The 3rd generation phablet with the series that started the whole phablet trend is finally here with the official announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. While it may not be the largest phablet around anymore it does keep up appearances with a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED Full HD screen, a new S Pen and some really impressive tech specs. As rumoured earlier, the Note 3 comes in 2 flavours, one with a 1.9GHz Exynos 5 Octa processor and another one with 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. Both pack in 3GB RM, making the Note 3 the world's first smartphone to break the 2GB RAM limit. You also get 32GB / 64GB worth of storage and up to 64GB microSD. Other tech specs include a 13MP camera with LED flash and smart stabilization, which means the Snapdragon 800 version can record 4K video, probably at 1080p 60fps while 192KHz audio recording is also available.

At a press conference by KT Corporation about broadband LTE, a presentation slide let slip that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note III would not only support a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset but also that it would be able to handle LTE-A. While this isn't an official Samsung announcement, KT Corporation is one of the major telcos in Korea so it doesn't look like a leak or prank. The slip doesn't confirm other features or details though as there are no Malaysia release dates, no pricing and no confirmation of other tech specs. With just another 2 or so days to go, the Samsung Galaxy Note III official reveal is set for 4 September 2013 where everything gets confirmed or not, so let's wait and see. We expect even more rumours and leaks to come though, as such things usually happen the closer you get to the official announcement.

Rumours about a 12.2 tablet from Samsung have been swirling around before but this is probably the first time we've seen some relatively clear leaked images of the tablet. Rumoured by evleaks back in July, the Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 tablet features a 12.2-inch screen with 2560 x 1600 pixel resolutions and may use an Exynos Octa 5 chipset. The Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 will have the model name SM-P900 and will likely have S-Pen support as part of it's features list and tech specs. With the quality of the rendered image, we're expecting the tablet to make an appearance at the IFA 2013 but no Malaysia release dates just yet.

Updated (20-9-2013):-

Finally, Samsung Malaysia have officially announced the availability of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phablet for Malaysian consumers. In a launch event held today, Samsung Malaysia are offering the 4G version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 LTE and will be available in the market from 25 September 2013. This Samsung Galaxy Note 3 LTE will be priced from RM2399 but will not have a combo deal with the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch priced RM999. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be available in three colours, Jet Black, Blush Pink and Classic White. Samsung leave the option to the local telco instead. So you might need to crap the FREE Galaxy Gear chance fast when you signing up with the telco.

It almost seems like deja vu as information surfaces about Malaysia getting both Exynos and Snapdragon 800 powered versions of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note III phablet. Coming from the same source that said we'd get the Exynos Octa and Snapdragon 600 powered versions of the Samsung Galaxy S4, the site has released a country list for the various versions of the phablet. As mentioned earlier, Malaysia is listed as getting the SM-N900 and the SM-N9005.

After recently clearing DLNA certification, make no mistake that the Samsung Galaxy Note III is coming and coming soon. However, this hasn't stopped speculation as to tech specs about the upcoming phablet under the model name of SM-N900S which include:

• 1.8GHz Samsung Exynos 5 Octa / 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor
• 5.7-inch Super AMOLED (full HD 1080p)
• 3GB RAM
• 16GB / 32GB / 64GB storage
• 13MP rear camera (OIS)
• 3200 mAh / 3450 mAh battery
• Supports LTE + microSD
• Android 4.3 - confirmed due to DLNA certification

U Mobile is now offering the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 from a subsidized price of RM688, more than RM1000 less than its normal retail price of RM1699. The tablet is available with a U58, U88 or U Plus plan on the condition that you sign a 24 month contract. The full details of the deal are in the table below:

Samsung's next big smartphone, the Galaxy Note 3 is rumoured to finally make a launch appearance on 4 September 2013 at a Samsung Unpacked event. This event will be held just before the IFA 2013 event. These rumours probably started because the first Samsung Galaxy Note was introduced at IFA 2011 while the Samsung Galaxy Note II got revealed at a similar Samsung Unpacked event in September 2012 (again right before IFA 2012). Tech specs for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 now include:

• 2.3GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor
• 3GB of RAM
• 13MP rear camera (OIS)
• 5.7-inch Super AMOLED (1080p) / Flexible 5.99-inch AMOLED screen
• Supports LTE-A
• 8mm thick | 183g

As we countdown the days to the next Samsung smartphone, tablet or phablet release, the Samsung Galaxy Note III rumours are currently at the top. Already, there ave been leaked images (from China) regarding a Galaxy Note III phablet next to a Samsung Galaxy Note II. Early tech specs for the Galaxy Note III include:

• 2.0GHz Exynos 5410 Octa processor
• 3GB RAM
• 5.9-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD 1080p screen
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 has also made an appearance under the Celcom banner, with a number of bundles for this S Pen enabled tablet. The lowest subsidized price begins from RM1088, which is about RM600 less than the current RRP of RM1699. For full details check out the table below: