Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Price and Specs: It is Not Going to Come Cheap, and Here's Why

May 13, 2014 11:57 PM EDT

Rumors suggest that Samsung is lavishing the finest display system and most powerful processors on its upcoming Galaxy Note 4, which means the device is not going to sell for cheap.

It is believed that the price may come anywhere between the $300-400 price range, which is about the same selling price as the current Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Is the price justified? So far, information on the Galaxy Note 4 is more or less based on speculation and purported insider knowledge.

At this time, the Full HD Super AMOLED screen display is already implemented into the Galaxy s5, Samsung's most recently released flagship device. It is entirely possible that the same display system will be present on the Galaxy Note 4. Also, the Galaxy Note 4 may include a QHD display with 2560x1440 pixel resolution that improves image and video clarity. In contrast, the Galaxy Note 3 can muster 1920x1080 pixel resolution or 1080p, which has become standard on Android devices. The Galaxy Note 3 display is beautiful, but will probably come nowhere close to that of the Galaxy Note 4.

All that eye-candy certainly demands having a more powerful processor. For faster data speeds, Galaxy Note 4 may include LTE-advanced. Quite possibly, the Galaxy Note 4 will have 3GB of RAM, the same as the Galaxy Note 3. High performance requirements may compel Samsung to use the 64-bit processor instead of the older 32-bit. Samsung's archrival Apple is already using the 64-bit processor in the iPhone 5s. And, the rumored iPhone 6 may come in 64-bit. So, there is no reason why Samsung would not be releasing the Galaxy Note 4 in 64-bit.

It is unclear what camera the Galaxy Note 4 will carry. Many sources say that the Galaxy Note 4 will have a 20-megapixel camera, while others believe that the Galaxy Note 4 will have the same 16-megapixel camera as the Galaxy s5. For selfie-addicts, the device may have a front-facing 5-megapixel camera. The device may include an Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) module to make capturing sharper images possible.

Rumored bells and whistles for the Galaxy Note 4 may include the same faux-leather cover and an S Pen stylus included with the Galaxy Note 3. Various rumor mills have said that the Galaxy Note 4 will have the fingerprint sensor and heart rate monitor, just like the Galaxy s5. The Galaxy Note 4 is expected to be using the latest Android software, which happens to be the Android 4.4 KitKat. If not, it is quite possible that the Galaxy Note 4 will have the rumored Android 4.5 next-gen OS installed.

Although Samsung has not formally confirmed the Galaxy Note 4 release date, the higher-ups have certainly not been shy about leaving tantalizing hints of the device's capabilities. Last month, Samsung's senior vice president Yoon Han-kil cryptically told Reuters that the company will release a new Galaxy Note handset with a "new form factor" in the second half of this year.

Earlier this year in January, the executive vice president of Samsung's mobile division, Lee Young Hee told Bloomberg that the Galaxy Note 4 may implement a three-sided screen so that messages can be read from different angles.

Of significance, the information seems to suggest that Galaxy Note 4 will be available sometime around IFA 2014 in Berlin. Previously, Samsung has released the Galaxy Note at the German-based tech convention.

The Galaxy Note 4 may hit the shelves in about September, exactly a year after its predecessor the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launched. It makes a lot of sense for Samsung to launch the Galaxy Note 4 at this time, in light of rumors that Apple is releasing the iPhone 6 in fall of this year. For now, the best advice for less budget-minded consumers is to buy the Galaxy Note 3 - which is stunning in its own right - or start saving for the Galaxy Note 4.