Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Photo Leak Shows Off External Design For The First Time

The Galaxy Note 4 by Samsung Electronics Co. (KRX: 005930) will be unveiled on Sept. 3, and while several prospective specifications for the device have long been leaked, there has been little indication as to what the device might look like; until now.

Tech website GSM Arena shared purported images of the Galaxy Note 4 on Monday. The images detail a device that looks very similar to previous Galaxy Note models; large and rectangular with a S-Pen stylus included. The device features a leather-textured back panel, much like the Galaxy Note 3 and also includes a USB 3.0 port. The Web publication also shared an image of the possible retail box for the Galaxy Note 4.

GSM Arena notes that flat, sharp, metal trimming on the device looks similar to that of the recently leaked Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The yet-to-be released Galaxy Alpha is expected to include aluminum in its external design -- a rarity for Samsung, which is known for outfitting its devices with polycarbonate plastic and simply painting on metal accents. Few rumors have proposed a metal design for the Galaxy Note 4.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is primarily expected to introduce a QHD (1440x2560) resolution display. The device will likely have the same 5.7-inch display size as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which would mean that images on the Galaxy Note 4 would be sharper and colors truer. While several rumors have suggested that the Galaxy Note 4 could be curved or three-sided in design, the leaked device has a typical flat display.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will likely include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 or Samsung Exynos 5433 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The device may include either a 12-megapixel or 16-megapixel main camera, may be water and dust resistant, and may also include a fingerprint scanner like the Samsung Galaxy S5. Other features rumored for the Galaxy Note 4 include an iris scanner, a ultraviolet (UV) sensor, and a virtual reality (VR) headset called Samsung Gear VR, which would pair with the Galaxy Note 4.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is expected to run the Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system. Notably, Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is expected to release its new Android L operating system in the fall; however, the Galaxy Note 4 will likely release before Android L.

Reports have indicated that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 could release on either Sept. 15 or Sept. 25. Samsung recently announced its Unpacked event for Sept. 3, where the Galaxy Note 4 is expected to be unveiled.