Samsung has come out to indicate that it might not be able to ship a Galaxy Note 21 and Note 21 Ultra phone in 2021. The company is citing several challenges in launching two flagship phones in one year, in comments at its annual shareholders meeting reported on by Bloomberg. The Galaxy s21 series is already doing well and cannibalizing its sales by launching another flagship might prove to be difficult.
“[The] Note series is positioned as a high-end model in our business portfolio,” said mobile chief DJ Koh. “It could be a burden to unveil two flagship models in a year so it might be difficult to release [a] Note model in 2H. The timing of [the] Note model launch can be changed but we seek to release a Note model next year.”
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The major impediment that Samsung has cited is a global semiconductor shortage, saying that its business will likely be affected next quarter. The potential delay or cancellation of a 2021 Galaxy Note is apparently separate, however; Koh says it’s more about streamlining the lineup, according to Bloomberg.
It should also be noted that the Galaxy s21 Ultra also comes with an S-pen a feature that was exclusive only to the Note series. Samsung had indicated plans to bring its key stylus feature to more phones in the Galaxy lineup, sparking speculation that the line may come to an end. A Yonhap report, however, said that Samsung was still preparing to release a new Note phone in 2021.
