Samsung Galaxy Note 8 news, rumors: Device to launch in August 2017?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 became infamous because a battery flaw caused some units to overheat and explode, leading Samsung to recall all of its units and discontinue the line entirely. The fiasco has even led some to wonder if the company will cease producing products for the "Note" series altogether. However, rumors are now going around that Note 8 is currently under development and will be released within 2017.

This was subsequently confirmed by Samsung mobile chief D.J. Koh, who also gave the assurance that the company will ensure that the next product will be safe. "I will bring back a better, safer, and innovative Note 8," he said in an interview with CNET, adding that they are adding a new product to the line given the number of customers who are loyal to the brand. According to Know Your Mobile, Samsung is now working with LG, another Korean brand, to produce its batteries.

In terms of hardware, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is expected to have either a Snapdragon 830 processor or an Exynos chip. These processors will give the device a speedy boost. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is also expected to have dual cameras — a standard feature of high-end handhelds last year.

A potentially huge change for the handheld would be if Samsung opted to give it a foldable screen, which the company has been working on for a few years. It could also have the curved screens that were seen on the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. Given the number of handheld devices being designed to be VR-compatible, it will not also be surprising if the Note 8 would have this feature.

According to PC Advisor, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will most likely be released in August 2017, given that the previous products from the same line were launched within that month. However, the tech website also said it is possible for the gadget to be released earlier to fill in the gap left by the discontinued Note 7.

Given that Samsung has yet to make an official announcement about this product, it is better to take these rumors with a grain of salt. Its release and the corresponding sales will reveal if the stigma associated with Samsung "Note" products has been eliminated.