In keeping with Samsung's yearly tradition, the latest entry in the Note series has been formally revealed. The new Note9, like the S9 before it, is an incremental advancement over its predecessor rather than an outright revolution in design. Packing the latest Snapdragon 845 and a sizeably increased 4,000mAh battery, Samsung's new Note phone includes all the best features we have come to expect from a 2018 flagship, with none of the notch. In keeping with the swelling specifications, the price has also increased to a round $1,000.
SPECS
SoC
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
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Display
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6.4" Quad HD+ (2960-x1440) Super AMOLED, 516ppi
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Storage
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128GB or 512GB
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RAM
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6GB (128 SKU) or 8GB (512GB SKU)
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Rear Cameras
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Wide-angle 12MP f/1.5-f/2.4 w/OIS, Telephoto 12MP f/2.4 w/OIS
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Front Camera
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8MP f/1.7
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Battery
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4,000mAh
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Dimensions
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161.9mm x 76.4mm x 8.8mm, 201g
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Water resistance
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IP68
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Software
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Android 8.1 Oreo
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Connectivity
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Bluetooth v5.0, NFC, 2.5/5GHz Wi-Fi up to 802.11ac
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As you can probably tell from a glance at the spec table above, the new Note9 integrates most of the new features and improvements from the smaller S9—like the dual aperture camera, chipset, and relocated fingerprint sensor—and applies them all into the larger Note-series body, giving you a bigger 4,000mAh battery and Samsung's S Pen.
That active phone stylus is also improved in the Note9. It's now powered by the magic of supercapacitors, wireless charging, and Bluetooth. It all sounds pretty fancy, but in reality, that just means that button on the stylus now does more stuff. You can use it as a remote shutter for photos, to control music, scroll up or down in Chrome, or advance slides in presentations, among other configurable options.
A handful of (probably machine learning-powered) camera software improvements are also debuting with the Note9, including a "Scene Optimizer" that identifies the content of a frame to tweak camera settings. There's also a new "Flaw Detection" that tells you if something might be wrong in a photo—for example, if someone were to blink or if the glass covering the sensor was a bit fingerprinty.
Other than that, the Note9 is pretty much the same experience you've come to expect from Samsung's recent Galaxy flagships. It has the familiar stereo speaker configuration via the earpiece with AKG tuned speakers, Samsung's productivity-focused DeX experience, fast wireless charging, IP68 water resistance, MST and NFC payments, iris scanning/facial recognition, and even a heart rate monitor.
Storage has been increased from last year's 64GB to 128GB, but a new, larger model is also now available for those willing to spare no expense. For a mere $1,250 you can get a slightly ridiculous 512GB of storage.
The Note9 is also on the very short list of devices that can play Fortnite (for the time being). Although the game will be available long before the Note9 is released, Samsung has an offer for Fortnite fans that could make it worth the wait, if they preorder.
Starting on August 10th, interested parties can lay claim and cash for a Note9 early, and to sweeten the deal, Samsung is giving those risk-takers a bonus: they can choose between a pair of AKG noise-canceling headphones ($299 value), the Fortnite Galaxy skin plus 15,000 V-bucks ($150 value), or get both for an extra $100.
The Note9 will be available at launch in the US in two colors: Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple. Two other colors, black and copper, will be available internationally. Carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, and Xfinity will have the 128GB version up for purchase in stores and online starting August 24th. That version will also be available at retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Sam's Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, and Walmart, as well as Samsung's site. The bigger 512GB model can only be nabbed at "select retail locations" and online from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, U.S Cellular, and Samsung.
If you'd like to read more in the meantime, Samsung's full announcement press release is just below.
PRESS RELEASE
The New, Super Powerful Samsung Galaxy Note9: For Those Who Want It All
With all day performance, a new S Pen and intelligent camera, nothing keeps up with your life like Galaxy Note9
SEOUL, KOREA – August 9, 2018 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced the latest addition to its premium Note series with Galaxy Note9. The Note series has long been recognized for launching Samsung’s latest groundbreaking innovations, and Galaxy Note9 builds on this legacy with a premium smartphone that delivers all day performance; a new S Pen that features connectivity for the first time ever; and Samsung’s most intelligent camera yet. Available in new, bold colors, Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple, Galaxy Note9 will help users stand out from the crowd and get the most out of everything they do.
“The Note has always been our showcase for premium technology and industry-defining innovation, and Galaxy Note9 is no exception. It’s designed for a level of performance, power and intelligence that today’s power users want and need,” said DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “Note fans are Samsung’s most loyal; we know they want it all, to get the most out of work and play, and Galaxy Note9 is the only phone that can keep up with their busy lives.”
You rely on your smartphone for almost everything you do – all day, every day. You need a phone that can keep up, so you don’t have to find the nearest outlet to recharge, delete pictures to free up storage for your next snap, anxiously wait for your video to download before boarding your flight, or deal with a choppy gaming experience.
You need a phone that won’t let you down and Galaxy Note9 delivers.
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All Day Battery: Galaxy Note9 features a 4,000mAh battery that gives you long-lasting power to use all day1. You’ll be able to talk, text, play games, and watch movies.
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Store More, Delete Less: Galaxy Note9 is available with two internal storage options – choose from 128GB or 512GB. And with the ability to insert a microSD card (sold separately), Galaxy Note9 is 1TB ready2, so you have the peace of mind knowing you have enough room to add to all of your favorite photos, videos, and apps.
