The main topic of the article is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and its position in the foldable smartphone market.
Key points include:
- The growth of the foldable smartphone market, with foldable shipments increasing 64% year-on-year in Q1 2023.
- The increasing competition in the foldable smartphone market, with more companies releasing their own foldable devices.
- The appeal of the Galaxy Z Fold 5's large screen and improved hardware, including a thinner design and upgraded chip.
- The trade-offs of the form factor, such as the device's size and narrow external screen.
- The improvements in battery life, camera performance, and software experience.
- The high price of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the potential impact of competition on pricing.
Apple's iPhone sales in China have surpassed those in the United States for the first time, contributing to Apple potentially becoming the biggest player in the smartphone market this year, despite global smartphone shipments being on track to be the worst in a decade due to economic headwinds in China and the US, according to Counterpoint Research.
Xiaomi reported a decline in revenue and smartphone sales for Q2 2023, with overall revenue decreasing by 4% and smartphone shipments dropping by 15.8%, attributed to weakened global market demand; however, the company maintained its position as the third-largest global manufacturer and ranked second in Europe and the Middle East.
Smartphone sales in the country declined in the second quarter, but at a slower rate, as consumers limited their spending due to high commodity prices, according to IDC.
The global smartphone market continues to decline, with a 6.6% drop in Q2 2023 and a 13.3% decline in the first half of the year compared to 2022, affecting different companies in different ways, with Samsung still leading but facing challenges from Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion.
Despite its age, Apple has managed to increase its share of smartphone sales by converting Android users and appealing to teenagers, with the iPhone now accounting for over 50% of smartphones sold in the US and claiming around 20% of global smartphone sales.
Samsung has reportedly secured a monopoly on the supply of iPhone 15 displays this year, as BOE failed to gain approval from Apple to mass produce OLED panels, resulting in Samsung being the sole supplier of OLED panels for all iPhone 15 models.
Samsung has tied with Apple for first place in customer satisfaction for personal computers and tablets, ending Apple's two-decade domination in the category.
Samsung and Apple tied for the ACSI 2023 award for personal computing, ending Apple's 20-year streak as the sole winner, with Samsung's tablets likely contributing to their increased customer satisfaction.
Samsung is set to launch affordable smartphones, including the Galaxy A05, which features a 6.7-inch screen, a 50MP primary camera, and 25W fast charging capabilities.
Samsung has released two new versions of its smartphones, the Galaxy S23 Tactical Edition and Galaxy XCover6 Pro Tactical Edition, specifically designed for military, first responders, and certain physical jobs, featuring enhanced security measures and rugged capabilities.
Samsung is the leading mobile phone brand in 95 countries, dominating the market share in many nations, although it struggles in China where it holds a tiny market share of 1.78%.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 are the fastest and smoothest Samsung phones in 2023, while the Galaxy S23, S23+, and Z Flip 5 are also great options for those looking for smaller and/or cheaper phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the top camera phone in 2023, surpassing the Google Pixel 7 Pro, thanks to its exceptional software and vibrant image quality.
The global smartphone market has experienced both growth and decline, with the number of active brands decreasing by two-thirds due to various factors such as the rise of Chinese brands, lack of R&D spending by local brands, and economic challenges. The decline has primarily affected local brands, while the competition from Tier-1 Chinese brands has intensified, offering better value for money. The Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the challenges faced by small brands.
Samsung is set to release the Galaxy S23 FE, a relatively basic device that matches the Google Pixel 7 in price, costing $599 in the US market.
Samsung is expecting to ship over 10 million foldable phones, including the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, which could sell 8-10% higher than their predecessors, while also planning an early launch of the Galaxy S24 series in response to strong demand for the iPhone 15 series.
Samsung may launch the Galaxy S24 series of smartphones earlier in January in response to the successful sales of the iPhone 15, featuring custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipsets, camera upgrades, and fast charging capabilities.
