The Galaxy Note 7 could take the place of the Galaxy Note 6 when Samsung releases its next phablet, if rumors are to be believed. Reports from Korea indicate that Samsung may bump the name of its next flagship for marketing purposes.
Since the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 released in 2015, it has been expected that the Galaxy Note 6 would launch in 2016. However, a source told Korean publication ET News that Samsung may name its next flagship to match the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, so consumers understand it is a new device. “When Galaxy Note 6 that has its model number lower than Galaxy S7, which is the newest model, is released, it can give out a feeling that it is an outdated phone,” the source told ET News.
Samsung has not commented about this rumor. However, the manufacturer will surely do whatever it can to build on the momentum of the success of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. The devices have been consumer favorites, after the company saw significant sale slumps between 2013 and 2015.
Skipping numbers in a series is pretty common among manufacturers. Most recently, we’ve seen Microsoft go from Windows 8 to Windows 10. Tech blog SamMobile notes that Samsung released its Samsung Z3 smartphone as a successor to the original Samsung Z. There is reportedly a Samsung Z2 now in development, leading the blog to believe if Samsung did skip the Galaxy Note 6, it could revisit the name in the future. Other blogs, including SlashGear , note that Apple has also toyed with its smartphone names in the past, having never released an iPhone 2 after the original iPhone. Instead, Apple released the iPhone 3G and then continued with the iPhone 4, 5, 6 and so on.
Often, jumps in naming sequence indicates a product may include major upgrades. Rumors have suggested the Galaxy Note 6, or Note 7 may include 6GB of RAM, a USB Type-C port and major camera improvements, among many features. It remains uncertain whether Samsung will include a curved display on the device or if a Note Edge smartphone will accompany a flat Note smartphone.
Samsung is expected to announce its latest products in mid-August, similar to how the Galaxy Note 5 was unveiled Aug. 13, 2015.
