Samsung Needs To Make Some Concessions If It Wants To Win Over Note Holdouts
© Provided by Android PoliceWith the Galaxy S23 series just around the corner, millions of existing smartphone owners will likely be looking for upgrade options now. For some, the road is inevitable, replacing our beloved Android phones with new generation ones. But for a more dedicated audience, and that's what Samsung is actively teasing, the S23 Ultra is a missed opportunity. And if the company is to distance older hardware from past fans, it's going to have to find room to compromise on future releases.
This week, as part of a promotional campaign for the Feb. 1 event, Samsung president and head of the mobile experience business TM Roh posted a blog post on the company's website. In it, he draws a straight line between current-generation Ultra phones and older Note "tests," saying that the Galaxy S Ultra series has brought what people loved about Samsung's original series of phablets to the company's smartphones.
I'm not sure I agree with this sentiment, and I'm not alone. Many of my friends are (or were) watch enthusiasts, the kind that switch to the company's newest device every year. But it's not just my imaginary proof that these people are here. Browsing the subreddits of various brands, dozens of people were faced with difficult decisions this year. When their device starts crashing, what will the next phone update look like?
The Galaxy S23 Ultra was the obvious choice, but not everyone is convinced. Some reviews even recommend picking up a used Note 9 or Note 10 through sites like eBay and Swappa so you don't lose sight of what makes these phones so special. For these fans, the Ultra series is not the successor they want in a smartphone. It certainly retains the big screen and S Pen, but it loses the "power user" tools that made so many people fall in love with Samsung's phablet.
From the responses of those who own the gadget, one thing is clear: smartphones have changed a lot in the last decade, and many believe that it is for the worse. Gone are the industry-standard headphone jack, microSD card slot, and bundled charger, but it's a little tougher for Samsung fans. The Note series, along with select other Samsung phones at the time, featured the MST payment system, iris scanner, and other power user-favorite gadgets, which were missing from last year's Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The Note 10 ditched the first generation headphone jack. For some fans, it's been downhill ever since.
Like the rest of the industry, Samsung was quick to offer some solutions to this problem, for a price. Think your device doesn't have enough storage space? Consider getting a cloud storage plan from Google or Microsoft. Is your phone not charging fast? If you're willing to shell out the cash, there are still premium fast chargers out there. Tired of using a dongle to listen to music? You may be interested in a set of professional brand wireless headphones.
All of which brings us back to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the phone that will continue to get longtime Note users to finally upgrade to some degree. If Samsung really wants to prove that the Ultra series is the device that every Note owner has been waiting for, it will have to compromise on some changes that fans find antagonistic. Of course, MST payments or iris scanners won't be making a comeback, but what about the microSD card slot? Earlier phones used a SIM card slot for expandable storage; Bringing it back can be seen as a sign of goodwill. You can put a fast charger in the box or make it a free optional accessory available to anyone willing to pay $1200 for a new phone. If you really want to be an idiot, imagine the Galaxy S24 Ultra bringing back the headphone jack. Crazy things happen.
Don't let the S22 Ultra's SIM tray fool you – it won't take your microSD card.
Ultimately, all of these ideas are dreams. The charger is left under the guise of being environmentally friendly, even if the assumption is absurd. The headphone jack is dead as usual, although some laptops and tablets don't have one these days. And where does the microSD card go in the SIM card slot? This will likely be his next cornerstone if history is any indication.
But if Samsung is to appeal to Note fans, they need to compromise with these loyal users. Otherwise, they may lose loyal fans. After all, when a device like the Asus ROG Phone series fits into a similar niche, why stick with a brand that doesn't deliver the experience of your dreams? The Galaxy S23 Ultra may not be the device longtime users want, but if the company is to keep up with those enthusiasts, it needs to make some serious changes with next year's Galaxy S24 Ultra.