New Galaxy Handsets Ready to Debut
Samsung Electronics is seeking to cement its leadership in the global 5G smartphone market by launching new models such as the Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy Fold and the Galaxy A90. Apple is expected to launch a 5G phone in the second half of 2020 while Huawei is having difficulties due to U.S. sanctions. Under these circumstances, Samsung Electronics will employ a strategy to expand its 5G phone lineup to widen the gap with the two companies.
Apple has no plan to release a 5G model yet and the Apple iPhone 11 (Xi), which will be launched this fall, will not support 5G. Huawei plans to launch the 5G model Mate 20X 5G in China on July 26. If the U.S.-China trade conflict continues, the Mate 20X 5G will be the last model to be powered by the Android OS among Huawei smartphones. This product will be loaded with Android 9, not Huawei’s OS. Huawei has been preparing for the launch of the new model with high hopes, but there is a possibility that Huawei will face difficulties in early sales of the Mate 20X 5G due to concern that the new model will not be able to receive OS updates properly under U.S. sanctions.
Samsung Electronics will take the wraps off the Galaxy Note 10 at a New York unpacking event on Aug. 7. As the event is only two weeks away, most of the product specifications have already been unveiled.
The Galaxy Note 10 is expected to come out in two models -- a 6.3-inch general model and a 6.8-inch plus models. The standard model features an 8 GB RAM, a 256 GB storage, and a triple-lens camera (a 12-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera, a-16 megapixel wide angle camera) on the back. It supports 25 W charging speed and its battery is 3500 mAh.
The plus model supports a 256 GB storage and a 12 GB RAM. Its back is loaded with a quad camera plus a standard model camera array plus a time-of-flight (ToF) 3D sensor. The model supports 45 W high-speed charging and its battery is 4300 mAh.
The most talked-about part is the presence of an earphone jack. The model is expected to feature, for the first time among Samsung flagship smartphones, a separate wired earphone that can connect to a USB-C charge terminal without a 3.5 mm earphone terminal. The Bixby button is gone as it is integrated with the power button.
The Air Command function using S Pen will be enhanced. You can look at photos in the gallery of the Galaxy Note 10 without touching your smartphone. You will also have the option to draw a line like a highlighter when you want to emphasize something with S Pen. The general model will retail at 1.2 million won and the plus model at 1.4 million won.
The Galaxy Fold is ready to go on sale. The foldable phone is highly likely to be launched in August. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is expected to affect sales of the Galaxy Note 10, so Samsung Electronics is reportedly mulling over product launch intervals.
The Galaxy A90 is expected to come out in the first week of September. Currently, Korea’s three mobile carriers and Samsung Electronics are considering launching the Galaxy A90, which will be priced between 800,000 won and 900,000 won, in early September. The Galaxy A90 is expected to penetrate into a niche market different from those of the high-priced Galaxy Fold (between 2 million and 2.5 million won) and the premium phone Galaxy Note10 (between 1.2 million won and 1.5 million won).