Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Release Date After Unpacked Event Leaked?

When Samsung sent out invitations for an Unpacked event, it was obvious that the tech giant’s Galaxy Note 9 phablet will be unveiled at the public gathering. However, it wasn’t made clear when exactly can consumers expect the device to hit shelves. Fortunately, a report from South Korea may have just leaked the release date of the highly anticipated smartphone.

Industry sources told Yonhap late last week that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 flagship phablet will become available to South Korean consumers starting on Aug. 24. This means the phone will officially be sold in stores two weeks after its global debut at the Unpacked event on Aug. 9.

The report did not indicate if the same release date will apply in other markets, including the U.S. However, it’s very likely for the phone to launch simultaneously in Samsung’s home country and other international markets just like its predecessors.

For comparison, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note 8 during an Unpacked event on Aug. 23, 2017. It was then officially released on Sept. 15, 2017. If ever, the Galaxy Note 9 will realize Samsung’s plan of releasing the phablet earlier so it can attract lots of consumers before Apple unveils its new iPhones.

Samsung is very secretive when it comes to its upcoming phablet. But there have been leaks and speculations about the device’s specs and features. The latest of which claims that the handset will come with a gold S Pen. A leaked image shows the upgraded stylus alongside the “Lilac Purple” variant of the phone.

As what IBTimes previously learned, the contrasting colors between the handset and the S Pen could be more than just an aesthetic move. This might be intended to highlight the upgraded S Pen that is rumored to come with new functionalities thanks to its Bluetooth support.

Apart from the new S Pen, the Galaxy Note 9 is expected to be a minor upgrade compared to its predecessor. It is said to have a slightly bigger 6.4-inch display and a larger 4,000 mAh battery. Previous reports also indicate that the phone will house Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor and have 6GB of RAM. It is also believed to come with a bottom-firing speaker, a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.