The Galaxy S10 models have been on the market for only about three weeks, but rumors have already turned to the next flagship in Samsung’s pipeline. Several sources have shared preliminary details about the device, which will likely be called the Galaxy Note 10.
Reports from ETNews suggest that the Galaxy Note 10 may release without any physical buttons. With Samsung having long removed the front-facing home key from its devices, this would mean the Galaxy Note 10 would release without a power key or volume rockers. This may also mean the end of the infamous Bixby button. Interestingly enough, Samsung has now allowed for remapping of the Bixby Button for the first time on the Galaxy S10 devices. This could be an indication that the manufacturer is ready to let go of its attempt to stand out in the world of AI assistants. These details currently remain in the realm of speculation.
Galaxy Note 10 gestures instead of keys
Samsung may already be scouting suppliers for technology to create a “keyless” Galaxy Note 10. The manufacturer is considering a Chinese company called NDT to provide modules to enable “ForceTouch sensors,” which would be able to recognize the different levels of tension being placed on a device, according to the Korean publication.
This could be an advanced version of the haptic feedback that is already included on the screens of many devices. While a light tap on a display can open an app, a long press on an icon can bring up alternate options, such as a shortcut for settings.
Such a feature would be applied to the sides of the Galaxy Note 10 chassis but the idea isn’t unique. Commentators at Droid Life have noted that other device makers such as HTC have already experimented similar technologies. Devices like the HTC U12+ use a squeeze gesture in place of physical buttons. The Google Pixel series of smartphones, which are also manufactured by HTC, use the squeeze gesture to activate Google Assistant. The precedent also makes a good argument for retiring the Bixby Button on the Galaxy Note 10.
Much like the Galaxy S10 series, the Galaxy Note 10 may release in premium, mid-range, and budget models, but it is likely that only the premium Galaxy Note 10 will have the keyless design and function. This would give consumers the options between keys and keyless, allowing Samsung to test the feature before a true mass rollout.
The latest rumors also suggest a prospective launch timeframe for the Galaxy Note 10. Samsung may begin mass production in early August and release the device to market in late August or early September, according to The Investor. Sources have not pinpointed exact unveiling and release dates for the Galaxy Note 10 but Samsung typically announces its Note devices in early-to-mid August. The Galaxy Note 9 was unveiled August 9, 2018.
Current Galaxy Note 10 spec rumors
Some specification rumors have also recently come out of the woodwork, thanks to the informants at SlashGear. The Galaxy Note 10 may have a display up to 6.66-inches with an 89 percent screen-to-body ratio and a 1440 x 3040 resolution. The device is sure to have the hole-punch display that was introduced on the Galaxy S10 series to house its front-camera system but there is no word on how many front lenses the Galaxy Note 10 will feature. For its rear camera, the Note 10 may have a quad-lens setup with a 12-megapixel lens with f/1.5 aperture, a 12-megapixel lens with f/2.4 aperture, a 16-megapixel lens with f/2.2, and a 3D time-of-flight (ToF) sensor.
It is not yet clear whether Samsung will release the Galaxy Note 10 with 5G connectivity standard, or if there will be a special 5G model of the Note 10 like there is with the Galaxy S10. Even so, the device could release with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 or Samsung Exynos 9820 chips.
