Post by Enter Nations on Feb 23, 2018 14:34:53 GMT
Apple made great progress with its latest phone. What could we see in the Galaxy S9, its biggest rival?
Apple wowed the world with its iPhone X . Now it's Samsung's turn.
On Sunday, February 25, the South Korean electronics giant will present its latest phone, the Galaxy S9 , at its Unpacked event during the Mobile Devices World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Samsung's invitation for the launch included the number nine, for the name of the device, and an advance: "The camera, reimagined."
The Galaxy S series is Samsung's most important product line. If you have an Android phone, the odds are pretty high that it has a Samsung logo. Last year, approximately one in five phones shipped worldwide came from the company, according to IDC figures .
What is at stake is considerably lower than the launch of the Galaxy S8 last year, which was the phone that came out after the Galaxy Note 7 debacle that had an unhealthy tendency to catch fire. But with Apple raising bets with its expanded iPhone family, especially with its redesigned iPhone X, the pressure is still on for Samsung to impress with its latest flagship phone.
If you plan to update your device and are in favor of Android, you will probably consider the Galaxy S9. It's such a big release, that no other major device manufacturer is using MWC to present their latest flagship phones, fearing they will be overshadowed.
It is widely believed that Samsung will keep the Galaxy S9 design essentially the same as last year's S8. The question is whether it will do enough with the new phone to get you to buy it, or if it's worth keeping your current Samsung a little longer. After all, there is still talk of a Samsung phone with a folding screen.
"I do not think people are really expecting a big jump" with the S9, said Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi. "[The Samsung] already had many of the features that the iPhone X added, what else can you expect from this?"
Samsung declined to comment for this article.
A wave of rumors
Are you looking for big shakes in the design for the Galaxy S9? It is likely that you have already seen the newest in the Galaxy S8.
This year is probably more like an "S" year in terms of iPhone. Think of a step closer from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8, than a huge leap to the iPhone X. In other words, the same essential design but some new features and settings under the hood.
The leaks of Galaxy S9 have been plentiful. The Galaxy S9 is expected to use Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 845 fast processor, which will increase camera capacity and device security technology. Samsung can improve its facial unlocking tool to compete with Apple's Face ID, as well as sell new device colors, including a purple lilac model.
Then there is the camera, which seems to be Samsung's main focus with the device. The company is expected to include dual lenses in the Galaxy S line for the first time, allow for super-fast focus, improve slow motion, improve low-light capture and provide the capacity of animated emojis , similar to the "animojis" of the iPhone X .
For a Galaxy S8 user, those rumored changes are probably not enough for you to change. But for owners of Galaxy S7 devices or earlier, an update could be significant.
"A 2018 flagship smartphone is very significant and visibly superior to a model launched in 2015 or 2016 that consumers still commonly use in most cases," said IHS Markit analyst Ian Fogg. Worldwide, the most widely used Samsung phones today are the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge of 2016, he said, followed by the S6 of 2015 and the S5 of 2014.
"These are the models with which consumers will compare a new Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphone ," said Fogg.
Cellular rivalry
Although Samsung users will compare the S9 with older devices, they will also see how it compares to the latest Apple phone.
While the iPhone X includes many new features that helped transform the device's design for the first time in three years, several of these already appeared in last year's Galaxy S8.
Take, for example, the screen. Apple removed its physical boot button on the front of the device to stretch the screen across the front of the screen. Samsung had already done that with the S8 and its famous "Infinity Display". Apple also integrated an OLED screen for the first time with the iPhone X, which allows a thinner screen that shows blacks more black and more vibrant colors. Samsung has used OLED displays on their Galaxy S smartphones since the beginning of the line.
Samsung even has its own version of unlocking phones through the user's face, although unlike Apple's Face ID, Samsung says that its option to unlock the face is not really safe. If you want your Galaxy S8 to be ultra-safe, you can opt for the iris scanner or the fingerprint sensor to open the device.
It is an intelligent bet to say that these characteristics, and more, will reach the S9.
It remains to be seen if it is enough to overwhelm Apple. One thing is certain: Samsung will be the focus of attention in the largest meeting of the mobile industry.
