In this post, which will be updated regularly, we take a closer look at the latest rumors surrounding Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 9 smartphone.
Update (07/23): We’ve updated the hub with some new details, starting with a huge specs leak via an early unboxing video and all the apparent new S Pen features. We’ve also added a second source for the Note 9’s battery capacity, along with information on a leaked Samsung wireless charger. Finally, fans of fancy color variants will also want to view the latest renders in this update.
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Previous coverage: The Galaxy Note 8 was a smash hit. Despite being the most expensive Samsung smartphone to date and having a weirdly positioned fingerprint scanner, the flagship outsold previous Note devices. Its large 18.5:9 display, dual-camera setup, and stunning design were apparently good enough reasons for consumers to forget all about the Note 7 fiasco.
Whether Samsung can manage a repeat with the Galaxy Note 9 depends on how much of an upgrade the handset will be over its predecessor…and its price tag. Although the specs and price haven’t been officially revealed yet, various rumors on these topics give us an idea of what to expect — check them out below.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Release date
The nitty-gritty
- Samsung will hold a Samsung Unpacked Event to launch the Galaxy Note 9 on Aug. 9, 2018.
- As per the rumors, this is two weeks earlier in the year than the Galaxy Note 8.
- There is still no confirmed release date, but sources suggest pre-orders will open in mid-August for an Augst 24 release date.
Samsung has confirmed that it will unveil the Galaxy Note 9 at a Samsung Unpacked event on Aug. 9.
Traditionally, Note devices hit shelves a few weeks after the launch, which gets them in the hands of consumers before or around the same time Apple launches the next set of iPhones in September. We have no reason to believe that this year will be any different from previous ones in that respect.
When the Note 9 will land in stores is not yet known, but a tip from Korean-language news outlet ETNews speculates it could launch in Samsung’s native Korea on August 24. However, other sources suggest that August 24 will be the global release date and that pre-orders will open sometime in mid-August. We won’t know this info for certain until Samsung makes an announcement at the August 9 launch.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Specs
The nitty-gritty
- The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 could sport a dual-camera setup with variable aperture.
- The smartphone should be powered by the Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810 chipset.
- It will come with the S Pen stylus, which could have a few new tricks up its sleeve.
According to The Investor, the Galaxy Note 9’s display will be larger than that of the Note 8 — but the difference may too small too notice. The smartphone is said to come with a 6.38-inch display, up from the Note 8’s 6.32 inches. The screen should be curved on both sides and sport an 18.5:9 aspect ratio like last year.
More display information later emerged thanks to an early unboxing video (via PocketNow). Based on the specs list on the rear of the box, the Note 9 will be 6.3-inches when measured as a full rectangle or 6.2-inches when accounting for the rounded corners. It will also be an AMOLED panel with a Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution.
The Note 9 will probably be powered by the latest Snapdragon 845 — or Samsung’s own Exynos 9810 chipset, depending on the region — just like the Galaxy S9 series. Like the Note 8, the Note 9 will likely pack 6GB of RAM under the hood, which means it will be able to handle anything you throw at it, and 64GB internal storage (expandable) as standard.
There’s also a chance Samsung will announce a beefed-up version of the device. Chinese leaker Ice universe claims it will come with 8GB of RAM and a whopping 512GB of storage, but only “if you are lucky.” What exactly that means is anyone’s guess right now. It could be that Samsung hasn’t made a final decision yet, or that this variant will be exclusive to certain markets, like China.
If you are lucky, you will see 8GB RAM and 512GB ROM Galaxy Note9
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 26, 2018
We expect to see a few improvements in the camera department. Like its predecessor, the Note 9 will probably come with a dual-camera setup on the back, offering digital zoom and a bokeh effect. There’s a good chance the camera setup will sport a variable aperture like the S9 series, which is especially handy for low-light photography.
This is all backed up by the unboxing video, which shows a dual pixel 12MP+12MP camera combo with OIS for both lenses. It also lists an 8MP auto-focus selfie camera.
Read next: What is variable aperture?
