Samsung has barely launched the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in Australia, and already the rumour mill is starting on the next project for Samsung. While the giant has recently been launching tablets mid year, the next major movement in smartphones typically occurs around August/September with a new Galaxy Note release. The Galaxy Note line has been very popular for Samsung, and there’s little doubt that the line will receive an update in Q3 this year to the Galaxy Note 5.
SamMobile’s sources are reporting Samsung will go with one variant of the Note 5, unlikely the Note 4 / Note 4 Edge split, and in contrast to the split of the Galaxy S6 variants as well. This unnamed source refers to either a 2K or 4K flat-screen Super AMOLED display (not much of a stretch), the use of Exynos 7422 processors (again, seems likely) and Samsung’s own modem, which is a bit more of an unknown. The Exynos 7422 is expected to be Samsung’s answer to Qualcomm with Snapdragon’s integrated LTE, and will feature CPU, GPU, RAM, storage and modem on a single chip.
There’s a few prototypes being looked at for the Note 5, including one featuring an un-released Exynos 7430 chipset, a 2K display and a 4K variant, but these are all just engineering samples at the moment. No final decision has been reached.
Though there won’t be a repeat of the Note 4 Edge, there is something similar which is dubbed Project Zen; it’s likely to be a slightly less high-end device based on the Snapdragon 808 platform, featuring the dual-edge curved screen. The other specs are largely unremarkable — S-Pen, 16GB storage, 16MP primary camera with OIS, and an 8MP front-facing camera.
We’ll keep a keen ear out for any developments in this area, as we know the Note 5 is likely to be a very popular handset in Australia.
My wife has a Note 4 and it’s the first phone she’s ever been excited about. I’d get one myself but they’re too big for pockets and I’m not getting a man bag.