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Here's our first look at the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and it's not great news on multiple fronts
Not only is it ugly, it could confirm the demise of the Galaxy Note
2021 was a year of change for Samsung. Foldables have come into their own as the company's high-end focus, and a wild rumor made the rounds for months, suggesting we'd seen the end of Samsung's "enthusiast" Galaxy Note flagship series. Seeing as Unpacked came and went with no new Note smartphone (instead only giving us the Z Fold3 and the Z Flip3), it's pretty safe to say by now that the Galaxy Note is done for — at least for 2021. Now some newly leaked renders of what claims to be the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra attempt to confirm that the Galaxy Note series might just be dead for good.
If you want to know the date for Samsung's next Unpacked event, just ask Bixby
Guess it had to be useful for something eventually
Like any tech company, Samsung loves to keep its upcoming devices as secretive as possible to surprise its fans during an official launch event. Of course, there's a certain saying about best-laid plans, which is why we have a pretty good idea of all of the upcoming gadgets arriving this fall. After accidentally showing off a couple of unannounced products in a promotional video, Samsung is officially teasing its next Galaxy Unpacked event with a bit of help from Bixby.
Since we're not getting a new Note this year, enjoy this deal on last year's model
At this price, Samsung's Galaxy Note20 is still worth picking up
This time of year is right around when we would usually be seeing all sorts of rumors and leaks surrounding Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note. Unfortunately, the lineup that made "phablets" mainstream is taking a break in 2021, replaced with new additions to the folding Galaxy Z-series. If you were holding out to replace an aging device with a traditional stylus-equipped phone, at least you can celebrate by grabbing last year's Note20 for just $600 at Woot.
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We've clearly got a little bias on the subject, but Android has a long and storied history filled with its own triumphs and pitfalls. It's been well over a decade now since that first HTC G1 landed, the inaugural Android smartphone, and things have changed drastically since then. Being "first" might make you think the G1 was the most influential Android phone — but was it, really?
We won't get a Galaxy Note from Samsung this year
Is this the end of the road for the popular flagship series?
You may have already heard whispers about a shortage of semiconductors affecting the technology and automotive sectors, but it looks like the worst is yet to come. According to Samsung CEO DJ Koh, this "serious imbalance in supply" could lead to some tough decisions in the next business quarter. Chief among those is the call to scrap this year's Galaxy Note flagship.
Samsung claims reports of the Note's death have been greatly exaggerated
But next year's Note may not be as special as it once was
Samsung's Galaxy Note series offers some of the most expensive phones around, but 2020 hasn't been super kind to the high-end smartphone market. Earlier this month, rumors started swirling that Samsung was considering crumpling up its Note line in favor of focusing on foldables. Now the company is rebuking the rumor mill, claiming that the Note's retirement is not in our immediate future.
Samsung mobile chief hints at Galaxy Note series demise, even cheaper foldable phones
But after what this year has done to us, will we even be able to afford any of this in 2021?
Hoping to upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy smartphone next year? If not, you may be formulating plans after you hear about how the company is prioritizing the development of its future slabs: mobile chief TM Roh has hinted at cheaper foldables and, perhaps, S Pens across more phones.
Samsung reportedly abandoning the Galaxy Note line in favor of foldables
But don't worry, the S Pen is still sticking around
Samsung made history back in 2011 when it unveiled the Galaxy Note — a huge (well, at the time) 5.3" phone with an S Pen stylus included. Since then, it's become synonymous with Samsung's top-of-the-line flagship experience. But next year Samsung is poised to set history in a different way. Grab a tissue, because 2021 may see the Galaxy Note line tossed into the trash can.
Leaked Galaxy Note20 renders show downgraded cameras and flat screen
Despite some key differences, Samsung’s ‘entry-level’ Note20 is still very appealing
Samsung is set to unveil the big-screen Note20 series at its Unpacked event early next month. But before that happens, leaks and rumors have already painted a pretty good picture of how the lineup will shape up. Just a day after detailing the top-tier Note20 Ultra model, WinFuture has now shared almost everything that there is to know about the standard Note20 — a stylus-clad flagship that will lack some of the bells and whistles of the Ultra.
