The Samsung Galaxy Note 21 has an interesting lead on its release; mainly because no one is entirely sure they’ll even get one. Now that the Galaxy S21 The start is out of the way, all eyes are on Samsung’s next strong flagship, but tipsters are saying it’s the end of the Galaxy Note line.
The rumors are backed by the S-Pen support Samsung has given it Galaxy S21 Ultraand supposedly rolls to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 – or a possible one Galaxy Z Fold 3 Ultra Model.
Samsung has reaffirmed its commitment to the Galaxy Note series, but whether that Galaxy Note 20 was the last in line, or whether the Galaxy Note 21 will have that title is currently everyone’s guess.
We’ll sure get a clearer picture as we head into the summer, but for now, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 21 so far.
Galaxy Note 21: release date
The Galaxy Note 20 series debuted last August at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event. The note line has appeared in summer since summer Galaxy Note 5So when we see a Galaxy Note 21 this year, we expect Samsung to show it off at its second Unpacked event of the year.
Twitter tipster Max Weinbach said last year that he doesn’t think we’ll see a new Galaxy Note in 2021, but an industry insider didn’t take long to suggest it, claiming Samsung will only launch one Galaxy Note model this year for the second half of 2021.
Twitter leaker cozy planes stepped in, saying they spoke to three of their own sources who confirmed that the Galaxy Note 21 is in development and won’t launch until August at the earliest. So it’s on track for the regularly scheduled release date if it exists.
Galaxy Note 21: price
There’s no word on the price of the Galaxy Note 21, but we’ll be curious to see if Samsung will go for a single premium model as the Schwanengesang of the series, or if it goes the cheaper route with a Galaxy Note model with reduced premium features to get an attractive price.
At launch, the Galaxy Note 20 started at £ 849 / AU $ 1,499 for the 4G model (not available in the US), $ 999 / £ 949 / AU $ 1,649 for the 5G variant, and from $ 1,299 / £ 1,179 / £ 1,849 AU $ for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G model, so don’t expect the Galaxy Note 21 to be this cheap.
(Photo credit: LetsGoDigital)
Galaxy Note 21: display and design
When it comes to the design of the Galaxy Note 21, given the tried and tested candy bar form factor, there won’t be too drastic a leap from the Galaxy Note 20 in aesthetic terms.
The Galaxy Note’s hole punch camera could be banned forever due to rumors that say so Samsung is testing two variants;; one with the traditional front-facing camera placement and one with a camera under the screen. We may have already seen the UDC Galaxy Note model with one reported sighting during CES 2021.
A sub-display camera in combination with the large display of the Galaxy Note is a treat for fans. If Samsung can shave the bezels, it will be a step towards an even more comprehensive display.
If we get a single model, the screen size is likely somewhere between the 6.7-inch screen on the Galaxy Note 20 and the 6.9-inch screen on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Earlier Note models had a larger discrepancy between the two variants, but given the proximity of the panels over the past year, the effect of only offering one size shouldn’t have as much of an impact on fans. The Galaxy Note 21 will likely also have an AMOLED QHD + panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
As with the camera body redesign between the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S21, the Galaxy Note 20’s camera body will likely extend to the corner of the case, rather than a standalone rectangular panel. You can take a look at what that might look like in Giuseppe Spinelli’s renderings and in the video above (via) LetsGoDigital)
When it comes to the body, Samsung has to take the rear window path of the premium Galaxy S21 models – that is terribly fragile – or the glass panel, which was so controversial on the Galaxy Note 20, but has proven to be more durable than its counterpart made of glass.
Galaxy Note 21: Specifications and Features
The Galaxy Note 21 may share its once unique S-Pen support with the Galaxy S21 and possibly even the Galaxy Z Fold 3, but it may come with a brand new feature that will be a first for any Samsung smartphone: an Under Display Camera (UDC).
For the rear camera setup, we’ll likely see either a triple or quad camera setup reminiscent of one of the Galaxy Note 20 models, depending on whether Samsung is going for an ultra-premium Galaxy Note 21 or even one affordable Galaxy Note 20 decides FE, as industry analyst Ross Young did recommended could share instead.
Interestingly, the Samsung Exynos 2100 supports up to six cameras (via SamMobile), and that is not used in the Galaxy S21 series. The hexa camera support includes the front shooter, which means a handset promoting the new SoC could support an additional five lenses on the back. This could be an improved ToF sensor for the Galaxy Note 21 (via SamMobile)
Last year Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20 Both series used the same processor – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 or Samsung’s Exynos 990, depending on the region: This year’s Galaxy S21 series features the new Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100, so expect the Galaxy Note 21 to follow suit.
Galaxy Note 21: other rumors and news
If the Galaxy Note is dead in the water, rumor has it that a third device in the Foldale category that Samsung is working on could take its place – namely this scrollable galaxy scroll. The company even has teased a new foldable one with a brand new form factor that sits next to that Galaxy Z Fold, and Galaxy Z Flip Series.
Alternatively, the only Galaxy Note model we’ll see this year might actually be a Galaxy Note 20 FE, which industry analyst Ross Young says offers a cheaper version of last year’s flagship.