The ability to capture super slow-mo videos at 960fps could make its way from the S9 to the Note 9. AR Emoji feature, which lets you turn yourself into animated emoji with the help of the camera, could also cross over. It’s not perfect, but it is a lot of fun. Check out a few AR emojis of our very own Jimmy Westenberg and Joshua Vergara below.
According to leaker Ice universe, the Note 9 will have a larger battery than its predecessor — possibly as large as 4,000mAh, up from 3,300mAh. This seems to be corroborated by Brazil’s ANATEL telecommunications agency, listing a Samsung model with a 4,000mAh cell.
The Korean brand has been playing it safe when it comes to battery sizes since the Note 7 fiasco. Maybe it will finally close that chapter and take a step forward.
Speaking of the battery, Samsung might also launch a faster wireless charger alongside the Note 9. The folks at Galaxy Club spotted an FCC listing for a new wireless charger with model number EP-N6100 that supports an input rating of 12 volts and 2.1 amperes. That’s up from the 9 volt/1.67 amperes wireless charger (model number EP-N5100) Samsung launched this year with the Galaxy S9.
This is the Samsung Wireless Charger Duo (EP-N6100) for the Galaxy Note 9. Charges the Galaxy Watch alongside the phone. pic.twitter.com/VnP10xAhvb
— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) July 21, 2018
A faster charger might not be the only wireless charging accessory available for the Note 9, as WinFuture’s Roland Quandt revealed a so-called Wireless Charger Duo (seen above). The charger features two pads, designed for either a phone and a smartwatch or two phones.
Other anticipated features include facial recognition, an iris scanner, and the Intelligent Scan feature already seen on the Galaxy S9, which merges the two biometric options.
The Note 9 will likely sport a headphone jack and may come with a free pair of AKG headphones.
Let’s not forget about the IP68 rating for protection against dust and water. The Note 9 will also likely come with a headphone jack and, if the infamous unboxing video is to be believed, ship with a free pair of AKG headphones in the box like its predecessor.
Samsung is expected to make big changes to its S Pen stylus. A filing with the FCC confirms that it will have Bluetooth, but what could the new S Pen actually do? XDA-Developers dug into the unreleased Galaxy Tab S4’s firmware, finding numerous references to the new stylus. The references suggest the S Pen can be used to control music, act as a remote shutter key, remotely unlock your phone, and create customizable actions. Per the FCC filing, the S Pen’s battery will charge via the smartphone itself when housed in its stylus port.
The Galaxy Note 9 is expected to run Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung’s Experience skin on top. According to the Korean Herald, the phone will launch with Bixby 2.0, which is an upgraded version of the firm’s voice assistant. The upgraded platform is set to deliver better voice recognition, faster response times and an emphasis on conversation.
Based on the rumored specs and features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, the smartphone sounds like a slightly larger Galaxy S9 Plus with the added S Pen. That’s why it’s possible Samsung will add a few extra bells and whistles to the device to differentiate it from the S9 series.
| Samsung Galaxy Note 9 rumored specifications | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.38-inch Super AMOLED panel 2,960 x 1,440 resolution 18.5:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810 |
| RAM | 6/8GB |
| Storage | up to 512GB |
| MicroSD | Yes, up to 400GB |
| Camera | Dual-camera setup with variable aperture and super slow-mo video at 960fps |
| Battery | 4,000mAh |
| Water resistant | IP68 |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Software | Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung Experience |
| Other features | S Pen stylus, facial recognition, iris scanner, and AR Emoji |
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Design
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S9 Plus
The nitty-gritty
- Press renders, unofficial renders, and a 360-degree video allegedly showing the Galaxy Note 9 have leaked.
- The upcoming flagship could look similar to its predecessor, with a few minor changes.
- The fingerprint scanner may sit below the dual-camera setup instead of next to it.
OnLeaks has teamed up with 91mobiles and released a 360-degree video as well as a few renders allegedly showing the Galaxy Note 9. They reveal that the upcoming smartphone may look similar to its predecessor, with a few small changes here and there.
