You are currently viewing SemiWiki as a guest which gives you limited access to the site. To view blog comments and experience other SemiWiki features you must be a registered member. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
Surprisingly, the Samsung Phones S6 and S6 Edge positioned to compete against iPhone 6 seem to be getting into teething issues. The first issue reported seems to be serious hardware issues with its display. It doesn't respond to touches towards the edges of the phone.
If this is a hardware problem, it cannot be fixed by software patches. That could invite loss to Samsung with those units already built. Samsung has not initiated first sale of these phones, so they can definitely fix the issue before starting the sale. At least, they don't have to re-call the sold phones which is a general norm now a day.
One app trying to scribble near the edge of a Galaxy S6 doesn't constitute an issue, rather it's an anomaly of interest. Let's wait for something more conclusive, like a review with a popular app on the S6.
This report has been already debunked. Existing Samsung phones (S4, S5) have been shown to exhibit the same behavior and nobody complained about it before. Apparently Samsung does it intentionally - maybe to reduce the likelihood of incidental touches on a device with a very narrow bezel.
Yes, this problem may not have any substance. The devices have pleased the market. Samsung already booked pre-orders for 20 million units of Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.
Here is the report.
It is reported that due to overwhelming market response, Samsung is increasing S6 and S6 Edge production.
April production target has been increased to 8 million from 7 million. A report.
Samsung's focused sales strategy for S6 and S6 Edge, in less that 3 weeks of their unveiling in MWC, they have been launched in India, a hot market for Smartphones.
Yesterday, Samsung VP, Asim Warsi also said that they will start manufacturing these phones in their Noida facility from first half of this year.
Reports are indicating that Samsung will be the top seller of Smartphones in 2015 along with its flagship S6 and S6 Edge. Apple will fall behind at second position.
Samsung is expected to be shipping 330 million smartphones whereas Apple will be shipping 230 million smartphones. See detailed report here. Let's see who wins at the end!
Daniel, i would agree to that. Apple is good for investors as it's a very high P/Q play. Kudos to you for holding Apple shares
However, two things here - i) Apple also has substantial market share, 2nd position is not bad. A high P/Q with minuscule market share also is not good. Contrast to that, if Samsung plays on market share with lesser profit (of course not contra-revenue like Intel) that also is not bad. At this moment Samsung's priority is to gain the lost market share. Once it has market share, it can do well too.
ii) How about consumers? Apple is good for investors, but consumers are paying such high prices, hope they realize it sooner than later.
If I were Samsung, then I would acquire the rising Chinese company Xiaomi to help shore up my market share in China.
Yes, consumers are paying 2X to 3X the device price to Apple, but in return they receive the prestige and distinction of owning an original Apple product. I own AAPL stock but my smart phone is the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, just upgraded from the Note 2.
Even Samsung is imitating Apple with the Galaxy S6 device having a metal frame, no removable battery and no micro-SD memory card. From a marketing perspective Samsung could even create a new brand name for their high-end phones, akin to what the Japanese did when they introduced their luxury autos:
Well said, even I would do the same if I were Samsung However, Xiaomi is not up for sale, and I think it wouldn't be (when it has strong investor pipeline) unless it fails miserably. Samsung would have to compete the market place hard way.
For Apple, in my view, it's fine to pay a percentage higher compared to other phones, but I wouldn't be paying 2X or 3X, I may be looked down by Apple owners, but I fall into Samuel Walton (Wallmart hero) group.
On Samsung, I agree with you, it's on the path to create an iconic place, there are some more unique features in S6 and S6 Edge - Mobile payment anywhere as I talked earlier, multiple apps running at a time side-by-side, using the phone as TV remote, wireless charging, ...
Looking at this fresh review report at WSJ, it appears that S6 and S6 Edge are really getting ahead with their killer camera, display screen, better software, and fast charging features.
In another survey report, I find that Apple Pay is ion trouble with taking long in recording transactions and that too with only stores who have upgraded their cash registers to accept chip-embedded credit cards. Sometimes they see incorrect recording or recording twice too! On the other hand people are looking forward to Samsung Pay that would be working with older magnetic stripe technology available at most of the stores, as well as NFC.
Does that look like, long time iPhone owners would change to S6 and S6 Edge? The reviewer at WSJ report says so!
Many iPhone users are loyal to the Apple brand and will not change for any reason. I used to meet such people and show them my gorgeous 5.5" display on the Samsung Galaxy Note some 3 years before the iPhone 6+, and almost universally they would reply, "Oh no, I would never use a phone with such a large screen." Now that Apple is selling a 5.5" display these same people went out and bought it because Apple just made it acceptable to buy a 5.5" display.
With each new cell phone purchase many consumers become more loyal to their specific brand, and it is easier to stay with the same brand that you are familiar with instead of switching brands.
In general, phone buyers that are looking for the most advanced features, expandable memory, the most customization capabilities and the best price tend to gravitate towards Android. On the other hand, phone buyers that are looking for prestige, simplicity and uniformity tend to pick an Apple product.
There are a minority of phone buyers that switch between Android and iOS devices.
I use iOS every day on my iPad and Android on my Galaxy Note 4, and they both get the job done quite well.
Daniel, I agree the Apple die-hards will not switch to Samsung. That's the reason I posted here when I saw an Appelian showing her admiration for S6 and willingness to change. If the S6 features are so compelling and if Samsung can grab even a small percentage of Appelians, then may be that can open the door for Samsung, at least until Apple again comes back with a bang.
Yes, the S6 and iPhone devices are quite similar in build and appearance, so a few Apple customers will switch. Consumers are fickle, and it may just be that media-leaders like celebrities, hollywood actors, silicon valley executives and politicians start to use Samsung devices which brings more publicity and sales. Or Apple CEO Tim Cook makes a controversial statement and the public starts to shun Apple products as a result.
I remember when Sony, Motorola and Nokia were each consumer product leaders, but their time in the sun has since faded into a dimmer memory of better times because of swings in consumer confidence and preferences.
For the moment though, Apple still reigns as the best consumer marketing company on the planet, able to build buzz and excitement for their products, and create lines on opening day of a new device.
Daniel, You gave right examples - Sony, Motorola, Nokia. They were icons at a time, today they are no where. Nokia was 'connecting people' icon. Sony, I have no words to say, they have such bad service. I bought a complete music system with DVD.... couple of years ago. That hardly worked for 2 years and then once repaired by Sony authorized service station at exorbitant cost. That again broke in less than 2 months and they didn't service. It's lying as a dead box, I have no time to look at since a few years What can I say about such world top companies... Success brings arrogance. We need to watch Apple and Samsung now.
Multiple forces joining with S6 and S6 Edge. It's rumored that Reliance Jio, a new comer but strong telecom service provider will start it's much touted voice, data... integrated service on 4G in India with S6 and S6 Edge. Reliance is known to provide integrated services at low cost in the beginning to gain large market share. Hope that favors Samsung S6.
