How to watch the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 reveal, and everything you need to know
All the latest on Galaxy Unpacked 2018 and which devices could debut there
How to watch the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 reveal, and everything you need to know
With its next Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for 9 August, Samsung is ready to take the wraps off something shiny and new for us. It’s widely expected to be the Note 9, but with “a brand new addition to the Samsung Galaxy device lineup” promised ahead of that on 1 August it looks like Samsung is getting ready to spoil us with multiple new toys. What’ll we see when the covers are removed? Here’s the latest on what we’re expecting, plus all you need to know about how to watch it all live.
How to watch Galaxy Unpacked 2018
The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2018 event will take place on 9 August in New York City, but if you’re not a member of the press you’ll have to follow the live stream on Samsung’s website. For past events, Samsung has also released an Android app for easy mobile streaming, although it’s not yet available at the time of writing. Samsung has not yet set a time for the stream, but that should be revealed in due course.
Definitely: Galaxy Note 9
While we’re 99% certain the Galaxy Note 9 is coming, what it’ll look like is still up for debate. Rumours suggest an almost identical chassis to the Note 8 (pictured), with a slightly bigger Quad HD Super AMOLED screen, meaning a slightly smaller bottom bezel. Power will be supplied by an Exynos 9810 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip (depending on region), with a sizable 6GB RAM alongside. That’ll require some serious juice, with a 4000mAh battery putting it on par with Huawei’s P20 Pro. Throw in a new S Pen stylus with added Bluetooth and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Note 9 commanded an asking price of £899 or higher. Blimey.
Maybe: A Bixby-powered speaker
Samsung confirmed it was working on an Echo-style speaker for its own Bixby voice assistant earlier this year, with a release due in the second half of 2018. Codenamed Lux and rumoured to cost a HomePod-rivalling US$300, the Wall Street Journal reckons it’ll have a bowl-shaped design with a speaker that can point the sound in the direction of whoever asked the question. If it doesn’t materialise at Unpacked, it could form part of Samsung’s IFA unveilings at the end of August instead.
Maybe: The Galaxy Watch
We liked the Gear S3 (pictured) a lot but it looks like Samsung is ready to double down on the Galaxy name and release a smartwatch with that moniker too. The Galaxy Watch appeared on Samsung’s own retail site recently before being pulled, but the listing showed a classy looking 42mm Rose Gold model, while other leaks suggest black and silver versions to go alongside it, plus a larger battery, up to 470mAh from 380mAh. Again, the Galaxy Watch could hold tight for a few weeks and launch at IFA instead, but render leaks suggest that it’ll be marketed alongside the Note 9.
Maybe: Galaxy Tab S4
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S3 (pictured) is the best Android tablet on the market today – not that there’s a lot of competition – so we’re excited to see what Samsung has in store for its successor. A leaked render shows a simple design with no buttons on the front and just a hint of bezel. With no visible fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner could be on the cards, while a screen boost from 9.7in to 10.5in is also expected. Further rumours suggest a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, a 7300mAh battery, plus a 13-megapixel back camera and an 8MP selfie shooter up front.