With the Galaxy Note 8's launch around the corner, more shreds of information about the hotly-anticipated phablet have been finding their way onto the internet. A lot of details are primarily springing up from the supply chain.
Latest leaks, news, and updates
Based on the recently surfaced specifications, it is clear that Samsung is leaving no stone unturned in the bid to ensure the Galaxy Note 8 sweeps smartphone enthusiasts off their feet while amending the company's rundown reputation thanks to the fiery Galaxy Note 7. Although the Galaxy Note 8 is expected to pack top-of-the-range components as far as hardware is concerned, Forbes' contributor Ewan Spence hints at a sting in the tail.
The Galaxy Note 8 to pack a feeble 3300 mAh battery
While the 3300 mAh battery is larger than the Galaxy S8's 3000 mAh battery, it is comparatively smaller than the 3500 mAh capacity in the Galaxy S8 Plus and the Galaxy Note 7.
To compensate for the Note 8's smaller battery, Samsung will be outfitting the device with convenient charging options. The Note 8 will come with wireless charging, allowing users to charge their phablets throughout the day when it is sedentary at a fixed point with a wireless charging station.
The standard cabled charging method should come in handy for the adaptive fast charger and the same rapid charging feature adopted by the Galaxy S8 series. In other words, users will be able to top up their handsets without breaking much of a sweat.
However, the newfangled hardware could prove to be very demanding for a smaller battery.
The 6.3-inch display could turn out to be one of the Note 8's biggest drains. According to Spence, Samsung might decide to modify the resolution in the default setting QuadHD to 1080p HD in order to take off the weight of the power requirements.
As if that weren't enough, the device's 6GB of RAM will constantly make use of the battery. Plus, a couple of 12MP rear-mounted cameras of the handset will also utilize it. The Galaxy S8 Plus packs a larger 3500 mAh battery, which allows a day and a half of regular activities. It will be interesting to see how productive the software proves to be when it comes to ensuring the Note 8 lives through the day without users worrying a lot about the charge levels.
The Galaxy Note 7 fiasco
The design is not the biggest culprit behind Samsung's decision to reduce the battery capacity. Memories of the now-defunct Note 7 will still be fresh in the minds of the South Korean handset maker. The Note 7's tight construction was supposed to maximize the energy in the device's batteries, but it led to an embarrassing global recall, instead.
While this definitely makes a lot of sense for Samsung, it is going to interfere with Galaxy Note 8 experience when it hits the store shelves later this summer.