Samsung officially announces the Galaxy Note 3

September 4, 2013

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Galaxy Note 3 white

Well folks, the wait for the next big phablet is over. Samsung has officially taken the wraps off of its latest Galaxy Note 3, complete with updated hardware and a handful of new features. The biggest difference it the screen; Samsung successfully managed to fit a bigger screen into the body of the phone without adding much extra bulk. The Note 3 will have a 5.7 inch, full 1080p display, but the Note 3 is a bit slimmer than the Note 2, weighing in at only 168 grams while being only 8.3 mm thin. As you can see in the picture above, the bezel on this thing is impressively small, as Samsung claims to have widened the screen as opposed to adding any height to it.

As far as tech specs go, Samsung didn't skimp on anything. You'll get a full 1920 x 1080 AMOLED screen, a massive 3,200 mAh battery, a 13 megapixel camera with Smart Stabilization that claims to do well in low light, and a whopping 3 GB of RAM, which is also an industry first for any manufacturer. Samsung will also be releasing the Note 3 in 16 GB and 32 GB options, finally doing away with the paltry 16 GB option. Of course, you'll still have your microSD card slot, so if you're the type of person to hoard tons of digital files, the Note 3 fits the bill. Samsung is also releasing a pink version of the device in addition to the regular white and black options.

Of course, no Samsung device announcement would be complete without throwing in a ton of extra software features. The Note 3 has several enhancements to current TouchWiz features, but it also brings a few new ideas to the table. First introduced in the Note lineup, the Air View actions have gotten an update. Now, whenever you float the S Pen above the Note 3 screen, you'll be able to click the S Pen button to get a pop up window for extra functionality. S Note has also gotten a few extra tweaks, allowing you to better organize your notes, including PC syncing and Evernote integration, to find them later with Samsung's new S Finder app, as well as now being able to write down phone numbers to save them as contacts. There are also several new S Pen gestures, including drawing a circle over anything to save it to your personal scrapbook and drawing a square to open up a pane for opening certain applications in addition to traditional writing and sketching. Other Samsung features have also gotten improvements, including a video sharing addition to Group Play that lets multiple phones connect to display an image or video across multiple screens. Samsung's Multi-Window has gotten enhancements, such as being able to open the same app in both windows if you wanted to simultaneously look at two web pages or have two conversations in ChatOn. It's also worth mentioning the Note 3 will launch with Android 4.3.

Samsung says the device will be available on September 25th worldwide, with launches on US carriers coming “later this year.” The Note 3 looks like an extremely appealing powerhouse of a device, so hopefully we won't have to wait too long to get it in the States. You can check out Samsung's full press release below, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on the new features as we learn more.

Design the Story of your Life with Samsung GALAXY Note 3

September 4, 2013

Enhanced S Pen features and larger screen optimized for multitasking

provide a delightful mobile experience that brings passions to life

Berlin, Germany – September 4, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced GALAXY Note 3, the latest update to the Note product line. The new Samsung GALAXY Note 3 adds delight to daily tasks and infuses innovative features that help consumers tell the story of their lives. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 delivers a larger and better screen for the best viewing experience and more powerful multitasking, and introduces significant S Pen improvements that make everyday life easier and faster.

GALAXY Note 3 makes your everyday life amazing

“We introduced the original GALAXY Note in 2011 and launched a whole new smart device category. The undeniable success of the GALAXY Note strengthened our conviction that consumers want higher quality features for smart devices and they want those new features to make their lives better,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is a powerful, original approach that enables users to tell the stories of their lives through dynamic and seamless expressions of their passions across work, play and life experiences. With a simple click of the S Pen button, users can unlock opportunities for self-expression, features that transform everyday activities into extraordinary events and access to new experiences delivered to them on Note 3’s larger screen.”

