Samsung to launch next-generation phablet Galaxy Note on 3 September: report

Samsung would likely launch its next-generation phablet, the anticipated Galaxy Note 4, on 3 September, at a pre-IFA 2014 event in Berlin, ahead of the rumoured unveiling of the anticipated iPhone 6, local media quoted reports from Korea as saying.

The Korea Times report cited executives of a top-tier local parts supplier for Samsung as saying that the decision to launch the rumoured Galaxy Note 4 in September would see the company take on Apple's next generation iPhone devices - expected to be unveiled in two screen size variants 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch, according to the NDT report.

The report further cited an executive of a top-tier display supplier for Samsung as saying that the company would hold an event to announce the Note 4 on 3 September, just a few days before this year's IFA trade fair in Berlin, Germany Europe's biggest technology exhibition.

Notably, Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 3 on 5 September at an event on the sidelines of IFA in Berlin last year.

According to the newspaper's sources, the South Korean giant was planning to soon send official invites for the reported 3 September launch event for the launch of rumoured Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Further, the Galaxy Note 4 would reportedly come with an ultraviolet sensor, capable of measuring UV radiation. It would offer the readings via the company's S Health app.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics said it planned to launch two new high-end smart phones in the next six months in a move aimed at stemming an earnings slide and protecting its lead in mobile phones, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The news, however, did little to inspire investor confidence, in the wake of a sell-off in Samsung's stock following disappointing earnings that wiped out about $7.5 billion from its market capitalisation.

The company reported its first year-over-year drop in net profit in around three years in the second quarter, the company's smart phone margins came under squeeze as competition, especially from Chinese rivals, increased.

According to Kim Hyun-Joon, a senior vice president at Samsung's mobile-communications business, who spoke to investors on an earnings call, one model would feature a large screen, while the other would be made using ''new materials''.

Samsung had earlier hinted that it might use bendable screens in its future mobile devices.

Rival Apple is also expected to launch new versions of its iPhone, closer in size to the Note device.

According to the world's biggest mobile-phone maker by shipments, net profit was down 19.6 per cent to 6.25 trillion won ($6.1 billion) from 7.77 trillion won a year earlier. Revenue declined 8.9 per cent to 52.35 trillion won.