Samsung's next high-profile phablet release, the Galaxy Note 3, is still quite a ways off, but it seems that prototypes of the handset are already making their rounds.
Tech-centered websites TechTastic and SamMobile both posted claims on getting an exclusive first look at what seems to be a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (pictured above). The reports do state that the Galaxy Note 3 pictured is likely not a final design, and more of prototype. In line with previous rumors, the Galaxy Note 3 does seem to keep design elements from the Galaxy S4.
The prototype picture has not been confirmed by Samsung, and will likely never be. Samsung is expected to reveal official details about the Galaxy Note 3 at the IFA conference in Berlin in September, similar to the Galaxy Note 2 reveal last year. The phablet should then hit the market soon after, in time for the holiday season and to combat Apple's upcoming iPhone.
The Galaxy Note 3 was initially believed to sport various new design elements such as an aluminum body and a flexible screen. Sadly, over time, it seems that Samsung has begun favoring the same plastic design that was one of the only major criticisms of the Galaxy S4.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to have a 6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, 3GB RAM, an eight-core GPU, and a 13-megapixel camera sporting some nifty features. The phablet should be powered by an eight-core Exynos 5 Octa chipset or a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, and will run a Samsung TouchWiz interface designed to accept the S Pen electronic stylus that ships with the smartphone.