Apple wowed the world with its iPhone X . Now it's Samsung's turn.
On Sunday, February 25, the South Korean electronics giant will present its latest phone, the Galaxy S9 , at its Unpacked event during the Mobile Devices World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Samsung's invitation for the launch included the number nine, for the name of the device, and an advance: "The camera, reimagined."
The Galaxy S series is Samsung's most important product line. If you have an Android phone, the odds are pretty high that it has a Samsung logo. Last year, approximately one in five phones shipped worldwide came from the company, according to IDC figures .
What is at stake is considerably lower than the launch of the Galaxy S8 last year, which was the phone that came out after the Galaxy Note 7 debacle that had an unhealthy tendency to catch fire. But with Apple raising bets with its expanded iPhone family, especially with its redesigned iPhone X, the pressure is still on for Samsung to impress with its latest flagship phone.
If you plan to update your device and are in favor of Android, you will probably consider the Galaxy S9. It's such a big release, that no other major device manufacturer is using MWC to present their latest flagship phones, fearing they will be overshadowed.
It is widely believed that Samsung will keep the Galaxy S9 design essentially the same as last year's S8. The question is whether it will do enough with the new phone to get you to buy it, or if it's worth keeping your current Samsung a little longer. After all, there is still talk of a Samsung phone with a folding screen.
"I do not think people are really expecting a big jump" with the S9, said Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi. "[The Samsung] already had many of the features that the iPhone X added, what else can you expect from this?"
Samsung declined to comment for this article.
A wave of rumors
Are you looking for big shakes in the design for the Galaxy S9? It is likely that you have already seen the newest in the Galaxy S8.
This year is probably more like an "S" year in terms of iPhone. Think of a step closer from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8, than a huge leap to the iPhone X. In other words, the same essential design but some new features and settings under the hood.
The leaks of Galaxy S9 have been plentiful. The Galaxy S9 is expected to use Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 845 fast processor, which will increase camera capacity and device security technology. Samsung can improve its facial unlocking tool to compete with Apple's Face ID, as well as sell new device colors, including a purple lilac model.
Then there is the camera, which seems to be Samsung's main focus with the device. The company is expected to include dual lenses in the Galaxy S line for the first time, allow for super-fast focus, improve slow motion, improve low-light capture and provide the capacity of animated emojis , similar to the "animojis" of the iPhone X .
For a Galaxy S8 user, those rumored changes are probably not enough for you to change. But for owners of Galaxy S7 devices or earlier, an update could be significant.
"A 2018 flagship smartphone is very significant and visibly superior to a model launched in 2015 or 2016 that consumers still commonly use in most cases," said IHS Markit analyst Ian Fogg. Worldwide, the most widely used Samsung phones today are the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge of 2016, he said, followed by the S6 of 2015 and the S5 of 2014.
"These are the models with which consumers will compare a new Samsung Galaxy flagship smartphone ," said Fogg.
Cellular rivalry
Although Samsung users will compare the S9 with older devices, they will also see how it compares to the latest Apple phone.
While the iPhone X includes many new features that helped transform the device's design for the first time in three years, several of these already appeared in last year's Galaxy S8.
Take, for example, the screen. Apple removed its physical boot button on the front of the device to stretch the screen across the front of the screen. Samsung had already done that with the S8 and its famous "Infinity Display". Apple also integrated an OLED screen for the first time with the iPhone X, which allows a thinner screen that shows blacks more black and more vibrant colors. Samsung has used OLED displays on their Galaxy S smartphones since the beginning of the line.
Samsung even has its own version of unlocking phones through the user's face, although unlike Apple's Face ID, Samsung says that its option to unlock the face is not really safe. If you want your Galaxy S8 to be ultra-safe, you can opt for the iris scanner or the fingerprint sensor to open the device.
It is an intelligent bet to say that these characteristics, and more, will reach the S9.
It remains to be seen if it is enough to overwhelm Apple. One thing is certain: Samsung will be the focus of attention in the largest meeting of the mobile industry.
Share this Topic: