Samsung has unveiled its new Galaxy Note 8 smartphone, the first Note device since its 2016 model was recalled and discontinued over safety concerns.
The new Note 8 features a larger 6.3in Infinity Display and dual rear cameras designed to help take more detailed photographs.
The firm’s previous Note device – the Note 7 – was discontinued last October following reports of a series of battery fires.
The Note 8 is available to pre-order from Wednesday and will go on sale in the UK on September 15 at a price of £869, Samsung confirmed.
Samsung’s mobile communications president DJ Koh said: “We appreciate the relentless passion of the Note community.
“They’ve been a constant inspiration to us and we designed the new Note for them.
“From the Infinity Display to the enhanced S Pen and powerful Dual Camera, the Galaxy Note 8 lets people do things they never thought were possible.”
The Infinity Display was first introduced on the flagship S8 and S8+ earlier this year, expanding the screen size by stretching it closer to the edge of the phone, removing most of the bezel that traditionally frames a screen, as well as a physical home button.
The 6.3in screen is also a Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display, making it one of the highest resolution on the market.
The S Pen, a stylus which slots into the Note 8, has been redesigned with a finer tip and improved pressure sensitivity to feel more like a real pen.
Both the phone and the S Pen are also water and dust resistant, the Korean firm said.
When interacting with the screen, the S Pen can be used to highlight text in foreign languages and quickly translate it, as well as draw interactive messages to send to friends and make notes on the display even when the screen is locked.
The new dual 12-megapixel rear cameras feature optical image stabilisation on both the telephoto and wide-angle lenses, as well as a new feature called Live Focus, which enables users to change the focus of an image before and after they’ve taken it.
The phone also features an eight megapixel front-facing camera, as well as fingerprint, facial and iris scanners for biometric security.
Smart virtual assistant Bixby will also be built into the Note 8.
Samsung confirmed the Note 8 would be initially available in two colours in the UK, known as Midnight Black and Maple Gold.
The Korean tech giant’s announcement comes just a few weeks before rival Apple is expected to announce the next generation of the iPhone.
Up to three new versions of the smartphone could be revealed, according to reports, as Apple marks the 10th anniversary of the iPhone’s launch.
