The most notable change, however, may be the expected smaller battery. Similar to what we've seen in the Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition rerelease, going with a slightly smaller 3,300mAh unit compared to the 3,500mAh battery pack that shipped in the Note 7 should help avoid problems with overheating and explosions.

Despite last year's problems, sales of Samsung's new phones are strong and this device is highly anticipated. Last year's Note was "the best phone Samsung ever made" (until its safety issues came to light) -- we'll see if the company can deliver on its promise this time around.