The future of the Samsung Galaxy Note series has already provided some surprises thanks to a host of rumors about the upcoming Galaxy Note 6, or what might be called the Galaxy Note 7. The latest of these suggests once again that only a curved display variant will be released. Find out what else we know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 6 release date, price, specs and rumors here.
We were wooed by the Note 5. Samsung will need to go big to do the same with the next Note. / © EnTech
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 release date
The Samsung Galaxy Note 6 could be called the Galaxy Note 7. This would mean the smartphone giant would skip 6 entirely, at least numerically. The phone wouldn't skip a generation, just the numbering. It's kind of like going from the 12th floor to the 14th.
This could be a good move and could prove to be important in Samsung's branding. The company just released the seventh generation of their flagship devices, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. But if it releases the phablet version it would be the Note 6 and that is confusing.
This name change could help Samsung in its battle with Apple. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be released later this year and a Note 7 would compete better than a Note 6, at least in the brand perception game. It's good for Samsung to release a device that could level the playing field with the iPhone 7 Plus.
A Note 7 could compete better with Apple. / © EnTech
As we previously reported, an anonymous source from Samsung released information to reporters from TechRadar and Forbes and stated that the Note 6 will launch in August in the UK.
A leak from Evan Blass gave us a specific release date of August 15 in the United States. This is contrary to previous rumors about a UK launch, but does substantiate earlier predictions by EnTech that it will be an August release.
Blass followed this up on June 2, tweeting that the Note 6 will launch "almost exactly two months" from now, meaning early August.
All evidence does seem to be converging on an early August launch, with a mid-month release, but there's still no official word from Samsung.
Galaxy Note 6/7 launch event is almost exactly two months away.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) June 2, 2016
A European model edged closer to reality when SamMobile posted a list of Galaxy Note 6 model numbers on Twitter, including this one: SM-N930F. The final 'F' is the letter Samsung uses to designate its European models. Although rumors of a European release remain unsubstantiated, it is beginning to look very likely that Europe will not be deprived of the new Note as it was with the Note 5.
Hi #GalaxyNote6 Codename: Grace. SM-N930A, SM-N930T, SM-N930U, SM-N930L, SM-N930K, SM-N930S, SM-N930I, SM-N930H, SM-N930F, SM-N9300
— SamMobile (@SamMobiles) March 31, 2016
On April 15, the Chinese leak site Weibo posted more model numbers for the Note 6. The leaks confirm previous reports from EnTech that the European market will be receiving the device instead of getting the shaft like last year. Although Weibo covered the actual model number for the European number with its watermark, we can see it listed on the chart.
You can see the European model listed at the bottom. / © Weibo
Another interesting tidbit from this chart is the model numbers for the US carriers. Note the five that are listed: US Cellular, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and AT&T. Now look at the model numbers, all of them start with SM-N930U_NA. This is similar to what Samsung did with the S7 and S7 Edge with keeping the model the same for all unlocked devices. This takes it one step further.
The same model number means that updates for the device can be rolled out much faster and more efficiently. This is addressing update problems from Samsung that we're all too familiar with. This chart also confirms other EnTech speculations that Samsung's codename for the device is Grace.
The source also said there will be no S7 Edge+. Both of these statements were in the context of the UK market, so it is possible that it could be different in other markets.
In mid-March, a rumor from Korean website The Bell suggested that Samsung will release the Note 6 in July, earlier than expected, and it will come running Android N, which Google does plan to have finished by the summer. The Note 6 is also reportedly codenamed Grace.
The successor to the Galaxy Note 5 (above) in July? Unlikely. / © EnTech
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 design
We've got a better idea of how the Note 6 (or Note 7) will look thanks to a new @OnLeaks render dump. His tweet, which hit the internet yesterday, shows us quality mock-ups of what the next Galaxy Note will almost certainly look like. Check out one of them right here:
This is probably what the Note 7 will look like. / © @OnLeaks
We can see a couple of interesting features in this image. The first is that it has curved edges on the front and back. Whether the curved on the front are as large as those found on the Galaxy S7 Edge, we'll have to wait and see. The other feature is a USB Type-C port on the bottom. If the Note 6/7 does come with a Type-C port, this would be an interesting development. That's because the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were released this year with the older micro-USB format.
