Samsung's never been one to wait around when it comes to churning out smartphones and its newest Galaxy Note could be off the production line sooner than expected, Digital Spy reports.

Traditionally, the South Korean firm has used the IFA tradeshow in Berlin as the launch stage for its latest Note device, which is held in September.

However, sources tell WhoWired that the Galaxy Note 5 could be announced as early as July this time round.

Samsung is allegedly aiming to put the finishing touches to its prototype by mid-June, while telecom companies have apparently seen the latest prototype and know the final specifications.

It's claimed that development of the handset has gone quicker than expected and that Samsung wants to release the Galaxy Note 5 early to get a head start over Apple.

Little is known about the upcoming phablet, although it is rumoured to support Samsung Pay and feature an Exynos chip, a 5.89-inch screen and a 4100mAh battery.

Previous reports have suggested that a curved display could also be on board, following the positive reception for the Galaxy S6 Edge.