A recently leaked image suggests that Samsung has plans to expand its Galaxy Note range yet further, this time with a more affordable ‘phablet’ that is said to be called the Galaxy Note 3 Neo.
No, there are no tie-ins with The Matrix film franchise – The Neo tag is likely to be an internal codename that will disappear come launch and we’re expecting the real name to be the Galaxy Note 3 Lite. Images coming from the credible SamMobile depict a phone that looks very much like the Galaxy Note 3, but a tad smaller.
Earlier in the week, GSMArena revealed a set of specifications that it claimed to be linked to a device called the Galaxy Note 3 Neo, or Galaxy Note 3 Lite. The phone is still large, sporting a 5.5-inch display, but when compared to the flagship Note 3 the specs are slightly stepped down which we believe will make the phone more affordable.
The Note 3 will comprise of a 5.5-inch 720p HD Super AMOLED display, 8 megapixel rear camera and 2.1 megapixel front facing camera, with both cameras offering Full HD video recording. We’re also hearing that the operating system will be Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI over the top, with the familiar S Pen stylus slotting in at the bottom for handwriting, drawing and annotating with Samsung’s set of ‘S’ apps.
Other specs for the Note 3 Neo/Lite include speedy Wi-Fi ac support, Infra-red tech for remote control apps, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, Samsung’s own hexa-core Exynos 5260 processor and either HSPA+ or 4G LTE mobile connectivity – there will be two versions to suit different networks in different countries.
See also: Samsung announces the Galaxy NotePro Tablet
An image of the Note 3 and its slightly smaller brother from the back shows an identical design – the faux leather back, stitched edging and camera location are all the same. The key differences will be a slightly smaller, lower resolution display, different processor and a smaller rear camera sensor. These changes should make for a more affordable Galaxy Note 3 alternative, though at the moment we’ve no idea just how much cheaper the Neo/Lite will be when compared to the original Note 3.
We’re expecting Samsung to officially launch this phone next month at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, so stay tuned for the full lowdown then.