Galaxy Note 7: Samsung Planning To Skip Galaxy Note 6 Name To Match Galaxy S7 Range: Report

Smartphone naming conventions have never been the most logical of systems — and 2016 is set to make things even more confusing. Sony is switching from Xperia Z to Xperia X for its flagship range, while Motorola is widely expected to go in the opposite direction from Moto X to Moto Z. Apple is even thought to be considering changing its iPhone naming convention and now Samsung wants to join the party.

According to several high-ranking officials within the telecommunications industry, speaking to South Korean publication ET News, Samsung will skip the Galaxy Note 6 name when it launches its big-screen smartphone in a few months time, and instead jump straight to Galaxy Note 7.

The reason is simple. Samsung wants to create consistency across its premium smartphone range, and with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge launching earlier this year, it makes sense to bring the Note series in line with the rest of its offerings.

“When Galaxy Note 6 that has its model number lower than Galaxy S7, which is the newest model, is released, it can give out a feeling that it is an outdated phone,” one official said.

The report also claims that the Note 7 will feature the same curved screen featured on the Galaxy S7 edge and will continue to feature the curved glass rear cover first introduced in the Galaxy Note 5.

With regard to release date, the report suggests Samsung will unveil its latest high-profile smartphone in early-to-mid August, which ties in with a previous claim from journalist Evan Blass, who has a long history of accurately breaking news about yet-to-be-announced smartphones, and who said the Note 7 will go on sale on Aug. 15 in the U.S., which is six days earlier than the Galaxy Note 5 went on sale last year.

With the next iPhone — whatever it will be called — set to be introduced in September, Samsung has been steadily moving the launch of its Note series forward from October for the original Note, to September, and last year for the first time to August for the launch of the Note 5 as it seeks to gain as much media and customer attention as possible.

Rumors suggest the new device will have a 5.8-inch screen (slightly bigger than recent generations), may feature an iris scanner, have IP68 waterproof rating and could focus on the enterprise market with a new BlackBerry Hub-like app called Samsung Focus.