Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE — a rumored phone that's not going to happen

Samsung Galaxy Notation 20 FE — a rumored phone that's not going to happen

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE could be larger take on the Galaxy S20 FE

(Image credit: Future)

It's non looking likely that the Samsung Galaxy Note xx FE will arrive this year if indeed at all. That because Samsung has said information technology'south focusing on foldables every bit its next do-everything telephone rather so the Galaxy Notation phones. and with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 having been revealed, it looks like information technology's game over for the main Galaxy Notation, let lonely a "Fan Edition" model.

But some rumors around the Galaxy Note 20 Atomic number 26 have floated around, meaning Samsung may have been thinking aobut making 1. Afterward all, more affordable Milky way Note 20 would certainly accept some appeal.

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So with that heed, here's what the rumor mill has churned out effectually the Samsung Galaxy Notation 20 FE and what we recall information technology might feature if information technology e'er became a reality.

Samsung Galaxy Notation twenty FE potential release engagement and price

As mentioned above, it'southward not looking likely we'll ever see a Samsung Galaxy Annotation twenty FE. Samsung has said that this year it's focusing on foldables, significant no new Note phones. In fact, the Note line may have been killed off for good, Samsung just hasn't clarified that.

As for cost, the Galaxy S20 FE cost $699, $300 less than the Galaxy S20's debut price. That $999 price too happened to be what Samsung charges for the Milky way Note twenty, and so conceivably a Notation 20 Fe might theoretically cost $699 to $799.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE design

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE could look a lot like the Note 20 line — (Image credit: Future)

We'd expect the Samsung Galaxy Notation xx Iron to look a lot like the Milky way Notation 20, a handset that already had a plastic back as opposed to the more elegant materials used in the Notation xx Ultra. That's not necessarily a bad merchandise-off — the plastic in the S20 Atomic number 26 and newer Galaxy S21 is really rather pleasant to touch and feels more than premium than the "glasstic" moniker would suggest.

Withal, the Note 20 FE could potentially take a larger display than the Note xx's 6.7-inch screen. It could opt for a 6.8-inch panel and thus sit between the regular Annotation xx and the Ultra version. Subsequently all, Annotation phones are designed to exist large screen devices, and the S20 FE was larger than the standard Galaxy S20.

We'd also hazard a guess that Samsung could offer a suite of colors as it did for the Galaxy S20 FE. That'due south opposed to sticking with the slicker semi-metallic copper hues of the total-fat Note 20 phones.

Samsung Galaxy Note twenty FE display

When it comes to the Samsung Milky way Notation twenty FE display, nosotros'd expect Samsung to take a page out of the Galaxy S20 FE'south volume. That means a 1080p console with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Ideally, we'd similar to meet a dynamic refresh rate then the display tin adjust to the content shown on it, scaling back to 60Hz or lower when the higher refresh charge per unit isn't needed. Merely that requires an LTPO display, something that you can detect on the S21 range and the Galaxy Note xx Ultra. This is where our predictions go a petty muddy.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE could come in pastel colors — (Image credit: Evan Blass)

In the Note xx Ultra, the LTPO panel was a premium feature. But equally it's at present part of the $799 Milky way S21, information technology would appear Samsung can develop an adaptive refresh charge per unit display at scale. Thus an adaptive refresh rate could be included with the brandish of a Notation 20 FE without cranking the price up — at least theoretically.

Ane Note 20 FE leak appears to mention a 6.v-inch display for the Milky way Note 20 FE; that's the same size every bit the Galaxy S20 Atomic number 26's screen. Only to our mind, that would seem a lilliputian small for a Note-series handset.

We expect the Annotation xx Fe's display to have apartment edges like the S20 FE, which is no bad thing as that tin can make the screen easier to grip. And we'd put a safe bet that the brandish will be a rather color-rich affair with plenty of brightness, as Samsung is a dab hand at screens across all manner of devices.

Samsung Galaxy Note xx Iron specs

The biggest compromises the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE could make might involve the processor powering the phone. Samsung is likely to opt for a Snapdragon 888, given it'southward using that chipset in the Galaxy S21 series.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 cameras could be similar to those on the S20 FE — (Image credit: Future)

But there are other options besides — terminal year'southward Snapdragon 865 could be employed if Samsung wants to use the aforementioned chipset plant in the other Note twenty models. There'south also the Snapdragon 870, a 5G-scrap that'south essentially a more powerful version of final twelvemonth's Snapdragon 865 Plus.

Similar the S20 FE, the Note 20 FE would probable feature less RAM than its pricier predecessors — probably 6GB or 8GB at all-time. And storage is probably going to come in 1 choice, likely 128GB to also curtail costs.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Iron: Cameras

When it comes to cameras, the Note 20 Iron could go one of a few ways. It could only use the S20 FE's triple camera array, comprising a 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 8MP telephoto with 3x zoom setup, which is a small pace downward from the Galaxy S20.

Or it could take the Annotation 20's camera setup, fabricated up of a 108MP wide camera, a 12MP telephoto photographic camera with a 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide photographic camera. At that place's as well the Galaxy S21's rear camera array, featuring a 12MP main photographic camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, and 64MP telephoto photographic camera with 3x hybrid zoom.

Some combination of those various cameras could besides be included, say a 12MP main camera, 12MP ultra broad, and the 12MP telephoto camera. That would differentiate the Note xx FE from the S20 FE, merely continue information technology from stealing the thunder of the other 2 premium Milky way phones.

Any cameras the Note xx FE would include, nosotros would wait the phablet to make use of the improved camera software and image processing introduced in the Galaxy S21 range, which could give it flagship-level phone camera functioning.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Atomic number 26: S Pen

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 review — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

As for other features, we can expect the South Pen to exist a core part of the Galaxy Note 20 FE, even after Samsung has started expanding stylus back up to other devices such as the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The Southward Pen is still an essential function of the Note experience, and then we would think the Note 20 Fe version would support all the capabilities found in the standard Note 20'southward stylus.

A Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Fe would give people access to an S Pen uniform phone without the need to fork out a wad of cash for some high-cease features they might non need or desire.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 FE: Outlook

At that place's an argument to be fabricated that introducing a Galaxy Note 20 Fe could dilute the Galaxy Notation lineup by causing it to shift away from its position as Samsung'south premium phone offering. Then again, introducing Plus and Ultra variants too brought in some extra features and different-sized screens that made the standard Galaxy Note seem more basic.

All that said, nosotros don't even know if a Galaxy Note 20 FE is indeed in the works. Samsung has said it will build out the Atomic number 26 range, and then the Note 20 would exist a good candidate for such a phone. However, exterior of a few leaks and rumors, there'south no concrete sign of the Galaxy Note twenty FE; time will tell on this one.

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Roland Moore-Colyer is U.K. Editor at Tom's Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes near gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he's also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk-bound Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a await of curiosity on his face.