car market. With this focus, 4K technology, a new stylus and the Bixby AI assistant included, the Galaxy Note 8 promises to be an exciting device.

Massive display

It is believed that Samsung will significantly increase the display size included in the Galaxy Note 8 in comparison to previous releases in the series. Thus, we may see a mobile with a 6.2-inch display emerge in this generation. In order to achieve this, Samsung is also likely to slim down the bezels included in the device, something that Apple has also been linked with achieving when the iPhone 8 is released.

Foldable screen

There have also been suggestions this week that Samsung could consider including a foldable display in the Galaxy Note 8. This technology has been available to the Korean corporation for some years, at least in prototype form, but it seems that it is about ready to appear in a mainstream mobile.

Bixby gender

Another rumor circulating relates to the Bixby AI assistant that it already known to be part of the makeup of this phablet. It is suggested by sources close to the Samsung supply chain that Bixby will feature male and female versions in order to appeal to consumers of both genders.

Iris scanner

It is also increasingly expected that Samsung will include an iris scanner in the Galaxy Note 8 when the device is released. This would seem to be a vital feature for the Korean corporation, with security issues increasingly important in the mobile sphere. Not only will Samsung embrace iris scanning when it unveils the Galaxy Note 8, but reports also suggest that it will incorporate some of the most advanced technology ever seen in this feature.

6GB RAM

Also, despite the fact that the Galaxy Note 7 featured an impressive quantity of memory, Samsung is expected to bump up this aspect of the Galaxy Note range still further. Indeed, predictions suggest that the Galaxy Note 8 will benefit from 50 per cent more memory than its predecessor, with 6GB included.

Battery talks

Meanwhile, negotiations continue on the batteries to be included in the Galaxy Note 8, with Samsung likely to change things up slightly. Reports have emerged which suggest that the manufacturer will stick with its usual battery supplier for at least some of the Galaxy Note 8 units. But both Sony and LG have been courted to deliver replacement batteries in Samsung’s native East Asia, and this could give an indication regarding the direction of future policy in this area.

India focus

Finally, a report this week suggested that Samsung will particularly target India with the Galaxy Note 8, in order to significantly increase its market share in the Asian nation. Samsung has already moved to deny reports that it would sell refurbished versions of the Galaxy Note 7 in India. Now analysts suggest that India will be a particularly important marketplace for the Galaxy Note 8, as Samsung tweaks its industrial strategy for 2017.

Caution first

The most likely explanation for this is that Samsung feels extremely cautious about the fate of its hardware devices following the disastrous Galaxy Note 7. This means that the East Asian corporation is ducking its usual Mobile World Congress date in Barcelona, pushing back the release of its major smartphone to ensure that everything is perfect.

This is absolutely certain to have a knock-on impact on the Galaxy Note 8, with the major phablet from Samsung Send it to being released no earlier than usual, and possibly even been posted back slightly. Market analysts are suggesting that the next generation phablet will now arrive in August, possibly just weeks before the release of the tenth generation iPhone 8.

Home button gone

When unveiling the Galaxy S8, Samsung included an outline of the device in a teaser image. Encouraging users to “unbox” their phone as a tagline, the Galaxy S8 did provide us with significant clues as to how the final device will turn out. And most notable were the extremely slim bezels included in the Galaxy S8, and the suggestion that the Home button will be axed.

This latter aspect of the S8 has been commonly linked with the entire Samsung device range, and indeed Apple is also expected to ditch the Home button when the iPhone 8 is revealed. So it seems reasonable to assume that Samsung will also remove the Home button from the Galaxy Note 8. Some form of integrated screen technology will be utilized instead in order to deliver the functions usually associated with the Home button.

4K Infinity

In other news, suggestions that Samsung will arm the Galaxy Note 8 with the first 4K display in the history of the company are growing stronger. The Korean company has again been linked with this technology for some time, but is expected to stick with Quad HD resolution for the Galaxy S8.

But reports from close to the supply chain of Samsung suggest that the Korean corporation is developing a 4K curved Infinity screen that will be the centerpiece of the new handset. It seems that Samsung believes the time is right to switch to 4K resolution, particularly as Apple is expected to improve the resolution of the iPhone 8 later this year.

256GB storage linked

Finally, another interesting aspect of the build-up to the Galaxy Note 8 is speculation regarding the amount of storage to be included. The 64GB of storage that the Galaxy S8 will receive is something of a surprise, with Samsung seemingly reluctant to increase the quantity. But reports this week have indicated that the Galaxy Note 8 is likely to be armed with 256GB of storage, which will surely sit more happily with Android fans.

