The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 4 should be quite “beast” of a phone – it will not be a major overhaul, however there are very few facets of the device that will remain the same. After the disappointing launch of the Galaxy S5 flagship – disappointing by Samsung standards – and consecutive quarters with lower revenue and income, you can be sure that Samsung is doing its best to make the Galaxy Note 4 a very desirable device. Will it be worth upgrading if you are still using a Galaxy Note or Note 2, absolutely, but if you are still rocking a Galaxy Note 3, you may want to hold off until next year’s Note 5 and 64-bits. One thing in Samsung’s favor is there are a lot of Galaxy Note 2 owners ready to update after their two-year contract, so that should help the sales immensely. With all of the rumors swirling around and recently leaked pictures and test reports, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect when the Galaxy Note 4 is launched in early September…let’s take a look at ten areas where we will try to sort it all out.
For starters, let us get right to the build of the Note 4 – It should have an improved ‘industrial’ design, much like the Galaxy Alpha that was just announced, with a metal frame with premium-chamfered edges and a textured faux leather back for added grip and the ability to remove the back and the battery. It should also be a thinner design as a result of a new display technology that will replace the touchscreen digitizer with ultrasound sensors allowing Samsung to make the display even thinner.
Next we need to look at the display – We know that it will be the new QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. We are almost sure it will retain the same 5.7-inch size of the current Note 3, but some people are still insisting that Samsung will bump it up to 5.9-inches. From the leaked photos, it looks like the display will go edge-edge with minimal bezels this time around and should sport Gorilla Glass 3. The newest Super AMOLED displays are holding up to tough scrutiny in the labs and it should be simply amazing.
Third on the list is the processor – The U.S. version will be powered by the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor clocked up to 2.7GHz and will have the new Adreno 420 GPU and a whole new host of features with improvements all around – Gaming, LTE Modem, Camera, Display and Memory – it will be the last hoorah for 32-bit processing until Qualcomm can get their 64-bit 808 to market early next year. We believe it will come with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage with the availability of 128GB more via the microSD card slot.
Next we will look at the Camera – It too, will be improved all around with Samsung’s ISOCELL technology (which is more like a CMOS sensor found on DSLRs) for better low-light pictures, finally the much needed Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) and a bump up to 16MP for the main camera. There is also a rumor that the front-facing camera (FFC) may be increased to 3.7MP, which would allow a terrific video chatting experience as well as a great selfie. I was hoping for a Dual-LED flash for better effects, but it looks like that will have to wait.
Fifth, we will explore the S-Pen and Software – Every Galaxy Note seems to improve on the functionality of the S-Pen and the Note 4 should be no exception. There are rumors that the S-Pen will get yet another overhaul in its design with increased capabilities, but no specifics have been announced…although one rumor is it may incorporate a usage with ‘ultrasonic sound,’ Because the S-Pen is a prime feature of the Note, it is expected to have even more software related updates to make it more integrated into the overall design concept.
Let’s take a look at the the new Virtual Reality (VR) talk – There is definitely an APK found on the Galaxy Note 4’s software that is related to a VR plug-in (VRSetupWizardStub). We know that Samsung is working with Oculus on a VR headset that may tie in somehow to the Note 4…there may be a release of a VR headset along with the Galaxy Note 4 as a companion type device.
Seventh, we will talk about the new sensors – Samsung introduced the Heart Rate Monitor on the Galaxy S5 and it should also find its way on the Note 4, along with S Health 3.5 for the health freaks amongst us. They may take it one step further and add an Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation detector – which could allow for better automatic brightness adjustments for taking photos and could also help to warn you if you are at risk for a sunburn when you’re outside.
Fingerprint Sensor – we all know that the Note 4 would have to come with a fingerprint sensor – it gives Samsung another excuse to keep their home button. Talk is that Samsung is working on eye retina identification and I think we will eventually see that technology on future devices. The fingerprint sensor is not only for unlocking your device, but also for making secure payments via PayPal. Samsung is also working on Smart Fingerprint software that will allow your fingerprint to do more than just unlock your device, but add several other additional functions.
Ninth, we will look at charging the device – Samsung is reported to be working on an enhanced wireless charging resolution for its devices. Magnetic resonance charging is their goal, which will allow smartphone users to charge their phones even without being in direct contact with the charger base. Many people are still not aware of the availability of this charging technology although it is expected to be available when the Galaxy 4 launches.
Finally, we will throw in whatever is left – Samsung plans on having one of the fastest announcements-to-launches in their history by revealing the Note 4 on September 3 and shipping within one to two weeks after…they want to make sure it is in our hands before the iPhone 6 is announced. There are rumors of a three-sided display that may see limited production in Korea, but not this year for the U.S. There are also rumors that the Note 4 will use several swipe gestures, for instance to turn on the camera. It should also have the Ultra Power Saving Mode (UPSM) as found on the Galaxy S5 and there is talk that it will incorporate Download Booster to increase download speeds of large files by using both Wi-Fi and the LTE network in tandem. The Note 4 should also have a ‘kinder, gentler’ TouchWiz as found on the Galaxy S5 – hopefully even kinder and with less bloat. Please hook up with us on our Google+ Page and let us know if you are excited about the new Galaxy Note 4…as always, we would love to hear from you.