Samsung Galaxy Note8 available from mid-September

SINGAPORE – Samsung has unveiled its latest flagship smartphone Galaxy Note8, which will be available in stores from mid-September.

The previous model in the Note series — Galaxy Note7 — was plagued by battery issues and led to several phone fires, forcing Samsung to recall the model globally.

Following the incident, UL International, a global independent safety science company, reassured users that the new Note8’s battery was safe for use. The company said the device has undergone an eight-point battery safety check, which it says is “the most rigorous in the industry”.

"We have been closely working with Samsung to make meaningful advancements in the science of smartphone quality and safety evaluation. As a result, the Galaxy Note8 has successfully completed a rigorous series of device and battery safety compatibility test protocols,” said UL International president Sajeev Jesudas.

Fans of Samsung’s Note series have much to look forward to, with a bigger phone display and an upgraded camera.

The new Note8 will be bigger than the previous Note7, with a 6.3-inch HD infinity display compared to its predecessor’s 5.7-inch display.

The Note8 is also equipped with two 12-megapixel rear cameras with Optical Image Stabilisation on both the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens.

The smartphone maker has also given the Note8 several upgrades. It now boasts a 6GB RAM, an increase from the older version’s 4GB, a 10nm processor and expandable memory of up to 256GB.

Users will also be able to multi-task with the new App Pair feature. It allows users to create a custom pair of applications on the Edge panel and simultaneously launch two applications with ease.

No other details about the pre-orders were given, but Samsung said the smartphone will be offered in four shades: Midnight Black, Orchid Grey, Maple Gold and Deepsea Blue.