We’ve been expecting Samsung Electronic KRW5000 (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) to rain on Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) 10th anniversary iPhone party, and now we know for certain. AAPL is expected to announce the iPhone 8 in early September. Samsung, meanwhile, just sent out invitations for a Samsung Unpacked event on Aug. 23, where it will unveil the new Galaxy Note 8.
Galaxy Note 8 Is a Critical Release
The release of the Galaxy S8 in March was huge for Samsung. It was the company’s first new smartphone following the disastrous Galaxy Note 7 with its exploding battery. But the Galaxy Note 8 is just as critical, because this is the direct successor to that ill-fated device. It has evolved into Samsung’s flagship smartphone, showcasing the company’s design chops and latest technology.
It also carries the highest price tag in SSNLF’s lineup — last year’s Galaxy Note 7 started at $849.
With the recall of the Galaxy Note 7, there was speculation the Galaxy Note 8 might not even see the light of day, that Samsung might retire the name altogether in an attempt to bury the mess forever. Instead, a public apology, an aggressive battery safety campaign, a successful Galaxy S8 launch, and Samsung is ready to go with the Galaxy Note 8.
The company has now officially announced the big date. The Galaxy Note 8 makes its public debut in New York on Aug. 23 at a Samsung Unpacked event.
What to Expect From the Galaxy Note 8
Samsung has been less successful than AAPL when it comes to keeping a lid on the details of its new flagship smartphone. As a result, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect to see at the Samsung Unpacked event, including:
- 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display
- Qualcomm, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) Snapdragon 835 CPU
- 4GB to 6GB RAM
- Dual 12MP primary cameras
- Updated S Pen stylus
- Bixby Button
- Fingerprint Scanner
- 3,300 mAh battery
The new Galaxy Note 8 is expected to have minimal bezels and to offer a dual camera system similar to the iPhone 7 Plus (also assumed to be in the iPhone 8). Add a dedicated Bixby button — finally backed by voice assistance — and the Galaxy Note 8 could be a formidable competitor to the iPhone 8. Especially if Samsung keeps its price in the ballpark of the $849 Galaxy Note 7, and AAPL does as expected, and charges $1,000-plus for the iPhone 8.
A substantial price gap could lure consumers who want the latest, greatest premium smartphone but just can’t bring themselves to spend four figures for it…
Timing Is Everything for Samsung
Traditionally, Samsung releases its Galaxy series smartphones in the spring, while Apple releases its new iPhone in the fall. But Samsung also launches its new Galaxy Note in the late summer. That gives SSNLF a brand new smartphone choice for consumers year-round, and presents an opportunity to prevent Apple from having the spotlight completely to itself.
Samsung has been playing with the release date of its Galaxy Note smartphone for a while now. The Galaxy Note 4 was announced on Sept. 3, 2014. That was a little too close to Apple’s annual iPhone event and the Galaxy got buried quickly in iPhone 6 coverage. Last year’s Galaxy Note 7 was revealed on Aug. 2. That was too early, with many people still in summer vacation mode and a full month before the iPhone 7.
This year’s Aug. 23 Samsung Unpacked will play some serious head games with AAPL’s marketing department. The Galaxy Note 8 will be unveiled just as iPhone 8 excitement is reaching its peak, and the new Galaxy Note should go on sale about one week before the big Apple event, ensuring at least a week of sales before there is actually an iPhone 8 to compete against.
And it also means an opportunity to announce record sales (assuming that happens) right before the iPhone’s big moment.
Will Samsung’s timing gambit work? We should get the first indicator of that when the company releases Galaxy Note 8 preorder numbers. But we won’t have the full picture until later in the year, when both the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 have been available for sale for a few months.
Until then, about the only thing we can say for certain about the new Galaxy Note is that it’s virtually guaranteed to have the safest, most extensively tested, smartphone battery on the market.
As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
