The rumour mill is already churning out reports on the Galaxy S21 (Galaxy S30) both good and bad, with news of improved battery life, a possible end to Bixby, and impressive cameras.
We've also heard tell of an eye-popping price tag and the Galaxy S20's Snapdragon 865 processor being recycled in the next iteration, rather than getting an upgrade to the Snapdragon 875, but the latest whispers are hinting at a big change for Samsung, suggesting that the Galaxy S21 will ship with an S-Pen to replace the Note series outright.
- Leak states Xbox Series X could lose Halo Infinite until 2022 😬
- PS5 leak reveals PlayStation 5 pre-order date
- Sony's PS5 console in classic PS1 grey is a welcome hit of nostalgia
- BlackBerry is back from the dead – 5G and QWERTY keyboard confirmed! 😲
A number of reliable Twitter leakers have been sharing snippets about the Galaxy S21 that paints a broader picture of the demise of the Note series, and the repackaging of the S series by shipping the handset with Samsung's S-Pen.
The Galaxy S21's codename – previously thought to be Project U – is apparently Unbound according to @hwangmh01, who added that the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra are being referred to as M1, N2, and O3 (not necessarily in that order), and that O3 is the model that will ship with the S-Pen.
Fellow leaker @Boby25846908/ Chun added that they also believe that the O3 will include the S-Pen, while Max Weinbach chimed in to say that Chun has speculated that the O3 could even be a foldable with an S-Pen.
Here's the fun part, @Boby25846908 said it could be a foldable with an SPen. I can only hope https://t.co/OVqfEe2hvyAugust 24, 2020
Whether or not this signals the end of the Note range is unclear, with both Chun and Ice Universe saying that even if the Galaxy S21 does ship with the S-Pen, it doesn't necessarily mean that the Note series will be gone for good.
This is what I really want to say when the leak appeared https://t.co/c7FbaPCv2BAugust 24, 2020
- Apple Watch 6 gets an affordable rival – with the Apple Watch SE
- Dell launches flash sale – and it's PERFECT for back to school bargains
Chun added that a foldable smartphone with the S-Pen is part of Samsung's 2021 strategy, although he can't confirm at this stage, adding that a "tri fold" Samsung device could make its way into the lineup next year.
Meanwhile, Ice Universe is of the opinion that even if the Galaxy S21 is compatible with the S-Pen, it won't dictate that the Note 21 will cease production. They add:
"The output and price of Z Fold 3 are not enough to replace the Note as Samsung's main flagship in the second half of the year, and Note is still a guarantee of shipment."
The rumours seem to be a bit fractured in terms of what exactly Samsung is working on, but it looks like the S-Pen will be compatible with the upcoming Galaxy S21 and possibly a new foldable.
We'll keep you posted as the rumours and leaks continue.
