Close on the heels of announcing the release of the Galaxy Note II in South Korea on Wednesday, Samsung launched the second-generation smartphone-tablet hybrid in India on Thursday.

The Galaxy Note II phablet is the first Samsung device running the newest Android OS version – Android ‘Jelly Bean’ – and, according to the company, the device will hit the UK markets early next month; and the US by October-end. The phablet will be eventually rolled out in 128 countries via 260 carriers.

Announcing the launch of the Galaxy Note II in India, Samsung said that the smartphone-cum-tablet is now available for pre-order on the company’s India e-store for Rs 5,000 advance payment.

As per reports, the cost of the phablet in India will be approximately Rs 40,000; with the pricing of the device in the country underscoring stiff competition for the Rs 48,000-priced Apple iPhone 5.

Some of the most attractive features of the Galaxy Note II – which was first introduced at the IFA 2012 consumer electronics show in Berlin – include a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD screen; a 1.6GHz quad-core processor; 2GB of RAM; 16GB internal storage which can be expanded up to 64 GB via microSD card; an updated stylus; and a 3100mAh battery that is capable of powering 16 hours of talk time.