Launch Competition
LG Electronics is unveiling its new mid-end K Series smartphones at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicking off in Las Vegas on Jan. 6. Last year, its non-flagship smartphones made their debut in March at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Spain. Likewise, its next flagship handset G5 is expected to be unveiled earlier than usual, at MWC 2016 in February instead of April.
Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S7 is predicted to make its debut earlier than scheduled, too. Last year, the company displayed the Galaxy S6 at the MWC and put it on the market about a month later. This year, however, the Galaxy S7 is likely to become available immediately after the exhibition.
In addition, some industry sources say that Apple will release the iPhone 7 in the first half of this year, although the company has launched other products between July and December until now.
“The other smartphone manufacturers are releasing new high-end products in the first and second halves alike, but Apple’s come once every year,” one of them said, adding, “This means Apple might have some disadvantages in terms of demand response.” It is also said that Apple will release the low-price iPhone C in the first half instead of changing its schedule.