Samsung really is bringing Galaxy Note 5 to Europe next year

By Killian Bell

Europe’s wait for the best phablet money can buy is almost over.

Samsung sources have confirmed that the Galaxy Note 5 will finally be available in the U.K. and other European markets in early 2016. But with rumors of a Galaxy S7 right around the corner, will it be too late?

When Samsung first launched the Note 5 back in October, it said it had “no plans” to launch the device in Europe, and instead focused its efforts on marketing the curved Galaxy S6 edge+. Despite this, several reports claimed that the Note 5 would cross the Atlantic at some point in early 2016.

Now a report from Gadgette, citing reliable Samsung sources, claims the Note 5 will finally be available in Europe in late January. “Our source is the same one who told us a considerable time before the press event that the Note 5 wasn’t coming to the UK, so we’re pretty confident they’re right.”

The claims have also been backed up by Android Central.

Fans of the Note series will be delighted to hear this news, but is it too late for the Note 5 to be successful? After all, it will be five months old by the time it arrives, and many will have already adopted new devices — such as that S6 edge+.

What’s more, recent rumors have claimed that Samsung will launch the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge at Mobile World Congress in February. Those who don’t rely on a larger display might hold onto their cash for that instead, rather than adopting a device that will be refresh just seven months later.

Having said that, we’re huge fans of the Note 5 here at Cult of Android, and we certainly appreciate its larger screen, and even its S Pen stylus. We would certainly recommend it, then, even at five months old. It’s just a shame Samsung has made us Europeans wait so long.