The Samsung Galaxy Note created a unique niche for itself when it released last year on AT&T. It introduced a large screen size - 5.3-inches - and offered a stylus to go along with it. Critics initially thought the oddly-sized screen (too big for a phone, too small for a tablet, a "phablet") would be a turn-off to consumers, but the device was a success, with over 10 million sold so far. Now as Samsung plans on releasing the next-gen Galaxy Note, it looks like other manufacturers are showing interest in the device.
The original Galaxy Note was exclusive to AT&T when it was released in 2011. T-Mobile released their own version of the original a couple weeks ago, so it will probaly be a while before they offer the Galaxy Note 2.
The Galaxy Note 2 will be unveiled at an event in Berlin on August 29, right before the 2012 IFA consumer electronics show starts. At the very latest, it should in consumers' hands by mid-September.
Rumors indicate that the phablet could boast some powerful specs, with a 5.5-inch unbreakable display, 12-13-megapixel camera, and a quad-core processor. It should also run Android Ice Cream Sandwich, and receive an upgrade to Jelly Bean soon after.
Verizon and Sprint both initially passed on the Galaxy Note. Now it looks like Verizon might be regretting that, and seems to have enlisted the help of handset manufacturer HTC.
HTC has been linked with a phablet that is set to compete directly with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. A DigiTimes source leaked that the device will have a 5-inch display and come out sometime in September or October. There is no confirmation from HTC or Verizon on this.
Benchmarks that were posted online reveal that the device sports an impressive 1080p display, and runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It also makes numerous references to Verizon.
There is one difference, however. The original Galaxy Note was centered around offering the S pen - an interactive stylus for the handset. The Galaxy Note 2 will also come with the S pen, as shown in Samsung's teaser trailer, and this could set AT&T 's phablet apart from Verizon's.