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Samsung says new features could come to mid-range phones before flagships
Flashy new features almost always arrive on the most expensive smartphones first, but Samsung may start taking a different approach. DJ Koh, head of Samsung's mobile division, tells CNBC that the company is now focused on differentiating mid-range phones ahead of flagship phones, as sales lag on higher-end models.
"In the past, I brought the new technology and differentiation to the flagship model and then moved to the mid-end. But I have changed my strategy from this year to bring technology and differentiation points starting from the mid-end," Koh told CNBC.
[...] Samsung hasn't avoided bringing higher-end features to mid-range phones — this year's Galaxy A series, for instance, included an 18:9 screen and dual front-facing cameras. But it was going up against phones that offered screens with notches, the clear symbol of a 2018 device. That kind of difference makes it harder to compete with companies like OnePlus, which are quicker to bring these features to mid-range phones.
That all said, Koh told CNBC the changes are really just about "focusing on millennials who cannot afford the flagship."
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday September 05 2018, @07:29PM (5 children)
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Farkus888 on Wednesday September 05 2018, @07:43PM (2 children)
People who can afford to buy your $1000 phone more likely can afford to buy another companies $1000 phone. 2 months later because they couldn't live with that stupid bixby button. Then tell everyone they know how annoying your phone was and how they'll never go back and how happy they are with your competitor. That sounds oddly specific because it is. Search the internet for "bixby button" and that anecdote seems to scale to data just fine.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 05 2018, @08:47PM (1 child)
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday September 06 2018, @03:15AM
Unusual overlap: big $ purchasers who are technical (and have time) enough to instal an app to fix a design problem.
Suspect this was actually a zero overlap, and the children/friends of big spender did the app installation.
Meanwhile, big spender is still whinging about that stupid design feature..
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by Hyper on Wednesday September 05 2018, @10:46PM
I like my phone. Got it for $400 ages after it was released.
I don't need new wiz bang features.
This Samsung Galaxy 4 is good enough.
I have been through a lot of batteries though. Perhaps this non-removal battery phase is to get people on to support plans?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 06 2018, @12:59AM
From the article:
Translation: We have now raised the price on the 'flagship' phone so high that we've killed its sales volume potential. So instead we are going to try to pump of the sales volume on the mid-range phones where we make almost the same margin as on the flagship, but since we sell 20 mid-range for 1 flagship, there are far more profits to be had.
Alternate translation: We've discovered that going over $1,000 for a phone just kills the sales volume. When the price becomes four digits, too many people start thinking "I can't afford that much" for a phone.