Galaxy Note 9’s official cases and covers revealed in leaked renders

While Wednesday was a dull day lacking any activity as far as Galaxy Note 9 leaks are concerned, we have been bombarded by reveals about Samsung’s upcoming flagship in the last 24 hours or so. Samsung itself has given us confirmation of some of the rumored Galaxy Note 9 features. We got a look at all the different S Pen colors through leaked renders, and the same source has now released renders of the various official Galaxy Note 9 cases and covers.

Galaxy Note 9 cases revealed

There aren’t images of every official case the Note 9 will get, but we can see the Protective Silicone Cover, Clear View Cover, LED View Cover, and the Silicone Cover. The Protective Silicone Cover will upgrade the Note 9’s IP68 certification with military-grade protection and has a built-in stand for propping up the device for viewing videos on the Infinity display. The rest are pretty standard cases, and we can also expect to see something like the Alcantara case that Samsung introduced last year. Of course, third-party developers will offer plenty of cases as well, and at lower prices than Samsung’s.

These renders also reiterate the color options the Galaxy Note 9 will be launched with: blue, brown, black, and purple. Brown is the newest addition to Samsung’s flagship line, although the blue version will likely attract the most limelight thanks to its bright yellow S Pen. A gray version of the phone (with a darker shade than the gray Note 8) is expected as well, although we are yet to see any solid leads that confirm the fifth color option.

Galaxy Note 8 case pictures

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Galaxy Note 9 may offer a desktop experience without a DeX dock

Here’s another interesting feature to add to the list of everything the Galaxy Note 9 will offer over existing flagships. According to the folks over at WinFuture, the Galaxy Note 9 will not require the Samsung DeX dock to offer a desktop-like experience. Instead, just a DisplayPort-enabled USB-C adapter or cable will do the trick.

A DeX experience without a DeX dock

The full desktop experience that one gets through the DeX station right now will be available on the Note 9 with a Type-C cable, without requiring an external keyboard or mouse (Oreo already makes it possible to use the phone’s display as a trackpad). Samsung reportedly wants to make it easier for users to playback videos on a big screen. And, frankly, this is not something new to the smartphone world. The MHL standard has long allowed smartphone users to connect to displays via the phone’s USB port, and the USB-C connector, in addition to charging devices and allowing fast data transfer, can drive displays as well, making it extremely versatile.

Thanks to the desktop interface, the Galaxy Note 9 will go one step ahead compared to regular smartphones that can connect to external displays via the USB Type-C port. It would also alleviate the need to spend on a DeX station, though this may result in fewer sales of Samsung’s productivity platform. Also, whether the support for a DeX environment without a DeX dock will come to existing Samsung flagships remains to be seen. That’s assuming this particular report is even correct. And with everything that has come to the fore about the device this week, we wouldn’t be surprised if it is.

Galaxy Note 9’s August 24 release reiterated

WinFuture also claims that Samsung will start taking Galaxy Note 9 pre-orders shortly after the phone’s launch and start delivering it to consumers on August 24. It matches previous reports that have said August 24 is the day the Note 9 will go on sale. However, there’s no word on just how widely the phone will be available on day one.

Thankfully, Samsung has pretty much confirmed some of the interesting Galaxy Note 9 specs today. The company has revealed that the device will have a big battery, boatloads of internal storage on the base model (128GB), and faster performance than we have seen before. It may also have a huge focus on gaming thanks to its Bluetooth-enabled S Pen, with the Android version of the popular multiplayer game Fortnite reportedly launching as a timed Note 9 exclusive.

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Leaked Galaxy Note 9 S Pen renders leave nothing to the imagination

We know that there’s a new S Pen coming with the Galaxy Note 9. It’s also confirmed that the new stylus is going to have Bluetooth support which will enable it to perform a variety of new features. The glimpses that we have seen so far of the new S Pen suggested that it may receive some design changes as well.

