The 2016 edition of Samsung’s flagship phablet Galaxy Note is here. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 succeeds the company’s last year’s phablet Galaxy Note 5. Yes, with Galaxy Note 7 the company has made a jump in the naming series, skipping one digit. The move, Samsung says, is to complement it with the other two flagships (Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge) and minimize confusion.

The main highlight of Galaxy Note smartphones has been their S Pen stylus. With Galaxy Note 7, Samsung has retained the pen-like locking mechanism which was introduced in the older Galaxy Note 5, but has improved its pressure sensitivity and has included a smaller 0.7mm tip. Other than the stylus, the Galaxy Note 7 also brings several other enhancements and features. Here are the eight big features of all-new Samsung phablet.

Iris scanner

This is the first Galaxy Note phablet to come with an iris scanner. It also has a fingerprint scanner for added security. With the Galaxy Note 7, consumers can use the iris scanner to access services like Samsung Pay for mobile payments.

Water and dust proof 

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is both IP68 dust and waterproof similar to its other two flagship devices -- Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Samsung boasts that the device is protected for up to under 5 feet of water for 30 minutes. Not just the device, Samsung has extended waterproofing to S Pen stylus as well. This means, users can draw or take note when it is raining.

Secure Folder

On security front, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phablet comes with Secure Folder. The folder, as per the company, adds an extra layer of security keeping the user’s private and personal information safe. The Secure folder can store personal documents like instance passport copy, contracts and more. These documents can be locked using the Iris scanner technology. The fingerprint sensor further doubles down on the phablet’s security.

Revamped S Pen

The new S Pen has a smaller 0.7mm tip and offers improved pressure sensitivity to provide a real pen-like experience. Users can take down quick notes without unlocking the screen by using Screen off memo and simply pinning the memo to the Always On Display. The S Pen also allows users to create and share GIF animations with Smart Select. In addition, the new Air Command functions, like Magnify and Translate, enable users to zoom in on the screen or convert languages real time.

Dual-edge display

The Galaxy Note 7 is also the first Note phablet from Samsung to feature a dual-edge screen. It is similar to the one found in the flagship Galaxy S7 edge. The phone sports a 5.7-inch Quad HD dual- edge Super Amoled display of 1440x2560 pixel resolution protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

More storage

Compared to Galaxy Note 5, Samsung has doubled the internal memory of the Note 7 to 64GB along with support for microSD cards of up to 256GB. The Smart Switch feature has been also enhanced further with Samsung Cloud. Samsung claims that it provides continuous backup and easy transfer of content including data, apps, settings and layouts between devices. Galaxy Note 7 users will be able to use up to 15GB of free space to store and restore information on Samsung Cloud.

Powerful hardware

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is powered by an octa-core processor clubbed with 4GB RAM. For imaging duties, the premium phablet has a 12MP dual-pixel rear-camera with Optical Image Stabilization, along with a 5MP front-facing shooter. The device comes with almost every possible connectivity feature, including 4G LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and USB Type-C.

Smart covers

Samsung has also introduced two smart covers for the Galaxy Note 7. There is a new S View Standing Cover that can be used to prop the device at a 60-degree angle for easy viewing of content, as well as an IP68 water resistant Backpack cover for on-the-go charging.

Are you impressed with Samsung Galaxy Note 7? Please share with us your views.