Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Reportedly Named After Siberian Lake Baikal; Launching With Bixby AI Assistant

The Galaxy Note 7 was not only a big disappointment to fans, it was also an expensive learning experience for Samsung. Nevertheless, the overall success of the Note series is far greater than the fiasco the problematic handset caused the South Korea tech giant. So, just like what many tech sites are saying, Samsung is not at all done with the Galaxy Note brand and it is far from abandoning its famous phablet line.

Ever since Samsung mobile unit head D.J. Koh announced last month that the company is releasing a Galaxy Note 7 successor, many fans of the Note series were pleased and have since started to keep tabs on updates regarding the next phablet. If the latest report on the upcoming handset is to be believed, Samsung may have derived the device’s codename or working title from the deepest lake in the world.

On Monday, SamMobile spotted a leaked infographic of the rumored Galaxy Note 8 on Twitter. The image apparently shows what seems to be a frozen body of water. Conspicuously placed at the center of the infographic is Samsung’s famous S Pen stylus that drew the figure “8” on top of a flat icy surface. Atop the image is the hashtag “#TheNextGalaxy” and the words: “Code name BAIKAL.”

For the unfamiliar, Baikal is a massive lake situated in the mountainous Russian region of Siberia. It is regarded as the deepest lake in the world, since it is estimated to be 1,642 meters deep. It’s quite weird for Samsung to name its next Galaxy Note smartphone after the Siberian lake. Perhaps fans will learn more about the reason behind this in the coming weeks. For now, it remains a mystery how the Note 8 could be comparable to or inspired by Baikal.

Meanwhile, new rumors claim the Galaxy Note 8 is going to feature a 4K display that will be advantageous for people who enjoy VR content. There are also reports saying the Note 8 will sport Samsung’s new AI assistant, called Bixby, as per Phone Arena. If true, it won’t be the first device from Samsung to feature Bixby because the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be the first handsets to come with Samsung’s answer to Apple’s Siri.