The biggest one is at the back, where you’ll find horizontally-positioned dual cameras along with a fingerprint scanner that now sits below the setup instead of next to it. This is something that was expected, as Samsung has also moved the scanner below the cameras on the Galaxy S9 series. It looks way better and is also a lot more practical, as it makes it easier to reach the scanner with a finger.
The video and renders also squash rumors that we’ll see an in-display fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy Note 9. Although these aren’t official renders of the device, OnLeaks has a great track record and is rarely wrong with his predictions. This means the rumor claiming that the first Samsung device with a fingerprint scanner could be the Galaxy S10 just may be true.
Android Headlines posted a leaked image reportedly of the Note 9, which you can see below. The first thing that you’ll notice is that the front of the device looks pretty much exactly like the Note 8, which lines up with previous rumors. If this leaked image is, in fact, the Galaxy Note 9, it will be hard to differentiate between a Note 9 and a Note 8.
With the alleged similarities between the Note 9 and Note 8 in mind, check out this image of Samsung mobile division CEO DJ Koh using a Note device:
Is that a Note 8 in his hands or a Note 9? It’s hard to tell, but it is totally possible that Samsung’s CEO is already using the Note 9 as his daily driver.
Not long after that image of Koh hit the internet, some alleged press renders of the device leaked out as well:
S Pen? pic.twitter.com/xizmWw9J2W
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 17, 2018
This alleged press renders line up nicely with the previous renders posted above, so it seems like we now have a pretty good idea of what the Note 9 might look like.
Buyers of the Galaxy Note 9 may have a selection of five colors to choose from. Galaxy Club claims the phone will be available in black, gray, violet or purple, blue, and brown. The report also says the S Pen will match the color of the phone.
Additionally, we may have received a preview of two colors, via Nieuwe Mobiel and MySmartPrice respectively. The former outlet revealed a rather slick Lilac Purple render, while the latter showed off what seems to be a Coral Blue color scheme. Both renders seem to line up with previous images of the device.
On July 23, Android Headlines brought us another leak, this time of the Note 9 in three color options: black, blue, and brown.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Price
The nitty-gritty
- The Galaxy Note 9 could cost the same as its predecessor or more.
- It might set you back at least $950 unlocked.
The unlocked version of the Galaxy Note 8 launched with a $930 price tag in the U.S., making it the most expensive Samsung smartphone to date. What’s more, its price has since increased — now $950.
The Galaxy Note 9’s price remains a mystery for now, but we do know this: it won’t lower. Samsung doesn’t decrease the prices of its flagships, and we don’t expect that to change this year. In fact, the Note 9 could be more expensive than its predecessor. Samsung increased the price of the Galaxy S9 Plus to $840 unlocked — $15 more than the Galaxy S8.
The Note 8 outsold its predecessor, despite being more expensive, which might give Samsung the confidence to bump up the price again this year. Pushing the price up too high might have a negative effect on sales, especially if the handset will only be a minor upgrade over last year’s model, but a small increase could be in the cards.
These are all the rumors we’ve come across so far about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. We’ll update this page as soon as we hear more.
In the meantime, share your thoughts on Samsung’s upcoming smartphone with us. Will it outsell the Galaxy Note 8? Let us know in the comments!
Latest Updates on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9:
- [July 23] New Galaxy Note 9 images leak alongside dual wireless charger and S Pen info
- [July 17] Galaxy Note 9 official press render leaked
- [July 16] It’s telling that we don’t know if Samsung’s CEO is holding a Galaxy Note 9 or Note 8 in this pic
- [July 16] 30 days left to prepare your wallets: Galaxy Note 9 pre-orders tipped for mid-August
- [July 12] Samsung Galaxy Note 9 looks bold in blue and yellow promo leak
- [July 11] SamsungGalaxy Note 9 tipped for Korea on August 24, may beat next iPhone to release
- [July 11] Galaxy Note 9 leaks, but it looks more like a Galaxy Note 8.1
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