News
For the next 12 months, the Note7 is probably the best Samsung Galaxy Note that lots of money can buy.
Samsung on Tuesday unveiled the Galaxy Note7, the newest addition to its big-screen smartphone range and a device that can be unlocked with your eyes, thanks to its built-in iris scanner.
It is the ideal handset for people who are working hard one minute, playing hard the next, and who have lots of money, thanks to its productivity-enhancing stylus, its water-resistant casing and Gorilla Glass 5 screen, the optional virtual reality headset, and its hefty US$850-plus price tag.
As well as an iris scanner, the Note7 includes a fingerprint sensor, Samsung’s Knox security platform, and a secure folder for storing personal information, all of which is designed to give customers the confidence to use the phone for work and for tasks like mobile payments.
"The Galaxy Note7 combines productivity and entertainment, and strong security features. Powering a robust ecosystem, it is the ideal device for those who want to achieve more in life," said DJ Koh, president of Samsung’s mobile communications business.
The Android-powered Note7 comes with many more additional upgrades compared to its predecessor, the Note5 (Samsung skipped the Note6, presumably to align its Note range with its Galaxy S range, which reached 7 this year), most notably the stylus, or S Pen, as Samsung calls it.
Users can now use the S Pen to write and pin notes to the screen, even when it is locked. It can also be used to create and share GIF animations, zoom in on the screen, and translate languages by holding it over text.
Like the handset itself, the S Pen is also water resistant so users can write notes in the rain – or tearfully compose song lyrics – without fear of damaging their $850 phablet.
The Note7 comes with a 64 GB memory, which can be expanded thanks to the microSD slot, which supports memory cards of up to 256 GB. It has a 3,500 mAh battery, which can be charged wirelessly.
The Note7 will be available to pre-order in the U.S. from today, and will hit the shelves on 19 August. In the U.K., pre-orders open on 16 August and it will go on sale on 2 September.
Full retail prices in the U.S. range from $850-$880 depending on the network operator.