Several leaked Galaxy Note 9 S Pen renders have appeared online which leave nothing to the imagination as far as the design of the stylus is concerned. They also confirm the color options that will be available to customers who decide to purchase the Galaxy Note 9.

Galaxy Note 9 S Pen

These leaked renders of the Galaxy Note 9 S Pen show that the design changes for this stylus won’t be as drastic as they are for the Galaxy Tab S4’s S Pen. However, it does appear to be more angular compared to the Galaxy Note 9’s S Pen. It shouldn’t feel too foreign to those who have grown accustomed to using the S Pen on the Galaxy Note 8.

The renders don’t betray the presence of any new buttons which would suggest some major changes as far as the actual functionality of the S Pen is concerned. Earlier rumors about there being an integrated speaker into the S Pen or perhaps even a microphone have also been discarded. We do not see any such components on the stylus itself.

The Galaxy Note 9 is going to be available in five color options at launch. The S Pen renders that have leaked online so far essentially confirm that the available color options for the Galaxy Note 9 include black, purple, brown, gray, blue and lilac.

There won’t really be any surprises on August 9 when Samsung officially unveils the Galaxy Note 9 as far as the design is concerned. The company is expected to start taking pre-orders for the device from mid-August. Samsung is said to release the Galaxy Note 9 on August 24.

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Fortnite Android launch reportedly a Galaxy Note 9 exclusive

Fortnite is unquestionably the most popular game on the planet right now. It’s already available for consoles and PC in addition to iOS. The Fortnite Android launch has been much awaited and it appears that the title will be exclusive to the Galaxy Note 9 at launch. A new report claims that Samsung has teamed up with the game’s developer Epic Games to keep the Fortnite Android launch exclusive to the Galaxy Note 9 initially.

Fortnite Android launch on Galaxy Note 9

9to5Google hears from a source that Fortnite will be exclusively available on the Galaxy Note 9 for 30 days after the handset is released. It will only be released for other Android handsets once the exclusivity period ends.

The Fortnite Android launch will reportedly be a special promotion for the Galaxy Note 9. Samsung is said to offer up to $150 worth of V-Bucks, Fortnite’s in-game currency, to customers who pre-order the Galaxy Note 9. Those who aren’t interested in that will be able to opt for wireless AKG headphones of the same approximate value instead.

The Galaxy Note 9 is going to be announced on August 9 and reports suggest that it will be released on August 24. If this report is accurate then the Google Play Store listing for Fortnite should also appear around the same time. Galaxy Note 9 owners will then be able to play the title exclusively for one month before it’s released for other Android smartphones.

It would be a good move on Samsung’s part to leverage the popularity and the anticipation of the Fortnite Android launch for its new flagship smartphone. Samsung will likely position the Galaxy Note 9 as the appropriate device for the best Fortnite experience.

There were reports that the new S Pen might offer some gaming features as well so there’s a possibility that this may further entice Fortnite fans to pick up the Galaxy Note 9. Whether or not this actually happens, though, remains to be seen. Samsung hasn’t confirmed or denied it at this point in time.

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Samsung launches the Gear IconX (2018) in India

Samsung announced the original Gear IconX back in 2016 as the first truly-wireless earbuds from the company’s stable. Addressing some of the user complaints, the company released a successor, the Gear IconX (2018), in August last year. More than ten months after the official unveiling, Samsung has now finally launched its ‘latest’ earbuds in India.

The model launched in India today is no different from what is sold in other markets already. You can read the Gear IconX (2018) specifications below to learn what it brings to the table in terms of hardware. The Indian version should also include all the new features and improvements Samsung made via a major software update in April this year.

Available only in Black

To recap, apart from sporting a lightweight, ergonomic, and truly-wireless design, the latest Gear IconX also comes with a long list of features such as support for Bixby, handling calls, reading out notifications, activity tracking, fitness coaching, built-in storage for music, etc. The earbuds support fast-charging if the improved battery life falls short of your expectations. The Gear IconX case can also charge the earbuds with its built-in battery.

