Analyst predicts weak demand for Samsung Galaxy S8, suggests focusing on Apple OLED 'iPhon...
Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has chimed in on the imminent Galaxy S8 release, and is predicting a significant drop in sales when compared to the Galaxy S7 to date because of a lack of selling points, and an attractive possible "iPhone 8" release.
A KGI securities note seen by AppleInsider predicts the Galaxy S8 to have 5.8- and 6.2-inch OLED screens, with the smaller size featuring 2960x1440 WQHD+ resolution. The Qualcomm 8998 SoC is expected for the US and Japan markets, with the remainder of the world getting the phone equipped with the Exynos 9985.
Korean and Chinese units will boast 6GB of RAM, versus 4GB elsewhere. All models are expected to have a full-screen display with no physical home button, and 3D-curved cover glass.
The rear cameras are expected to remain at 12MP, and not have a dual-lens setup. The front-facing camera is suspected to be a 8MP unit, an improvement over the 5MP in the Galaxy S7.
Ming-Chi expects shipments between 40 and 45 million units in fiscal year 2017, notably less than the 52 million Galaxy S7 shipped in a comparable timeframe, given the later launch of the Galaxy S8 versus the S7 and the S7 being used as a the sole flagship for the line after the Galaxy Note 7 debacle.
"We are conservative on demand for Galaxy S8, and believe its contribution to the supply chain will be limited," writes Ming-Chi. "Instead we recommend focusing on the sales outlook and supply chain momentum of Apple's (US) OLED iPhone model."
Samsung has announced a March 29 press event, to be held at the Lincoln Center in New York City. The invitation includes a silhouette matching recent leaks.
Saturday's predictions for the Samsung Galaxy S8 release echo rumors about the upcoming "iPhone 8," which is expected to use a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED panel -- likely made by Samsung -- with a 5.1-inch practical area, the rest being dedicated to virtual buttons. Recent reports suggest that Apple may be abandoning the idea of a curved screen, owing to yield problems and poor drop-test results.
A KGI securities note seen by AppleInsider predicts the Galaxy S8 to have 5.8- and 6.2-inch OLED screens, with the smaller size featuring 2960x1440 WQHD+ resolution. The Qualcomm 8998 SoC is expected for the US and Japan markets, with the remainder of the world getting the phone equipped with the Exynos 9985.
Korean and Chinese units will boast 6GB of RAM, versus 4GB elsewhere. All models are expected to have a full-screen display with no physical home button, and 3D-curved cover glass.
The rear cameras are expected to remain at 12MP, and not have a dual-lens setup. The front-facing camera is suspected to be a 8MP unit, an improvement over the 5MP in the Galaxy S7.
Ming-Chi expects shipments between 40 and 45 million units in fiscal year 2017, notably less than the 52 million Galaxy S7 shipped in a comparable timeframe, given the later launch of the Galaxy S8 versus the S7 and the S7 being used as a the sole flagship for the line after the Galaxy Note 7 debacle.
"We are conservative on demand for Galaxy S8, and believe its contribution to the supply chain will be limited," writes Ming-Chi. "Instead we recommend focusing on the sales outlook and supply chain momentum of Apple's (US) OLED iPhone model."
Samsung has announced a March 29 press event, to be held at the Lincoln Center in New York City. The invitation includes a silhouette matching recent leaks.
Saturday's predictions for the Samsung Galaxy S8 release echo rumors about the upcoming "iPhone 8," which is expected to use a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED panel -- likely made by Samsung -- with a 5.1-inch practical area, the rest being dedicated to virtual buttons. Recent reports suggest that Apple may be abandoning the idea of a curved screen, owing to yield problems and poor drop-test results.
Comments
The advert is all about how well they test their devices. Yes folks, how well they test their devices including 'bendgate'.
I find this nothing more than an attempt to say 'we have changed'.
No featires apart from the Temp Range and Waterproofing were shown.
A casae of too little too late methinks.
Samsung, like all Android vendors, is limited in terms of what they can announce. We already know what's in Android Nougat, so no surprises there. That leaves them with useless hardware gimmicks to try and separate themselves from all the other Abdroid vendors running the same commodity OS.
I don't see the S8 doing well.
At this point it's all useless hardware gimmicks, for everyone.
What consumers want is: solid build, waterproof, longer battery, better camera, longer battery, and a longer battery.
What we see is: thinner, battery gimmicks, other gimmicks, more battery gimmicks.
If they released the iPhone Phatt - 2mm thicker and 5x the battery life. Guess what would sell the most of any phone ever!
But all of that is soooooooo 2016 and nobody should be held accountable for what was repeatedly said, written about the iPhones 7/Plus. Wrong? Schmong!
So here we are in 2017 and we are being told the S8 has a lack of selling points, people might wait for an attractive iPhone. Really? Samsung fans are going to skip the S8 to buy an iPhone because.... it is rumored to be the best iPhone ever created.
Kuo does realize the next iPhones won't have a headphone jack just like the iPhones 7/Plus, right? Oh wait! That was 2016. This is 2017! :-)))
Hold the phone Tim Cook!! A poster on AI has a brilliant idea of an iPhone that would sell the most ever(like iPhone 7)!!!!
har you posted this in 2008, youd have an excuse.
But it here in the real world today, the iPhone is killing everyone else with not only software advantages, but superior CPU and camera innovation. The best fingerprint implementation as well.
Apple is gaining in a time where it was supposed to have peaked a couple years ago. And this to Samsung and others' expense.
Funny hoe the same old, disproven fake news about better tech for cheaper keeps cropping up only the get shot down again. I'll give you that competitors are forced to try to find differentiators in higher res screens or more ram, but that's about it. And the ram is negated by the sloppy OS. The screen size is one plus though. Everything else is all Apple.
How many mobile payment terminals have you actually used? And which way do you orient your phone? Many terminals I use my iPhone at would be more difficult with a rear scanner.
How do you unlock your phone when it's sitting on your desk (I do this countless times a day at work)? Or if it's in a car dock? Or any kind of dock? Or charging on a wireless pad (that Android users claim
is so amazing)?
If other ongoing wounds, pay to play scandal w/ SK government, are added to their woes, it seems possible that Samsung may be being dealt a series of mortal wounds to its corporate health.
maybe if that comes to fruition, they will reconsider the corrupted corporate philosophy which has not served them, customers or the citizens of South Korea well.
not likely!
But at least Samsung has that Iris scanner.
...Hilarious.
I'm not saying this analyst is wrong or right because I can't tell the future like these analysts claim to be able to do. It's hard to say when the S8 hasn't even been announced for sale although the feature set is said to be fixed at this time. As far as I can tell, this analyst is merely speculating as usual. I'd hardly think there would be any less potential buyers than there usually is for a new Galaxy smartphone. I wish they'd stop talking about this nonsense of there not being enough reason for consumers to upgrade. Only those buyers will decide whether the upgrade is worth it to them or not.
Sure, I hope there will be more switchers from the Galaxy smartphones to the iPhone but that's simply a hope and that doesn't guarantee it's going to happen. I still think Galaxy S smartphones have certain appealing features to users that the iPhone doesn't have. Things like Quad-HD displays and memory expansion slots. There's still plenty of room for individual choices. Only time will tell for sure. Currently, it's too early to be certain about anything.