Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Release Date Nears: 3 Features That Could Cause A Price Hike

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is now official and several U.S. mobile networks have stated their intentions to carry the device when it sees its eventual release date; however, the U.S. price of the Galaxy Note 3 has not yet been revealed.

Many have predicted that the Galaxy Note 3 will sell for $299.99 with a two-year contract, the same price for which the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 sold when it released in September 2012, but the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 includes a number of new features, which could drive the price of the device up.

Verizon will begin accepting pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on Friday; therefore will likely be announcing the price of the device for its network. Verizon usually prices its subsidized devices up to $50 higher than other carriers, then offers a mail-in rebate to bring the price down to what other carriers charge. Upon learning the price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on the Verizon network, we should have a fair idea of how much the device will cost on other networks.

In addition to simply being the most current model of Samsung smartphone, several features may especially cause an increase in price for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Let’s review them and consider if they are worth a price hike.

Increased Internal Storage

Internal storage allows users to save apps, systems, and many other files on their device for future use. Upon its unveiling, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was announced with 32GB and 64GB internal storage options. This is a first for Samsung as the manufacturer usually offers 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB ROM options for its high end devices, with the 16GB option being most available across all markets. The 32GB option will now serve as the standard for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and possibly future Samsung devices.

Doubling ROM could easily increase the price of a handset by up to $100. The 16GB Samsung Galaxy S4 notably sold for $199.99 on most U.S. carriers ($249.99 before rebate on Verizon) while a 32GB Samsung Galaxy S4 later released on AT&T for $249.99 and on Verizon for $299.99.

Considering internal storage alone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 could be priced at between $350 and $499 with a two-year contract. This, of course it not yet confirmed.

Increased RAM

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has officially introduced 3GB of RAM to the smartphone market. Random access memory allows programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on. Amid questions of whether devices even need any more RAM beyond 512MB to 1GB, such an update could contribute to a price increases for the Galaxy Note 3.

The original Samsung Galaxy Note contained 1GB of Ram and sold for $299.99, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 contained 2GB of RAM and also sold for $299.99. If RAM on its own won’t increase the price of a smartphone, the ever evolving technologies in progams and systems for which that extra RAM is needed could ultimately affect its price as well as the price of future devices, which may contain 3GB of RAM.

Additionally, the technologies that go into making RAM more efficient may also affect price. Samsung notably produced 3GB RAM modules containing four 6Gb LPDDR3 DRAM chips for the Galaxy Note 3. According to Samsung, increased RAM will bring "PC-like" performance to smartphones, with "seamless high-quality, Full HD video playback and faster multitasking." Perhaps more quality RAM over more RAM quantity may drive prices of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 up.

Increased Screen Size

The display of any device is usually one of its most anticipated components. Samsung present J.K. Shin noted during the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 unveiling that one of the improvements customers most wanted to see in Galaxy Note devices was increased screen size. The Full HD Super AMOLED display, which was introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S4 uses a diamond pixel pattern to provide a clean and seamless viewing experience on a handset.

Such high quality components don’t come cheap. The 5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display on the Galaxy S4 was notably its most costly components in its Bill of Materials at $75. The .7-inch increase in the screen size of the Galaxy Note 3 compared to the Galaxy S4 could easily account for an increase in the cost to produce the display for the Galaxy Note 3. Ultimately, the cost of building the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will have to be such that Samsung can sti;; see a significant profit or we may see an increase in price.

Verdict?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 includes a number of other features, which could affect the price of the device, but these three components stand out as some of the most costly. In order, increased internal storage is most likely to drive the price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, followed by increased screen size, and finally increased RAM. However, it is notable that both the original Samsung Galaxy Note and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 have sold for $299.99 despite display and RAM increases. Again, it will likely be quality that most affects the price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 over quantity. Markets have become accustomed to Samsung’s bigger is better mentality and the manufacturer will have to turn its focus in order to keep consumers interested amid already high prices.

Do you think any of these components will cause a raise in price for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3? Let us know in the comments below.

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