Samsung poised to challenge Apple at retail in US with first full-scale stores
Looking to push beyond its modest retail efforts so far, Apple rival Samsung is planning to open three full-scale U.S. stores on Feb. 20, the same day it announces the Galaxy S10 and its first foldable phone.

Samsung 837 in the Meatpacking District.
The initial locations include The Americana at Brand in Los Angeles, Roosevelt Field on Long Island in Garden City (N.Y.), and The Galleria in Houston. Visitors will be able to try and buy products ranging from phones to VR glasses and TVs, and -- much like Apple stores -- get in-person customer support, with walk-in repairs available for mobile devices.
Samsung's U.S. retail footprint has so far consisted mostly of pop-up stores and dedicated spaces in chains like Best Buy. An exception is Samsung 837, based in New York City's Meatpacking District, but that space is foremost a showcase for the Korean company's technologies.
Apple has long touted its retail stores as one of its key advantages, since people can try products in advance and have a place to turn if they need help with setup or troubleshooting. It remains to be seen if Samsung will be able to cultivate an equal or superior level of support, or if enough people will choose to shop at outlets instead of online or at the many third-party vendors that carry Samsung gear.
Samsung has tried this approach in the UK. The effort failed due to low traffic, and was shuttered very quickly after opening.
The company's Feb. 20 "Unpacked" event is expected to be its biggest in some time. On top of the Galaxy S10 and a still-shrouded foldable phone, it should also unveil a new Galaxy Watch, more fitness trackers, and wireless Galaxy Buds.
The offensive comes at the same time as Apple is coping with declining iPhone sales, driven mostly by tough competition in China from local smartphone makers.

Samsung 837 in the Meatpacking District.
The initial locations include The Americana at Brand in Los Angeles, Roosevelt Field on Long Island in Garden City (N.Y.), and The Galleria in Houston. Visitors will be able to try and buy products ranging from phones to VR glasses and TVs, and -- much like Apple stores -- get in-person customer support, with walk-in repairs available for mobile devices.
Samsung's U.S. retail footprint has so far consisted mostly of pop-up stores and dedicated spaces in chains like Best Buy. An exception is Samsung 837, based in New York City's Meatpacking District, but that space is foremost a showcase for the Korean company's technologies.
Apple has long touted its retail stores as one of its key advantages, since people can try products in advance and have a place to turn if they need help with setup or troubleshooting. It remains to be seen if Samsung will be able to cultivate an equal or superior level of support, or if enough people will choose to shop at outlets instead of online or at the many third-party vendors that carry Samsung gear.
Samsung has tried this approach in the UK. The effort failed due to low traffic, and was shuttered very quickly after opening.
The company's Feb. 20 "Unpacked" event is expected to be its biggest in some time. On top of the Galaxy S10 and a still-shrouded foldable phone, it should also unveil a new Galaxy Watch, more fitness trackers, and wireless Galaxy Buds.
The offensive comes at the same time as Apple is coping with declining iPhone sales, driven mostly by tough competition in China from local smartphone makers.
Comments
2) It’s anecdotal, but I see more younger people with Apple products and more older people with Android products, usually from Samsung. Users that are less technical (across all age groups) and require the most help to do basic tasks, that usually falls to Android users. I thiink Apple will be fine.
i can see Samsung noting they have TV and home appliances, but I’d wager the focus will be on smartphones, headphones, tablets, PCs, and other CE.
Agreed, from warehousing, displaying and delivery, large appliances and even TV's take up a lot of space and not everyone has a car/truck that can fit a 65 inch tv. They can currently rely on retailers for delivery and installation, so unless they partnered with a 3rd party I don't see that happening. I think it will be focused on smaller CE devices. I don't think they will provide the same level of support/repair capability that you get in an Apple Store, which leaves me wondering how they plan to differentiate from Best Buy, Fry's or any other big box store.
Anecdotal experience. I have an Galaxy S8 through my work, and its not a bad phone. Nice hardware, but it just falls short in some key ways. The Bixby button is flat out terrible and you can't truly deactivate or reassign it and battery degradation and performance have really became an issue(device is close to two years old). I would say it does 90% of things at a high level, but its just missing some of that final polishing I feel like you get with an Apple product.
http://www.iphonehacks.com/2018/04/iphones-popularity-continues-to-increase-among-us-teens.html
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/iphone-use-teens-2018/
The one in the pic looks different. Good thing for them!
Samsung doesn't make phones. They see what Apple is doing and make quick knockoffs.
Why people give them any credit is beyond me.
I remember when their knockoff iPhones were doing so bad they were giving away TVs with every purchase.
I can see Sammy giving out free refrigerators with every iWannabe.