Samsung GALAXY Note 3 comes with a wider (5.7inch) full HD Super AMOLED display, yet slimmer (8.3mm) and lighter (168g) hardware design, and more powerful and longer lasting (3,200mAh) battery. Also, equipped with a 13 megapixel rear camera with Smart Stabilization and high CRI LED flash, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 enables users to crisply capture every visual story in their lives, even in low light and active situations. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 offers the latest LTE technologies – CAT4 Carrier Aggregation and supports the greatest number of multiple frequencies. Incorporating the industry’s largest 3GB RAM, the GALAXY Note 3 also provides faster and more powerful performance.

Balancing GALAXY Note 3’s strength with artistic design

In addition to meaningful technological advancements, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 delivers a new premium look and feel. Expanding on the modern Samsung GALAXY design approach, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 adds a soft and textured-touch back cover and delicate stitching. It also features a serration pattern on the side of the device that evokes a connection to the timeless and enduring strengths of classic notebooks and planners. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 will be available in Jet Black, Classic White and Blush Pink. In order to encourage its customers to express their personality and taste, Samsung will also offer exchangeable back covers in dozens of additional colors at launch.

Click S Pen to make life easier, faster and more exciting

The new S Pen reinvents and modernizes the classic note-taking experience by providing the ability to accomplish everyday tasks with just one click. The advanced S Pen is designed to be fully functional as a communication driver between the phone and the user by creating essential input and control features. It plays an integral role in how users interface with the device, making all daily routines easier.

A simple click of the S Pen button while hovering over the screen introduces users to Air Command, a palette of five powerful features that truly make tasks easier and faster. With the Air Command feature, there is no need to toggle between screens, memorize commands or look up different menus. The Air Command feature provides access to the following key functions:

• Action Memo allows users to handwrite a note, and automatically execute a function or convert that handwritten

information into formatted content. Action Memo can instantly initiate a call, add to contacts,

look up an address on a map, search the web, save a task to a to-do list, and more

• Scrapbook enables users to organize or track down content and information from various sources

including the web, YouTube and Gallery in one place so that users can easily look back at collected content

all at once. When consumers save content for future use, Scrapbook also collects source material

or URLs allowing them to easily refer back to the original source.

• The Screen Write feature captures the full screen image of the current page on the device and allows

users to write comments or additional information onto the captured image.

• S Finder allows users to expansively search for content on their device regardless of the type. By putting

in keywords or filters such as date, location, and content type, users can search related documents, events,

communication threads, and even the Help page – all in one place. In addition, users can also

search for hand-written content in their Notes and memo applications, as well as symbols and formulas.

• Pen Window allows users to use the S Pen not only for drawing sketches or writing notes, but now also

for opening a small application window for a true multitasking experience. Simply by drawing a window

of any size, anywhere on the screen, users can easily and quickly open another application window

such as YouTube, calculator or Browser without pausing current activity on the screen.

For more advanced note-taking, the new S Note presents a comprehensive solution that enables consumers to easily write, organize, edit and browse notes with a user-friendly interface and the Easy Chart feature. The new S Note can also be synced with Evernote or a Samsung account and be enabled for accessing and viewing from different devices. Furthermore, when a user wants only a certain part of an image to be taken from the web or Note 3 content, the advanced new Easy Clip feature allows them to roughly draw around the desired image and then it converts that content into a more precisely cropped image.

Larger Note screen delivers enriched viewing experience and enables you to do more

The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 delivers a larger screen and the increased size is matched with powerful improvements that allow users to fully utilize the additional screen space. The 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen provides a stunning and defined video viewing experience for watching Full HD content, distinct clarity for reading and an elegant canvas for content creation.

My Magazine provides a personalized news, social media, entertainment and in-the-moment content experience. Developed through a partnership with Flipboard, it offers an integrated content consuming experience in a modern and dynamic magazine-style layout.

The GALAXY Note 3 enables enhanced multitasking capabilities that allow users to fully utilize the larger screen.

• With the new Multi Window, users can toggle seamlessly between applications without closing the window

or opening a new page, allowing for enhanced productivity and collaboration across programs.

