[ad_1]
Many users complain about the lack of innovation of smartphones in recent years. But it is undeniable that there are still some interesting changes. The change this year is the popularity of the so-called “super cup” models. Compared with the conventional flagship product, the “super cup” has more sophisticated technology, better quality and craftsmanship. Of course, this is also reflected in the price.
Anyway, it must be said that the “super cup” models did not appear suddenly this year. Let’s say the Samsung Galaxy Note released in 2011 can be considered the real veteran. It has a larger screen and more powerful features than the flagship Galaxy S2 at the time. That’s why it was immediately greeted by millions of users. For now, every day we hear more and more rumors that Samsung will end this series.
Galaxy Note – the first “ super cup ” smartphone
In 2011, there was no Plus, Pro, Max, Ultra in the denomination of smartphones… but the Galaxy Note appeared.
We can recall that the iPhone 4s continued the same 3.5 inch small screen design of the previous generation model. But Android phones from the same period were typically around 4 inches tall. Now, it’s really amazing to think about it. In this context, the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note appeared on the market and was all the rage. This “giant screen” smartphone played the role of a spoiler. In addition, this mobile device could serve as a smartphone as well as a tablet.
Tablets were a whole new category back then. The advent of the iPad made everyone feel that laptops were no longer needed. PC shipments also began to decline for several years. Most of the major PC makers like Lenovo, HP, ASUS, and smartphone makers like Motorola, Sony, and even BlackBerry have all entered the tablet business. Of course, Samsung has also introduced a tablet. He also wants to find a breakthrough in the telephone. This is how the Galaxy Note came to be. Its screen size is between a phone and a tablet, and it fits in a pocket. It also has the features of a phone and a tablet.
The market was proving that Samsung was doing the right thing. Big screen phones not only impact tablets, but most importantly, big screens are better suited for smartphones. IDC pointed out in the 2013 China Smartphone Market Monitoring Report that the market share of smartphones larger than 5 inches is increasing rapidly. This data was below 5% at the start of 2012 and is expected to reach 20% by the end of 2013.
On the other hand, the rise of 4G networks has also given birth to the prosperity of the content ecology of smartphones. A large number of videos and mobile game applications have invaded users’ smartphones, taking their time. Obviously, a better experience can only be achieved on a larger screen. Consumer demand for large screens and large batteries continued to increase. Even Apple released the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus in 2014. In that year, the Galaxy Note 4’s screen size increased to 5.7 inches. With this move, the era of the big screens has officially opened.
Galaxy Note’s curtain call, Fold is on top
In 2020, after the era of full screen, screen size can no longer be used as a standard to distinguish the positioning of smartphones. It is difficult for consumers to change the desire for a simple processor upgrade. Manufacturers need to create more unique and rarer outlets in order to stand out from a sea of machines. Therefore, the focus is on imaging capabilities. Perceptual lenses, 100x zoom, 100MP, and other camera settings emerge ad infinitum. But the most suitable for transporting these advanced technologies is necessarily the “super cup” smartphone.
Samsung’s flagship dual strategy has also undergone subtle changes this year. The S20 series released in the first half of the year has an extra-large S20 Ultra variant. Although its screen size is only 0.2 inches larger than that of the S20 +, the battery capacity has been increased to 5,000mAh. It also has an exclusive 100MP camera with 100x zoom, a 1 / 1.33 inch outsole, and the starting price was as high as $ 1,399.
In contrast, the Note 20 Ultra in the second half fell. If you carefully compare the settings of these two super cups, you’ll find that the Note 20 Ultra is inferior to the S20 Ultra in terms of camera specs and battery capacity. Of course, the starting price of $ 1,299 is also lower than that of the S20 Ultra. Moreover, the overall list of specifications of the Note 20 series is not sufficient. The Base Note 20 only has a 60Hz display and the rear shell material is downgraded to polycarbonate. Such a product definition cannot really support Note’s identity.
At the same time, Samsung’s folding display product line, which started betting in 2019, began to shine. After a year of technical iteration, this year’s Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G and W21 5G derivative models can be called the most mature foldable screen phones right now. They have a mature and highly usable folding shape. Performance, screen refresh rate, camera capabilities, and other aspects aren’t too far removed from conventional flagships. Another Z Flip 5G has also won the favor of many users.
In addition to the product level, foldable screen phones are also very helpful to Samsung in reshaping the high-end branding image. This is perhaps what interests Samsung the most. Since the Note 7 incident, Samsung has been in a crisis and its image in the public heart has plummeted. The folding screen products launched over the past two years seem to have saved many printing points. Thanks to certain technological innovations and excellent marketing capabilities, Samsung’s foldable screen smartphones have better market response and public opinion performance than Note series.
Therefore, it is not difficult to see that the Galaxy Note series could not cope with the change in product definition. So it’s time to leave the altar and make way for the Fold and other foldable screen phones. But before that there is a question, what about the S Pen?
How do the S Pen and the folding screen work together?
The S Pen stylus is the gene for the Note series. Although the power of the Galaxy Note 20 product is not as good as before, the stylus is still its unique differentiated experience. After Samsung ditched the Note series, where will the S Pen go?
It has been revealed that next year’s S21 Ultra will support the S Pen stylus for the first time. But there is no storage hole in the body. This is well understood. The current hardware specifications of the S20 Ultra are already better than those of the Note series. It’s no less that it’s reasonable to let it support the S Pen on the next generation of products to create a differentiated selling point. But what if Samsung wants to put the S Pen in the Z Fold 3 foldable screen phone?
Recently, some Korean media leaked information about the Galaxy Z Fold 3, claiming that Samsung is already developing second-generation UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) and its own protective glass solution to support the S Pen. This is also the key point when the S Pen is applied to Z Fold 3, as the plastic screen of the first foldable screen smartphone will cause scratches on the stylus. UTG not only has a smaller thickness, but also has greater resistance to creasing. In addition, Samsung also presented a patent drawing of the S Pen, which shows that the S Pen can be stored on the right side of the foldable screen phone. From this point of view, although the Note is finished, its essence, the S Pen, is still retained.
Wrap
The smartphone industry is changing rapidly and there are not many products that can be remembered. Samsung Note is a product worthy of our memory. It is not only the pioneer of big screen smartphones and ultra-large cups, but also a landmark product in the history of smartphone development. Most likely, we will not see it next year. But we prefer to describe it as a “retirement” after ten generations of glory.
[ad_2]
Source link