Samsung to unveil Note 4 on Sept. 3

Samsung Electronics will unveil its new phablet ― Galaxy Note 4 in Berlin on Sept. 3, executives at Samsung's top-tier local parts suppliers said.

They said Samsung is apparently looking to rush the Galaxy Note 4 out the door to try and combat Apple's new iPhone ― "iPhone 6" ― which is due out the same month.

"Samsung will hold an event to announce the Note 4 on Sept. 3, just few days before this year's IFA trade fair in Berlin, Germany ― Europe's biggest technology exhibition," said an executive at Samsung's top-tier display supplier by phone.

Samsung plans to send an official invitation letter to interested parties, media and industry officials for the event "soon."

Apple plans to put out a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch variant of the iPhone 6 in September, which may sway a few Note users over to Apple, or vice versa.

In order to keep its existing Galaxy users and attract more customers, the new Samsung device will have enhanced hardware specifications.

"Samsung Note 4 will have far better specifications than the Galaxy S5 smartphone," said Samsung Electro-Mechanics Chief Financial Officer Kwon Young-noh, recently.
Samsung Electro is an affiliate of Samsung and supplies camera modules to Samsung Electronics.

The new Samsung phablet ― a technology term which means a combination of smartphones and tablets ― will come with a 5.7-inch flat OLED screen and metal frame.

Samsung will also bring a curved OLED version of the Note 4 to the exhibition, though the curved Note 4 isn't aimed at appealing to the mass market.

"The Note 4 will be the first smartphone to incorporate an ultraviolet sensor. The sensor can measure UV radiation and offer index levels to Note 4 users inside the 'S Health' application," said an executive at Samsung's software partner based in Korea.

The upcoming phablet will be powered by Qualcomm processor chips and "definitely" support fourth-generation long-term evolution (LTE) mobile wireless technologies. For users in Korea, Samsung plans to put LTE-Advanced technology in the home-turf, according to the executives.

The company made agreements with major wireless carriers in the United States including AT&T, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless for the guaranteed shipments of the Note 4, while it also plans to hold a big promotional campaign in China.

Samsung declined to comment about the date of the event for the Note 4.

Officials hope the Note 4 will help the Korean technology heavyweight get fresh momentum to lift its handset business at a time when the company is being threatened by the rise of budget Chinese handset manufacturers.