Consumers can also run one application in two windows at the same time. For instance,

users can read the news in one browser while conducting a web search in another, or send an instant message

through ChatON to a friend while reading a message from another friend.

• In addition, using Drag and Drop mode within the new Multi Window, users can easily drag and drop

content such as a text or image from one window to the other in an instant.

• Pen Window from Air Command further enhances multitasking experience by allowing consumers to draw

a window on the screen and launching popular applications while continuing current tasks on the GALAXY Note 3.

An improvement to Group Play, video sharing, is now available. Originally introduced along with the GALAXY S4, Group Play allows users to play the same music, to play games together, and to share documents. It now enables consumers to share videos and play content together with their friends simultaneously. Users can also connect up to five devices alongside each other to create a “big screen” viewing experience.

Samsung KNOX & Find My Mobile

The new GALAXY Note 3 comes with enhanced privacy and security protection provided by Samsung KNOX. Users can activate Samsung KNOX with ease which allows them to run and store security-sensitive applications and data inside a protected execution environment called “container.” The security inside the container is strengthened by system-level protection of Samsung KNOX against malware and phishing attacks as well as hacking attempts on physical devices when devices are stolen or lost. For instance, important personal pictures or video can be stored in the container with no worries for data leakage due to hacking. In addition, users may choose to store enterprise applications and data such as corporate email, contacts and calendar and allow the IT department to manage the container through EAS (Exchange ActiveSync Server). These features make the GALAXY Note 3 an ideal device for BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device to work)

Furthermore, the GALAXY Note 3 is equipped with an improved Find My Mobile feature that allows users to disable the phone when it is stolen or lost. With the enhanced user authentication, the technology prevents stolen mobile phones from being reset to factory settings, and allows users to remotely track or erase the data from their lost or stolen mobile phones.

GALAXY Gear, the smart companion for GALAXY Note 3

Simultaneously announced with Samsung GALAXY Note 3, GALAXY Gear is a new concept device that allows users to live life in the moment while staying connected. GALAXY Gear will notify users and give them quick previews of incoming texts, emails and more coming from GALAXY Note 3. It will provide a range of other valuable features and commands that extend the GALAXY Note 3 experience. When an incoming message requires more than a quick glance, users can simply pick up their Samsung GALAXY devices and the Smart Relay feature will instantly reveal the full content on the screen. Together, GALAXY Note 3 and GALAXY Gear extend Samsung’s efforts to provide users with the opportunity to design their lives, to express their passions and to make everyday life more easy and enjoyable.

Available in 32GB or 64GB internal storage along with an additional microSD card slot, the Samsung GALAXY Note 3 and GALAXY Gear are set to launch starting from September 25 in more than 140 countries around the world. The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 will also be available in the U.S. later this year on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular.

The GALAXY Note 3 will be on display at the Samsung booth # 20 at IFA 2013, September 6 through September 11, 2013. Full details, video content and product images are available at www.samsungmobilepress.com or m.samsungifa.com.

Note to Editors:

Endorsement by Mobile Operators:

Deutsche Telekom: Heikki Makijarvi, SVP Global Partnerships

“Deutsche Telekom customers have been consistently satisfied by GALAXY Note products and the inspirational GALAXY Note 3 promises to generate new excitement. We are keen to further extend our strategic partnership with Samsung and look forward to introducing the GALAXY Note 3 in Europe. The latest addition to the Note product line incorporates meaningful updates like LTE Cat4 and Multi Window which will deliver great value for our customers,” said Heikki Makijervi, SVP of Global Partnerships. “Deutsche Telekom launched LTE already in 8 countries in Europe and LTE CAT4 will bring even more speed and comfort to our consumers.

