Samsung, the leader in smartphone business, is looking to steal some of the limelight from Apple on its big day of the iPhone 6 launch. The Korean tech giant announced Thursday that its flagship phablet Galaxy Note 4 will be up for grabs through pre-orders in the U.S. starting Friday. Apple is expected to start selling its two new iPhones in stores across the U.S. and other countries, after setting a record for highest number of pre-order sales in the first 24 hours of availability.
Samsung's decision to commence the pre-order sales of its Note 4 on the same day as iPhone 6 availability in the U.S. clearly suggests the tech giant's efforts to put a dent in the growing popularity of its rival. If customers pre-order the Galaxy Note 4 on Friday, Samsung has promised to ship the orders by October 16 in addition to a trade-in value of $200 for any working smartphone.
"Samsung created the large screen smartphone category with the Galaxy Note and are on our fourth generation, a category others are just entering," Gregory Lee, president and CEO of Samsung Telecommunications, America, said in a press release published by BGR. "The Galaxy Note 4 delivers a refined Note experience, and the latest technology that consumers want in their smartphone."
Samsung's latest Galaxy Note 4 features a 5.7-inch Quad HD display compared to iPhone 6 Plus' 5.5-inch screen. The phablet device features a S pen for note taking, which is missing in the big screen iPhone model. The Korean tech giant has come a long way from its previous Note models by using top-of-shelf features and materials.
National carriers have also confirmed the Galaxy Note 4's availability on respective networks. AT&T brings the device for $0 down and $0 activation under Next program, which gives two options: $34.42 per month for 18 months or $41.30 per month for 12 months. Customers can also choose to sign a two year contract and get the phablet for $299.99 down or pay $825.99 to get an unlocked device.
T-Mobile also offers a similar installment plan for the Galaxy Note 4, which requires buyers to pay $31.24 per month for 24 months with $0 down. Sprint further lowers the installment cost to just $30 a month for 24 months without any upfront cash.
