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Home / News / Will Samsung release the Galaxy Note 7 this year instead of a Note 6?

Will Samsung release the Galaxy Note 7 this year instead of a Note 6?

Sources suggest it'll pull a Windows 10 and skip a digit

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 released last year, and before it the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 2, and the original Galaxy Note. Given all that, it’s not far-fetched to expect that a Galaxy Note 6 will release this year, right?

Actually, it might be: an industry source tells Korean publication ET News that Samsung plans to call its next phablet the Galaxy Note 7, skipping a digit in the progression to try and line up the naming with the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, and expected Galaxy S7 Edge+.

Last year’s simultaneous debut of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5 might have caused some confusion in naming, and Samsung’s decision to keep the Note 5 out of the UK was… perplexing, to say the least. This may be a move to better align the marketing and consumer expectations.

“When Galaxy Note 6 that has its model number lower than Galaxy S7, which is the newest model, is released, it can give out a feeling that it is an outdated phone,” said an unnamed, high-ranking industry representative, according to ET News. “[We know] that Samsung Electronics has made the numbers same to unify a premium image.”

ET News’ report suggests that Samsung aims to release the phone to consumers in early-to-mid August instead of launching it around then, as it did with the Galaxy Note 5 last year. That will give Samsung a bit of a late summer window to itself, potentially, instead of going head-to-head with the impending iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September.

The report also suggests that Samsung will make the Galaxy Note 7 a dual-curved-edge device, like the Galaxy S6 Edge+ last year, which we assume would eliminate the need for a separate Edge+ model this time around. We’ve heard that rumour before, although we’d be surprised to see Samsung fully eliminate its flat phablet.

What might make more sense is releasing a flat Galaxy Note 7 and then a dual-curved Note 7 Edge. That would help with messaging and promotion, as well, and align the phablets even closer with the Galaxy S7 branding.

However it shakes out, we should see a Galaxy Note by the time summer winds down – we’ll just have to wait and see if Samsung sticks with its familiar numbering or makes the leap. Also, whether we even get the phone in the UK upon release.

[Source: ET News via 9to5Google]

Profile image of Andrew Hayward Andrew Hayward Freelance Writer

About

Andrew writes features, news stories, reviews, and other pieces, often when the UK home team is off-duty or asleep. I'm based in Chicago with my lovely wife, amazing son, and silly cats, and my writing about games, gadgets, esports, apps, and plenty more has appeared in more than 75 publications since 2006.

Areas of expertise

Video games, gadgets, apps, smart home