Samsung has unveiled its Galaxy Note 8 in a return for the high-end smartphone brand, which was recalled last year in a worldwide debacle that cost billions of dollars.
The new 6.3-inch device has an "infinity display" that wraps around the edges of the phone and Samsung's Bixby voice assistant, the virtual aide that launched in the UK yesterday. The Note 8 comes with the S-pen stylus, which can be used even when the phone's screen is off, such as to take notes or make a shopping list.
The Korean electronics giant will be hoping to recover the reputation of the Note model with the release of the Note 8. Samsung was forced to globally recall its Note 7 phone last year after a battery fault led to devices overheating and caused a handful to burst into flames.
The Note 8 is Samsung's first smartphone to come with a dual camera lens, technology employed in the iPhone 7 Plus and Android challengers such as the Nokia 8 and OnePlus 5. It has two 12MP cameras on the back, which let users create depth effects and zoom further.
The Note 8 also showcases Samsung's Bixby voice assistant, its challenger to Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa and Google's Assistant.
Bixby is activated through voice control, responding both to the wake phrase "Hi, Bixby" and when the button dedicated to Bixby is held down
"Because it is controlled through the phone it is secure to the user," said Conor Pierce, head of Samsung UK, "it is not just sitting in the corner of the room listening to you."
Pierce added the Samsung brand has "never been in better shape" in the UK, where the company launched its Bixby voice control on Tuesday.
In spite of challenges to the Note brand and the arrest of Samsung's de facto head in Korea earlier this year, the Note 8 has been buoyed by the recent success of the Galaxy S8, which has sold around 20 million units according to analysts.
"Last year was very tough for us, so with the new Note 8 we have been re-engaging with our audience," said Pierce.
The launch comes a few weeks before Apple is due to unveil the much-anticipated iPhone 8, another phone aimed at the premium end of the smartphone market.
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