Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Release Date: Verizon Taking Pre-Orders Starting Friday Sept. 6

Verizon is the first out of the gate to sign people up for the Galaxy Note 3.

If you've been following the run-up to the Samsung Unpacked 2013: Episode 2 event, you're aware that Samsung plans on giving its new Galaxy Note 3 a release date in the U.S. soon. While there's no official release date yet for the device (at the Berlin event, Samsung said "October" for the U.S. and Japan), Verizon has jumped ahead of other U.S. carriers by accepting pre-orders for both the Galaxy Note 3 and the smartwatch accessory, Galaxy Gear. Verizon Wireless customers can begin pre-ordering both devices starting Friday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. EST, according to Phone Arena.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be launching in 149 other countries around the world on Sept. 25. The wait for the U.S. and Japan is because a different model is coming to those countries.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was unveiled on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the Samsung Unpacked 2013: Episode 2 event in Berlin. After months of speculation, the Galaxy Note 3 was revealed to have a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display at full HD resolution, running on either a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, clocked at 2.3GHz, or a Samsung-made Octa-core Exynos 5420, clocked at 1.8GHz. The device boasts 3GB of RAM - which makes the Galaxy Note 3 the first mobile device in its class to sport that much RAM.

Other improvements on its predecessor come with the handset, including an improved S Pen with much more functionality - especially in multitasking and navigating content on the Galaxy Note 3. "It collects whatever you want and organizes it," said a Samsung representative, demonstrating the device. The Galaxy Note 3 also comes with a 13-megapixel main camera with Smart Stabilizer and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. There's no word yet on the price of the Galaxy Note 3, but expect it to run around $250, give or take, with a two-year contract. The Galaxy Gear, which costs $300, is also being released soon after the Galaxy Note 3 hits store shelves.