Samsung working on cheaper option for 'Galaxy S10,' just like Apple's iPhone XR
Samsung is reportedly working on three different versions of its upcoming "Galaxy S10" flagship phone, including a low-cost one that more people can afford very similar to the approach that Apple has taken with the iPhone XR.
The Samsung Galaxy S9.
The main S10 will have an edge-to-edge OLED display curved over the edges, roughly the same size as the 5.8-inch S9, according to sources for Bloomberg. The model is also said to have triple cameras on the back, and a front camera hidden under the display. Likewise the company is claimed to be embedding a fingerprint sensor in the screen, a goal phone makers have had for years.
While Samsung is also said to be preparing a bigger "Plus" edition, the draw for many people may actually be the low-cost device, which is expected to sacrifice a curved display and possibly the embedded fingerprint sensor as well, depending on manufacturing costs.
That strategy would mimic Apple's approach with the 2018 iPhone lineup, particularly the the iPhone XR. The device has many of the same features as the iPhone XS, but is $250 cheaper because it uses LCD instead of OLED, has less RAM, drops 3D Touch, and comes with one rear camera instead of two.
Both Apple and Samsung appear to be reacting to greater industry trends. Chinese firms like Huawei and Oppo have scored big by selling high-end phones at relatively low prices, whereas Apple and Samsung have been skewing towards the $1,000 mark. An iPhone XS Max starts at $1,099 and reaches up to $1,449, more than some Macs cost.
Apple's approach has been successful from a financial standpoint. Samsung's tack to this point has been less so, with the company's earnings from smartphones plummeting.
The Bloomberg sources noted that Samsung is also talking with Verizon about launching the "S10" in the U.S. as a 5G device. Longer-term, the company's anticipated foldable phone is reportedly in its "final stretch," the debate being whether its display will unfold horizontally or vertically. Designers are said to favor the vertical option, which would be easier to hold with one hand.
A Samsung foldable phone concept from 2014.
The device lacks an embedded fingerprint sensor, but does include a secondary 4-inch screen, intended to let people check emails and texts without flipping the phone open. Samsung and Google are said to be cooperating on a special edition of Android for the device.
The product probably won't ship until the second quarter, one source said. Samsung is still working on ensuring durability and finalizing the software interface.
The Samsung Galaxy S9.
The main S10 will have an edge-to-edge OLED display curved over the edges, roughly the same size as the 5.8-inch S9, according to sources for Bloomberg. The model is also said to have triple cameras on the back, and a front camera hidden under the display. Likewise the company is claimed to be embedding a fingerprint sensor in the screen, a goal phone makers have had for years.
While Samsung is also said to be preparing a bigger "Plus" edition, the draw for many people may actually be the low-cost device, which is expected to sacrifice a curved display and possibly the embedded fingerprint sensor as well, depending on manufacturing costs.
That strategy would mimic Apple's approach with the 2018 iPhone lineup, particularly the the iPhone XR. The device has many of the same features as the iPhone XS, but is $250 cheaper because it uses LCD instead of OLED, has less RAM, drops 3D Touch, and comes with one rear camera instead of two.
Both Apple and Samsung appear to be reacting to greater industry trends. Chinese firms like Huawei and Oppo have scored big by selling high-end phones at relatively low prices, whereas Apple and Samsung have been skewing towards the $1,000 mark. An iPhone XS Max starts at $1,099 and reaches up to $1,449, more than some Macs cost.
Apple's approach has been successful from a financial standpoint. Samsung's tack to this point has been less so, with the company's earnings from smartphones plummeting.
The Bloomberg sources noted that Samsung is also talking with Verizon about launching the "S10" in the U.S. as a 5G device. Longer-term, the company's anticipated foldable phone is reportedly in its "final stretch," the debate being whether its display will unfold horizontally or vertically. Designers are said to favor the vertical option, which would be easier to hold with one hand.
A Samsung foldable phone concept from 2014.
The device lacks an embedded fingerprint sensor, but does include a secondary 4-inch screen, intended to let people check emails and texts without flipping the phone open. Samsung and Google are said to be cooperating on a special edition of Android for the device.
The product probably won't ship until the second quarter, one source said. Samsung is still working on ensuring durability and finalizing the software interface.
Comments
Bullshit. Did you forget Samsung was found guilty in court of copying Apple? Not only do they copy Apple, but they copy Google as well. How many "S-Services" did Samsung create which were direct clones of Google services? Always trying so hard to create their own ecosystem and failing miserably.
Your post is word salad trash, completely untethered to reality. No, Samsung did not have a fingerprint solution before Touch ID that was anywhere near reliable. It was the same garbage that was on laptops, and that nobody ever used because the technology and reliability was horrendous. You don't care about "facts", only an agenda of distorting them. I've followed Apple and Samsung's products very closely in the last decade, and it's beyond blatant where all the inspiration comes from with every product and generation. Samsung has contributed absolutely nothing that has been meaningful or unique to the smart phone space. Every single trend and major pivot came from Apple's side.
Cloning other people's work is deeply, deeply embedded in Samsung's DNA. It's literally their development roadmap. I mean, look at their new "Samsung Book" for God's sakes. Its not just Apple they clone, it's literally anyone who has any influence and design chops, including Microsoft, Dyson, LG, etc.
Unlike the SE, for example, which had a processor that was faster than 98% of Android devices available at the time.
Once Apple can lose their (Samsung) dependence on memory chips and displays -- something Samsung actually does very well -- Apple can really clean-up in the market. mLED mass production and ramping up memory production from the Toshiba acquisition cannot come soon enough!
Samsung has like a gazillion phone models, well not gazillions, but thousands maybe, and they have models spanning free on-contract, almost free, low low-end, middle low-end, high low-end, low mid-range, middle mid-range, high mid-range, low high-end, middle high-end, high high-end to specialty phones for hiking, clamshells, or playing Fortnite or something like that. What is different here, other then adding a phone that’ll have an S model brand which will perform virtually the same as a Galaxy A series phone or maybe Galaxy J series phone, which isn’t all that unusual either?
Heck, Samsung is whiteboxing models now. Samsung! They are taking a Chinese built phone and putting their name on it. Samsung! There will be a high probability that they’ll whitebox an Indian built phone for the Indian market too.
btw, for your cluelessness, entire Android was iOS copycat! All notifications, cool features and Widgets came from iOS jailbreak communities. You don’t know what the fck you’re talking about. Go back to pre-iOS Android: it’s a damn OS for physical keyboard, not multitouch UI.
Cry me a river. Everyone knows that Samsung's R&D shop resides in Cupertino. FACT. Your desire to skew history to suit your agenda does not negate what actually happened. Apparently you failed to notice that Samsung got caught red-handed - in court - taking all their cues from Apple.