South Korea’s leading technology firm, Samsung Electronics, is expected to see combined sales of its up-and-coming smartphones – the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge – see more than 50 million units in 2015, according to a report quoted by the Korea Herald. The report adds that the phones will be “the most successful Galaxy S models”.
50 million Galaxy S6 units to sell in 2015
“The lead that Samsung makes with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge is likely to continue across several quarters. So we project that Samsung will sell more than 50 million units of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge combined this year”, says Hong Kong-based industry tracker Counterpoint, according to the Herald.
“This is more than the previous best-seller, the Galaxy S4, which sold around 45 million in its first year”, the researcher said, which also claimed a 55-million sales outlook for the new models, given Samsung manages to overcome rumoured delays in producing the curved screen found on the Galaxy S6 Edge.
South Korean mobile phone companies, and many more around the world, have begun preorders for the new devices already, and will hit the global market on April 10, with Asian regions to follow throughout April.
The company’s latest Galaxy S6 series, which were unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March boast advanced features and new additions such as Samsung Pay, a mobile/e-wallet that will debut later this year.
The more unconventional smartphone, the Galaxy S6 Edge, has received a lot of attention and praise as the industry’s first screen that is curved at both sides providing a wider and more useful view. This technology first debuted on the Galaxy Note Edge, which used a similar screen that only curved on one side, however.
Threat to Apple is minimal
The Counterpoint researcher said that even though Samsung’s new smartphones are threats for other Android mobiles, the impact on its arch-rival Apple will be minimal.
“The Galaxy S6 and its Edge variation will take more share from other Android competitors rather than Apple”, they said. “With the large screen iPhone, Apple has successfully retained its user base”.
Counterpoint also said there are likely to be consolidations amongst smaller smartphone companies in future, as the excessive competition in the market has caused some of them to make little to no profit.
“Usually it’s the No. 1 player that plays this role, but we are not clear if Samsung is even interested in such a strategy”, Counterpoint said. “The time for consolidation has come and if Samsung does not emerge as the consolidator someone else will”.
SOURCE: Korea Herald
Larry Banks is a keen follower of technology and finance. He has worked for a variety of online publications, writing about a diverse range of topics including mobile networks, patents, and Internet video delivery technologies.