Samsung reveals a couple of additions to the Galaxy Note phablet family at IFA 2014, the Note 4 and Note Edge, as well as a smartphone-powered collaboration with VR headset maker Oculus, the Gear VR.
Described by Samsung CEO JK Shin as "the most Note experience to date," the Galaxy Note 4 features a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display handling 2560 x 1440 resolution inside faux-leather soft-touch plastic casing. The company sells the massive display as being ideal for multitasking, as its Multi Window feature allows users view apps in full, split or pop-up screen modes.
Making touchscreen a bit more easier to navigate is an updated version of the S Pen stylus, now with double the pressure sensitivity allowing for two pen styles-- calligraphy pen or fountain pen. It also features enhanced Air Command functionality and a Snap Note feature for users wanting to attach photos or voice memos to the S Note app.
More interesting Note 4 features include Fast Charging (Samsung claims the 3220mAh battery charges to 50% in all of 30 minutes), 3 microphones, 16MP rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization and a front-facing 3.7MP camera with f1.9 aperture one can activate with the heart rate monitor on the back of the device.
Also revealed at IFA 2014 is the Note Edge-- essentially a Note 4 with a display curving over the the right-hand edge of the device. This extra bit of screen real estate provides shortcuts to apps and alerts when the cover is closed, and notifications or in-app controls when viewing a video or taking a photo.
Readers with longer memories might recall this is not actually the first time Samsung showed off this take on curved displays. It was in fact seen at the Samsung CES 2013 keynote as part of the "Youm" flexible OLED display series.
The final Samsung IFA 2014 revelation is the Gear VR-- a VR headset powered by the Note 4. Designed in collaboration with the Facebook-owned Oculus, the Gear VR is similar to the Google Cardboard only not, well, DIY. It uses dual-lenses for the 3D effect, and a side-mounted trackpad provides controls.
Funnily it allows users to enable the phablet's rear-facing camera in order to see the real world. In 3D. Through the goggles. Like one does. Other than that Samsung promises content from "top-tier creators," with a Coldplay concert and an Avengers game making an IFA demo appearance.
The Note 4 hits the market in black, white and gold from October 2014, while the Note Edge and Gear VR will be available by the end of the year.