Samsung said last summer that it would not be releasing a new Note for the first time in a decade. The future of the beloved phablet was a large, open question, as Samsung admitted a shift in focus to foldables, a form factor it believed was finally ready for a mainstream push. The Galaxy S range – Samsung’s primary flagship – has been slowly blurring the line separating itself from the Note, further muddying the waters. “Instead of releasing a new Galaxy Note this time around, we will further spread beloved Note features to additional Samsung Galaxy devices,” the company’s president wrote at the time.
As a result, the S series’ screen sizes have steadily increased over time, culminating in the addition of S-Pen capabilities for the S21 Ultra last January. In August, Samsung introduced its own stylus to the Galaxy Fold range, leading some to speculate that the Note phased out quietly. We are entering the unpacked territory, the time of year when the company introduces the latest additions to the S series, fresh off CES and staring down the face of MWC. Roh is back with another strangely written essay commemorating the Note’s existence, this time emphasizing how the Note’s 5.3-inch display made a slight stir back in 2011.
It may sound quaint today, but those who were not present at the IFA reveal will recall that enormous screens meant far larger and thicker smartphones than they do now. The post strongly advises that the two flagships properly merged to provide more place for its foldables.
“We added features that reinvent the smartphone category with a new iteration of Samsung Galaxy handsets,” the executive writes. “And we’re set to change industry’s rules once more.” We will show you the most notable S series [emphasis added by TC] device we have ever produced at Unpacked in February 2022. The latest generation of Galaxy S is here, combining all of our Samsung Galaxy’s best features into one ultimate device.”
In this sense, “notable” could refer to a variety of things. The most evident is an S22 Ultra morphing into an S22 Note. Does this imply a dedicated stylus slot? Is there a chance we will see more S Pen integration across the board? If only because the well-phrased piece employs the singular “noteworthy device,” I would say no to that one.
Given the regularity of leaks surrounding these gadgets, there are still some major uncertainties in the lead-up to the event that may or may not be answered early. Improved night/low-light photos and a more sustainable design are also in the works for the series, which has become a priority for the company in recent years. As it prepares to begin reservations for the new smartphone and an undisclosed Galaxy tablet tomorrow, Samsung is banking that consumer excitement and brand loyalty will be enough to persuade users on board, sight unseen.
