It didn't seem like it in the beginning, but now it looks like Samsung will be releasing the Galaxy Note 2 phablet through a variety of carriers. The latest evidence is a leaked image that shows the Verizon logo on the back of a Galaxy Note 2 handset.
The images were posted by Phandroid.com, which claims the images hit their inbox and look real enough. They show a white Galaxy Note 2 handset with the Verizon carrier logo on the back and on the home screen button.
Take it as you will, but Phandroid has a good point - the logo on the home screen button is incredibly tacky. The monthly bill should be enough to remind you that you are a Verizon customer.
Samsung has not officially given any details on a U.S. release date, U.S. pricing, or U.S. carrier options. Reports, however, indicate that the Galaxy Note 2 will be offered by all four major U.S. carriers AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. A recent leak also pegged the AT&T Galaxy Note 2 at October 21, exactly one month after the iPhone 5 launch.
Samsung has only stated that the Galaxy Note 2 will launch in Asian, European, and Middle Eastern markets in October. A look at pre-order ship dates indicates a mid-October launch, and a look at pre-order prices shows that an unlocked Galaxy Note 2 could be $800-$900. But as website PhoneArena pointed out, European phones are generally more expensive, so a $650 U.S. price tag is more likely.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will feature a 1.6Ghz quad-core processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and the S Pen stylus. It will also come with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera.