Let the countdown begin! Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear Release date is near!

[wicked]

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be released on all major US carriers over the next week or so. On its own, this would be a fairly momentous occasion. The Galaxy Note and Note 2 are two of the best selling mobile devices in the history of smartphones, with 38 million sold worldwide, but to push us over the edge, the Korean electronics giant is also releasing the Galaxy Gear smartwatch at the same time.

The Galaxy Note 3 is a tour de force in juggernaut handset design. Not only is it big with a slightly larger screen over the Note 2 (5.7 inches vs. 5.55) with a much higher resolution display (1920×1080 vs. 1280×720). Despite the larger screen, the Note 3 is actually thinner, narrower, and lighter (168 grams vs. 180) than its predecessor. The Note 3 even has a slightly larger battery (3,200 mAh) than the Note 2 (3,100 mAh). All in all, the Note 3 is a seriously impressive piece of hardware. The Galaxy Note 3 is bold, and blazingly fast with a lot of software tweaks, and a nice new faux leather back that’s much nicer than the slick plastic on the Note 2.

Samsungs new phablet has the dubious luck of being one of the two devices that will bond with the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, the other being the Galaxy S4. If you bring the Galaxy Gear within an inch or two of the Galaxy Note 3 or Galaxy S4, an NFC connection is made, and a setup wizard will pop up on either handset. The Note 3 or GS4 will download some software, and should pair with the smartwatch via Bluetooth… and that’s it: You now have a smartwatch.

Shipping now and hitting US carriers in force in this week, the Note 3 costs $299.99 on Verizon (in stores 10/10), AT&T (in stores 10/4) and Sprint (in stores 10/4). T-Mobile (available now) sells the device for a lower $199.99 up front, but you’re on the hook for 24 monthly payments of $21. U.S. Cellular have also said it expects to scoop up the Note 3 soon.

So who's planning on picking up a Galaxy Note 3? A Galaxy Gear smartwatch? Be sure to let us know and sound off in this thread!

 

[jseah]

What I don't understand is that the phone is supposedly officially out on T-Mobile now, but the Samsung branded accessories (i.e. flip cover case) is still nowhere to be found.

 

[Willyammer]

Has anyone heard when pre-orders will ship and or arrive?

 

[RemyL75]

MEEEEEEE!!!!!

8 days and counting!!!

 

[combatmedic870]

Heh.....Its a great device! you guys are missing out!!!

 

[GAstorino]

Wish they would release these Phablets without the phone option engaged so you can have a nice little Pocket e-reader, media device and wifi only as well much like an Ipod Touch. Seems like there would be a market for that and then if you wanted the phone option you could activate later.

 

[combatmedic870]

Wish they would release these Phablets without the phone option engaged so you can have a nice little Pocket e-reader, media device and wifi only as well much like an Ipod Touch. Seems like there would be a market for that and then if you wanted the phone option you could activate later.

They do.....you just pay outright for it.