Weibo report

But a report this week emanating from the hugely popular Chinese social media website Weibo indicates the intention of Samsung to rebrand the phablet. It is suggested that Samsung will utilize a name for the Galaxy Note 8 that reflects its pairing with the S Pen stylus. It is not yet clear what precisely this may be, but previous leaks have suggested that the device has already been codenamed as Baikal.

Exynos chipset leaked

The social media site also gave a glimpse into the forthcoming proprietary Exynos chipset, and the indication is that the next generation Samsung smartphone will feature a hugely powerful version of the Exynos 9 series. In order to attract consumers back to its phablet series, regardless of the branding of the device, it is essential for the Korean consumer electronics giant to deliver something truly outstanding. This will mean that Samsung is likely to take chances with the internal mechanisms of the handset.

There is also an onus on Samsung to distinguish between the Galaxy Note 8 and the forthcoming Galaxy S8. Both devices are equally important for the company, with the Galaxy S8 needing to create some good will after the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. But the Galaxy Note 8 must deliver some new and unique features, and be perceived to some extent as more powerful than the Galaxy S8 if it is to remain relevant.

4K mooted

Other reports this week have suggested that Samsung has already decided on a 4K resolution display for its next generation phablet. The Korean corporation has been linked with the embracing of 4K resolution for some time, but it seems that Samsung is finally willing to take the plunge and include this important ultra-HD technology in the Note 8.

Samsung is also expected to improve the virtual reality functionality included in the handset, with a focus on compatibility with its own Gear VR wearable. 2017 could be the year that virtual reality really begins to take off, after the successful launch of the PlayStation VR headset and the growing user base for Oculus Rift.

Sony link denied

Meanwhile, the latest rumors on the battery included in the Galaxy Note 8 suggests that Samsung has settled on trusting its previous supplier. There had been reports, particularly from CNet, which suggested that Samsung would enlist Sony as a supply of batteries for its next generation Galaxy Note 8. But it is now believed that Samsung will continue to use Amperex, although there may be scope for the Korean company to enlist other suppliers to participate as well.

The Galaxy Note 8 is beginning to take shape, even if the final name of this handset remains in doubt.

Concept video emerges

And so with the existence of the Galaxy Note 8 confirmed, those interested in the future direction of this phablet have begun to get their thinking caps on. This has already resulted this week in an interesting fan-made Galaxy Note 8 concept video. TechConfigurations used a combination of information known about the imminent Galaxy S8 and and forthcoming Galaxy Note 8 in order to produce the video in question.

This speculative video suggests that the Galaxy Note 8 will benefit from particularly tiny bezels, with the screen of the device being extended further still. The front and back glass of the device will be curved, while the fingerprint scanner of the phablet will be mounted on the rear of the handset.

Blass leaks clue

Notable Samsung leaker Evan Blass has also tweeted to clear up some information regarding the Galaxy S8 that gives us a clue about the forthcoming Note 8 as well. Blass suggests that a Galaxy S8+ version will feature a 6.2-inch display, indicating that the Galaxy Note 8 screen may be even larger than this.

It is thus interesting to note that a list of rumoured specs for the Galaxy Note 8 this week included a potential 6.4-inch 4K curved Infinity display. There is still some debate over whether Samsung will indeed make the bold move of including 4K resolution in the Galaxy Note 8, or whether the safer option of sticking to Quad HD will be taken. There is no doubt that fans of the Galaxy Note range would love to see the device embrace 4K resolution in the next generation, but this remains uncertain.

Camera upgrade

Reports this week have also suggested that Samsung will improve the megapixel capabilities of the camera included in the Galaxy Note 8, with a 16-megapixel dual-lens unit with optical image stabilization and f/1.7 aperture being floated. There is no doubt that the photographic capabilities of smartphone devices are increasingly critical to their success, and Samsung will be looking to deliver something outstanding once more when the Note 8 hits the stores.

Brand challenges

Finally, a survey conducted by the UK-based price comparison service uSwitch this week suggests that Samsung has its work cut out to achieve exemplary sales figures with the Galaxy Note 8. In a poll of more than 1,200 site users, only 7% cited the Galaxy Note 8 as the handset that they are most looking forward to in 2017. This was little more than one-third the number that were eagerly awaiting the Galaxy S8.

It seems that Samsung has some work to do in order to convince consumers to return to this ill-fated brand.

