# Does Samsung Still Make the Galaxy Note? What Replaced It

URL: https://upfour.online/explained/does-samsung-still-make-the-note
Category: Explained
Tags: galaxy note, s pen, discontinued, ultra, samsung
Published: August 28, 2026
Last updated: August 28, 2026

**Short answer:** No. The Galaxy Note line ended with the Note 20 in 2020. Its S Pen moved to the Galaxy S Ultra models, starting with the S22 Ultra in 2022, which is the direct replacement.

Samsung no longer makes the Galaxy Note. The line ended with the **Note 20** in 2020, and the features that defined it moved into the Galaxy S range.

> **A warning about S Pens**
>
> The Z Fold needs a Fold-specific S Pen with a retracting tip. A standard S Pen can genuinely damage the foldable inner display — that is a hardware risk, not a compatibility inconvenience.
> If you are buying a replacement pen second-hand, check the exact model. It is an easy and expensive mistake.

## What replaced it

The **Galaxy S Ultra**. Starting with the **S22 Ultra** in 2022, Samsung gave the top S-series model the two things that made a Note a Note:

- **A built-in S Pen**, stored in a silo inside the phone
- **A squared-off body** with flatter edges, visually much closer to a Note than to earlier S phones

The S22 Ultra was, in every meaningful sense, a Note wearing an S-series badge. Every Ultra since has continued the arrangement.

If you want a Note, buy the current **S Ultra**.

## Why Samsung merged the lines

Several reasons converged:

- **The two ranges had grown together.** By 2020 the S20 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra were near-identical in size, screen and camera. Maintaining both was expensive and confusing.
- **Two annual flagship launches** split marketing attention and cannibalised sales.
- **Foldables needed the slot.** Samsung moved its second-half launch event to the Z Fold and Z Flip, which is where it wanted the attention.
- **The Note 7 recall** damaged the brand, and Samsung had already been de-emphasising the name.

## S Pen support today

| Device | S Pen |
|---|---|
| **Galaxy S Ultra** | Built in, stored in the phone |
| **Galaxy Z Fold** | Supported, sold separately, no internal slot |
| **Galaxy Tab S series** | Included in the box |
| **Standard Galaxy S / S+** | Not supported |

The important distinction: only the **Ultra** stores the pen inside the phone. The Z Fold works with an S Pen but you carry it separately, usually in a case with a loop — which is a genuinely different daily experience.

## Is a Note still worth buying second-hand?

Generally no. The **Note 20 launched in 2020**, so:

- Software support has ended or is close to it. Check the security patch date under *Settings › About phone › Software information*.
- The battery will be well past its useful life after this many years and will need replacing.
- Prices for a used Note 20 often overlap with a newer mid-range phone that still receives updates.

If you want the Note experience, a used **S22 Ultra or later** is a far better purchase — it has the same S Pen in the same internal silo, plus remaining software support.

## Which S Pen works with what

S Pens are not universally interchangeable:

- The **Ultra's S Pen** uses Bluetooth for air gestures and remote camera control, and charges inside the phone.
- The **Z Fold S Pen** must be a Fold-specific model with a retracting tip — a standard S Pen can damage the foldable inner display.
- **Tab S Pens** are larger and designed for tablets.

Always buy the S Pen designated for your specific device. Using the wrong one on a Fold is a genuine risk to the screen, not merely a compatibility inconvenience.

## What the S Pen still does

For anyone deciding whether the Ultra premium is worth it:

- **Screen-off memo** — pull the pen out with the display off and write immediately on a black screen.
- **Air actions** — Bluetooth gestures for camera shutter and presentation control.
- **Smart select** — capture a region of the screen, extract text from an image, or record a GIF.
- **Handwriting to text** in Samsung Notes, which is genuinely accurate.
- **Precise editing** in photo apps and PDFs, and signing documents directly.

## If you just want a stylus

You do not need an Ultra. Any capacitive stylus works on any touchscreen for basic navigation and rough note-taking. What you lose without an S Pen is pressure sensitivity, palm rejection and the low-latency handwriting that makes note-taking actually pleasant.

For serious handwritten notes, the **Galaxy Tab S series** includes an S Pen in the box and gives you far more writing area than any phone, usually at a lower price than an Ultra. See also [which Samsung phone has the biggest screen](/explained/samsung-phone-with-largest-screen).

## In short

The Galaxy Note is **discontinued**, ending with the **Note 20 in 2020**. Its replacement is the **Galaxy S Ultra**, which has carried a built-in S Pen since the S22 Ultra in 2022. The Z Fold and Tab S series also support an S Pen, but only the Ultra stores it inside the phone.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Samsung still make the Galaxy Note?

No. The Note line ended with the Galaxy Note 20 in 2020. Samsung merged it into the Galaxy S range, and the S Ultra models now carry the built-in S Pen.

### What replaced the Galaxy Note?

The Galaxy S Ultra. Starting with the S22 Ultra in 2022, the top S-series model included a built-in S Pen stored inside the phone and a squared-off body, making it the direct Note successor.

### Which Samsung phones support the S Pen?

The Galaxy S Ultra models store one inside the phone. The Galaxy Z Fold supports a Fold-specific S Pen sold separately, and Galaxy Tab S tablets include one in the box. Standard S and S+ models do not support it.

### Can I use any S Pen with a Galaxy Z Fold?

No. The Fold requires a Fold-specific S Pen with a retracting tip. A standard S Pen can damage the foldable inner display, so this is a genuine hardware risk rather than a compatibility issue.

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