Samsung is set to unveil the Galaxy Note 4 in a little over an hour as part of their IFA 2014 presentation, and we’re in NYC for a satellite event and the chance to see the new Android smartphone in person. You can join in for the fun as well by heading over to YouTube to stream the show live from Germany, which Samsung has dubbed UNPACKED Episode 2, when it officially kicks off at 9AM EDT/6AM PDT.
Of course, you can also follow along here at Phandroid during and after the event for up-to-the-minute coverage, analysis, and hands-on photos and videos of the new member of Samsung’s Galaxy Note line (and whatever else the company has to show off). While rumors have centered around the Note 4, Samsung might use the show to showcase their latest run of Gear devices, including the Gear S smartwatch and a rumored Google Glass competitor.
The Note 4 is expected to launch with a 5.7-inch display featuring a boosted resolution in the neighborhood of 2560×1440 pixels, a Snapdragon 805 SoC, 16MP camera, and improved stylus input. Keep it tuned here to Phandroid for all the news as it breaks.
Samsung is one of the first to market with an Android Wear smartwatch, and the company arguably has a head start since it’s been making its own smartwatches since last year. The Gear Live owes much to its predecessors, which have run both a modified version of Android and Samsung’s own Tizen, but it manages to feel like much more than an older sibling’s hand-me-downs.
1.63-inch Super AMOLED 320×320 display1.2GHz Processor512MB RAM with 4GB storageComes in black and wine redMSRP: $199Product info page
Pros
Great screenHeart rate monitor
Cons
Samsung hasn’t strained themselves with the Gear Live’s design – this is a very similar device to the Gear 2 on the outside, minus the camera at the top and the button at the bottom. It looks a lot like an original Galaxy Gear, in fact, but with a bezel that makes the screen seem a bit more like it’s protruding from your wrist and cleaner lines overall. The minor tweaks are for the better, however, and this is overall a better-looking device than any of Samsung’s older smartwatches.
The design is much more prone to strong negative reactions than that of the LG G watch, however, at least in my experience. While many were fine with its looks, a lot more said they definitely didn’t like it, vs. a mostly neutral or net positive reaction to the G Watch. You’re less able to add your own personal flair to the Gear Live, too – it uses a proprietary band connector meaning aftermarket options aren’t nearly as readily available.
That said, the wrist-hugging design is comfortable on the wrist, and though the clasp isn’t all that easy to affix to begin with, it’s secure once you’ve got it clipped in. Samsung also gets points for including a recessed hardware button on the right side of the display – it’s every bit as surreptitious as LG’s complete lack of any physical controls, but loads more convenient for power on/power down functions.