If any of this functionality interests you, the Gear IconX (2018) is already available for purchase in India on Samsung website, Flipkart, and at other major retailers for Rs.13,990 (~$200). Unfortunately, Samsung is offering only the Black color option in India, while customers in other markets have Pink and Gray color options as well.

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Samsung announces video preview of new Galaxy device next week

Samsung is expected to launch several devices in the coming months. These devices which include smartphones, tablets, a smartwatch and even a smart speaker will be new additions to its Galaxy lineup. The company today announced in a post on its official website for the Netherlands that it’s going to unveil a new addition to the Galaxy lineup through a video preview next week.

It’s unclear as yet what device Samsung will be unveiling through this video preview. The assumption would be that perhaps it’s a preview event for the Galaxy Note 9. The company specifically mentions in its post that whatever it has to announce is separate from its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event for the Galaxy Note 9 which will take place on August 9.

A new addition to the Galaxy lineup

The video preview will be available on https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/ come Wednesday, August 1 at 17:00 CET. Samsung will reveal its latest addition to the Galaxy lineup and provide a special preview of what’s to come this summer.

Even though word of this video preview might have come from the website for the Netherlands, the link that Samsung is directing everyone to visit is for its global website, so it’s likely not an announcement that’s limited to one particular country.

What do you think Samsung will provide a preview of on August 1? Could it be the new tablet that it has in the pipeline, the Galaxy Tab S4? Or perhaps we’re going to finally hear something about its foldable smartphone, its first Galaxy-branded smartwatch or the much-awaited Bixby smart speaker?

We’ll only know for sure come August 1.

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New Galaxy Note 9 teasers hint at more storage and performance

August 9 approaches and Samsung has now started teasing the Galaxy Note 9. The company has posted a few teasers online which suggest the improvements that its upcoming flagship smartphone will bring.

The first teaser we saw seemingly confirms that the Galaxy Note 9 will have a big battery. Previous reports have suggested that the Galaxy Note 9 will feature a 4,000mAh battery. That’s going to be enough for many to throw money at this handset.

Galaxy Note 9 teasers

While the company blatantly mocked the iPhone in its first teaser about the battery, it’s a bit more subtle in these two which show an unbranded device that’s most certainly not an iPhone.

The teaser about the storage highlights the struggles that users face when they run out of space on their handsets. They then have to dig deep into their files and decide which ones they should keep as they delete content and apps to make up space.

The second teaser is all about the issues with performance. Nobody likes it when their handset lags or hangs when they’re trying to get stuff done. It’s a nuisance to say the least. Both teasers end with the August 9 date which subtly suggests that the answer to these problems lies in what Samsung will unveil at the event.

It’s already known that the Galaxy Note 9 will be unveiled on August 9. In addition to its 4,000mAh battery, the handset is also expected to offer up to 512GB of internal storage while the base model may offer 128GB storage. Couple that with the ability to expand memory externally and users are going to be in the clear on the storage front.

Samsung has traditionally better optimized its Galaxy Note handsets for performance and it will likely stick with the script for the Galaxy Note 9 as well. Moreover, the handset will have the same Exynos 9810/Snapdragon 845 processor combination that’s present on the Galaxy S9 which will make it one of the most powerful Android phones on the market. There’s even the possibility that a variant might offer 8GB of RAM.

The Galaxy Note 9 will be officially unveiled on August 9. Samsung is expected to release it on August 24.

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Galaxy Tab S4 shows up in live video at retail store, launching soon?

Ever since firmware for the Galaxy Tab S4 became available in our database, we have been waiting for Samsung to make its next flagship tablet official. And the day may not be far when the company does that, as the Galaxy Tab S4 seems to already be on display at a retail store in South Korea. A leaked video is giving us a look at the tablet from the front and back, though it’s a short one so it’s hard to make out any details.

