Apple has been pulling out all the stops to ensure that its iPhone lineup, namely the iPhone 6s and the 6s Plus, has what it takes to be the leading smartphones in the United States. However, the Galaxy Note lineup has its own band of loyal followers who have been keenly watching for news about the upcoming Note 6, and they have been wondering when it will release.

If the current rumors about the Galaxy Note 6 are taken into account, it appears that the phablet will be arriving earlier this year. Reports reveal that the phablet will be arriving before IFA 2016, which has normally been the event during which the Note lineup is refreshed every year. This points toward Samsung looking to differentiate the Note 6 from the upcoming iPhone 7 lineup, which is also scheduled for release in September this year.

Importantly, IFA 2016 falls between September 2 and 7 of this year, and Samsung has, for many years, stuck to releasing the Galaxy note lineup around this event. However, last year, the Korean manufacturer chose to bring the Note 5 out a month earlier in August. This time around, rumors indicate that the device could arrive in July and possibly have Android N on board. Even though a release in July is not far-fetched, it is very unlikely that Google will allow the Note 6 to be the first device with Android N even though the OS is already being tested. Some industry analysts, however, point out that since Samsung takes a long time to update the Android OS on its devices, it could bring out the Note 6 with Android N to give it an edge.

Meanwhile, coming to the features and hardware on board the Note 6, it is thought that the phablet will come with 6 GB RAM, a 5.7-inch display, and the same 12-megapixel camera, which is present on the Galaxy S7 and has been getting glowing reviews. However, irrespective of the hardware and features included in the upcoming Note 6, many analysts are expecting Samsung to position it as a competitor to the iPhone 7 Plus, which is thought to be releasing with dual cameras at its rear.