NEW YORK ― Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest big-screen smartphone Galaxy Note 7 to the world at a launch event in New York, Tuesday local time.
Offering technological improvements such as iris recognition and advanced S-Pen stylus, the world's leading handset maker expected that the Note 7 will strengthen Samsung's leadership in the premium smartphone sector alongside the company's flagship model Galaxy S7.
"Galaxy Note 7 will reconfirm our unrivaled position in the ‘phablet' market, providing consumers with more innovative usability," said Koh Dong-jin, president of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. Phablet is a combination of "phone" and "tablet" and refers to smartphones with a front screen larger than 5 inches.
"Alongside the Note 7, we will establish an ecosystem consisting of diverse wearable devices and services, aiming at offering a richer mobile experience."
Following the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom, Tuesday, the Note 7 will be rolled out in the global market on Aug. 19.
Though it is the sixth model in the Galaxy Note brand, the new handset has been dubbed the Note 7. Samsung Electronics said it aims at "unifying the numbering with its flagship model Galaxy S7 to better communicate with customers." By doing so, the company will solidify its two-pillar strategy of its flagship S series and the Note series with its larger screen for the premium smartphone segment.
The Note 7 will be the first in the series to have IP68-grade waterproofing and dustproofing. Unlike the S7, which is also resistant to water and dust, users can control the Note 7 in wet conditions such as in the rain using its S-Pen stylus, developed in house at Samsung Electronics. The stylus tip became slimmer from 1.6mm to 0.7mm compared to the Note 5 and the pen itself is twice as sensitive to pressure as its predecessor.
Samsung Electronics also stressed that the Note 7 provides automatic word translation through the stylus. Users can check the translation of a word on the smartphone by touching it with the S-Pen's tip, the company said.
Also for the first time in the Note series, the new handset adopted curved edges on both sides of its front screen.
The new smartphone is the first of the company's handsets to have iris recognition. The biometric security function, which is designed to be compatible with the company's mobile security technology Samsung Knox, is expected to provide top-notch security for mobile devices.
In particular, the Note 7 has what the company calls the Samsung Pass function that allows users to easily login or authenticate themselves for mobile commerce services using iris recognition. This function will help users verify themselves more easily when using Galaxy smartphones' mobile payment service Samsung Pay, the company said.
"We are in discussion with Korea's Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, KEB Hana Bank and major financial institutions in the United States to provide mobile banking services by tapping into Samsung Pass," the company said.
The Note 7 abandoned the 5-pin cable interface and replaced it with the next-generation USB type-C which allows quicker wired battery charging and faster data transmission.
The device weighs 169 grams and has a 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED that supports 518 pixels per inch.
The Note 7 has a 64-bit octa-core application processor and 4 GB of memory. Storage capacity for the Note 7 is limited to 64 GB, but it provides a slot for an external memory card supporting up to 256 GB. It supports mobile network standards including long-term evolution (LTE) category 9, 10 and 12 according to each market's infrastructure conditions.
It has a 3,500mAh embedded battery and supports both quick charging and wireless charging functions.
In terms of camera, the 12-megapixel front module supports optical image stabilization function while the one in the rear supports resolution up to 5 megapixels. Both camera modules have f/1.7 maximum aperture opening and the dual pixel technology, and thus can produce clear images even in a dark environment.
On Tuesday, Samsung Electronics also showcased its fourth virtual reality (VR) device Gear VR, upgraded for the Note 7. The new head-mounted VR device has a wider viewing angle of 101 degrees, up from 96 in its predecessor.
