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Galaxy Note 3 with 6.3-inch display reportedly in the works

Just when you thought smartphone displays couldn't get bigger, Samsung may be ready to push the outside of the envelope even further.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
Expertise Mobile, 5G, Big Tech, Social Media Credentials
  • SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.
Roger Cheng
2 min read
Samsung's Galaxy Note 2.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 2. Josh Miller/CNET

Samsung Electronics may be looking to blur the lines between a phone and tablet even further.

The Korean electronics giant is working on a bigger, 6.3-inch display for the eventual Galaxy Note 3, according to the Korea Times.

Samsung has pioneered the category that some refer to as the "phablet" segment, or something between a smartphone and tablet. Initially mocked for the size of the device, Samsung saw decent sales of the first big-bodied Galaxy Note, and pushed for wider distribution with the successor Galaxy Note 2, which saw its display grow to 5.5 inches from 5.3.

Samsung has continually hammered the point that the Galaxy Note has been successful around the world, and has been unusually quick to tout sales numbers as it justifies the new category. Last month, it said it sold 5 million units of the Galaxy Note 2 in two months, or double the rate of the original.

The carriers like the device because it appeals to heavy users who tend to be affluent and willing to spend more on monthly smartphone plans. Samsung sees it as a complement to its flagship Galaxy S3, which has proven to be nearly as strong a draw as Apple's iPhone 5.

The Korea Times also reiterated its belief that the Galaxy S4 will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February. Samsung, however, held its own event last year to unveil the Galaxy S3, and many expect the company to follow the same track this year.

CNET has contacted Samsung for comment, and we'll update the story when the company responds.