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The “Next Big Thing” arrives today at 11AM in New York City at an event called “Unpacked”. We’re talking about the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 launch, and by many critics estimations, the device is likely to steal the top spot on the list of Best Android Phones. We’re here covering the event live, but you can watch it yourself on Samsung’s website or YouTube channel and expect tons of Galaxy Note 7 coverage on Phandroid, but in the meantime, let’s recap what you can expect from today’s announcements.
The Galaxy Note 6 doesn’t exist
The last “Note” device that Samsung made was the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. Today, they’re launching the Note 7. So what happened to the Samsung Galaxy Note 6? It was skipped. They give us hints in the official Note promo video that takes considerable time to allude to the mysterious sequence of numbers.
Samsung wanted to align the naming convention of their other flagships: the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. This is a welcome adjustment that will help reduce consumer confusion. So take note: if you’re looking for Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 6 comparisons you won’t find any because the Note 6 is a mythical unicorn that doesn’t exist!
Galaxy Note 7 Iris Scanner
The big “wow” feature of the Galaxy Note 7 is a brand new iris scanner, which – if it works well – could take the ease of unlocking your smartphone with your fingerprint many steps further. You can allegedly see the Note 7 iris scanner in action here, just jump to about the 4:30 minute mark.
The Note 7 iris scanner has been the most often discussed and leaked feature of the device, first popping up a couple of months ago, but its success or failure will be dependent on the accuracy and quickness with which it functions. Perhaps most important will be the the ability to prevent pranksters to gain unauthorized access to your device.
Curved “Edge” display
Samsung loves promoting the heck out of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and its amazingly beautiful curved display. Not everyone finds it functional or useful, but it’s hard to argue with the aesthetics. Last year we were treated to variations of the Galaxy Note that included a flat display and a curved display, but will that be the case this year?
Not long after rumors surfaced of a flat screened Note 7, we were treated to an 11-minute video of a Galaxy Note 7 prototype that seems to confirm the straight-edged decision. That would be a bummer, but other leaks seem to confirm the exact opposite, the most recent of which show press renders of a Note 7 with a curved screen.
At this point, we’re pretty confident the Note 7 screen will be curved, but which would you prefer: flat or the curved edge display?
Better Battery, Improved S-Pen
Every year it seems smartphone batteries get larger and more efficient, but our devices seem to consume more and more, meaning that improvements in battery life aren’t always experienced in an obvious way. Galaxy Note users who rely heavily on their S-Pen will not only notice an improvement in S-Pen functionality, but also a boost in battery life, largely thanks to the inclusion of Bluetooth 4 LTE on the Note 7.
Galaxy Note 7 Specs
Not everyone cares about the nitty gritty details of every device, but for phone lovers who want to know all the ins and outs, nothing is better than getting a spec sheet. Thanks to a photo of the Galaxy Note 7 retail packaging we were able to confirm a handful of Galaxy Note 7 specs:
- 5.7-inch Edge display
- Exynos 8890 octa-core processor
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB Storage
- 5MP front-facing camera
- 12MP rear-facing camera
- 3,500mAh battery
- USB Type-C charging port
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow
3 Colors including Sexy Black Onyx
The official name of Samsung’s deep black version of the Galaxy Note 7 isn’t “Sexy Black Onyx” (it’s just Black Onyx) but perhaps it should be: it’s sexy as hell.
But if black isn’t your thing, you can treat yourself to 2 other options: silver and blue.
Type-C charging
The promise of USB Type-C is a better charging experience including less worrying about what gets plugged into where and in what direction. However, not many people have owned USB Type-C chargers before. If you buy the Note 7 this could be your very first USB Type-C device.
That means something very important: you won’t have any spare chargers laying around. We suggest you buy some backups from Amazon, especially of these handy adapters that will allow you to use your old chargers with your new phone. You can thank us later.
Galaxy Note 7 Pricing and Availability
Samsung is a global company which makes pinning down prices and release dates difficult. However, many rumors are floating around, and these are the ones worth paying the most attention to:
- Galaxy Note 7 will cost $50 more than the S7 Edge (about $850)
- Pre-orders could start immediately
- August 19th shipping date and in-store availability
- India launch on August 11th
Everything Galaxy Note 7
If you want to follow EVERYTHING Galaxy Note 7 not only today, but also in the future, we’ve got 2 great suggestions:
- Check out the Galaxy Note 7 Forums on AndroidForums.com
- Download EarlyBird – News for Android from the Play Store
Will you buy the Galaxy Note 7?
Let us know in the comments!
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