Mobile telephony has many iconic models, but we cannot deny that one of them is undoubtedly the Samsung Galaxy Note, a device that has been able to consolidate itself and be a benchmark within Android devices. Now that reality seems to confirm that its legacy is over and that the time for folding phones has arrived, we want to review the history of all the Galaxy Note that have seen the light.

More than a year after the presentation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 we can say that it is unlikely that we will see a successor, so let's see how its predecessors were.

Let's put some context

The Galaxy Note family emerged as Samsung's response to fill the gap between smartphones and tablets. They rescued the stylus from the drawer of oblivion, giving it their own style... and voila, the first Galaxy Note appeared.

Samsung created with the Galaxy Note a range that did not exist and took it over

A device that for its time seemed huge compared to the size of the usual smartphones; looking rather like a joke too heavy on the part of Samsung. Few bet that a device of such dimensions had its place. Ironies of fate, today the original Galaxy Note is a "small" smartphone.

Samsung GalaxyNote

The first representative of the Galaxy Note range broke some barriers. Beyond its 5.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, the largest screen based on said technology until then, it stood out for its power and battery capacity, a rarity for an Android device.

But where Samsung laid the foundations to settle the Galaxy Note was by rescuing the reviled stylus and wrapping it in software designed for its use. That version of TouchWiz UI was far from perfect, but the small additions for use with the S Pen gave the Galaxy Note a productivity bonus never seen on Android.

Why was the Galaxy Note important? They showed that the S Pen is a differentiator and the future of smartphones was in the big screens.

Samsung Galaxy NoteII

The second generation of the Galaxy Note took over from the original, improving each and every one of the aspects of said device. Samsung was aware that they had a diamond on their hands that they had to polish, and the Galaxy Note II is proof of this.

Not only was the screen improved, stretching to 5.5 inches, Samsung gave this new Galaxy Note a quad-core processor and an even larger battery. As if that were not enough, the lines were softened and the range began to be given its own personality.

If we talk about the jewel of the Galaxy Note range, the S Pen underwent improvements in both the design of the stylus itself and the accompanying software. Better integrating its use within the system and enabling unthinkable actions to be carried out using only our fingers.

Why was the Galaxy Note II important? It established and gave personality to the Note range, as well as raising the bar of its predecessor.

Samsung GalaxyNote 3

The arrival of the third generation of the Galaxy Note was the confirmation of that "crazy idea" of Samsung. The Galaxy Note became the benchmark in technology by the Korean company, devices where the best you could expect from a smartphone was displayed.

Fruit of the work of Samsung, the Galaxy Note 3 had a 5.7-inch screen in the size of a Samsung Galaxy SII. The design lines were already a reference of the Note range, and unique features such as UHD recording or the use of USB 3.0 technology were included.

The S Pen continued to evolve, extending and improving the use of the stylus throughout the device interface. Something that did not only improve the experience drastically, but also distanced itself from possible rivals that would never arrive, everything is said.

Why was the Galaxy Note 3 important? It marked the launch of the Note range, in addition to incorporating UHD recording and USB 3.0 to a smartphone.

Samsung GalaxyNote 4

We have reached a generation that had to support the great weight of the company, where the Samsung Galaxy S5 did not convince the Galaxy Note 4 it had to conquer. Added to this was the fact that Apple took the step to enter the phablet segment, although not nearly at the level of experience of the Note range.

Following the philosophy of providing the Galaxy Note with the best of the best of the moment, in this fourth generation they did not fall short. The presence of the first Super AMOLED screen with QHD resolution, the use of new materials or the incorporation of the fingerprint reader are proof of this.

Not only was the device itself improved, the S Pen had its dose of evolution that gave the whole a better multitasking experience. This made the Galaxy Note 4 the undisputed king in terms of productivity. However, not everything was perfect: TouchWiz was in need of a major revamp and the removal of USB 3.0 was incomprehensible.

Why was the Galaxy Note 4 important? Multitasking was a reality on Android, and it was thanks to the Galaxy Note 4.

Samsung Galaxy NoteEdge

We are facing a Samsung in low hours, it needed to get rid of the ghosts and recover the favor of the public. For this they produced something revolutionary, something that had not been seen before. Does it ring a bell? Yes, they did it again in the form of the Galaxy Note Edge.

Based on the Galaxy Note 4, the guys from Samsung gave the mobile a curved screen on one of its edges. The so-called Edge Display offered new possibilities of use in addition to giving the device a unique identity seal. Its acceptance would mark the future of Samsung in upcoming devices.

The software kept its features compared to the Note 4, except for the adaptation of the S Pen to the new Edge Display screen. We were still facing a smartphone that shone in multitasking like no other, although in general terms the Note Edge was still a concept or proof of the future.

Why was the Galaxy Note Edge important? It marked the arrival of Edge screens on a smartphone, something never seen before.

Samsung GalaxyNote 5

We arrive at the beginning of the "small" pothole that the Galaxy Note range passed... despite the good reception of the new Edge screen, which gave rise to the Galaxy S6 Edge and successive ones. The fifth generation of the Note would not have a global deployment, it would only reach some countries.