PhoneArena got its hands on what is believed to be an official teaser image of the Galaxy Note 7, which all-but confirms its use of a curved display. The promo shot features the text "write on the edge of something great" with what appears to be a stylus pointing towards the edge of a smartphone display.
It's still just a rumor but it's looking increasingly likely that the Galaxy Note 7 will arrive with a curved display. If this promo image is legit, it's also likely that 'edge' will be included in the device name.
What do you think? Is this the real deal? / © PhonearenaFo
Following the PhoneArena speculation above, the KoreaHerald has picked up a rumor that the Note 6 (or Note 7) will arrive with a curved screen, and that a flat screen variant will not be available. Its source is Munhwa Ilbo, a Souther Korean daily newspaper, who cited 'industry sources'. At this point, it looks like an edge version of the Note 6 is going to appear, whether it's accompanied by a flat screen version or not.
The earliest rumblings about the Galaxy Note 6 specs were very intriguing. Patently Mobile dug up a Samsung patent that shows the Note 6 phablet sitting in a laptop dock, where it acts not only as a touchpad but also as the laptop's processor and memory.
For Samsung to pull this off, the Note 6 will need to be a powerful machine indeed
The patents appear to show Windows software running once the Note 6 is docked. It would seem that Samsung is thinking of having the Note 6 run Android in its standard setup as a tablet, and switching over to Windows when it is set into the laptop.
For Samsung to pull this off, the Note 6 will need to be a powerful machine indeed. The Note series has always focused on multi-tasking and productivity, and packed a lot of power to handle the strain, but nonetheless, this is a big step up.
The Samsung patent showing the docking area and main system (ie the Note 6). / © Patently Mobile
Unsubstantiated reporting from Tech Times backed this theory up, with talk of a 16-core processor and 8 GB RAM. Their story provides no sources, however, so the claims are difficult to take seriously.
The Note 6 could come with a Galaxy Note Pen that doubles as a stand. This comes from Patently Mobile, who released a patent application from Samsung. The idea is that the pen could be pulled out halfway from its holder and locked, to prop the Note 6 upright to let you watch video and other media more easily. As seen in the leaked designs below, the pen-stand could be locked back in two different ways.
Specs rumor one
On February 15, a Weibo leakster posted a set of specs for the Galaxy Note 6. The list is impressive to the point of being unbelievable. The device will reportedly see an increase in screen size to 5.8 inches, and the screen will be a slim RGB AMOLED display, something we haven't seen on a Galaxy since the S2.
The Note 6 was also said to bear 6 GB RAM, which would be the most RAM of any smartphone ever. This is an impressive figure, but with devices commonly now packing 3 or 4 GB RAM, it doesn't seem ludicrously far-fetched.
Some of the information given in the leak is a bit confusing, however. For example, a pressure-sensitive screen with 1,024 pressure points is listed, even though the Note 4 and 5 both had twice as many points as that.
While we're sat around waiting on more specs to begin to leak, we couldn't resist having a think about the features we'd like to see on the Note 6. Given that we hold the Note 5 in incredibly high esteem here in the EnTech offices, our hopes are high for Samsung's follow-up.
We could expect improvements on the Note 5 with the Note 6. / © EnTech
Specs rumor two
On April 12, the Chinese social network and leak site Weibo was at it again with more specifications rumors for the Note 6. Its user, HQ_Vision, leaked specifications that were spotted by SamMobile.
The most significant of the specs leaks is the report that the Note 6 will have an advanced version of the Qualcomm processor, Snapdragon 823. This is the first chipset rumor for the device and if it's true would represent an improvement over the Note 5's Exynos 7420 processor.
Another important bit from the leak is the rumor that the Note 6 could have 8 GB of RAM. This is twice that of its predecessor and larger than our previous reports of 6 GB RAM. The Note 5 had two versions, 32 GB and 64 GB but the fresh rumors show just one version with 64 GB of internal memory.