Orange: Yves Maitre, EVP mobile multimedia & devices at Orange

“Orange is delighted to be one of Samsung’s key partners in bringing the Galaxy Note 3 and GALAXY Gear to our markets. Wearable and connected devices are paving the way for consumers to be connected to all the things they love and Orange is excited to bring this latest innovative offering to our customers.” said Yves Maitre, EVP mobile multimedia & devices at Orange. “As Orange has already launched LTE networks in 7 countries, our customers will be some of the first in Europe to enjoy even faster download speeds and benefit from the Cat4 support on Samsung’s GALAXY Note 3.”

Telefonica: Francisco Montalvo, Group Devices Director in Telefonica

“Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is a strong evolution of the GALAXY Note product line from a company that has a strong understanding of consumer’s needs. Samsung’s focus on making everyday activities easier and more joyful will generate wide appeal within our multi-country subscriber base.”

Vodafone: Patrick Chomet, Global Director Terminals at Vodafone

“The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 continues to push the limits of what’s possible, giving customers access to the mobile internet on large vivid screens yet in a portable format. It’s the perfect match for Vodafone’s fast HSDPA＋ and 4G networks and we will be offering the device on Vodafone RED with a unique set of services such as Vodafone Cloud, Contacts, mCare, and contextual search from Kikin”.

Samsung GALAXY Note 3 Product Specifications

Camera
Network	2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz 4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets (Dependent on market)
Processor	LTE 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor 3G 1.9 GHz Octa Core Processor ( A15 1.9 GHz ＋ A7 1.3 GHz) The selection of AP will be differed by markets.
Display	5.7inch (144.3mm) Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)
OS	Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)
	Main(Rear): 13 Mega-pixel BSI Sensor, Auto Focus camera with Smart Stabilization, LED Flash(High CRI), and Zero Shutter Lag Sub (Front): 2 Mega-pixel BSI sensor with Smart Stabilization, Full HD recording @30fps
	Dual Camera: Dual Shot / Dual Recording/ Dual Video Call Recording: UHD 30fps, Smooth motion (FHD 60fps), Slow motion (HD 120fps) Camera Mode: Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, Animated Photo, Eraser, Best Photo, Best Face, Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports, Golf, Surround shot, Live effect
Video	Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, HEVC Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p), UHD (^＊may differ by market)
Audio	Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(^＊), WAV(^＊) (^＊) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support
S Pen Optimized Features	Air Command: Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write, S Finder, Pen Window S Note, Multi Window, new Easy Clip, Direct Pen Input
Additional Features	Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Video, Share Document, Play Games
	Story Album, S Translator
	Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View
	Samsung Apps, Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling), Samsung WatchON
	S Voice™ Hands Free, S Health
	Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly)
	Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring
	Safety Assistance, Samsung KNOX
Google Mobile Services	Chrome, Search, Gmail, Google＋, Maps, Play Books Play Movies, Play Music, Play Store, Hangouts Voice Search, YouTube, Google Settings, Play Games, Messenger
Connectivity	WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80) GPS / GLONASS NFC, Bluetooth® v 4.0 (LE) IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0
Sensor	Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB Proximity, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Hall Sensor
Memory	32/ 64 GB User memory ＋ microSD slot (up to 64GB) 3GB RAM
Dimension	151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm, 168g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 3,200 mAh

＊ The availability of each Samsung Hub and Google service may differ by country.

＊ All functionality, features, specifications, and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

＊ Android, Google, Android Beam, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude, Google Play, Google Plus. YouTube, Google Talk, Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads are trademarks of Google Inc.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 270,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Jared Peters Author

Born in southern Alabama, Jared spends his working time selling phones and his spare time writing about them. The Android enthusiasm started with the original Motorola Droid, but the tech enthusiasm currently covers just about everything. He likes PC gaming, Lenovo's Moto Z line, and a good productivity app.

2 comments

thatisaBIGphone says:

September 4, 2013 at 2:14 PM

You said they are doing away with the paltry 16gb but in the statement before you say it will come in two flavors: 16 and 32. Did you mean 32 and 64?

Reply
1. zombiemilkshake says:
  
  September 4, 2013 at 2:30 PM
  
  Yes, 32 and 64 are the offered storage options.
  
  Reply