While countries like Spain had to make do with the Galaxy S6 Edge+, which would be a Galaxy Note 5 without S Pen, in other parts of the map they could enjoy the one that, in terms of power and user experience, was still a benchmark . And the added value of the S Pen offered an unbeatable package.

However, decisions such as eliminating the removable battery, or problems with the so-called "Pengate", did not make this fifth generation the brightest. Despite being one of the best Android that we could find on the market at that time...

Why was the Galaxy Note 5 important? He put on the table that the details are important and the problems with the S Pen should not have happened.

Samsung GalaxyNote 7

Samsung's stumble came true: if something had to go wrong in the seventh generation, it went horribly wrong. A smartphone that suffered the humiliation of having to be withdrawn from the market despite being almost perfect in all aspects. Oh that battery.

The Galaxy Note 7 had both critics and the public in its favor, arguments put on the table more than enough. The incorporation of the iris scanner, being the first waterproof Note, the presence of USB Type C and, as if that were not enough, being one of the first to be compatible with HDR technology on its screen.

Not only did it shine in terms of hardware, the S Pen reached levels of excellence both for the software that surrounded it and for the naturalness of use. However, the one thing the Galaxy Note 7 will be remembered for is its battery issues.

Why was the Galaxy Note 7 important? For its unparalleled technological deployment and the maturation of the S Pen. But you will be remembered for your battery design issue.

Samsung Galaxy Note FE

Learning from your mistakes is important. And knowing how to apologize even more. Samsung knew that the Galaxy Note 7 was a much-loved device and had to sweeten the stumble somehow. The solution? Rename the Galaxy Note 7 under the name Fan Edition. And no battery issues, obviously.

This special edition did not have any improvement over the Galaxy Note 7, it kept all its benefits, which were not few. Its main difference from the original was the battery; going to 3200 mAh and tested to exhaustion to avoid new problems.

Although it went somewhat unnoticed, there was some suspicion about what a Galaxy Note meant at the time, this smartphone still offered one of the best experiences on Android. And in terms of productivity, it continued to shine with its own light.

Why was the Galaxy Note FE important? It showed that even the big guys need to apologize and the Galaxy Note 7's battery issues needed to be sugar-coated.

Samsung GalaxyNote 8

After two generations with too many emotions, not exactly for the better, Samsung bet on the winning horse. It took the best of the formula that until now had been a success in the Note range and adapted it to the demands of today's market.

Far from being a "too" revolutionary smartphone, the Note 8 knew how to shine what worked best from what was inherited from previous generations. Its main hallmark is a design that follows the lines imposed by the Galaxy S8, but taking it to the ground where the Note moves best.

Something that kept intact and that has improved in each new generation, the productivity linked to the S Pen. One of the great strengths of Samsung with the Note, offering something that for many years that have passed, no one has managed to match in any way.

Why was the Galaxy Note 8 important? He knew how to enhance the benefits of what it means to be a Galaxy Note. Something simple and at the same time so complicated.

Samsung GalaxyNote 9

Seven years after the arrival of the first Galaxy Note, in the ninth generation they opted to get muscle again. And to make it clear that in terms of the best hardware, the best user experience and the best productivity, the Galaxy Note was indisputable.

The leitmotif of the Galaxy Note 9 could be "more is better" since reviewing its specifications is more than remarkable. The base model starts from 128 GB of storage, reaching 512 GB. Autonomy has been improved, reaching a 4000 mAh battery.

But where the biggest revolution of the Note 9 lies, once again, in the stylus. Now the S Pen incorporates bluetooth technology, so we can use it as a remote shutter release or control a presentation. And the software has been enhanced to continue to offer the best experience in terms of productivity.

Why was the Galaxy Note 9 important? Consolidate itself as the ideal smartphone for productivity, improving each of the possible aspects of the previous generation.

Samsung GalaxyNote 10

With the arrival of the tenth generation of the Galaxy Note, the bar has been raised, even higher if it can, offering the highest standards in terms of quality, power and productivity. But the biggest novelty was to offer two modes, normal and Plus.

The first thing that strikes us about the new Note is its screen, called Infinity O Display, which takes the edges to a minimum. In the photographic field, it incorporates a range of sensors that promise to offer one of the best possible experiences. All this accompanied by the largest battery that a Note has ever had.

Why was the Galaxy Note 10 important? It kept all the good things from previous generations and embodied it not in one, but in two models.

Samsung GalaxyNote 20

And we come to what everything indicates will be the latest version of the Note, the Note 20. As in the previous generation, there were two models, a Galaxy Note 20 and a Note 20 Ultra.

The former was criticized for being conservative and for having a plastic body in a device that wasn't exactly cheap.

The second stood out as did the first generation Notes, with the best camera seen in a device of this family and with a screen that finally reached 120 Hz refresh rate.

Why was the Galaxy Note 20 important? The update of the screen with the 120 Hz refresh rate and the best photographic system were its hallmarks.

It remains to be seen if this family becomes a reality in the future or if it remains as one more part of the history of mobile phones.

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