The handset in this video is notable for its edge-to-edge screen, with only a tiny strip of bezel available for the earpiece and mouthpiece of the device. This is very much in tune with the latest murmurings on smartphones, with Apple reportedly considering such a setup for the iPhone 8.

Tech Configurations also believes that the Galaxy Note 8 will indeed deliver 4K resolution for the first time in a Samsung handset. This ultra-high screen resolution has been linked with devices produced by the Korean Corporation for some time, but Samsung has always opted against embracing 4K thus far. The 5.7-inch display included in the concept is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

This imagined Galaxy Note 8 also features an iris scanner, underlining the importance of security in the next generation of mobiles. Imagined specs see Qualcomm’s hypothetical Snapdragon 840 processor making an appearance alongside a whopping 6GB or 8GB of RAM, with Tech Configurations believing that different models will be armed with differing memory in this generation.

Fall release date

Elsewhere, it has been reported this week that the Galaxy Note 8 is likely to release in the fall, with Samsung needing to take time over this phablet in order to make the necessary adjustments. This simply must be an extremely reliable and durable device following the disaster that Samsung endured with the Galaxy Note 7.

In order to ensure that the battery – identified as the malfunctioning aspect of the Galaxy Note 7 – is more stable this time out, Samsung is currently engaged in lengthy discussions with Murata Manufacturing, which recently acquired Sony’s battery business. Although it is early days in these negotiations, it seems likely that the Kyoto-based supplier will replace Chinese manufacturer Amperex Technology as the battery supplier for the Note 8.

VR focus

Reports have also indicated that Samsung will ensure that the Galaxy Note 8 is particularly geared towards virtual reality. This embryonic technology is becoming more established following the release of the Sony PlayStation VR headset, and big players in the mobile marketplace such as Samsung and Apple are paying close attention to this market reality.

In order to provide users with VR functionality, it is suggested that Samsung will ask for an upgraded dual-camera setup. It is not yet known what specific virtual reality features will be built into this next generation device, but some sort of collaboration with Galaxy Gear technology is certain. We could also see some form of Oculus Rift tie-in.

Despite the beefed up specs included in the Galaxy Note 8, most analysts believe that Samsung will freeze the price of the unit following the Galaxy Note 7 controversy. This should make the smartphone an excellent buy for consumers later this year.

It was widely suggested days ago that Samsung was downgrading its presence at the annual Barcelona event, and that we would not see the Galaxy S8 emerge in Spain. But reports since then have indicated that the Galaxy S8 could be revealed after all. Whichever way this cookie crumbles, this will have a knock-on effect on the Galaxy Note 8. If the release of the Galaxy S8 is pushed back, it could be that the Galaxy Note 8 will arrive later in the year than previous releases in this device range.

Better, safer, innovative

Samsung has already promised a “better, safer and very innovative Note 8,” via its mobile chief D.J. Koh, and thus the pressure is doubly bearing down on the Asian manufacturer. There will already be a certain amount of expectation weighted on this device owing to the disaster of the Galaxy Note 7, but clearly Samsung intends to produce a particularly outstanding phablet.

In order to achieve this, Samsung has gone to great lengths to ensure that there is no repeat of the battery problems that the Galaxy Note 7 suffered. And this process will be centred around a new eight-point safety process and a team of third-party advisors, which Samsung expanded on recently.

Increased security

As Samsung continues to develop the Galaxy Note 8 concepts behind closed doors, reports are circulating that increased security will be central to its new features. An iris scanner is particularly anticipated, enabling users to unlock devices in a secure, and indeed innovative, manner.

Reports this week have also indicated that Samsung will finally taken the plunge and include a 4K display with the Galaxy Note 8. This had been rumored way before the Galaxy Note 8 emerged on the horizon, but it could be the Samsung is finally in a position to deliver this technology. 4K is, of course, becoming more mainstream with the recent emphasis on this screen resolution in the PS4 Pro video games console.

Virtual reality

If Samsung does include 4K resolution in the Galaxy Note 8, we can reasonably expect some virtual reality functionality as well. “Samsung will introduce 2K resolution displays in the Galaxy S8, but it will use 4K resolution displays in the Galaxy Note 8 to realize improved virtual reality (VR) functions,” a source close to Samsung divulged to the esteemed Business Korea. “I heard that it will connect with new Gear VR wearable.”

And more details have also emerged on the S Pen stylus, with features such as translation services and animated image creation expected, according to CNet. With Samsung extremely likely to migrate the Bixby AI assistant that it has already confirmed for the Galaxy S8, this will certainly be a feature-packed Galaxy Note 8 release.

