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Forget the Galaxy Note 10, Samsung should have just canceled the Galaxy Note 9

By Adrian Diaconescu

Updated: Sep 20, 2018, 6:05 AM

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This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.

Forget the Galaxy Note 10, Samsung should have just canceled the Galaxy Note 9

Technically, the Galaxy Note 9 is not out yet, so it’s definitely a little silly to start talking about its (uncertain) successor already. But after Samsung carelessly released both an official Note 9 render and all-revealing promo video ahead of the phone’s actual announcement, you’ll probably excuse me for feeling a little silly.

What’s certainly not silly is that seemingly wild rumor about Samsung’s possible intention to merge the Galaxy S and Note families next year. But here’s a better idea. Why not scrap the Note 9 and start focusing on making the Galaxy S roster great again?

It’s obviously way too late to realistically expect such a drastic move. In the long run, though, it could prove a much smarter business decision than releasing a “new” phone we’ve all seen before just because it’s that time of the year again.

The original Galaxy Note is turning over in its grave

September 2011. Steve Jobs is still with us, Symbian smartphones are beginning to lose steam, tablets are billed the tech industry’s next big trend, and the world’s first “phablet” is unveiled at IFA Berlin. Remember the last time you used that word? No, not Symbian, but phablet.

Ever wondered why it disappeared from everyone’s vocabulary as suddenly as it became a global phenomenon over half a decade ago? That’s right, because the overwhelming majority of today’s high-end smartphones are “phablets.” Heck, you can buy decent phablets these days for $200 or less.

Now, I’m not saying Samsung is solely responsible for the rise of jumbo-sized handsets. Some might even argue the phablet form factor was around long before 2011’s Galaxy Note. But the company took a risk on something Apple insisted no one wanted, keeping the Note line separate from the S family for several years.

It wasn’t just about the size and the stylus. The two’s DNA was different, while their goals occasionally overlapped, but never coincided entirely. The Galaxy Note, Note II, and Note 3 weren’t afraid to experiment, knowing that if they failed, the Galaxy S III, S4, and S5 would no doubt succeed in selling like hotcakes.

Note 7 goes boom

As Galaxy Notes broke into the mainstream, the pressure began to mount. Ironically, Samsung may have lost its edge following 2014’s decidedly experimental Note Edge. Galaxy S-series and Note-series phones started looking more and more alike, and with two new flagships released every spring, the company quickly ran out of ideas for its fall upgrades.

Instead of making the Galaxy Note 7 better, Samsung rushed to launch it sooner, a foolish gamble that ended in catastrophe. But instead of taking a big hit, the company’s reputation grew stronger. Its courage to admit an obvious failure was applauded, and even though the short-term financial losses were huge, profit records were crushed not long after the Note 7’s discontinuation.

In a way, the untimely death of that phone turned out to be a blessing in disguise, generating an almost unprecedented level of enthusiasm for last year’s Galaxy S8 and S8+. It also might not be a coincidence that the S8 duo looked nothing like the S7 and S7 Edge. A lot of thought went into this radical redesign and perhaps the same would be true for the Galaxy S10 if the Note 9 went away.

X marks the spot

There’s no reason to suspect anything will go wrong with the Galaxy Note 9. Well, except for the fact it packs a much larger battery than its predecessor. But we’re certain rigorous testing will make sure the 4,000 mAh cell is safe to use. Still, that’s not the point.

What I’m wondering is why does a disaster have to happen for a device to be canceled? Why does a company like Samsung need to release two flagship phones a year, every single year? When musicians are out of ideas, they take a break. When a movie needs more time to fulfill a filmmaker’s vision or satisfy the requirements of studio execs, roles are recast, scenes are reshot, and various edits are made.

Why can’t Samsung just admit this Galaxy Note 9 is simply a Galaxy S9+ with an S Pen and go back to the drawing board? Will the Galaxy S10 finally adopt in-display fingerprint recognition technology and perhaps even 3D facial scanning? Then let’s wait for that and not waste everyone’s time.

Is the foldable Galaxy X almost ready for primetime (supposedly, under a different name)? Then let’s wait for that and stop putting the Note 9 under a microscope to see if the bottom bezel is 0.01 mm thinner. It’s time for a bold new risk, Samsung, and you know it.

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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.