Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Release Date: Rumors Backtrack To 5.7-Inch Device Unveiled At September IFA Expo

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumor mill continues to churn and spit out conflicting reports. The latest news from the Korea Herald is that we will see a 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3 unveiled at the IFA 2013 consumer-electronics show in Berlin this September. This may not be a brand-new development, but this latest report actually backtracked on the display size since the publication of other reports, which indicated a 5.99-inch display for the so-called phablet as recently as late last month. Earlier rumored sizes went to a 5.7-inch display in June from a 5.99-inch display in March, when news of the device first surfaced.

It appears the screen size of either 5.7 inches or 5.99 inches will remain uncertain until Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (KRX:005935) confirms the details of its device. However, we have our money on a 5.7-inch display. Some reports indicate the Galaxy Note 3 will adopt a design similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S4, which notably has an expansive 5-inch display and comparatively thinner bezel on a frame that is smaller than that of its predecessor Samsung Galaxy S3, with its 4.8-inch display and relatively wider bezel. If Samsung were to make the Galaxy Note 3 more narrow overall compared with the Galaxy Note 2, we find it plausible for the device to be outfitted with a 5.7-inch display and a bezel thinner than that of the Galaxy Note 2.

Rumors Agree On September Unveiling

One rumor that hasn’t changed is the September unveiling date for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Although the Korea Herald does not indicate a specific date, previous reports have suggested that the Galaxy Note 3 will be announced Sept. 4 at a media event during the preview days of IFA, which runs Sept. 6-11. Many have accepted that the Galaxy Note 3 will likely be unveiled at or around IFA, as is Samsung’s tradition. The South Korean manufacturer launched its original Galaxy Note at IFA 2011 in September and its Galaxy Note 2 at the Berlin Radio Show in August of last year, i.e., just before the opening of that year’s IFA event. Reports continue to indicate Samsung may begin mass production of the device Aug. 1, which would put it in position for a September or October release after a Sept. 4 unveiling. However, these dates remain unconfirmed.

Second LTE-A Device For Samsung?

The Korea Herald also discusses Samsung’s likely use of long-term-evolution-advanced, or LTE-Advanced, support in the Galaxy Note 3. While rumors also indicate it will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset, which enables LTE-A in a device, Samsung recently unveiled its Galaxy S4 LTE-A device, the first of its kind in in the world. In addition to Samsung’s devices, many other yet-to-be-unveiled mobile devices such as the LG Optimus G2 are expected to use the Snapdragon 800 chipset to usher in a new age of fast and easy computing on smart devices that are continuously getting larger. LTE-A allows for search and download speeds of as fast as 150 megabits per second, according to the Korea Herald.

S Pen Or No S Pen?

Stylus compatibility has not been heavily discussed with respect to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. However, some reports indicate the device will support the S Pen, while others suggest it may not ship with one, as AndroidAuthority.com noted. The Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 2 both included styli, but Samsung recently unveiled its Samsung Galaxy Mega phablets in 5.8-inch and 6.3-inch variants, which have stylus compatibility but do not ship with a built-in S Pen.

Do you think the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will have a 5.7-inch display or a 5.99-inch display? Let us know in the comments below.

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