Galaxy Tab S4 video hints at imminent launch

The video does show us the 16:10 display, which many of us have been asking Samsung to bring back to its flagship tablet line. There’s no fingerprint sensor, either, replaced by an iris scanner and facial recognition. As we had exclusively revealed, the Galaxy Tab S4 specs include a 10.5-inch (256×1600) Super AMOLED display, Snapdragon 835 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 7,300 mAh battery, and 13-megapixel and 8-megapixel rear and front cameras. There are AKG tuned speakers, support for Samsung’s DeX platform, and a Bluetooth-enabled S Pen as a separate accessory. The Tab S4 will run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, a first for any Samsung device.

We’re unsure of what the text next to the tablet says. It seems to be the specs of the tablet, but if you can read Korean and can translate the text on the big pink placard, feel free to let us know in the comments. And if you’re interested, you can also download the official Galaxy Tab S4 wallpapers, some of which may also come with the Galaxy Note 9.

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Samsung’s new teaser confirms big battery on the Galaxy Note 9

Here it is, folks. If you were skeptical about believing all the signs pointing to a big battery on the Galaxy Note 9, then Samsung’s new teaser for its upcoming flagship should be the final confirmation you need. Samsung’s second teaser video for the Galaxy Note 9 shows how the phone will save us from the low battery scares that we’re all too familiar with in our day-to-day lives.

Galaxy Note 9 will make battery woes a thing of the past

Samsung is being a bit shameless here by showing an iPhone in the video to put across its point, especially after the rather small battery the Galaxy Note 8 had last year. But that shouldn’t take away from the fact that the Galaxy Note 9 will have what it takes to get you through the day without reaching for the charger or your battery pack. We just hope the battery is tested properly this time around. Of course, there’s no reason it won’t be, as Samsung has learned its lesson after everything that happened with the Galaxy Note 7.

The video doesn’t tell us the battery capacity, but that bit of info and other Galaxy Note 9 specs have already been out in the open for a long time now. It’s a 4,000 mAh battery, in case you have been living under a rock and haven’t been following all the Galaxy Note 9 coverage on SamMobile and on the internet in general. Samsung is also going to release a new wireless charger that can charge two devices at once. This wireless charger will support the upcoming Galaxy Watch as well. There are also going to be a few upgrades in other areas, such as a more powerful S Pen and stereo speakers.

Well, go ahead and check out the new Galaxy Note 9 teaser. Do let us know what you think about Samsung finally taking battery life seriously on its flagship phones down in the comments.

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Google brings YouTube VR app to Gear VR

Samsung has put in a lot of effort into building the Gear VR ecosystem, but the platform hasn’t turned into a major success yet. Though the Gear VR is the most dominant mobile VR platform out there, it still lacks many popular apps and services. One of the most glaring deficits in the Gear VR app ecosystem is the absence of an official YouTube VR app. Thankfully, it is going to change soon as Google has announced the YouTube VR app for Gear VR users.

The YouTube VR app was already available for Google’s Daydream VR platform. Considering both the Daydream and Gear VR are based on Android, it is quite surprising that Google took this long to bring the official YouTube app to the Gear VR platform. So far, Gear VR users were relying on a browser to access YouTube videos, which is far from an ideal experience.

Available this week

Google is also adding a new social feature that allows YouTube VR users to chat and watch videos together. The blog post from Google says the app will be available in the Oculus Store beginning this week. At the time of writing of this post, the app is not yet available for download.

Google’s apps and services are extremely popular, and the company is known to use them as bargaining chips, which makes us wonder if Samsung had to make any concessions to get the YouTube app for Gear VR.

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Galaxy Note 9 case hands-on shows how big it will be compared to the S9+

The Galaxy Note 9 is going to be a big phone. That’s true for all of Samsung’s plus-sized flagships, and Galaxy Note devices are bigger than Galaxy S phones these days thanks to a slightly taller screen. The Note 9, however, is going to be even larger than one would expect. And a hands-on video of a third-party Note 9 case is a good look at exactly how big the phone is going to be compared to the Galaxy S9+.

