Samsung is distributing special invitations for a press event in Berlin on September 4, titled ‘Samsung Unpacked 2013: Episode 2. The first episode took place earlier this year and introduced the Galaxy S4.
The invitation told recipients to "Note the date," leading many to believe the South Korean company plans to release its next phablet device, the Galaxy Note 3.
Both the original Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Note 2 were previously introduced at Berlin’s IFA annual tech conference. The 2013 conference takes place just two days after Samsung Unpacked, further confirming industry experts’ predictions that we will soon see the next phablet in the line.
The original Galaxy Note essentially created the phablet market with its screen size placing it in the middle of other smartphones and tablets at the time. The upcoming Galaxy Note is expected to carry a 5.7-inch high-definition touch screen, as well as featuring the familiar S Pen stylus.
Carl Howe, Yankee Group VP of research, commented: "If Galaxy Note 3 uses a 5.7 inch screen, then it will likely fall into the device category of 7-inch tablets. It’s been said that if you feel silly when you hold a device up to your ear for a phone call, then it’s a tablet.
"Using that criterion, the Galaxy Note 3 will be a tablet, not a true phone. Like other tablets, users will likely carry it in a handbag or backpack, not in a pocket; it’s just too big. And that ‘too big’ physical characteristic will probably inhibit sales as well. To date, both previous models of Galaxy Notes have had lower sales than the Galaxy series of smartphones," he said.
"While Huawei and Pantech have also experimented with phones of 5.7 inches and above, the phablet category at the moment appears to be a solution in search of a problem to solve. All that said, I think Samsung is hoping that with regard to Galaxy Note launches, the third time will be the charm," he added.
