By
Stephen Radochia
Published 13 hours ago
When Mitsubishi made your first cellphone, you know you’ve been around a while. Steve has carried the latest and greatest around in his pocket for nearly 30 years, with everything from Motorola StarTACs to Samsung Galaxys crossing his path. Early appearances on TechTV fueled his love of media, and when he isn’t writing, you’ll find him ranting on YouTube as StevealiciousTech.
Sign in to your Android Police account
Add Us On
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
1
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
I’ve had my ups and downs with Samsung over the years, and my current disappointment with the Galaxy S25 series stems from memories with other devices.
I used to be genuinely excited when August rolled around, because I knew it was time for a new Galaxy Note.
I still remember the anticipation I felt for the Galaxy Note 9, and the joy I felt as I got back to my car in the Best Buy parking lot with my new Rise of Skywalker Galaxy Note 10+ under my arm.
But here we are six years later, and I find myself constantly picking up the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Not because I love what Samsung’s done with its top-tier flagship, but out of habit.
It has the S Pen and still clings to some of the Galaxy Note heritage, but long-time users know it’s a shell of its former self.
I only want one thing from Samsung in 2026, and it’s not what most people would think.
Related
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the reason I’m disappointed by the Galaxy S25 Ultra
Looking back makes me sad
Posts 25 By Stephen RadochiaDifferentiating the lineup once again
We’re headed that way anyway
I always hang onto the hope that there’s still a device aimed at enthusiasts coming from Samsung.
I thought the company would make the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a Note-esque device, but Samsung went thinner and removed S Pen functionality.
I agree with the design changes, and I’m glad the Galaxy Z Fold 7 now competes well with overseas foldables.
However, it’s left me wondering whether there will ever be a Samsung device that fills the gap left by the old Galaxy Note series.
It’s time to separate the lineup once again and have multiple launches throughout the year.
It’s not unheard of for Samsung. We have the Galaxy S lineup coming out towards the beginning of the year, foldables during the summer, and now the Galaxy Z Trifold to round out the year.
It’s not a resource issue either, and Samsung has already released so many different devices in several price categories that I doubt it would phase the company.
Call me old-fashioned, but I still think there’s a spot in the marketplace for a device like the Galaxy Note 10+.
Packed to the gills with features
Samsung, give us the works
I don’t completely feel like an old man yelling at clouds when I complain about wanting legacy features in a current flagship device.
I’m not asking Samsung to outfit its entire Galaxy lineup with iris scanners and microSD card slots, but I don’t think aiming one device at enthusiasts is outlandish.
Samsung is slowly stripping the Galaxy Ultra device of its Galaxy Note roots, so just go all the way.
Make the Galaxy S series a sleek, stylish device with top-end specs, while a renewed Galaxy Note device becomes the workhorse.
I’ve had plenty of time to think over the last five years about what I’d want in the Galaxy Note’s return, and it’s everything you’d expect.
For starters, I’d like the return of full Bluetooth S Pen functionality.
I don’t know where Samsung got its research that fewer than 1% of buyers used the S Pen regularly, but the company obviously didn’t poll anyone I know.
It wasn’t that I used the S Pen Air actions or remote shutter daily, but it was fantastic knowing the functionality was there when I did need it.
I specifically waited for the new Galaxy Note to come out because it was the Swiss Army knife of phones; if it were currently available, I knew my Galaxy Note had it.
I would also like to see the return of the iris scanner.
I know it will result in a larger bezel around the device, but I’m willing to make the trade, especially since it’s a phone not meant to be the most aesthetically pleasing device in the lineup.
A defined bezel would provide room for an LED notification light, which is also something I’d like to see return.
In defense of headphone jacks and microSD card slots
They aren’t useless in 2025
I realize that many people dismiss headphone jacks and microSD card slots on phones as legacy tech that’s no longer needed, replaced by Bluetooth headsets and cloud storage options.
However, newer technologies aren’t always the better option.
I never have to worry about recharging my wired headphones, and nothing is worse than messing with a dongle if you really want to use them.
Bluetooth is an acceptable option, but it raises concerns about compression and latency for some audiophiles.
Also, if I’m using a dongle to support my wired headphones, I can’t recharge my device at the same time without a splitter.
A headphone jack is easier for legacy devices or when I’m in a car with an AUX input.
I don’t think it’s a crime to want a smartphone geared towards convenience, and an integrated headphone jack has plenty of valid uses in 2025.
I can also make a strong case for a microSD card slot on a Galaxy phone in 2026.
Smartphone storage upgrades are expensive, and if you use these magnificent cameras on new smartphones regularly, your storage will fill up with high-resolution photos and videos.
If you want to take more with you on the go, a microSD card becomes the best option.
You might want to take movies and music with you on your next trip, and a reliable internet connection isn’t always guaranteed.
An SD card slot lets you take your files and entertainment with you, regardless of whether you have access to cloud storage.
We don’t ask for much, Samsung
I know there are several reasons we’d never see a Galaxy Note revival, but that doesn’t mean the phone wouldn’t make sense for buyers.
It would placate people like me who are asking Samsung to throw enthusiasts a bone, and it would be a fantastic device for people looking for something different.
Maybe Samsung could keep pricing reasonable since the phone would come out later in the year, as it did with the Galaxy FE line.
Still, I can dream and hope that someday, we’ll see something like the Galaxy Note again.
-
Phones
Enough! I don't care about the Galaxy S26 Ultra anymore
Samsung’s entire One UI 8.5 feature list leaks ahead of beta
I would use DeX to replace my laptop in a heartbeat if it had these 5 features
