Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Rumors Heat Up As Alleged Image Shows Front Body And Larger, Wider Display [FEATURES]

Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 is rumored for a release date at the end of August, and as that date approaches another purported leak has surfaced. An image of what is believed to be the device has appeared online, according to KnowYourMobile.

This is not the first alleged photo of the Galaxy Note 2, but does provide a better look at the gadget than previously rumored leaks. A source sent the image to the gadget news source, which shows the entire front body of what is believed to be Samsung' Galaxy Note 2.

In the alleged photo, the rumored 5.5-inch display is showcased, with a thin white edge surrounding the screen. When comparing the image alongside a photo of the original Galaxy Note, the difference in screen size is clearly visible. Not only is the display taller, but the Galaxy Note 2 appears to be wider as well.

Another picture that had leaked on Wednesday provided more evidence that the Galaxy Note 2 would feature a larger screen than its predecessor. The image depicts a casing for the next-generation "phablet" device, with a ruler measuring the size of the display diagonally. According to Tech Radar, the image comes from a disassembled factory unit tipped by an individual known as "William."

If these leaks are legitimate and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 features an even bigger screen, it could be the largest smartphone in existence.

When the original Galaxy Note was announced, it posed the question of whether it would function as a tablet or a smartphone. The 5-inch display could be considered an alternate to the larger 7-inch and 10-inch screens common in tablets, but Dell's iteration of a 5-inch tablet known as the Streak flopped. Perhaps creating a device that function as both is the only way to make a 5-inch mobile gadget successful.

Although one of the most alluring features for the Galaxy Note is the size of its display, there are some improvements that could be made, and hopefully users will see this in the next iteration of the device.

"Shortcomings include relatively poorly implemented multitasking, cumbersome navigation, and an annoying Web browser," writes Melissa J. Perenson of PCWorld, who published a review of the Galaxy Note 2 around its February release date.

It was just reported on Thursday that sales of the Galaxy Note had hit 10 million, after previously reaching the five million mark back in March. This news is somewhat surprising, as smartphone sales usually begin to slow down as the release date for a next-generation product approaches. This has been the case with sales of Apple's iPhone 4 and 4S as the alleged iPhone 5 launch could be coming next month.

The announcement of Samsung's sales mark was made at the Korea-based manufacturer's event to celebrate the launch of its Galaxy Note 10.1 tab, which develops and expands Samsung's Note brand even further.

Although Samsung has not confirmed much about the Galaxy Note 2, here is a roundup of rumors and features that may appear on the device, courtesy of Tech Radar.

Features

- 5.5-inch screen

- Super AMOLED display

- 1280x720 screen resolution

- 2GHz Exynos quad-core processor

- Battery life similar to the Galaxy S3

- 8 mega-pixel camera

- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Release Date

The Galaxy Note 2 is rumored to be unveiled a day before Samsung's IFA in Berlin at a Samsung Unpacked event on August 29. Rumors also indicate that the Jelly Bean release date for Samsung's Galaxy S3 will be announced at that same event. Last year, the original Galaxy Note was revealed around the same time at the IFA event in Germany.

It is important to remember that Samsung has not yet confirmed much of the information above, but fans will have to wait until the end of August to see if Samsung makes any announcements. Visit KnowYourMobile and TechRadar to see the reportedly leaked images.