Firstly, it is now widely anticipated that Samsung will include a dual-screen display in the Galaxy Note 8. This is to be integrated into the hardware in order to separate the new release as much as possible from the disastrous exploding Galaxy Note 7.

It has also been reported that the Korean company is working on a companion smartphone with a foldable OLED display, and the reality of this will make it feasible for Samsung to include the technology in the Galaxy Note range as well.

The Galaxy Note 8 will also benefit from increased RAM and internal storage, with the phablet increasingly expected to come complete with 6GB of RAM and 120GB of on-board memory. It will also be possible to expand the storage via micro SD. To put this figure into perspective, the forthcoming Nintendo Switch video games console is only fitted with 4GB of memory, so this really points to an outstanding phablet release.

Samsung will also upgrade the S-Pen stylus included with the Galaxy Note 8, with reports this week once more pointing to the presence of a speaker in this device. However, fleshing out the bones of this suggestion are murmurings that the Galaxy Note 8 stylus may weigh only 3g and measure just 20cm in length.

Meanwhile, Samsung continue to negotiate with several battery suppliers with the aim of ensuring that the batteries included in the Galaxy Note 8 are considerably more stable than in the last generation device. Although, it must be said, is hard to imagine how they could be less stable! With this in mind, Samsung has been communicating with its Korean rival LG, with the intention of sourcing batteries from the native company. This seems increasingly likely based on the high number of immediate reports outlining talks between the two electronics firms.

Finally, there have been further reports this week that Samsung is considering a 4K display for the Galaxy Note 8, with Business Korea suggesting that this will help deliver superior experiences. Virtual reality is taking off in a big way now, with the Oculus Rift system proving hugely successful, and Sony rapidly selling out of the first batch of its PlayStation VR headsets.

Samsung is likely to freeze the price of the Galaxy Note 8 when the phablet is released, and although no release date has been specified, it seems increasingly unlikely that a Q3 date can be pencilled in for this next generation phablet.

Instead, reports from Korea indicate that the Galaxy Note 8 may hit the stores at around the same time that Apple releases the iPhone 8. This would mean an approximate September release date for arguably the most important device in the history of Samsung. It is obviously vital for the company to restore the reputation of its Note branding after the disastrous explosions suffered by the Galaxy Note 7. It is also believed that Samsung will enable Galaxy Note 7 owners to exchange handsets for either the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8 in the foreseeable future.

Reports have also recently focused on the new features that Samsung will include in the Galaxy Note 8. It is particularly believed that the Galaxy Note 8 will feature a foldable display; a technology that Samsung showed off several years ago. It seems that this prototype technology is now ready for a real-world release, and that the Galaxy Note 8 could be the first mobile to benefit from it.

Samsung has also been working on advanced artificial intelligence, and recent rumors have particularly focused on this capability of the Galaxy Note 8. This could still debut with the Galaxy S8 in the next couple of months, but Samsung has traditionally saved its major innovations and spec increases for the Galaxy Note series, and it seems likely that this will continue with the Galaxy Note 8. Thus, Bixby (powered by Viv’s intelligence) will also be added to rival iPhone’s Siri.

SamMobile has also reported that the Galaxy Note 8 will finally introduce Samsung users to 4K resolution. This has been linked with mobiles from the Korean Corporation for some time, but it is suggested that the Galaxy Note 8 will finally benefit from this increasingly mainstream display technology. This will particularly benefit virtual reality functions within the smartphone, with reports from Korea suggesting that this will be a significant focus of the Note 8.

Samsung is also expected to increase the RAM memory in the device to 6GB, while internal storage will also be at least double. An upgraded S-Pen with speakers is likely, while Samsung is also reportedly in conversation with LG over new batteries for the phablet.

The Korean company has also been involved in investigations regarding the Galaxy Note 7 explosions, and releases from this process are expected imminently. The investigations were conducted by US-based safety organization UL and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, with assistance from the Korea Testing Laboratory. Samsung will doubtless use the information from this enquiry in the production of the Galaxy Note 8.

Despite the disastrous recalling of the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung is moving full speed ahead with the sequel to its exploding phablet. A new report from Business Korea indicates that Samsung has already firmly decided not to ditch the Galaxy Note branding, despite some internal prevarication on the subject.

