[UPDATE]
Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Note 9 will be available in South Africa on 24th August with pricing for the 128GB version at R18 999. The 512GB version will be launching “soon”. Pre-orders open tonight though some pre-orders will only be open from tomorrow.
Original story follows below.
Samsung has revealed full details of its all new Galaxy Note 9 smartphone today, intentionally mind you.
After a look back at past devices the effervescent Samsung Electronics president and CEO DJ Koh took to stage. Samsung has been pushing the desire to have seamlessly connected devices lately and Koh reiterated this message.
The CEO spoke about how our devices often fail when we need them most and that the time has come for a device that can anticipate your needs. So what exactly does that device look like?
Well it’s more about “devices” than one particular device. As Koh points out, Samsung is in a position to enhance customer’s lives through connected devices simply by virtue that it has such a wide array of products.
That said, there is of course a new smartphone available to help you “live your life at the pace you demand” according to the Samsung CEO – the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
The improvements
The handset is the biggest yet with a 6.4inch QuadHD (2960×1440) display that wraps around the edges and as seen already, the fingerprint scanner has been moved to below the rear camera.
The Note 9 will be available in four colours – Ocean Blue (with a yellow S-Pen), Lavender Purple, Metallic Copper and Midnight Black.
With the Note 7 debacle still fresh in the minds of many the battery in the Note 9 is the largest ever seen in a Note smartphone weighing in at 4 000mAh. We’re sure Samsung has made every effort to ensure the battery is safe but the eyes of the world will surely be keeping a keen eye on the phone.
Storage clocks in at an impressive 128GB though there is also a 512GB version. Expandable storage can be added up via microSD up to 1TB in size and, you’ll find you might be using that storage for gaming.
Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney took to stage to reveal that Fortnite would be launching in beta this week with players using a Samsung Galaxy device getting early access. There’s also an exclusive Galaxy skin for anybody that plays the game on a Note 9.
The phone uses a carbon cooling system which will reportedly keep temperatures down during gaming sessions.
The camera
Samsung appears to be building off of the successes of the Galaxy S9 camera. Super slow motion returns and a new feature in Intelligent Camera appears. Whenever the camera detects a flaw in a picture it will notify you so you can take the photo again. Scene recognition optimises the colour tones of an image so you don’t have to.
Technically speaking you are getting a Dual Pixel 12MP sensor with F1.5/F2.4 aperture, optical image stablisation and a telephone 12MP sensor with F2.4 at the rear. At the front there is a 8MP snapper.
The S-Pen can now also be used to snap pictures now which is a nice feature for those that often forget the stylus is even there.
The pen can also be used to control a variety of other applications and is Bluetooth enabled. The S-Pen charges while stored in the handset.
DeX but without the DeX
During the presentation Samsung showed how DeX could be used without the DeX dock using what appeared to be a simple connector to an HDMI cable.
While in DeX mode you can still use the phone for whatever you want. Honestly we love this, DeX was already useful and this makes it even more accessible. It appears as if you will have to buy an adapter (HDMI Adapter (EE-HG950), Multi Port Adapter (EE-P5000) and DeX Cable (EE-I1300)) separately but this is less bulky than the previous docks Samsung touted.
Other notable features include fast wireless charging, IP68 water and dust resistance and support for Samsung services such as Samsung Health, Bixby and Samsung Pay.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will release on 24th August in select markets, it’s not clear whether this includes South Africa at time of writing but we will be sure to update you when we know more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjaL94yEJME
