Multiple reports in recent months have suggested that Samsung might discontinue the Galaxy Note series once it brings S Pen compatibility to its foldable smartphones. Separately, the company is also said to be introducing S Pen to the Galaxy S series starting with the Galaxy S21 next year. Now, another report from South Korea has reiterated these claims.
According to a report from ET News, Samsung is preparing for the mass production of digitizers for its upcoming flagship. For those uninitiated, digitizers are the sensors that translate input from the S Pen to a digital signal. Essentially, this is the screen layer that ensures stylus compatibility on a device.
Samsung has reportedly already ordered digitizers for the Galaxy S21. Notably, only the highest-end, Ultra model will feature S Pen compatibility, the report adds. The regular Galaxy S21 and the S21 Plus will still come without S Pen support.
Additionally, the Korean giant is also mulling pitching the foldable Galaxy Z Fold series as a mainstream offering starting next year. The company may only launch one Galaxy Note phone but as many as five foldable smartphones in 2021. At least two of the five foldable handsets will reportedly come with S Pen compatibility.
Since the current generation of foldable displays is highly scratchable, they may not withstand the pressure from the S Pen. Samsung is reportedly considering making the display thicker to mitigate this shortcoming. Additionally, the company is also working to make the digitizer flexible, or foldable.
The eventual aim is to discontinue the Galaxy Note series and market the Galaxy S and the Galaxy Z Fold series as the two flagship offerings. And Samsung may well lay the groundwork for this major strategic shift very early next year.
Galaxy S21 Ultra to get S Pen as Samsung prepares to discontinue Galaxy Note series
Samsung is rushing to launch the Galaxy S21 in mid-January next year, a month earlier than the usual schedule. According to the report, the company wants to counter the recently launched Apple iPhone 12 series by bringing its next flagships early. It also wants to steal some market share from the struggling Chinese giant Huawei.
The introduction of S Pen to the Galaxy S series may help drive sales, at least of the Ultra model. The S Pen would add great value to the device, something that has been exclusive to Note phones until now. The Galaxy Note series is known for the S Pen functionally and excellent software optimization. But, by the looks of it, we may no longer see a new Note phone from Samsung beyond 2021.