Want to learn about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9? Here’s everything we know so far about the Galaxy Note 9 price, specs, release date, and more.
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 (08/03): Pricing information for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 leaked, as well as a teaser video that gives us a clear idea of what the device will look like.
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.
Samsung has a lot riding on the Note 9 because it not only has to outperform the Note 8 but it also has to recoup some of the losses from the relatively poor sales of the Samsung Galaxy S9. Even Samsung admits it pushed the Note 9 launch to be a little earlier in the year to help.
While the Note 9 won’t officially launch until August 9, various rumors and leaks give us an idea of what to expect — check them out below.
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.
However, until then you can reserve your Galaxy Note 9 using a form on Samsung’s official site. Placing your reservation ensures you get first access to the pre-order site whenever that officially opens.
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 to 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.
There will be a large jump in the amount of storage that the base model of the Note 9 will offer. The Note 8’s base model came with 64GB of storage, but the base model of the Note 9 is expected to come with 128GB of storage — twice as much as last year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
