Samsung does not seem to have innovated anything with the presentation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. It will take place at the same event as its predecessors, and a few months after the launch of the flagship, with very similar features to this one. Now, they could have bet on having a revolutionary design. Will it be so?
Without a doubt, it would be one of the ways to surprise on the part of Samsung, that the smartphone will have a new design, instead of following the line of the Samsung Galaxy S4. In fact, that's what some media are already indicating, taking as a reference some design patents registered by the company last year. These patents were already mentioned for the Samsung Galaxy S5 that would be presented next year, but now it is said that they could be the design of the new Galaxy Note 3. Adding to this breeding ground were prototypes with different form factors and even rumors of flexible displays and sizes ranging from 5,7 to over 6 inches; hypotheses that helped raise expectations of a radical shift in aesthetics.
In parallel, it was also reported that Samsung was considering abandoning plastic to explore more “premium” materials, such as aluminum. However, the more solid leaks, such as sketches of the possible design, began to converge towards a continuous approach to the front and frames, with a change in the feel and texture of the back to improve ergonomics and grip.
It is unlikely
However, it seems unlikely that Samsung will launch a Galaxy Note 3 with a revolutionary designWe've already talked about the different types of designs Samsung has used up until now, and next year they'll bet on a new design. Launching it this year, and with the latest big smartphone to be announced, doesn't seem to make much sense. On the other hand, this wouldn't be typical for Samsung, a company that's quite conservative with what works Good. The Note family tends to inherit the visual language of the S series, adjusting lines and proportions: less rounded corners, optimized frames and a more rectilinear profile without breaking its identity.
Furthermore, betting on complex materials just before a mass launch would imply risks in production. Therefore, although aluminum was mentioned, everything pointed to a rear with leather-like finish and decorative seams that enhance the feel in the hand compared to classic polycarbonate, while maintaining the advantages of lightness and resistance.
There's a chance
Still, we can't completely rule it out. Everyone has noticed that the Samsung Galaxy S4 hasn't been the expected sales success, and in part that's because it didn't include any real innovations. The Samsung Galaxy S3 was similar in design, and even in specifications. A change of design Yes, it could be decisive for this new smartphone, to make the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 truly successful. Users who did not buy the Samsung Galaxy S4, will be able to opt for a smartphone with a new design and with a larger screen, it could be a big bet for the company if they finally decide to launch the Galaxy Note 3 with a new design.
In that context, a renewed rear, cleaner edges and a better integrated camera module would reinforce the idea of novelty, while the reduction of frames would allow fit more screen in a similar body. There was even talk that the change would come through the screen (flexible), but the manufacturing maturity of that high-volume technology was not ready, which would fit with a cautious strategy.
What did change: display, weight and specifications
Where the revolution was most clear was on the inside. The Galaxy Note 3 came with 5,7-inch Super AMOLED display y Full HD resolution, better outdoor visibility and a very compact body: 79,2x151,2x8,3mm and barely 168 g, slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. The leather-like back provided a warmer feel and a more secure grip compared to the glossy plastic.
There were potentially two platforms: Snapdragon 800 for variants with LTE and 5 Exynos Octa for other regions. Accompanied by 3 GB of RAM —unusual at the time—, handled demanding multitasking without breaking a sweat. Options were offered 32 and 64 GB expandable by microSD, and a 3.300 mAh battery which improved autonomy despite the larger panel.
The main chamber of 13 SM with stabilization allowed the leap to 4K video and 1080p at 60 fps, a milestone for a phablet of its time. In terms of connectivity, the adoption of USB 3.0 Micro‑B, with significantly faster transfers and a more powerful PC charging than the USB 2.0 standard thanks to higher current delivery.
El S Pen was the protagonist with a new Air Command which gave access to functions such as Action Memos (recognize numbers or addresses and act instantly), S finder (search in handwritten notes), Pen Window (floating miniapps) and a Multi Window mode improved capable of opening two instances of the same app. At the security level, the Note 3 incorporated Samsung Knox, strengthening the terminal for personal and professional use with encrypted containers.
Therefore, although the aesthetic language followed the Galaxy line - with refinements - the sum of the screen, weight, performance, camera, connectivity and specific software of the S Pen did represent a forceful evolution which many users perceived as the true generational leap of the Note 3.
