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 (07/04): We’ve added new details about the Galaxy Note 9’s alleged S Pen functionality, potential color options, and the confirmed launch date. Check out the full article below for more details!
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 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 has confirmed that it will unveil the Galaxy Note 9 at a Samsung Unpacked event on Aug. 9. While there is still no confirmed Galaxy Note 9 release date, the Galaxy Note 8 was released just over three weeks after Samsung unveiled it in 2018. We’ll let you know when we learn more.
According to The Investor, the Galaxy Note 9’s display will be larger than that of the Note 8 — but the difference will be so small that you’ll hardly notice it. 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. No word on resolution for now, but we expect it to be the same as the one on its predecessor at 2,960 x 1,440 pixels. Some rumors suggest a 4K display is also an option.
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. However, 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. Unfortunately, we haven’t come across any reliable leaks about the camera’s specs like the megapixel count, aperture size, and what have you.
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.
Samsung 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 ampere wireless charger (model number EP-N5100) Samsung launched this year with the Galaxy S9.
Other specs and features expected include 64GB of base storage in the U. S., which you’ll be able to upgrade for an extra 400GB via a microSD card. Then there’s 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 may ship with a free pair of AKG headphones in the box like its predecessor.
Samsung is expected to make big changes to the S Pen. A filing with the FCC confirms that it will have Bluetooth, which ETNews suggests will allow the S Pen to take pictures remotely and control music, as well as act as a pointer during presentations. It also suggests that the S Pen will have the ability to create digital signatures for authentication.
The Galaxy Note 9 is expected to run Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung’s Experience skin on top. The smartphone will likely also launch with the much anticipated Bixby 2.0 on board, which is an upgraded version of the company’s digital assistant.
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. 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.
