Samsung has just launched the Galaxy Note 9, which is one of the best Android phones released this year. However, rumors about the Note 9 successor have already started appearing on the Internet. And the rumors are worth taking a look because they are coming from reliable sources with excellent track records. Almost a year before its release, the Galaxy Note 10 codename has been revealed by two different sources.
Da Vinci is the Galaxy Note 10 codename
Reliable Chinese tipster Ice Universe said the Galaxy Note 10 codename was “Da Vinci.” Separately, Korean publication The Bell has learned from inside sources that the Note 9’s successor was internally known as “Da Vinci.” Given both of them have a pretty good track record with leaks, the Galaxy Note 10 codename might indeed be accurate.
Galaxy Note10 is codenamed “Da Vinci”
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) September 11, 2018
So, what does the Galaxy Note 10 codename tell us about the next year’s phablet? This year’s Note 9 was internally called ‘Crown,’ and the phone lived up to its codename. It had the world’s best smartphone display, was jam-packed with useful and exciting features, received a major S Pen upgrade, and had a pretty good camera system. The Note 9 is incredibly good at everything you’d expect from a smartphone.
Leonardo Da Vinci was most famous for his art. So, the codename could be an indication that the Note 10 would be aimed at creative professionals. It means Samsung will have to further upgrade the S Pen’s capabilities. The stylus has just received a massive upgrade. But Samsung’s mobile business chief DJ Koh recently told media that an S Pen development program takes about 2-3 years, which means the next year’s S Pen might not get a major upgrade.
It’s no secret that Leonardo Da Vinci was also a man of many talents. If we take that as a reference, the Galaxy Note 10 could be the most versatile smartphone when it comes out. It could be suitable for business users, gamers, as well as creative professionals. We saw with the Note 9 how Samsung combined productivity with gaming capabilities. The Note 10 could go a step further in that direction.
Samsung has traditionally unveiled the Galaxy Note phablets in August. This year’s Note 9 debuted on August 9th, and went on sale a couple of weeks later. Recent reports have indicated that the Korean company is planning to release a foldable smartphone which could affect the Note 10 launch schedule. However, Samsung will reportedly unveil the foldable phone by the end of this year. It means the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 launch timelines are unlikely to be affected.
Galaxy Note 10 rumored specs
Not much is known about the Note 10 specifications at this point. Folks at The Bell said they had seen the potential front panels of the Note 10. All of them were based on the Infinity display, and they all lacked the physical home button. It was expected considering DJ Koh has indicated that next year’s Samsung flagships would feature an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor integrated under the display.
Historically, the Galaxy Note line has borrowed key features from the Galaxy S series. The rumor mill claims that the next year’s Galaxy S10 would offer 5G support. Wireless carriers in the US and South Korea will start rolling out 5G services next year. Qualcomm has already announced its 7nm chips (likely to be called Snapdragon 855) that will be paired with the X50 5G modem. The US version of the S10 and Note 10 are expected to run the Snapdragon 855.
Just like the Note 9 borrowed the rear camera elements from Galaxy S9 Plus, the Note 10 could borrow the S10 Plus’s camera. According to AllAboutSamsung, the Galaxy S10 would sport three cameras on the back and two cameras on the front. We could see a similar setup on the Note 10 as well.
Sources told AllAboutSamsung that the S10 Plus rear camera setup would consist of a 12MP main sensor with variable apertures, a 16MP ultra wide-angle lens, and a 13MP telephoto lens. On the front, there would be a 12MP main sensor and a 16MP ultra wide-angle lens. Samsung is also expected to load the Note 10 camera with AI features and HDR video shooting.
The Note 10 is still about 11 months away, so the rumors should be taken with a bit of skepticism. Samsung could change any of the features down the road. The company will design and test multiple prototypes before finalizing which one would enter mass production.
