Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date rumors have been the source of a lot of speculation around the Web. The latest tidbit of gossip surrounding the Note 3, according to online blogger Eldar Murtazin, is that a member of the HTC staff allegedly started a rumor that Samsung is straying away from their usual plastic casing, opting for a phone made of metal instead. 

According to similar reports, Samsung considered metal casing for the Galaxy S4, but opted for plastic because it was cheaper and easier to build.

Along with the metal case rumors, the Samsung Note 3 is expected to feature a 5.9-inch full HD display, a 2 GHz next-gen CPU (probably the Exynos 5 Octa), 4 GB of RAM and Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. A 4000 mAh battery is another expected addition to the new Note 3.

Could the Galaxy Note 3 provide some real competition for Apple's iPad 5? The iPad 5 will boast a 9.7 inch display while the Galaxy Note 3 will only have 6 inches of screen. Though prices for the competing phablets have not been confirmed, the Apple iPad 5 (16 GB) is rumored to cost $399 while the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is slated to hit shelves at $800 [without contract].

Internet buzz claims a September release for the iPad 5, along with the iPad Mini 2, while Samsung is rumored to have the Galaxy Note 3 out later in the year, sometime around October.