SAMSUNG IS REPORTEDLY gearing up to start a pilot production run of the Galaxy Note 9 in the first quarter of 2018.

So says Korean news outlet The Bell (via The Investor), which claims that Samsung could start manufacturing the smartphone, codenamed 'Crown', in just two months' time. 

An official from a smartphone parts supplier allegedly told the newspaper: "We will start providing components for a pilot production [of the Galaxy Note 9] in the first quarter next year."

The Bell doesn't have much else to say on the matter but does speculate as to what the 'Crown' codename alludes to. It expects it to be a sign of Samsung's goal of tightening its grip on the large-sized smartphone sector, rather than a hint that it'll come with pointy corners and be exclusive to Netflix. 

This year's Galaxy Note 8 was codenamed 'Baikal' after one of Russia's biggest lakes, hinting at the smartphone's large 6.3in display, apparently.

The report notes that, while a pilot production run is likely to take place early next year, the Galaxy Note 9 likely will make its official debut in early to mid-August next year.

Beyond its codename, we don't know much about what Samsung's next big-screened flagship has in store.

However, Samsung itself has hinted that the Galaxy Note 9 could be its first 'foldable' smartphone. Dongjin Koh, president of Samsung's mobile business, told reporters earlier this year that the company hopes to release its first flexible smartphone next year under its flagship Galaxy Note line.

However, Koh warned that there are still hurdles to overcome and release would be pushed back if they're not resolved.

Speculation also claims that the Note 9 could feature a screen-embedded fingerprint sensor, while others claim that Samsung is gearing up to ditch the scanner in favour of an iPhone X-esque face recognition system. 

There's also talk that the Galaxy Note 8, like the upcoming Galaxy S9, will pack Qualcomm's as-yet-unannounced Snapdragon 845 processor under the hood.

By: DocMemory
Copyright © 2023 CST, Inc. All Rights Reserved