The Korean publication quoted an unnamed official from the electronics giant, who suggested that the Galaxy Note 7 had proved extremely popular before its unusual reliability problems. Indeed, this had been in very much the trend for the Galaxy Note range over the last few years, with the phablet held in high esteem by consumers and the critical community alike. This has prompted Samsung to retain the Galaxy Note branding, and it now seems a racing certainty that the Galaxy Note 8 will indeed hit the stores this year.

Galaxy Note 8 Virtual assistant

When it does so, it seems likely that the Galaxy Note 8 will benefit from the same virtual assistant expected to debut in the Galaxy S8. Bixby has been developed by Viv Labs – the startup company formed by the creators of voice assistant Siri – which was purchased by Samsung some months ago.

Viv Labs CEO Dag Kittlaus has outlined the intention of Samsung to become a significant market player in software and services, and this will apparently center around artificial intelligence. Kittlaus also specifically mentioned Samsung Pay, while there is also expected to be a virtual reality focus to the Galaxy Note 8 when it is released.

USB Type-C

It seems odd to say it, but USB Type-C was a niche technology relatively recently, but is now considered a near certainty for the next generation of the Galaxy Note range. The connection tech was already included in the Galaxy Note 7; unfortunately this smartphone decided to spontaneously combust!

But analysts believe that there will be no particular difficulties in including USB Type-C in the next generation Galaxy Note 8, and this would be logical considering recent product releases from Samsung. In particular, It is notable that the Galaxy Gear VR headset also supports USB Type-C, and Samsung will obviously want to make sure that its flagship phablet is compatible with this proprietary virtual reality system.

Dual-edge curved screen

Samsung has already manufactured mobile devices with curved screens, and the Galaxy Note 8 was notable for its curved display. But this phablet only had curved features on the right side of the device, and analysts are suggesting that Samsung may move on from this design with the Galaxy Note 8.

It is indicated by those close to the Samsung supply chain that the Korean corporation may opt for a dual-edged curved display when the Galaxy Note 8 is unveiled. This has proved to be a success in previous device releases in the Galaxy S range, and is becoming something of a trademark for the consumer electronics giant. Furthermore, Apple is being linked with a curved display for the iPhone 8, and this may be a wraparound screen if patent information is to be believed.

This will put pressure on Samsung to produce something similar, and there is no doubt that the mega-corporation will have its nose to the ground monitoring Apple activities.

Expandable storage

Samsung will also probably ensure that the Galaxy Note 8 is a particularly flexible performer by including expandable storage options in the phablet. This could be delivered via micro SD functionality, but what is certain is that the Korean manufacturer it needs to up its game in this department.

Indeed, the Galaxy Note 7 already acknowledged this by offering storage up to 256GB; on par with the iPhone 7. Considering that the latest Android smartphones can support expandable storage up to 1TB, the Galaxy Note 8 should deliver something similar, at the very least doubling the storage included In the Galaxy Note 7.

Iris scanner

Another feature included in the Galaxy Note 7 for the first time was iris scanning to beef up security. It seems entirely likely this will be retained for the Galaxy Note 8, as it is an excellent option for authentication. Smartphone theft is an increasingly prevalent problem, and it is one that all the major mobiel manufacturers are responding to seriously.

IP68 and IP67 certification

It is noticeable that the majority of premium mobiles available on the contemporary market are IP68 certified. The International Protection marking, a standard outlined by the International Electrotechnical Commission, denotes the resistance of consumer electronics to dust, dirt and sand. IP67 certification is a similar rating given for water resistance.

The likelihood is that both the Galaxy Note 8 and its attendant S-Pen stylus will be IP68 and IP67 certified, meaning that the phablet from Samsung will be a durable device. What this effectively means in practical terms is that it will be possible to submerge the Note 8 in water 5-feet in depth for 30 minutes. This obviously makes it possible to utilize the device in swimming settings.

Blue Coral

In its brief lifecycle, the Galaxy Note 7 was offered in Blue Coral. This created quite a splash with fans of the phablet range, and it seems extremely likely that this will be retained for the Galaxy Note 8, alongside gold and silver options.

Release date

Despite some rumors suggesting that Samsung could be tempted to rush the Galaxy Note 8 to recover from the debacle of last year, the smart money is on this phablet releasing in the second half of 2017. The Galaxy S8 will will release early this year, clearing the way for the Galaxy Note 8 to hit the stores well ahead of the iPhone 8 from Apple.

Price

Finally, although we are a long way away from receiving official confirmation of pricing from Samsung, it seems extremely likely that the consumer electronics behemoth will be forced to freeze the price of the Galaxy Note 8 as a goodwill gesture to consumers.