Galaxy Note 9 is a big smartphone

Rumors and leaks have already told us the Note 9 is going to have larger dimensions than any flagship since the Galaxy S8+. But this video tells us just how much a difference there may be, especially when it comes to the phone’s width. The Galaxy S9+ was around 0.4 mm wider than the S8+ and just 1 mm thinner than the Note 8. The difference between the S9+ and Note 9, however, could be substantial as you can see in the images below. We have added an image of an S9+ sitting inside a Note 8 case at the end of the post to make things even clearer.

The video also reveals how the Galaxy S9+’ fingerprint sensor is hidden in the Galaxy Note 9 case. The Galaxy Note 9’s fingerprint sensor is going to be below the camera, but the dual camera sensors are arranged horizontally like they were on the Galaxy Note 8 last year. Whether that is going to be a problem for consumers will only be revealed when the Note 9 hits retail, although we will be doing our best to bring you that information and more about the phone from Samsung’s Unpacked event on August 9.

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Samsung’s unbreakable display seemingly better than Gorilla Glass 6

Samsung Display introduced its unbreakable smartphone display a couple of months ago. The 6.2-inch 1440×2960 panel with an all-plastic design was showcased at the SID DisplayWeek in May this year. Samsung’s display affiliate today announced that the unbreakable smartphone panel has now received a seal of approval from Underwriters Laboratories. It has been certified by UL which is an official testing company for OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The unbreakable OLED panel can be used for smartphones as well as other electronic products including display consoles for automobiles, portable game consoles, tablets and mobile military devices.

Samsung’s unbreakable OLED display

The “unbreakable” quality of this panel is due to the special substrate and overlay window that’s securely adhered to the flexible OLED panel. Existing flexible OLED panels have a glass-covered window to the display which can shatter if severely impacted.

UL’s certification revealed that Samsung Display’s unbreakable display passed the rigorous real-time durability test which is based on military standards that are set by the U.S. Department of Defense. It even survived a subsequent 1.8 meter or almost 6 feet drop test and operated as it should have without any damage.

It survived a drop test from 1.2 meters or nearly 4 feet above the ground continuously for 26 times. The panel also passed (71 degrees) and low (-32 degrees) temperature tests and continued to function normally without any damage to its front, edges or sides.

Compare it to the recently-announced Gorilla Glass 6 from Corning and Samsung’s unbreakable panel appears to be the better option. Gorilla Glass 6 is a big improvement over its predecessor but the company’s claim puts its durability at surviving 15 drops from a height of 1 meter or 3.2 feet.

It’s pertinent to mention though that both figures represent lab tests. The factors aren’t controlled as tightly as they are in lab tests out in the real-world so the actual mileage here may vary. Samsung’s unbreakable OLED panel is likely to be used for the company’s first foldable smartphone that’s due next year.

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Samsung’s foldable phones to come as part of the Galaxy F series?

Wind back the clock to 2013. Rumors at the time had pegged Samsung as working on a new “super premium” Galaxy F series of smartphones in addition to the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note flagships that were launched each year. But nothing of the sort panned out. Samsung continues to release just two flagships each year (albeit with the Galaxy S flagships now coming in two sizes). But according to a short little tweet by a Chinese leakster, Samsung is yet again working on a Galaxy F lineup of phones. And with the foldable phone on the horizon, the information comes at just the right time.

F for foldable?

Galaxy F doesn’t sound as exciting as Galaxy X, but there hasn’t been a lot of evidence to support the latter as the actual name of Samsung’s first commercial foldable phone. The Galaxy F series will apparently be “super” high-end, which fits well with the recent rumors that the foldable phone might cost anywhere between $1500 to $2000. However, the same source also pointed out recently that Samsung is working on Galaxy R and Galaxy P smartphones for the Chinese market. The Galaxy F may also turn out to be an exclusive high-end offering for China, building on devices like the recently released Galaxy A9 Star.

And, as usual, these rumors shouldn’t be taken seriously until there’s something more substantial to support them. Galaxy F sounds quite appropriate for a foldable phone, but whether Samsung actually goes for something so simple is a question only time will answer.

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