Galaxy Note 3 Release Date 2013: Samsung leaks photos of new Exynos 5 Octa 8-core processor chip (pictured). (Photo: c/o Samsung)

The Galaxy Note 3 release date is still pegged for the end of February 2013, and the latest news about Samsung's 3rd-gen phablet will feature both S Pen stylus and finger hovering. Read on for more info and Galaxy Note 3 release date news and rumors.

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What does it mean that the new phablet will have hovering capability for both the S Pen stylus and your regular old finger? Well, Samsung's Note 2 featured hovering but only with the stylus, thanks to an embedded sensor in the S Pen. However, when the Galaxy Note 3 release date arrives you'll be able to activate apps and navigate your phone with your finger without ever touching the screen,

Here's more on why you should be excited over the upcoming Galaxy Note 3 release date thanks to Samsung's new technology from Android. Geeks:

After we've asked a couple of questions here and there, a source close to the matter confirmed to us that Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will have Air View-like capabilities both when using the S-Pen and your finger. As you probably, the Galaxy Note 2 already has a floating touch gesture feature, but, for the time being its functionality is only limited to the proximity sensor. By simply hovering your hand over the proximity sensor while the display is turned off, it will automatically turn on the display and show various info like missed calls, texts, or any other events...

With the touchless gestures integrated on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 you will basically be able to use your finger like a mouse, hovering it over various items like folders, video timeline or galleries, in order to receive details about the respective item.

Android Geeks also notes that Samsung recently bought up a five percent of Walcom shares. The South Korean company's interest in the manufacturer known for "its research in digital input via stylus" suggests that the Galaxy Note 3 release date could also introduce a beefed up S Pen, which will likely also be even bigger to keep up with the new phablet's rumored 6.3-inch screen.

The Galaxy Note 3 release date is still expected to arrive before the end of February 2013, despite continued radio silence from Samsung. However, news that the South Korean tech giant is offering a serious discount on the soon to-be-obsolete Note 2 has got us thinking the new phablet can't be far away. Uswitch reports, that the Note 2 is being sold for $189.99 SIM-free online-that's half the original launch price.

As it turns out, companies across the board are trying to unload remaining copies of the old device ahead of the imminent Galaxy Note 3 release date. Uswitch notes that both Amazon and Verizon are offering the Note 2 at a steep discount. This offer only applies to new customers or previous customers who are adding a new device to a pre-existing family plan.

The tech news site argues that Samsung's 2013 price cut likely marks the beginning of a countdown to the upcoming Galaxy Note 3 release date:

The moves from two the biggest players in the US mobile market is fuelling conjecture that the Note 3 is just around the corner and could even take a bow at Mobile World Congress this month along with its larger stablemate, the Note 8.0.

While everyone is pretty much certain at this point that the Galaxy Note 3 release date will arrive this month (or at least get announced by the end of February 2013), the remaining question is when exactly the big even will take place. There are plenty of people who expect Samsung to use the 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC) to debut their new device, while others speculate that the new phablet will require a special event all of its own spate from the annual mobile tech expo.

MWC 2013 takes place from Febraury 24 to 28 in Barcelona, Spain. We predict that Samsung will announce the Galaxy Note 3 release date around the same time, though not necessarily in the same location.

In the past Samsung has used MWC to unveil new devices, and you'll remember that the Note 2 was launched at last year's expo. However, more recently, the tech company has taken to organizing special events for each new device (perhaps taking their cue from chief rival Apple). So if we had to guess we'd say that the Galaxy Note 3 release date will be announced at a special press event scheduled around the same time as MWC 2013.

Samsung has already started teasing the Galaxy Note 3 release date. Last month at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 in Las Vegas they unveiled the beefed up 8-core Exynos 5 Octa processor chip that we expect to see featured in the new phablet. Watch the presentation here:

Samsung has also leaked pictures of the new Exynos 5 Octa processor, posting a photo of the 8-core chip to Twitter. When the Galaxy Note 3 release date arrives the phablet will feature this 8-core processor, the Christian Post reports.

"The image of the chip was posted onto the internet through Twitter," notes CP reporter Vincent Funaro. "Samsung appears to be teasing customers to build up anticipation for its new devices."

According to the Christian Post, once the Galaxy Note 3 release date arrives the new processor will actualy function on two distinct levels, a first for Samsung. The chip is made up a Cortex-A7 and a more powerful Cortex-A15. Lighter tasks will be handled by the A7 while complicated activities will be dealt with by the A15, allowing the phablet to conserve more energy and offer longer battery life.

Samsung has previously claimed that the Galaxy Note 3 release date will bring the world the "most powerful processor to ever be used on a smartphone or tablet," CP adds.

The Galaxy Note 3 release date may be weeks away, but we already have a pretty good idea of how the new phablet will work and look even though Samsung has avoided leaking any images of the device. However, we do know that the two biggest changes are the massive 6.3-inch screen and the 8-core processor.

Word on the street is that Samsung may finally unveil their long-rumored flexible, unbreakable screen with the Galaxy Note q3 release date. That may sound like the stuff of sci-fi, but the South Korean company has long-hinted at the implications of the revolutionary new technology. Here's a quote from PC Advisor on its potential:

"Foldable, rollable, wearable and more, [and] will allow for a high degree of durability through their use of a plastic substrate that is thinner, lighter and more flexible than... conventional LCD technology."

The Galaxy Note 3 release date will mark the biggest cellular device ever created by Samsung, and according to Tech Radar the biggest smartphone made b any company ever.

Samsung's Note 2 featured a 5.5-inch screen (up just two inches from the original Note). However, the Galaxy Note 3 release date will introduce a phablet that's a full .8 inches bigger. Will a device this big be able to fit in your pocket or into a small purse? Will it be possible to use it with just one hand? There's no way to know until we learn the new phablet's specific dimensions.

The Galaxy Note 3 release date will mark the third device in a series of smartphone's that no one thought would ever succeed. When the original Note was released critics mocked its then-ridiculous 5.3-inch screen, coining the term "Phablet." Since then,. Hwoever, both the device and the nickname have caught on. The first generation device quickly became a cult hit, selling 20 million units, and the Note 2 has sold an additional 10 million units.

Check back soon for more Galaxy Note 3 release date news, rumors, specs and features. Until then, check out our running list of everything we know about Samsung's upcoming tablet so far:

-6.3-inch unbreakable, flexible screen

-8-core Exynos 5 Octa processor chip

- Stylus And Finger Hovering

-Bigger, improved S Pen

-Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, or possibly Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie OS

-16-Megapixel rear camera with auto focus, LED flash and BSI

-3 Megapixel front camera with 'Best Photo,' 'Best Faces,' low light show and BSI

-32,64 and 128 GB internal memory options

-3 GB of RAM

-Dimensions: 84.9 x 161.9 x 8.9 mm

-Weight: 220 grams

-4,000 mAh Li-on battery

-Galaxy Note 3 release date rumored for late February 2013, possibly at MWC in Barcelona

Also, check out these Samsung Galaxy Note 3 concept designs: