Samsung Galaxy Note 8 release date, specs: Phablet could be announced in Q1 2017; safer battery expected

A promotional image of the now-defunct Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Samsung

The Galaxy Note 7's notoriety has been spread across the globe resulting in consumers and longtime fans of the brand having qualms about patronizing Samsung's products. Nonetheless, the company is rumored to be preparing to release a follow-up to the shelved phablet.

It has been said that the South Korean electronics giant will be releasing the Galaxy Note 8 next year to possibly serve as the company's redeemer or eventual downfall — should it fail to regain consumers' confidence with the touted device.

Though not much has been spilled about the next-generation phablet, it is expected to arrive with a safer battery pack that will be tested by an independent quality assurance firm. It can be recalled that the rumored reason behind Note 7's erring battery was due to Samsung performing its own quality tests for the said phablet which led to catastrophic results.

Reports have said that the company will be devising two iterations of the Galaxy Note 8 with varying chipsets depending on the region where it will be shipped. The word on the street is that the renders could be loaded with either Samsung's Exynos 8895 chipset or a Snapdragon 830 processor from Qualcomm.

Other rumors speculate that the upcoming phablet will be sporting an ultra-flexible display. If such attribute would truly see the light of day, Samsung fans can expect a very pricey sum for the yet to be announced device.

Meanwhile, it was also noted that both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 will be part of Samsung's exchange program that is believed to go full throttle first in South Korea, though, the company is still mum about the specifics of the said scheme.

As for its launch date, it is expected that the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will be made known during the first quarter of next year.

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