New Samsung Galaxy Note 9 leaks have good news and bad news, and we're likely in for an updated smartphone with a larger screen and handy S Pen, but one without an in-screen fingerprint sensor, sadly.
We’re only three months - at most - away from knowing everything for sure, which means you might as well hold out for Samsung's extra-big Android phone. It’s very close to the expected launch event and release date.
Today, we're sorting through the rumours and leaks (there are a lot of them), and to do that we've gotten out our trusty S Pen stylus ready to declare which are plausible, and which are just wishful thinking.
The Note 9 is poised to be a big deal because it'll be a massively sized update to the Galaxy Note 8, and slightly bigger and better than the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, which launched around the world in March.
Of course, that's not to say it'll be a massive update to last year's phone with a 6.3-inch screen. No, we're expecting iterative, but important changes, mostly to the internal specs, rather than a complete redesign on the outside.
That said, Samsung has to roll out a new Note that's still attention-grabbing enough to outlast the iPhone X2 phones that Apple is likely to unveil in late August or early September. If you're keen on big phones with a handy stylus, this is the one to read up on.
Here are all of the Note 9 rumours so far and the features we want to see from Samsung's next two-handed handset.
Cut to the chase
What is Note 9? Samsung's next flagship phablet
When is Note 9 out? Possibly end of August 2018
What will Note 9 cost? Probably at least $929 / £869 / AU$1,499
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 release date and price
Last year's phone launched on August 23, and we expect similar timing in 2018
Likely to ship to stores and first customers in September
Some sources reckon it could be announced in late July
Samsung is readying the Galaxy Note 9 right now, according to new reports, though we still expect the release date to be close to August 23, which was last year's launch date.
We haven't heard many Samsung Galaxy Note 9 release date rumours yet, but we did see last year's phone announced on August 23 and ship to stores in September. The short-lived Samsung Galaxy Note 7 followed a similar schedule two years ago.
So there’s a good chance that the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be announced in late August 2018, before hitting stores possibly in mid to late September.
The Note 9 appears to have been trademarked by Samsung in mid-March, so it's possible that the release target is being set in stone.
There's always someone saying the Note phones will come earlier than ever though. This year, it's the The Investor that cites market watchers who believe it could be unveiled in early to mid August instead. And the same site claims that Samsung has codenamed the phone 'Crown' and planned to have a prototype of it ready during the first quarter of 2018.
We've also heard reports that Samsung is testing firmware for the phone and that it started doing so two weeks earlier than for the Note 8, which somewhat suggests an earlier launch is possible - especially as the Galaxy S9 also had its firmware tested earlier than the S8, and went on to launch earlier.
Plus, 'industry sources' are now saying that screen panels were being built for it two months earlier than normal and that it could be announced as soon as late July, then hit stores in early August. For now though a late August announcement still seems most likely.
Whenever the Note 9 does arrive it’s sure to be expensive. The Galaxy Note 8 retailed for $929 / £869 / AU$1,499 at launch and we can’t see Samsung lowering the price for the Note 9, especially now Apple has pushed smartphone prices even higher with its iPhone X.
In fact, the S9 and S9 Plus saw a price increase in most countries, so it only makes sense for Samsung to push its top-tier phone higher, unfortunately.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Release date and prices.
