We are just a few hours from witnessing the most anticipated Galaxy Note 4 launch at the 'Samsung Unpacked 2014 Episode 2' event, Berlin, and the buzz around the next generation smartphone has seemingly reached a crescendo with the release of the series of tentatively titled 'Ready to Note?' trailers, which has given a glimpse of what is in store to come on 3 September.
Samsung's latest one-minute-long video clip has sparked-off a lot of excitement among the tech enthusiasts and fans alike.
To help get a better perspective on the Galaxy Note 4 key specifications, we have sifted through numerous reports and have put together a list of probable key features, which are likely to make the cut.
Galaxy Note 4 Display and Design details:
Early this year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S5, but despite boasting finger-print sensor, water-proof certifications and other value-added features, the flagship smartphone failed to get traction in the market.
The company recorded a decline in profit margins; Samsung reportedly posted revenue close to 7.2 trillion Won. Even though the nine plus figure looks massive for some, it has to be noted the company reportedly lost close to 25-percent revenue compared to last year's second quarter revenue which stood at 9.53 trillion Won, reported Forbes.
So in its bid to arrest the slow growth, compounded by the emergence of the low-cost Chinese smartphone vendors and the its arch-rival Apple's big-screen iPhone 6 device (slated for 9 September launch), Samsung has reportedly used flexible screen.
Word on the street is that Galaxy Note 4 is expected to come in two variants - one having bendable OLED display and a normal flat screen.
As far screen is concerned, Galaxy Note 4 is said to keep the same 5.7-inch screen size as seen in its predecessor, but its display resolution is expected go up a notch this time. It is expected to boast QHD (aka 2K) 2,560x1,440p resolution display, that's equivalent to 500 plus ppi (Pixels Per Inch) pixel density.
Even the leaked Samsung Galaxy Note 4 poster (now available with Toranji.ir) for IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) 2014 (5-10 September), corroborates the phablet's display resolution specification.
Galaxy Note 4 Processor, RAM and storage details:
According to leaked AnTuTu benchmarking (via Mobifo) results, the upcoming Galaxy Note 4 (model number: SM-N910) is said to boast company's in-house built Exynos 5433 series Octa-core CPU. It will be backed by the ARM Mali T760 graphics engine.
Word on the street is that company is expected to retail this variant in Europe and rest of the global (Asian) regions, where as the Qualcomm's Snapdragon 805 series quad-core processor model is bound for American markets.
Speculations are also rife that Samsung has prepped a third variant with 64-bit architecture based chipset, reported GSM Arena.
This does not surprise Samsung fans, as the South Korean company is very well renowned for its versatility in churning out different variants of the flagship devices to the market. For instance, Galaxy S5, already has more than three variants- Galaxy S5 Mini, rugged based S5 Active for AT&T, S5 Sport for Sprint, camera-centric phone- Galaxy K Zoom and many more (including the budget variant, Galaxy S5 Neo) are said to be in the pipeline.
Last year, Galaxy Note 3 shipped with 3GB RAM, so this year's model is expected to come at least 3GB unless the company will up the ante by incorporating 4GB RAM.
In late 2013, Samsung's semiconductor division had announced the next generation 20 nanometre class based 8GB LPDDR4 (Low Power Double Data Rate series 4) RAM for mobile devices.
The company has planned to integrate four of the new 8GB chips into a single 4GB LPDDR4 package that can provide the highest level of performance (50 percent more), density, efficiency, and still be able to consume 40 percent less compared to the current crop of physical memory chips found in the high-end smartphones.
It was speculated to get incorporated in Galaxy S5, but never materialised.
The new memory chip is said to enable the device to support high resolutions display, resource intensive 3D games and super-fast internet speed with data transfer rate per pin close to 3,200 mbps.
As far as storage space is concerned, one can expect the new Samsung phablet to come with 16GB/32GB inbuilt memory having expandable options via microSD card.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4's Mobile Operating System details:
We have already seen the new Galaxy Alpha smartphone [read full report, here] running the latest Android v4.4.4 KitKat OS, so in all probability, the upcoming Galaxy Note 4 will ship with the latest - v4.4.4 out-of-the-box.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Camera Details:
Technology blog SamMobile citing credible sources has claimed that the new Galaxy Note 4 will pack a 16.0-megapixel Sony camera (IMX240) on the rear side with an ability to record UHD (Ultra High-Definition) 3,840x2,160p resolutions videos at 30fps speed.
And on the front side, Samsung is said to bump the camera specifications to 3.7-megapixel camera which can snap images and videos in WQHD (2560×1440) resolution.To further enrich the user-experience, the company has reportedly incorporated apps such as Wide-Selfie, Selfie Alarm and many more value-added features.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4's Value-Added Features:
Ultrasound-enabled S-Pen Stylus:
Most of the teasers released by the South Korean company have indicated that this year's Galaxy Note 4's main USP to be the S-Pen stylus.
