Galaxy Note 3 Rumors
Reports out of Korea zoom in on 5.7-Inch Display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Processor, 3GB RAM and Android 4.3 for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Reuters

A new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 report has surfaced in an attempt to clear up some of the conflicting spec rumors that have been circulating as of late. News out of Korea has pinpointed some standard specs for the Galaxy Note 3, indicating that the device may feature a 5.7-inch display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 3GB of RAM and will run the new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Display Size

Many of these specs remain uncertain, largely because there are other rumors circulating that suggest alternative components to be featured in the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. When it comes to display size for example, reports have also suggested the Galaxy Note 3 may have a 5.99-inch display. Recent reports; however, appear to be leaning toward 5.7-inches as the accepted screen size for the Galaxy Note 3.

According to Korean publication Business Daily, Samsung has opted for the smaller display between the two to differentiate between the Galaxy Note family and the Galaxy Mega family. The Galaxy Mega “phablets” feature gigantic 5.8-inch and 6.3-inch displays. Despite being large, the Galaxy Mega devices are mid-range devices in comparison to what is expected of the Galaxy Note 3 and what has already been seen in high-end predecessors such as the Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy S4.

Many also propose that Samsung is opting for a more incremental display increase for the Galaxy Note 3. A 5.7-inch display would be roughly .2-inches larger than that of the 5.55-inch display on the Galaxy Note 2, which in turn has a display that is .25-inches larger than the 5.3-inch display on the original Galaxy Note. We also seen this small increase in the Galaxy S series, with the Samsung Galaxy S4 having a display .2-inches larger than the Galaxy S3 despite being slighting smaller than its predecessor widthwise. With rumors suggesting the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will feature a design similar to that of the Galaxy S4, the device having a larger screen yet smaller body than its predecessor makes sense.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Processor Chipset

There has also been debate over whether the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor or an Exynos 5 Octa processor. Again, reports have been leaning toward the Galaxy Note 3 featuring the Snapdragon 800 chipset due to the appeal of its LTE-Advanced connectivity, which allows for data network speeds of up to 150 Mbps. Many are also in favor of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 due to Samsung’s history of component shortages, which often forces the manufacturer to outsource components from other providers. Rumors have also proposed the Galaxy Note 3 will feature variants with different processors to ensure uninterrupted availability. Currently, there are several Exynos 5 Octa options from which Samsung can choose: The generic Exynos 5 Octa, the Exynos 5 Octa with LTE support, the recently announced Exynos 5 Octa with an improved graphics chip, in addition to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. However, the Qualcomm chip does appear to be the favorable choice as the Galaxy Note 3 is expected to rival such devices as the HTC One Max, the LG G2 and the Sony Experia Z Ultra, which are all either expected or confirmed to have the Snapdragon 800 chipset and LTE-A connectivity.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3: RAM and OS

Whether the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 would feature 3GB of RAM or the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system was uncertain until recently. The possibility of the Galaxy Note 3 containing these features seems a lot more plausible now since Google announced Android 4.3 and Samsung announced it has begun producing 3GB RAM chips. According to reports, LG will introduce 3GB of RAM in its LG G2 in August, similarly to how it introduced 2G of RAM to the market in 2012 with its LG Optimus LTE2. Samsung followed suit in 2012 and updated its Galaxy S3 to feature 2GB of RAM in Korea. The manufacturer is also expected to launch the Galaxy Note 3 with 3GB of RAM in September.

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean may also have a good chance of being featured on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. With the operating system already rolling out onto Google’s Nexus devices, it is expected to come to the Google Play Editions Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One “soon,” which means that Samsung and HTC may currently be preparing their respective handsets for the update. According to Samsung UK, the manufacturer can “confirm upgrade plans to Android 4.3 to selected Galaxy devices in the coming months.” Reports out of India have also suggested that Samsung has a team currently adapting the Android 4.3 operating system for the Galaxy Note 3 among many other devices.

Considering previous releases, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 appears on the perfect timeline to be the device to introduce Android 4.3 to the Samsung market. Google introduced Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in June 2012 and the Galaxy Note 2 was first Samsung device to run the operating system when it released in September. Similarly, Google introduced Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean in November 2012 and the Galaxy S4 was the first Samsung device to run the OS when it released in May 2013. With its expected September launch date during the preview days for the IFA Expo, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 appears to be following the same roadmap of the Galaxy Note 2.

While Samsung has yet to confirm any specs of the Galaxy Note 3, we expect various rumors to become more widely accepted as the Galaxy Note 3 launch approaches.

Do you think this specs report for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is accurate? Let us know in the comments below.

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