S Pen, Out of Note for the First Time in 10 Years... Samsung Denies Galaxy Note Discontinuation Rumors

Samsung Electronics "Preparing to Launch Galaxy Note Next Year"
S Pen Expected to Be Included in Galaxy S21 Ultra and Foldables
Strategy to Differentiate S Series and Expand Foldables

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The 'S Pen,' once exclusive to the Galaxy Note, will be equipped on the Galaxy S21 and eventually available on foldable phones as well. Although there were rumors about the discontinuation of the Note series due to the expansion of the S Pen's usage, Samsung Electronics has denied these claims.

On the 16th, Samsung Electronics stated, "The phrase about expanding the Galaxy Note experience to more product lines does not imply the discontinuation of the Note category," adding, "We are also preparing to launch the Galaxy Note next year."

On the same day, No Tae-moon, President of the Wireless Business Division, wrote in a Samsung Electronics newsroom article, "We plan to expand the Galaxy Note experience, which consumers enjoy the most, to more product lines." This officially confirmed the plan to equip the S Pen, a distinctive feature of the Galaxy Note series, on the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy Z Fold series.

Samsung Electronics is known to support S Pen input functionality on the Galaxy S21 Ultra model launching in January next year. The S Pen for the Galaxy S21 Ultra will be sold separately, and a case that can store the S Pen will also be released. There have been ongoing speculations that the Note series might be discontinued due to the S Pen being equipped on other devices. With the announcement that foldable phones launching in the second half of the year will also feature the S Pen, the S Pen's domain has expanded across the flagship lineup.

Galaxy S21 Ultra Rendering Image (Source=Let’s Go Digital)

The S Pen was first introduced on the Galaxy Note in 2011 and has since symbolized the Galaxy Note in smartphones. Initially a mobile writing tool, it has evolved with added features such as screen capture, Smart Select, and screen-off memo. In 2018, the Galaxy Note9's S Pen incorporated low-power Bluetooth functionality, significantly expanding its capabilities. It enabled remote selfie shooting and use as a presentation remote control. In 2019, the 'Air Actions' feature was added, allowing remote control by pressing buttons and moving the pen, and this year's S Pen reduced latency by 80% to 9ms compared to its predecessor.

The expansion of the S Pen's domain is closely related to the plateauing of flagship smartphone technology development and the lengthening replacement cycles. It has become difficult to differentiate new products from previous models. Although new form factors like foldables have been introduced, they are still insufficient to replace the existing flagship lineup. By supporting the S Pen on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung aims to invigorate the S series using the 'S Pen' to compete with Apple. Furthermore, equipping foldable phones with the S Pen will naturally transfer the Note's user experience to foldables. President No said, "We will strive to diversify and popularize the foldable product lineup so that more customers can experience innovative foldable devices."

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has officially confirmed the Unpacked event scheduled for January next year. President No said, "We will come back with new news in January next year." Previously, the Unpacked event was held in February with new product launches in early March, but next year's Galaxy S21 unveiling has been moved up by about a month compared to previous years. Typically, the article was published after the Unpacked invitation was sent, but this time the article was released slightly earlier.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.