Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Release Date Nears: New Rumors Propose 4K Video Recording And 24-bit/192kHz Music Playback

If rumors are accurate, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may feature a video standard usually not seen on mobile devices.

The Korea Economic Daily reports that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may feature 4K Ultra HD video recording, which would put it on par with video quality usually seen on certain high-end digital televisions and digital cinematography.

The 4K standard often refers to a display resolution that has approximately 4,000 horizontal pixels, which is a significant jump from the 1080p video recording that consumers have become accustomed to seeing on Full HD mobile devices. While 1080p is considered high quality by mobile standards, 4K could take handsets to another level. Enabled with 4K, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 would have an crystal clear resolution of 3840 x 2160 (2160p) or 8.3-megapixels, and would bring the coveted 4K TV viewing experience to a handset.

The rumor popped up quickly following reports that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may not feature a 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) technology, as has been rumored for months. Samsung reportedly decided to cancel the feature on the Galaxy Note 3 rather than risk suffering from supply shortages of a certain component, the auto focus (AF) actuator, which is expertly produced by only three companies in the world. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is now expected to feature the same 13-megapixel camera that was featured in the Samsung Galaxy S4. With no confirmation from Samsung, many wonder whether the 4K video rumor is accurate, or if the Korean manufacturer is just trying to beef up its upcoming device with an alternate camera-related special feature.

Soon to be released competitor devices such as the LG G2 boast not only a 13-megapixel lens, but also OIS. However, a Samsung executive recently explained to ETNews that because of the manufacturer's high product yields, it requires significantly more components for its devices, which makes shortages a major concern.

“Samsung Electronics, which must procure the tens of millions parts, cannot but be uneasy about its supply chain,” the unnamed executive told ETNews. “This is why the OIS function was installed on G2 of LG Electronics, but cannot be found on Galaxy Note 3.”

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is expected to feature many new and improved specs such as the current generations of high-end processors in the Exynos 5 Octa 5420 Chipset and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset. The handset may also ship a 32GB model as its main internal storage option to ensure users are not disappointed with the amount of ROM available for personal use. Reports indicate that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may feature an upgrade to 3GB of RAM in addition to a 5.68-inch Full HD Super Amoled Display and a 3420mAh battery.

The Korea Economic Daily also reports that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may feature the same 24-bit/192kHz music playback support as has been announced for the LG G2.

Again, if rumors are accurate, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may be equipped with both crystal clear sound and video, giving it two major features, likely among many others, in order to compete with a host of rivals from Apple, HTC, Sony, and LG.

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