Galaxy Note 20, Fold 2, and Zodiac projects revealed by kernel code

To be clear, none of these devices are mentioned outright, but rather, the kernel code makes references to codenames including Project XYZ (the Galaxy S20 series); Project Canvas, which could be the Galaxy Note 20; and Project Winner 2, which we believe to be the Galaxy Fold 2, as discovered by our colleagues at GalaxyClub a couple of months ago.

No evidence of an Exynos chipset yet

Unsurprisingly, Project Canvas and Project Winner 2 will be powered by the Snapdragon 865 chipset, according to the kernel code. No clues are hinting at an Exynos alternative, but this doesn't mean that there won't be one, at least as far as the Galaxy Note 20 is concerned. Even as shareholders question Samsung's decision to continue to rely on its in-house high-end chipset solution, the company will likely want to keep supporting its System LSI division by adopting Qualcomm's chipset in some markets, and the Exynos silicon in others.

Interestingly, there are other references to a third, mysterious device codenamed Zodiac. It's powered by the Snapdragon 855 and it appears to be destined only for the Chinese market.

Meanwhile, other config files found within the kernel code indicate that the Snapdragon 865-powered Project Canvas/Galaxy Note 20 is headed for the US market, while Project Winner 2/Galaxy Fold 2 is going to be released in Europe. Evidently, both the Galaxy Note 20 and the true sequel to the Galaxy Fold will be released in many other regions, but this is what the kernel sources have revealed thus far.

We're roughly half a year away from the next Unpacked event where the Galaxy Note 20 and Fold 2 should be unveiled – assuming that the coronavirus pandemic won't change all that – so there's still a lot to be uncovered until then. Stay tuned and we'll keep you up to speed.