The leak also shows a 25 MP camera, which is certainly a whopping number and we hope it's not a whopper because it would be quite powerful. But we need to remain cautious because these rumors are yet unsubstantiated. You can view the full post below.
Possible specifications for the Note 6. / © WeiboSpecs rumor three
A CPU-Z screenshot surfaced revealing specs for the Galaxy Note 6. This screenshot was sent to Phone Arena from an individual who claimed to be a Samsung employee. Although we doubt its authenticity, and Phone Arena suspects them to be fake, most of the specs mirror many rumors previously reported by EnTech.
The possible leaked specs include a QHD display that is 5.77 inches and 1440 x 2560 (480 ppi). This is nearly the same as the rumors we previously reported. The processor could be an Exynos 8890 backed with 6 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. Again, these are similar to some of the rumors we've had before.
Android Marshmallow has already been confirmed for the Note 5. The leaker revealed that the Note 6 could be running Android N but only if it is available by that time. The tipster said that Samsung and Google are currently in talks to see if that's a possibility. The CPU-Z screenshot can be viewed below.
Possible specs leaked by reported Samsung employee. / © Phone ArenaSpecs rumor four
We've already seen specs leaks that overlap and this May 4 rumor is no different. But it also contains some new leaks that blow previous rumors right out of the water. These were spotted on the serial Chinese leak site Weibo by GizmoChina.
The leak shows a screen size of 5.8 inches, which is the same as previous display rumors EnTech reported. We've seen three different processor rumors so far but the newest rumor shows the Note 6 could come with the Snapdragon 823 backed with 6 GB RAM. Given the S7 had different processor versions, more than one of the speculations could be correct. Although we've seen rumors of 8 GB RAM, the 6 GB rumors are more frequent and more likely.
We've seen some powerful specs and features for the Galaxy Note 6 leaked and if they are true it would necessitate a large battery to keep it running. The latest leak shows the device could come with a 4,200 mAh battery. That's 600 mAh larger than the S7 Edge and 1,200 mAh bigger than the Note 5.
The Galaxy Note 5 was disappointing in its internal memory capacity with two versions – 32 GB and 64 GB – and no option to expand. The latest leaks show the Note 6 with a whopping 256 GB internal storage. Even if Samsung doesn't offer expandable memory on the device, it probably won't be missed if the rumors are true.
The Note 5 didn't provide expandable memory but the Note 6 might not need it. / © EnTechCamera sensor
A rumor surfaced on PhotoRumors on April 18 suggesting that Samsung is working on a new camera sensor with an even wider aperture than the Galaxy S7's. The sensor is said to have an f / 1.4 aperture (The S7's is f / 1.7) and to be more compact, coming in at 1/2.3". The sensor is said to be intended to have a resolution as high as 24 MP.
In the lead up to the Galaxy S7, there were scores of rumors about the camera, very few of which proved true, so remain skeptical. It would be welcome news, however, to hear that Samsung is continuing to take its smartphone cameras very seriously. The rumor also comes with the suggestion that Samsung is moving people from its NX camera division over to its smartphone division, which, if true, indicates that they are taking the technology more seriously than ever.
USB Type-C
SamMobile reports that the Note 6 will be the first Samsung device to support USB Type-C. It seems high time that Samsung adopted the new standard, which offers greater convenience and faster charging speeds, as well as the possibility of HDMI and Display Port compatibility.
Given that the current Gear VR headset works off microUSB, if this Type-C rumor proves true, we can expect also to see a new Gear VR released prior to, or simultaneously with, the Note 6.
Samsung Galaxy Note 6 price
The Note 5 has been spied with a price tag as high as US$850. The line has always been high-end, and the Note 6 seems unlikely to change that. Given that the patent suggests Samsung plans to build a phone powerful enough to function as a laptop, it will need a specs boost – and you can expect the price to rise accordingly.
The Note 5 is pricey, but it's one of the best phones in the world. We expect the Note 6 to be even better. / © EnTech
Would you consider buying a Galaxy Note that doubled as a laptop? What else would you like to see from the Galaxy Note 6? Let us know in the comments.