The North American smartphone market experienced its worst quarterly performance in over a decade, with a 22% decline in Q2 2023, but Google's Pixel phone sales increased by 59%, earning the company 4% of the market and making it the only company that survived unscathed.
The smartphone market in North America is experiencing a 12% decline in phone purchases, leading companies such as Samsung, Google, and Apple to focus on premium phone options to offset the overall sales decline, with Google being the only brand to see an increase in sales; however, the market is still moving towards premium smartphones as people are not replacing their devices as frequently as before.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE offers a lot of great features for its price, but if you want something different, the best alternatives include the Samsung Galaxy S23, Google Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, Apple iPhone SE 2022, OnePlus 11, and Samsung Galaxy A54 5G.
Samsung has announced the Galaxy SmartTag 2, a Bluetooth tracker that requires a Samsung account and is only compatible with Samsung phones, offering features such as a removable battery, UWB support, and integration with the SmartThings app.
Samsung is launching the Galaxy SmartTag 2, a new device with updated features and a new design, which competes with Tile trackers and Apple AirTags, and can only be used with Samsung Galaxy phones.
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy SmartTag 2, a new version of its smart tracker that features a ring-shaped design, longer battery life, and Bluetooth and ultra-wideband connectivity, with a price of $30.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a top contender for the best phone of the year, offering a perfect score in reviews, impressive camera hardware, an exceptional display, and the unique feature of S Pen functionality.
The global smartphone market contracted by 8% in the third quarter, reaching the lowest level in a decade, as demand for major brands like Apple and Samsung decreased in developed markets, according to data from Counterpoint Research.
The Galaxy SmartTag 2 is now on sale in select countries and features a sleeker design and longer battery life thanks to its use of the Atomsic ATM3325-5LCAQK-SR chip.
Overall global smartphone sales fell 8% in Q3, with Apple and Samsung losing market share to competing brands, but a rebound is expected in Q4 with the launch of the iPhone 15 and other holiday sales, according to Counterpoint Research.
Samsung has released the Galaxy SmartTag2 in Korea, with a starting price of KRW36,300 ($26/€25/INR2,230), and customers who purchase it from Samsung's official Korean website can get a free silicone or rugged case until October 31, 2023; they can also earn Naver Pay points by writing a review on the Naver Smart Store.
The smartphone market is showing signs of recovery, with only a 1% decline in Q3 2023, but vendors should remain cautious due to geopolitical uncertainties and ongoing adjustments in sales channels and component inventories, according to a report by Canalys. Samsung maintained its position as the market leader, followed by Apple, while Xiaomi and Transsion experienced success in emerging markets. Huawei also made a strong comeback with the release of the Mate 60 series, although its availability is currently limited to China.
Samsung tops global smartphone market in Q3 2023 with a 20% market share, despite lower sales compared to the previous year, as the market begins to recover.
iOS accounted for 39% of all US smartphone customers in the past year, representing a slight increase from 2022 but a decrease compared to 2021 and 2020, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).
Despite a 3% drop in smartphone shipments compared to last year, improved consumer confidence and the launch of high-profile smartphones are expected to drive positive growth ahead of the festive season in India, according to Canalys; Samsung, Xiaomi, and Vivo emerged as the top three smartphone vendors.
Samsung is aiming to sell 20 million foldable phones in 2024, but faces tough competition from Chinese firms and upcoming threats from Apple.
Samsung is reportedly aiming to sell 20 million foldable smartphones in 2024, a significant increase from its goal of 15 million for 2023, as it faces growing competition from other brands such as Motorola, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Honor.
The author laments the lack of options for small smartphones in the current market, as even phones marketed as "small" are still large in size compared to older models, making it difficult for those who prefer smaller phones to find a suitable option.
The reason that iPhones don't outsell Android phones in the US is because iPhone users hold onto their phones for longer and upgrade less frequently compared to Android users, according to a report by CIRP.