Latest Galaxy Note20 Ultra leak reveals almost all the specs and renders from every angle
It'll be the first phone optimized for Xbox Game Pass
As is customary before every smartphone unveiling, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra has been leaked extensively ahead of its August launch event. Both official and unofficial sources have already shown us what the device will look like and what they’re expected to pack under the hood. But this latest leak coming from trusted site WinFuture has left almost nothing to the imagination. There is a full set of Galaxy Note20 Ultra renders included, along with the details of its Project xCloud gaming features co-developed with Microsoft.
It's official: Samsung will reveal the Galaxy Note20 on August 5th
Galaxy Unpacked 2020 is less than a month away
On Wednesday, August 5th, Samsung is likely to reveal the long-expected Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra smartphones at a virtual event. Galaxy Unpacked 2020, as it's officially known, will begin at 10AM EST that morning via a video livestream. New models of Samsung's Galaxy Buds and a next-generation Galaxy Watch smartwatch are also expected to be formally launched at the event.
Samsung Galaxy Note20 rumored to be unveiled in August 5 online event
Devices would hit shelves later that month on August 21
Phone launches have been complicated as of late by the in-person infeasibility of large-scale presentations thanks to COVID-19. A few months back, we reported that Samsung was planning to launch its upcoming Galaxy Note20 in a special online event rather than the typical press conference. Now new sources are indicating that the Note20 unveiling event is going to take place on August 5, with the device going on sale a few weeks later on August 21.
Samsung's dual-SIM Galaxy Note10+ is as low as $740 on eBay ($360 off MSRP)
It's the lowest it's been so far
The Galaxy Note10+ is an excellent handset, which unfortunately cost a whopping $1,100 when it came out. As its replacement might be around the corner, prices are continuing to drop. The dual-SIM international version is now down to $740 on eBay, which is $360 off the original price.
Galaxy S and Note phones on Samsung Premium Care can get $29 screen repairs through June 1
Qualifying repairs need to be fulfilled at a uBreakiFix shop
If you've enrolled your Samsung flagship Android phone onto Samsung Premium Care, there's good news for the month of May: screen repair deductibles have been reduced for any job that can be dispatched at a uBreakiFix location.
Samsung's dual-SIM Galaxy Note10+ is just $770 on eBay ($330 off MSRP)
It's factory unlocked and works on AT&T and T-Mobile
If you're on the market for a Note10+ but don't want to spend a whopping $1,100 on one, you can grab the international version on eBay, which comes with two SIM trays and costs just $770.
International versions of Samsung devices often pop up on eBay with significantly lower prices than the retail editions. The Galaxy Note10+ was no exception, as it was selling for $900 on the site last month. It dropped a little more, as the handset is now available for $874.
Samsung's yearly smartphone strategy has been the same for years — release a new mainstream Galaxy S device in the spring and a more premium Galaxy Note phone in the fall. Now that there are so few hardware and software differences between the two lineups, there has been plenty of speculation that they might be merged, and a new report from Evan Blass is lending more credibility towards the idea.
Earlier this month, we reported Samsung DeX would support a new mode that lets you run it as a window on your desktop. Naturally, in order to achieve this, you would need to install a dedicated app on your computer, which wasn't available until today. Samsung just released it on its site, and you can now download it for Windows and macOS.
Samsung DeX is a neat way of turning your phone or tablet into an actual computer. At first, the system required you to connect your device to a dock, but has since evolved to forgo that requirement and work directly when plugged into a monitor with a simple USB-C to HDMI cable. With the Note10, DeX now supports a new mode that lives inside your operating system so that your phone's and computer's features can co-exist on the same screen.
The Galaxy Note9 is the most expensive Galaxy smartphone ever launched in the United States (there have been more expensive Samsung phones sold abroad). It's also easily the best. I've been using it the past five days, and I am left with the same basic impressions I had with the Galaxy S9+, but better. And that's exactly what the Note 9 should deliver.Of course, with every smartphone release comes the question of whether this generation is the one to buy, or if a rival manufacturer is simply going to release something better a month or two from now. With the Note9, I believe you can rest assured that a purchase today is unlikely to be one you'll regret tomorrow.