Samsung Galaxy Note 9 gets approved by the FCC, could be announced soon

by Florin Troaca / Jun 25, 2018, 6:43 PM

This is what the Galaxy Note 9 could look like

Today, the FCC (US Federal Communications Commission) approved an unannounced Samsung smartphone that goes by the model number SM-N960F. This has to be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 9, as its model number is in line with the model numbers of previous Samsung Galaxy Note handsets (for example, last year's Note 8 is also known as SM-N950). UPDATE: The FCC documents state that the device uses a stylus, making it even more likely that the SM-N960F is the Galaxy Note 9.

Unfortunately, the FCC does not share too many details regarding the features of the upcoming Galaxy Note, save for stuff that you'd expect to find on board anyway - like a multitude of LTE bands, Wi-Fi, and NFC. What we're pretty certain of is that the SM-N960F should be an international (non-US) variant of the Note 9, just like the SM-N950F is an international version of the Note 8.

The US variant of the Galaxy Note 9 likely goes by the model number SM-N960U, as suggested by a recent benchmark test. This version didn't show up at the FCC, but we assume it's going to be approved soon, as Samsung needs a pass from the FCC in order to start selling the handset in North America.

While the FCC revealed the approval of the SM-N960F only today, it received the device back in April. This means that Samsung had a nearly-final version of the Galaxy Note 9 two months ago - thus, there's a high chance that these recently-leaked Note 9 renders are pretty close to the real thing.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 gets approved by the FCC, could be announced soon

In addition to an SM-N960F, as you can see above, the FCC mentions an SM-N960X and an SM-N960F/DS. The latter should be a dual SIM Galaxy Note 9 - again, an international variant that we don't believe will be officially released stateside. As for the SM-N960X, that's probably an Asia-only Galaxy Note 9 (we're saying this while looking at the Galaxy Note 8 SM-N950X, which can only be found in Asia).

Samsung seemingly plans to announce the Galaxy Note 9 in August (possibly in the first half of the month) and could launch it soon after that. Today's FCC approval supports this idea, even if the Commission has yet to reveal a US variant of the phone.

Design-wise, the Galaxy Note 9 might not be too different from the Note 8, but there are plenty of improvements that the next-gen smartphone is expected to bring, including a larger battery, newer and faster processors (likely a Snapdragon 845 on the US version), better cameras, and an enhanced S-Pen experience. For a closer look at what the new handset could offer, you should read our Samsung Galaxy Note 9 rumor review.

source: FCC

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18 Comments

1. TechNeck

Posts: 657; Member since: Aug 29, 2014

Let's hope that the S Pen's new reworking is as good as it sounds.

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 6:55 PM 1

2. Foxgabanna unregistered

I’m not excited for this.

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 9:10 PM 0

7. toosmoove

Posts: 914; Member since: Sep 28, 2017

So you commented because........?

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 10:32 PM 8

3. Foxgabanna unregistered

When’s the new iPhone and P30 coming out?

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 9:11 PM 0

4. sissy246

Posts: 7129; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

This article is not about either one. No one here gives a s**t about the iPhone or P30.

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 9:47 PM 6

10. apple-rulz

Posts: 2198; Member since: Dec 27, 2016

You care about the iPhone sissy246 because you comment on every article about them.

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 11:59 PM 0

11. sissy246

But I don't go on a apple article and ask when the new Samsung phone is coming out stupid. You must care about Samsung because you go to every Samsung article. Sorry Mommy won't buy you one.

posted on Jun 26, 2018, 12:09 AM 1

8. toosmoove

When are you not going to be a nincompoop?

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 10:34 PM 3

12. kiko007

Posts: 7520; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

Props for nincompoop. Haven’t seen that word in a long while.

posted on Jun 26, 2018, 12:40 AM 2

14. L0n3n1nja

Posts: 1584; Member since: Jul 12, 2016

I haven't heard it in years either.

posted on Jun 26, 2018, 7:59 AM 0

5. htainlintha

Posts: 73; Member since: Mar 20, 2010

They always say it will come out earlier or whatsoever since Note 4 yet Samsung always releases about the same time as usual!

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 9:56 PM 1

6. sissy246

Yep, they say this crap every year and every year it is about the same time.

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 10:09 PM 2

15. L0n3n1nja

The Note line used to launch as late as November, so they do usually come a couple weeks sooner than the previous year.

posted on Jun 26, 2018, 8:02 AM 0

9. Humanoid

Posts: 1226; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

N9 = N8 + new cpu/gpu + f1.5/f2.4

posted on Jun 25, 2018, 11:35 PM 0

16. L0n3n1nja

Probably has the speaker set up from the S9 as well, and I'm hoping larger storage stateside.

posted on Jun 26, 2018, 8:03 AM 0

18. Rampage_Taco

Posts: 1109; Member since: Jan 17, 2017

That's basically how most annual upgrades are anymore. that's why its better to hold a phone for 2 years. unless you have an iPhone, then it's 4 years before an actual hardware update

posted on Jun 26, 2018, 10:07 AM 0

19. PeeCee25

Posts: 20; Member since: Jan 07, 2018

My perfect (yeah almost) Note 9 will be a 6.45 inch super AMOLED QHD+ display, Snapdragon 845/improved version of Exynos 9810, 4000+ mAh battery, dual camera set up with 3x optical zoom with OIS (both sensors) and EIS with a price of $400

posted on Jun 26, 2018, 11:54 AM 0

21. Krjal

Posts: 438; Member since: Dec 19, 2013

God I hope they keep the EMR digitiser. I don't want to write off the Note 9 with a second-rate stylus option. The Wacom digitiser is perfect since the stylus doesn't need charging.