Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Release Date For Verizon Nears As Best Buy Stocks Demo Units

At some Best Buy retail locations, the Verizon edition of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 is already on display with a price tag of $299.99 on contract. This is similar to the smartphone’s cost on other carriers, although Amazon has now begun to offer the 5.5-inch “phablet” for only $249.99 on AT&T’s network. T-Mobile, who was the first to offer the device, has given the Galaxy Note 2 its heaviest price tag at $369.99.

Verizon has not made any official announcements about when the device will launch, but rumors seem to favor Nov. 29 as a likely release date. This would align with the company’s schedule to ship with handsets on Nov. 27, but until the carrier makes any official announcements it remains unclear.

The Verizon Galaxy Note 2 currently seen in some Best Buy stores also comes equipped with the much –talked- about multi-window feature, according to reports. This indicates that although Verizon’s Galaxy Note 2 is coming later than others, it will be released with the latest Android firmware.

The multi-window capability allows users to run more than one application simultaneously in separate windows on the home screen. When the Galaxy Note 2 originally launched some units were missing this advertised feature, but Samsung recently released an update to bring this multi-tasking capability to all editions of its Galaxy Note 2.

These demo units of the Galaxy Note 2 were originally spotted in Best Buy one week ago on Nov. 14, according to Droid Life. The signature Verizon logo can be seen on the device’s home screen button, just like alleged “leaks” had indicated weeks and weeks ago.

Launching its Galaxy Note successor on multiple networks is a new tactic for Samsung. While some Verizon subscribers may be feeling peeved about the handset’s delayed launch, the original Galaxy Note was only made available to AT&T users. It has recently landed on T-Mobile’s network as well, but Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular are without the original “phablet.”

Releasing the Galaxy Note 2 on more than one carrier could be a move to mimic the success of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S3, which was available on all major US carriers following its launch and has sold 30 million units since.

However, the second-generation Galaxy Note does face some competition on Verizon’s network. HTC’s DROID DNA boasts a display nearly the same size as the Note 2, and also comes with Jelly Bean right out of the box. It’s also $100 cheaper than the Note 2 on a two-year contract, but does not come with a stylus.

Verizon’s LG Intuition, however, does come with its own Rubberdium Pen and also features a 5-inch display. It’s a bit cheaper than both the DROID DNA at $149.99, but does not come with Jelly Bean preinstalled.

Best Buy has not offered comment on when the Galaxy Note 2 for Verizon will be available in stores, but this article will be updated accordingly if the company does so. The Galaxy Note 2 is now available for preorder on Verizon’s official website.