Check out the Samsung's latest official trailer which the company proclaims that- "The pen is about to become even mightier. Get Ready to Note on September 3rd at #UNPACKED":
And this:
In the above video teaser, if we closely observe the last seconds of the clip, we can see the screen automatically registering the response before the stylus even touches the display, hinting the phone will boast of touch-less control feature.
Word on the street is that Samsung has reportedly incorporated ultra-sound technology in the S-Pen stylus.
It is believed that Galaxy Note 4 stylus's has the ability to emit ultrasonic waves and phablet's four sensors (placed on both the sides) picks them to perform touch-less gesture functions, reported Galaxy Club citing the Samsung's leaked patent papers.
The ultrasound technology will also negate the need for a digitiser on the screen, resulting in lower costs and a thinner display assembly for the Galaxy Note 4, said SamMobile.
UV (Ultra-Violet) sensor and Heart-rate sensor:
Like Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4 is also said to boast heart-rate monitor sensor on the rear side (below Camera module).
Besides this feature, Samsung is also expected introduce another health-care related apparatus- the ultra-violet sensor in the upcoming Galaxy Note 4.
Samsung community blog SamMobile claims that the South Korean company will incorporate the ultraviolet sensor in the proprietary S Health app.
The sensor will measure the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation and caution users not to venture in to the sun light to avoid hurting their skin, premature aging effect and restrict their risk of skin cancer.
Users just need to tilt the Galaxy Note 4 in a 60-degree angle, pointing the sensor towards the Sun's direction, and then the phone will provide tips based on the current UV index level at that particular place and time.
Though UV sensor looks like good value-added feature for skin conscious Samsung fans, but it is too wishful to believe that this feature will indeed come in the Galaxy Note 4. We just have to wait a few more hours to really know what Samsung has kept in store for us.
Advanced Fingerprint Sensor
We have already seen the Galaxy S5 flaunting the finger-print sensor on the home button, so if go by intuition, that we might probably see this feature in Galaxy Note 4 as well.
According to credible sources of SamMobile, The South Korean company has incorporated more advanced finger-print sensor.
Galaxy Note 4 is expected to boast Synaptics' Natural ID solution, which enables to split the fingerprint sensor into two parts, one part is incorporated into the home button, and the other part takes input from the main touch screen, and together are used simultaneously to get an ID loaded.
Water-proof and dust-resistant certifications:
Like its flagship smartphone sibling, Galaxy Note 4 is also said to come with IP (Ingress Protection) rated water-proof certifications.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Launch Date Details:
Samsung has confirmed to host events simultaneously in Berlin, Beijing and New York City. [Read full report, here]
And the company will be streaming the launch event live on the official YouTube channel from 3pm CEST.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Release Date Details:
As for released date of Galaxy Note 4 is considered, Samsung phablet is slated to hit stores as early as mid-September.
According to the leaked internal memo (now available with Android Authority), Samsung has reportedly asked employees (retail sector) not to take leave between 3 and 5 September, which actually coincides with the UNPACKED 2014 Episode 2 event and between 15 – 28 September, hinting the device might hit the stores (in select market) third week of this month.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Price Details:
In August, an Indonesian e-retailer Erafone inadvertently advertised the availability of the yet-to-be released Galaxy Note 4 revealing the price details of the device. Once the report went wild in the internet, the page was pulled down, but by then many tech blogs had taken screen shot of web page.
According to the listing (courtesy, PhoneArena), Galaxy Note 4 reportedly costs around IDR 9,499,000 (around 811/€615/₹49,100).
Expected specifications of Samsung Galaxy Note 4 include:
Model | Samsung Galaxy Note 4 |
Display | 5.7-inch or more with QHD (aka 2K) 2560x1440p resolutions |
OS | Latest Android OS |
Processor | 2.7GHz Qualcomm's Snapdragon 805 series quad-core processor with Adreno 420 graphics engine/Exynos 5443 Octa-core CPU chipset (yet-to-be-announced) paired with the Intel's XMM7260 Cat. 6 modem |
RAM | Expected 3G/4GB |
Storage capacity | 16GB / 32GB with options for expansion via microSD card. |
Camera | Main: Sony's proprietary IMX240 (yet-to-be announced) 16.0-megapixel camera with OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) feature, 4K video recording ability
Front: 3.7-megapixel camera |
Network | 3G/4G-LTE (cat.6) |
Add-ons | Water-proof certifications, finger print sensor, heart-rate sensor, ultra-violet sensor, ultra-sound enabled S Pen Stylus |
Price | IDR 9,499,000 (around 811/€615/₹49,100) |