Hey Samsung, now’s the perfect time to relaunch the Galaxy Note series

I’m still digesting the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series, but one thing is abundantly clear: the company’s stance on the S Pen has changed substantially. Once a core feature of its flagships, the stylus is considerably dumbed down on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. In the greater scheme of things, it’s a minor change given the broader upgrades the device brings, but it’s the clearest sign yet that Samsung is done holding back its premier smartphone line to appease Galaxy Note fans.

This is a problem for S Pen stalwarts, but the solution is obvious to me: if the S Pen is no longer a priority for the Galaxy S Ultra, now is the perfect time to relaunch the Galaxy Note series.

As my colleague C. Scott Brown argues in a recent feature, removing the bundled S Pen would be a boon for the Galaxy S series. I completely agree. The line was never meant to support the stylus, but Samsung knew disgruntled Note fans needed a firm reason to purchase the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

A year later, Samsung made even more compromises with the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Embedding the S Pen within the phone robbed the device (and its three subsequent iterations) of valuable packaging space, which could’ve been used for improved cooling or a roomier battery — or even to make the phone less uncomfortable to hold.

This year, it seems that Samsung is finally acknowledging that the S Pen is one of the elements holding the Ultra back. The Galaxy S25 Ultra S Pen is the first in generations to ditch Bluetooth connectivity, rendering several nifty features redundant. Good luck if you use your S Pen as a remote camera shutter. You cannot use SmartThings Find to recover a lost one, either.

This year’s kneecapped S Pen could be the first step towards completely severing the Ultra’s partnership with the stylus. The company’s future design aspirations suggest this, too. It briefly teased the slimmed-down Galaxy S25 Edge at Unpacked, hinting at its desire for a more compact, svelte smartphone series. I highly doubt the built-in S Pen would form part of this vision.

Should future Galaxy S Ultras no longer offer a comprehensive experience, Samsung would need to give fans an alternative. The revival of the Galaxy Note series would be the ideal platform for S Pen enthusiasts looking for a fully-fledged writing, drawing, and remote accessory paired with a powerful, uncompromising smartphone.

As someone who loved their Galaxy Note 9, I can’t begin to describe how excited I’d be for a worthy modern successor. I believe it was the last Note that included almost everything a smartphone should have, from a microSD card slot to a headphone jack and even a notification LED. It also offered an S Pen with Bluetooth smarts, and I can’t recall how often I used it as a remote camera trigger in the past (not just for selfies, either).

However, a Note revival would mean more than just giving the S Pen a new home; it would mean reinvigorating Samsung’s flagship lineup. A relaunched Note benefits consumers and Samsung. The company would earn goodwill from fans patiently waiting for a genuine Note. At the same time, Galaxy S Ultra users would benefit from Samsung’s vision of a lighter, slimmer smartphone.

Samsung could position the Galaxy S series as its refined, pacey but proven product for professionals and the Note as a bleeding-edge device for Android enthusiasts with a fully stocked specs and feature list.

Of course, for the Note to happen, Samsung would need to admit it was wrong to kill it off, something I don’t believe it would do. There’s also a question surrounding the company’s willingness to push the envelope. Its perch atop the Android tree is comfortable, and I’m sure the Galaxy Note 7 still gives the firm night sweats. Reluctance to innovate would taper the pioneering approach necessary for the Note line to work.

Then there’s the threat of cannibalization. Samsung risks encroaching on its premier device sales by introducing another flagship to the mix. I have little doubt that a new Note would be popular in its first year, which would put both the Galaxy S and Z Fold devices under pressure. Samsung would have a lot of juggling and price Jenga to play with its various model lineups.

And, speaking of price, I’m not sure I’d want to know how much a new Note would even begin to cost consumers. To offset spinning up a new production line and given today’s inflation and development cost pressures, I can’t see a world where a new Galaxy Note costs under $1,299. That’s where Samsung left the Note 20 Ultra nearly half a decade ago, and it’s also where the Galaxy S25 Ultra finds itself.

I’m trying to be as objective as possible about the pros and cons of reviving the Note, but my heart would love to see it, and I’m sure others would be thrilled as well. Judging by its future device launches, Samsung wants to slim down the Galaxy S series, which would undoubtedly squeeze out the S Pen. It would be a shame if Samsung sidelines one of the most recognizable mobile gadgets in the smartphone world.

To be reasonable, Samsung wouldn’t even need to use the Note name. If anything, I’ve described exactly what a true Fan Edition device should be — a product that appeals to core Samsung stalwarts. The company could even whip out the “Special Edition” moniker if the FE title’s too tarnished by mid-range releases. Either option allows Samsung to keep the Galaxy S name while introducing a handset that pushes the industry forward.

In reality, Samsung could take an even simpler approach. Simply unbundling the S Pen from future Ultras would allow consumers to choose if they want a stylus or go without one. This would also allow Samsung to actively develop the S Pen’s functionality without hampering the design of its future flagship. This solution, however, introduces its own problems, from S Pen storage to charging.

I miss getting excited about Samsung’s Galaxy Note launches. Perhaps I should remove my rose-tinted glasses, but this would be the real “one more thing” moment worth sticking around for.