In a blog post issued on Wednesday, Roh also hinted that phones other than the Note line would have stylus support.

This could mean that a rumour about the Note line being brought to an end could also have some substance.

Roh said some of the innovations that Samsung would introduce or enhance in 2021 were advanced on-device AI, ultra-wideband, support for open-source research and collaboration, expanding the foldable category and on-the-go content editing that helps to meet the demands of the video-obsessed.

He said the company would improve its foldable offerings, "and I’m excited to say, it’s just a hint of what’s to come as we continue to explore, evolve and expand this category-changing space".

Roh said the company's technical staff had been working on expanding advanced on-device AI capabilities "enabling our devices to continually learn from daily activities and routines to take better pictures and videos, maximise battery life and storage space, optimise displays and much more".

He also promised more and better connectivity "that will transform the way you open doors and enable... integrated car experiences that make personalised car connectivity a part of your digital life".

Roh said Samsung would look after customers' data with as much care as it had in the past. "...our number-one goal is and will always be to create experiences that people can trust, knowing we'll treat their data with the utmost care and keep their personal information safe every step of the way," he said.

"These new devices will offer incredible personalised mobile experiences and will be built with security and privacy top of mind."