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Speed and Power: Galaxy Note9 is a super powerful smartphone with cutting-edge 10nm processor and support for the fastest network speeds available in the market (up to 1.2 gigabits per second), so you can stream and download without slowing down. Galaxy Note9 also includes Samsung developed Water Carbon Cooling system and an on-device AI-based performance adjusting algorithm to deliver the powerful yet stable performance.
The Evolution of the S Pen
The S Pen is the signature feature of the Note series – it’s how users have made their mark and how Samsung has expanded the notion of what a smartphone can do. What began as a tool for writing and drawing is now putting more power and control in your hands.
Now, with Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) support, the new S Pen gives you an entirely new way to use the Note. With just a click, you can take selfies and group pictures, present slides, pause and play music, and more. The S Pen charges in the phone in just under a minute, so it’s ready for you in a matter of moments. Developers can even integrate the S Pen’s new, advanced BLE functionalities into their apps later this year.
Intelligent Camera to Help Capture the Perfect Shot
It can be hard to take a picture that looks just like the ones the pros take – but it shouldn’t be. Galaxy Note9 builds on Samsung’s camera technologies with new capabilities that take the work out of getting the perfect picture.
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Scene Optimizer: The Galaxy Note9 camera uses intelligence to identify elements of a photo, such as scene and subject, to automatically classify it into one of 20 categories. It then optimizes saturation, white balance, brightness and contrast based on the category. The result is a stunning, lifelike image with bold colors and dynamic definition.
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Flaw Detection: We don’t always get things right on the first shot, but Galaxy Note9 lets you know if there’s something wrong, so you can take another picture before you lose the moment. You’ll get an immediate notification if the image is blurry, if the subject blinked, if there is a smudge on the lens or if there is backlight impacting the quality of the image.
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Premium Camera: With the unique combination of advanced intelligence features and premium hardware, the Galaxy Note9 camera is the best in the smartphone market. It comes with advanced noise reduction technology, and a Dual Aperture lens, which adjusts to light just like the human eye3. No matter the lighting conditions, the Galaxy Note9 top-tier camera delivers a crystal clear shot.
Premium Experiences: From Work to Play
The Infinity Display is the cornerstone of Samsung’s design heritage, and Galaxy Note9 has the largest edge-to-edge display ever on a Note. The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display provides a truly immersive multimedia experience. The Galaxy Note9 Infinity Display is complemented by stereo speakers, which are tuned by AKG and have the ability to support Dolby Atmos®. YouTube named Galaxy Note9 as a Signature Device able to deliver a best-in-class YouTube experience.
Galaxy Note9 delivers more than a mobile experience – you can get a desktop-like experience too. With Samsung’s unique DeX solution, you can work on presentations, edit photos, and play games just like you would on a PC, all powered by your phone. Experience DeX with easy-to-carry HDMI adapters (sold separately)4. When connected to a monitor, Galaxy Note9 powers a virtualized desktop and even serves as a second screen. Take notes with the S Pen while watching a video, or use Galaxy Note9 as a trackpad, to right-click, drag and drop, and use multiple windows on a monitor. It’s never been easier to be more productive.
The premium Galaxy technologies come standard with Galaxy Note9: fast wireless charging, IP68 water and dust resistance5 and Samsung services such as Samsung Health and Samsung Pay. Galaxy Note9 features Samsung’s trusted, defense-grade Knox security platform and biometric security options including fingerprint scanning, iris scanning and facial recognition capabilities to keep important information safe.
Galaxy Note9 opens up a galaxy of possibilities – it’s a portal to the full Samsung ecosystem of devices and services. For instance, use Galaxy Note9 and SmartThings to control your connected devices, or get more done with your personalized, intelligent assistant, Bixby6. And with the launch of Galaxy Note9, Samsung is making it easier to enjoy all your favorite music with a new long-term partner, Spotify7.
Preorder and Availability
Galaxy Note9 will be available in two bold, new colors Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple in carrier and Unlocked by Samsung versions. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity will carry the 128GB Galaxy Note9 in stores and online beginning August 24, 2018 for $999.99. The 128GB Galaxy Note9 will also be available at Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target and Walmart as well as Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.
The 512GB Galaxy Note9 will be available at select retail locations and online at AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, U.S. Cellular and Samsung.com starting August 24, 2018 for $1,249.99.
Pre-orders will begin at 12:01 a.m. EDT on August 10, 2018.
Turn up your play. Samsung is giving those who pre-order a special offer in partnership with one of the hottest mobile games! Consumers who pre-order Galaxy Note9 between August 10, 2018 and August 23, 2018 can choose a pair of AKG noise-cancelling headphones ($299 retail value) or the Fortnite Galaxy skin with 15,000 V-bucks ($150 retail value), for free—or get both for just $99 ($449 retail value). The promotion will last for a limited time and only while supplies last. Terms and conditions apply. Visit samsung.com/us/promotions to learn more. In addition, all Galaxy Note9 and Tab S4 users will receive a unique Fortnite Galaxy skin.
With Samsung Premium Care, you get more than just protection for your device, you get a team of Samsung pros ready to come to you. Just pick the time and place, and they’ll provide one-on-one technical support and assistance for everything from the setup of your device, to troubleshooting, to hand delivery of a replacement should anything happen to your phone. Premium Care is part of Samsung’s commitment to ensure that your location is our location, anywhere in the U.S. Enroll your Galaxy Note9 in Premium Care for $11.99 a month when you purchase it on Samsung.com.
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