Samsung Galaxy Note 3 could pack a huge 6.3-inch screen

Samsung's rumored follow-up to the Galaxy Note 2 may push size boundaries of what can still qualify as a smartphone with a whopping 6.3-inch display.

According to The Korea Times, local parts suppliers are talking about a 6.3-inch OLED screen for Samsung's Galaxy Note 3, which is a significant jump from the Galaxy Note 2's 5.5-inch display.

The Note 2 was already considered large by smartphone standards, earning it the term "phablet" for resembling a tablet.

Seven-inch screens seem to be the tablet minimum these days, but 6.3-inches may just cross the line where it isn't practical to think of it as a handheld device anymore.

In good company?

The 6-inch range is mostly unexplored by tablets, with the most notable device in that range being the Wii U GamePad's 6.2-inch display.

The GamePad obviously has some extra bulk added that a tablet wouldn't need, so it isn't the best size comparison, but even with a minimal bezel and thin chassis a 6.3-inch screen would mean a step outside of phablet territory.

Huawei is also rumored to be stepping up to a 6.1-inch display for the Ascend Mate, so Samsung isn't alone in hypothetically charging into unexplored screen sizes.

January or February for Galaxy S4?

The Korea Times also added a note about the inevitable Samsung Galaxy S4, claiming an unveiling for the Android handset at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next February.

However, Samsung might have other plans, recently teasing that we get ready for "something new" during CES 2013 from Jan. 8 – Jan. 11.

A report in early November suggested that Samsung is planning a major rebrand for the company globally, which could include a new look across all of Samsung's products.

It's also speculated that the Galaxy S4 will make its debut at CES 2013, and what better way to kick off a brand redesign than with its flagship smartphone.

Of course, the South Korean firm could launch its SIV at a stand-alone event, which would be fitting for such a highly anticipated device.

CES 2013 is less than a month away now, so there isn't much time left to wait until Samsung shows what it has in mind for its big announcement.

The company seems to think it has something big up its sleeve, which in the case of the rumored Galaxy Note 3 could refer to size as much as its hype.

Via The Korea Times