Apple iPhone 5 Vs. Samsung Galaxy S III: What We Know

A Samsung spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the "Unpacked" event the company is holding in Berlin, ahead of the IFA conference later this month, will be the stage on which it debuts the Galaxy Note 2.

"We plan to unveil the next Galaxy Note at the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event in Berlin on August 29," said the Samsung spokesperson.

The Galaxy Note is Samsung's "phablet" Android smartphone that has a 5.3-inch display. The Note went on sale in world markets in late 2011, and reached the United States through AT&T earlier this year. T-Mobile USA is set to debut its own version of the Galaxy Note later this month, nearly a year after the device was first announced.

The Galaxy Note is called a phablet because it is seen more as a smartphone/tablet hybrid rather than strictly a smartphone. This is due to its large screen size. The majority of today's smartphones have displays measuring between 3.5 and 4.8 inches. The Galaxy Note's 5.3-inch display offers significantly more real estate than competitors such as Apple's iPhone.

[ As Samsung preps its new product launch, its attorneys are busy defending its patents in court. See Samsung Fights Apple Suit With Counterclaims. ]

The successor to the Galaxy Note, likely to be called the Galaxy Note 2, will feature an even bigger display at 5.5 inches. It is also expected to include a faster processor and a better camera.

Later, however, Samsung apparently backtracked on its initial revelation.

A different Samsung spokesperson issued a second statement, this time to AllThingsD, that contradicted the first. "We can confirm the unpacked event will take place on August 29th, but we cannot disclose information on what will be unveiled," said Samsung.

So, which is it? Clearly Samsung is making some sort of announcement at the August 29 Unpacked event in Berlin. The Unpacked events are generally used by Samsung for major product introductions, and the company has made several such announcements at previous IFA conferences.

Some speculate that the company will announce availability of the Galaxy Note 10.1, a pen-powered tablet first introduced in February of this year. However, Samsung is holding a Galaxy-branded event in New York City on August 15, which is more likely to be the U.S. debut of the 10.1-inch tablets.

Personally, I believe Samsung spokesperson number one, and my money is on the Galaxy Note 2 for the August 29 reveal.