Samsung is slated to unveil the Galaxy Note 9 on August 9, but much about the device remains under wraps. While rumors paint an interesting picture of the Galaxy Note 9, overall the device may be just another stepping stone before Samsung introduces major technological advances on future devices.
Rumors suggest Samsung has a foldable display smartphone and a Galaxy S device with an in-display fingerprint scanner in the pipeline. The foldable Galaxy X may be unveiled at CES 2019 in Las Vegas and the Galaxy S10 (or whatever its obvious rebranding may be) at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Galaxy Note 9 may have a conservative release, as to not take away from the hype of the upcoming devices.
CES2019：Galaxy X
MWC2019：Galaxy S10— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 4, 2018
Galaxy Note 9 top features
Two highlight features for the Galaxy Note 9 may be added functionality to its S-Pen stylus and a larger battery. DroidLife recently discovered FCC filings for the Galaxy Note 9 that indicate the device’s S-Pen will support Bluetooth. Currently, there are no details on exactly what new features Bluetooth connectivity might bring to the S-Pen, but Samsung’s teaser for the Galaxy Note 9 launch event also hints there may be a major focus on the stylus.
Rumors also suggest the Galaxy Note 9 might pack a massive 4,000mAh battery. If true, this would be Samsung’s first major power upgrade on a flagship device in two years. After the Galaxy Note 7 discontinuation in 2016, Samsung played it safe on the Galaxy Note 8 by including a 3,300mAh battery, to the disappointment of many fans. Even the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S9 suffered through Samsung’s discretion with 3,000-3,5000mAh batteries, depending on the model.
However, the manufacturer was still experimenting with power upgrades on other devices. Samsung released the Galaxy C9 Pro in March 2017 as a Chinese exclusive device featuring a 4,000mAh battery and 6GB of RAM. At the time, pundits speculated that the device was a testbed for future flagships. The Galaxy Note 8 did adopt 6GB of RAM when it was announced in August 2017, but Samsung used the device to show off minor software features for the S-Pen and to introduce its dual-camera system.
Following in Apple’s footsteps
Outside of these potential features, there doesn’t seem to be any major design or hardware upgrades for the Galaxy Note 9. Samsung likely won’t jump on the top-notch bandwagon and is expected to continue outfitting its devices with a curved display design. Still, Samsung may not yet be down for the count as consumers have seen top smartphone manufacturers play this game before.
Apple released several uninspired iPhone versions with similar designs and minor hardware and software upgrades before unveiling the iPhone X in September 2017. The new super-premium device is now highly coveted among Apple fans and is Apple’s justification for charging $1,000 for the smartphone, which is unlike any other iOS product.
Galaxy Note 9 as a tester
The Galaxy Note series is Samsung’s niche product, marketed for business and productivity, but it has also been a testbed for future Samsung flagships. Despite its discontinuation, the Galaxy Note 7 was the first flagship to feature USB-C, which is now a staple on Samsung products. It was also the first Note series devices to feature a curved display and an S-Pen.
The features rumored for the Galaxy Note 9 could also be beneficial complements to the flashy features expected for future devices. Samsung is known for its high-end displays that require a considerable amount of battery power. Devices that bend and feature fingerprint scanners in their displays may require larger batteries to maintain seamless functionality. There have also been murmurs that the foldable Galaxy X may be marketed as Note series device, which means it could feature an S-Pen. If true, a beefed up stylus could make the device even more appealing to consumers.
