The long-awaited Galaxy Note 5 successor is expected to break covers in a couple of months. By chronological order, it was supposed to come with the Note 6 moniker, but numerous reliable reports have indicated that Samsung will launch the 2016 series flagship phablet as the Note 7.
Though there is no official word from the company, Samsung reportedly went for the 7 series as the flagship phablet's name will be in sync with its 2016 flagship smartphone Galaxy S7 series.
Since the company is skipping a number in the Note series, Samsung fans and critics are anticipating huge hardware upgrades in the Note 7, and the recently-leaked features of the phablet suggest as much.
We have sifted through numerous reliable reports and have been able to pinpoint six key specification upgrades of the Note 7 over the Note 5.
Design:
Last year, Samsung unveiled two phablets â€" one the generic Galaxy Note 5 with flat screen and S-Pen stylus slot at the right edge, and another the Galaxy S6 edge+ with dual-edge curved display without a stylus slot.
However, in 2016, Samsung will be launching just one model, the Note 7, with 5.7-inch Super-AMOLED QHD (2560x1440p) screen having the trademark S-Pen stylus slot. It will be featuring a curved screen, but there is no certainty if it will have a single-edge screen like the Galaxy Note edge (2014) or a dual-edge screen like the Galaxy S7 edge.
Another improvement expected in Galaxy Note 7 series is it will boast IP68 water-and-dust resistance certifications.
This means Galaxy Note 7 series owners can take the device for a dip in the swimming pool. However, long exposure to water is not advised. As per the IP67 protection certification, the device will only be able to survive five feet underwater for 30 minutes.
Processor, RAM and storage:
The new Note 7 is expected to come packed with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 823 (aka 821) series processor, which is said to be a faster version of the 820 series seen in the Galaxy S7 phones.
The soon-to-be-launched LeEco Le Max 2 Pro is also said to house the same chipset.
Read more: LeEco Le Max 2 Pro with Snapdragon 821 CPU releasing next week
As far as memory specification is concerned, the Note 7 is said to come with 6GB RAM (LPDDR4) and 64GB inbuilt storage.
Comparatively, the Note 5 came with 64-bit-class Exynos 7420 octa-core CPU( 2.1GHz Cortex-A57 x 4 and 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 x 4) with LPDDR4-series 4GB RAM.
Camera:
The 2015 series Note 5 come with 16MP camera with OIS (Optical Image Stabiliser), F/1.9 aperture, Quick Launch, Tracking AF, Auto Real-time HDR(Front & Rear) and slew of value-added features to enhance photography experience.
And on the front, it houses an impressive 5MP snapper with f/1.9 aperture and full-HD video recording capability.
The upcoming Note 7 will have a 12MP dual-lens camera with f/1.8 aperture, similar to the one we find in the Galaxy S7 series flagship smartphone.
Many might wonder why Samsung would want to lower the MP count in its flagship phone from 16MP seen in the Note 5 series.
For those unaware, this is actually a myth. Higher MP count doesn't necessarily guarantee a nice image. There are other aspects which help in capturing good pictures. Aperture and lens size are two such key parameters in designing a good camera. Rest assured, Note 7 owners will find the device's camera a delight.
Battery:
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 houses a 3,000mAh battery with wireless charging technology, whereas its successor is said to have 40 percent more cell power,
Rumour has it that the company has incorporated 4,200mAh battery in the Galaxy Note 7.
Advanced biometric technology:
Popular Twitter spy, Evan Blass (@evleaks) citing reliable sources has claimed the new Galaxy Note 7 will come with Iris sensor, which is said to be more advanced than the fingerprint scanners seen in the Note 5 series. This new security feature will scan the device owner's Eye (Iris) to authenticate in order to bypass the lockscreen.
How the Iris Scanner work?
The "Iris Recognition" biometric technology is said to be more advanced and near-foolproof system, as it involves camera technology with subtle infrared illuminations to capture the detailed nerve pattern on the iris in the eye.
Using this information, digital impressions are created by mathematical and statistical algorithm so that accurate profile is created. This new-age biometric technology is nearly impossible to be cracked by an imposter, unlike finger-print scanner that can be bypassed with a fake thumb print.
Also read: Apple iPhone 5S Fingerprint 'Touch ID' Security Feature Breached, Says German Hackers
Release date:
Samsung had hosted Unpacked 2015 episode 2 in New York City in the second week of August in 2015. This year, too, the company has decided to host the event at the Big Apple, but a week early.
As per the leaked teaser poster, Samsung is hosting the Note 7 unveiling event in New York City, at 11 a.m. EDT on Aug. 2 at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center.
Also read: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 series teaser surface online; release date revealed
Watch this space for more updates.
