Galaxy Note 7 / Galaxy Note 6 is rumored to be Galaxy Note 5's predecessor and may launch in the second half of 2016. (Photo : YouTube/ C4ETech)
The Galaxy Note 7, originally known as Note 6, on release date is all but confirmed to out-spec Samsung's first 2016 flagships - the duo of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. But more importantly, the sixth phablet from Samsung will boast of a key feature upgrade that likely will kill its chief rivals - both the Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
In recent tweets, gadget news leaker Evan Blass claimed that the second flagship from Samsung is confirmed to unbox with the specs: a 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, basic 64GB of storage plus microSD provision, a 12MP dual-camera on rear combed with a 5MP front cam, IP68 rating for water and dust proofing and the following color options - Black, Silver and Blue. In a follow up post, Blass also tweeted that Iris Scanner is also part of the deal.
Couple confirmed specs: 5.7" QHD SAMOLED, 64GB + microSD, 12MP DualP / 5MP, IP68, black/silver/blue
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) June 25, 2016
To be sure, any of the Note 7 feature upgrades will prove compelling for Android and non-Android fans alike. But what really caught the eye is the claim by @evleaks, Blass' Twitter handler, that the upcoming supersized phone will unpack with basic memory of whopping 64GB with the possibility of memory expansion. Like what it did with the Galaxy S7, Samsung is resurrecting the microSD slot with the Note 7 following its ditching with the Galaxy Note 5 in 2105.
The move, according to Forbes, could prove as the next iPhone killer. The report said that while Apple is rumored to bump the basic iPhone 7 storage to 32GB, the advantage is already on Samsung's hands. "By pushing the baseline storage expectations higher, Samsung challenges Apple's marketing team, challenges the level of income and profit that the iPhone can generate, and creates more promotional opportunities for Samsung's innovative handsets," Forbes said.
But 64GB is only the basic as BGR said in a related report that Note 7 buyers will likely end up picking from the Samsung phablet menu of 128GB and 256GB options. And if the rumors will prove accurate that the South Korean tech giant will soon debut its 256GB microSD card then the possibility of up to 512GB combined storage space will be made available to would-be Galaxy Note 7 buyers.
Such massive alone should prompt Apple fans to look beyond the iPhone 7 release considering the prevailing rumors that nothing much will change from the last two versions. More so if they will take a closer look on the balance of the rumored Note 7 specs bumps - enhanced S-Pen stylus, USB-C port and a colossal 4000mAH battery pack - that give the device virtual desktop capabilities.
Samsung is yet to confirm but the Galaxy Note 7 release date is expected to happen second week of August with the high chance that the unboxing will include Android N or Nutella, which is touted as one of the reasons for the device's earlier rollout.
