New Tips And Triks For You

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date is imminent in the United States with T-Mobile set to release the device tomorrow and AT&T and Sprint planning to unleash the large-screen smartphone a couple of days later. Many consumers are looking at the Galaxy Note 3 as their next smartphone and here, we offer seven last minute tips for Galaxy Note 3 buyers ahead of its release dates.

In September, Samsung announced the successor to the Galaxy Note 2, a device that will be coming to shelves as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The device is an upgrade over the previous version of the Galaxy Note 2 and so it's no surprise that many consumers in the United States have their eye on the big-screen device.

The Galaxy Note 3 offers a number of impressive features including a brilliant 5.7-inch 1080p display, an extremely powerful 3GB of RAM paired with a Snapdragon 800 processor, a new 13MP camera sensor, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, new S Pen functionality, a brand new design that resembles leather and is slimmer and lighter than the Galaxy Note 2, and of course, enhanced multitasking, one of the strengths of the Galaxy Note series.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Release Date Details Becoming Clear.

In the United States, the device will be heading to the five largest carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless, all of which have plans to release the Galaxy Note 3 during October.

In fact, T-Mobile is going to kick things off tomorrow morning when the Galaxy Note 3 officially lands on shelves. Since September, carriers have been taking pre-orders, but now, the Galaxy Note 3 release date is finally upon us.

For those who have already ordered the Galaxy Note 3 and for those that may be thinking about buying one in the near future, here are seven last minute tips to consider ahead of its release in the United States.

Don't Panic

The first piece of advice that we can offer to Samsung Galaxy Note 3 buyers ahead of release day is this. Those who pre-ordered the device should not panic when it comes to shipping times and dates. The Galaxy Note 3 shipping dates have not changed over the course of a month, there isn't going to be a sell out, and that means that carriers are going to be able to deliver on their promises.

We've heard from AT&T Galaxy Note 3 buyers who are worried that their device won't arrive ahead of October 4th. Don't panic. If it hasn't shipped today already, it will likely be on the move soon and many buyers will likely see it arrive ahead of October 4th. AT&T tends to do that. In the case of Verizon, orders will more than likely ship before October 10th, the carrier's ship by date.

Often times, the information provided through carrier websites is outdated or inaccurate. So, if using a tracking number doesn't work, or if there is no tracking number at all, we suggest talking to a customer service representative on the phone as they usually can provide answers. AT&T and Verizon both have fantastic customer service support. We don't recommend using the live chat as that is typically less helpful.

Buying the Sprint Galaxy Note 3? Wait

For whatever reason, Sprint decided not to take Galaxy Note 3 pre-orders or offer the device with the same $299.99 price tag as its competitors. A strange launch to be sure. Those who are thinking about heading to the Now Network will likely be tempted to buy the Galaxy Note 3 on October 4th but we suggest waiting a few days at least.

Why? Simple. Retailers like Amazon will likely offer up the Sprint Galaxy Note 3 and they will likely offer it up for much cheaper than its $350 on-contract price tag. How much cheaper, we can't say, but we expect the price to be significantly less than the $350 price that Sprint is offering for the device.

Keep in mind, the carrier does offer $100 to those bringing their number over to the network, so there's that. For everyone else, it's going to be worth it to wait a few days before buying.

Galaxy Note 3 Deals Will Arrive for AT&T & Verizon

The AT&T and Verizon Galaxy Note 3 models will not be left out when it comes to deals. We haven't seen any big deals arrive just yet, we're still in a pre-order period so that's not surprising, but we should see deals emerge after both devices are released.

Amazon typically sells AT&T and Verizon devices so we expect to see some deals emerge there. And with Black Friday and the holiday shopping season coming up, we expect to see some extensive Galaxy Note 3 price cuts emerge. So those that can wait a few weeks for a AT&T and Verizon Galaxy Note 3 might be better off saving their cash for late October or November when prices dip.

Plenty of Retail Options

Those that don't want to buy the Galaxy Note 3 through a carrier will have an assortment of options to choose from. Not only will online marketplaces like Amazon and Wirefly offer the Galaxy Note 3 but we've also seen major retailers like Best Buy and RadioShack confirm the Galaxy Note 3 for arrival.

RadioShack will offer the AT&T and Sprint models while Best Buy is taking pre-orders for the AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Galaxy Note 3 variants. Both retailers will have familiar price tags that line up with carrier pricing.

However, we should point out that RadioShack is going to be offering buyers a unique offer through their Trade & Save program. The retailer will buy back a Galaxy Note 2 for $175 off the price of the Galaxy Note 3. It will also buy the original Galaxy Note for $100 off.

Don't Buy microSD Card Through Carriers

In our experience, carriers typically overcharge for their accessories including microSD cards, something that we highly recommend Galaxy Note 3 owners buy for their new smartphone.

The Galaxy Note 3 allows users to expand their storage by up to 64GB by using a microSD card, making it a wise investment for those that love to take photos and videos or consume a ton of content.

Carriers will likely try to sell consumers on a microSD card though we highly suggest passing on them at carrier stores. Instead, look at places like Amazon where microSD cards are extremely cheap.

Don't Spend All That Money Now

Simply put, don't throw away money on accessories on day one. There will certainly be some solid third-party accessories available for the Galaxy Note 3, but we highly suggest waiting for Samsung to release its assortment of official Galaxy Note 3 accessories.

Not only will Samsung be releasing a beautiful S View Cover but it will be offering an extended battery kit and a wireless charging kit down the road as well. We aren't sure when these will go on sale, only that they will be on sale at some point in the future.

Samsung typically releases high-quality accessories so it's safe to wait. However, if they turn out to be duds, Galaxy Note 3 buyers can then opt to buy third-party knockoffs.

Make Sure You Want the Galaxy Note 3

Finally, Galaxy Note 3 buyers will want to have done their homework ahead of the Galaxy Note 3 release date.

That means researching the pros and cons of a big screen device like the Galaxy Note 3, something that can be accomplished by reading our extensive Galaxy Note 3 review. That means looking at current competitors like the Galaxy Note 2, iPhone 5s, and more. And that means looking ahead, whether it's at the Nexus 5 or the HTC One max.

Be sure the Galaxy Note 3 is the right device before signing up for a brand new contract. Getting out of those contracts down the road will be costly for many people so it's wise to be one hundred percent sure about the Galaxy Note 3 before buying.