Paul Morris on August 2, 2016, 9:08 pm

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Announced: Specs, Price, Release Date

Forget about Apple’s upcoming device launch next month. South Korean, Samsung has held simultaneous events in New York, London, and Rio de Janeiro to announce the latest in its phablet range, the Galaxy Note 7, its sixth-gen phablet. The Galaxy Note Unpacked 2016 event has not only given us our first introduction to the much anticipated Galaxy Note 7, but has also finally provided us with an official verification of its specification and features, pricing structure and release date, all which have been subject to a whirlwind of rumors in the run up to this day.

So now that the powerhouse of a phone is finally out and about from a media perspective, let’s take a look at what it has to offer, when we can expect to experience that offer, and at what price?

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Features/Specs

As expected, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 isn’t going to leave anyone disappointed with its technical specification. The company’s flagship phablet ships with a Samsung Exynos 8890 2.3GHz/Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 2.15GHz 64-bit processor with an accompanying 4GB RAM. Not exactly the 6GB that had previously been rumored, but more than enough to get the job done. Still and dynamic media on the device is also brought to life thanks to a stunning 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED Edge panel. The display is protected by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Those specifications are backed up by built-in storage capacity of 64GB, and of course, there is the option of a microSD card expansion up to 256GB if necessary. From a camera perspective, Samsung is offering up 12-megapixel, 1/2.6-inch, f/1.7 camera module with Dual Pixel autofocus, OIS, 1.4 micron pixels, and 4K video recording. For selfie purposes consumers will find a 5-megapixel, f/1.7 aperture module, capable of QHD video recording.

If that’s not enough to whet the whistle so to speak, the phone comes running Android 6.0.1 right out-of-the-box, packs a 3,500mAh battery, wireless and wired fast charging, a built-in iris and fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication purposes, a heart rate sensor, Samsung Pay, the S Pen stylus which works under water, and a USB Type-C port for charging and synchronization. Underwater? Yes, the Note 7 comes complete with IP68 certification, making it completely water and dust proof, just like the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge.

The phone is available in the following four colors: Gold Platinum, Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, and Blue Coral.

Accessories

In addition to the Note 7, Samsung has also introduced an updated Gear VR in a fabulous “black blue” shade. The new headset provides a 101-degree fov compared to the 96-degree fov offered by the previous gen. Gear VR. The catch here is that the Note 7 is only compatible with the new updated Gear VR headset, but the good news is that previous generation phones such as the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge and the S6/S6 Edge will still be compatible with this new contraption.

Samsung has also announced the availability of the previously announced Gear 360 camera, as well as Gear IconX wireless earbuds which also double up as an activity tracker. The Gear VR headset will be up for pre-ordering starting Aug. 3 for $99, with availability penned for Aug. 19. As for the Gear 360 camera and the Gear Icon X, the two also goes up for pre-ordering tomorrow for $349 and $199 respectively, with an expected arrival date of Aug. 19.

In addition to the contraptions above, the Galaxy Note 7 also get’s its very own tailor-made accessories, such as the S View Standing Cover, along with the usual S View cover. On the cover front, there’s also the LED View Cover and Clear View Cover Leather Cover available in different colors. Not your style? There’s a black Leather Cover available as well.

There’s also charging case called the Backpack which packs a 3,100mAh battery, and features wireless charging as well. Interestingly, you can also pair up your shiny Note 7 with a Keyboard Cover that is basically a QWERTY keypad snapped to your phone for greater typing accuracy.

Price

In the U.S., T-Mobile has announced that the phone will be up for pre-ordering starting 9:01 PM tonight with a retail price of $849.99, or 69.99 down payment for a plan. Those who pick up the Galaxy Note 7 from T-Mobile between Aug. 3 and Aug. 28 will either get a Gear Fit 2, or a 256GB microSD card, totally free.

Release Date

The good news is that Samsung and Android fans don’t need to wait long until they can get their hands on the fabulous new Galaxy Note 7. In the U.S., the phone will be available on pre-order from most carriers starting tomorrow on August 3, with general availability being penned for August 19th in most network stores, including T-Mobile and Verizon.

European consumers will be able to pre-order the Note 7 starting August 16, with it hitting store shelves in major European countries starting Sept. 2.