New Delhi: The Samsung Galaxy S8 lineup will struggle to sell more units than its predecessor, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, states noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a latest report, the analyst has stated that the Galaxy S8 lineup may not have “sufficiently attractive selling points”, and as a result, could end up with lesser momentum of sales. In turn, Kuo has stated that the main focus will be on Apple’s iPhone 8, which is said to flaunt an OLED display panel.
Kuo has projected Galaxy S8 shipments in the range of 40-45 million units, lesser than the estimated 52 million Galaxy S7/S7 edge units that Samsung is believed to have sold last year. He has further added that with these two flagship phones, Samsung’s “contribution to the supply chain will be limited.” In comparison, Kuo has stated strong sales forecasts for the upcoming anniversary edition iPhone, and has hinted that the new iPhone will sell more units than the Galaxy S8 lineup. He has, however, refrained from putting a figure on his estimates.
After the infamous Galaxy Note7 fiasco in 2016 that led to the eventual recall of 2.5 million units worldwide and an estimated $3.1bn loss in operating profit, Samsung Mobile has been heavily billed to come back strong with the new Galaxy S8 lineup.
The latest series of leaks and rumours have pointed at two screen sizes - 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch, both with dual-edge curved displays with nearly no bezels. Samsung is also said to have exclusive first launch rights over Qualcomm’s new generation flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 835, and is said to host an iris scanner in front.
The new smartphones are expected to remove the physical home button and the Samsung logo from the front as the display takes up almost the entirety of the front facade, and are also expected to retain the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Apple, meanwhile, is expected to introduce three iPhone variants this year, with two of them being incremental upgrades to the present iPhone 7 lineup, and the third a special variant that may cost $1,000 or more.
The special, or anniversary edition iPhone is expected to flaunt an OLED display panel, along with a new design, a 3D Touch Home button, improved dual-camera setup and more. Apple’s new phones are usually launched in the second half of the year, while Samsung is now expected to host the Galaxy S8 launch on March 29, 2017.
Samsung certainly has a lot riding on the Galaxy S8, and launching its flagships early may see the company gaining a head start over Apple’s new iPhones. The two companies have vied for the number one spot in flagship phones for a while now, and this year will be particularly crucial for Samsung, following the Note7 mishap.
The Korean electronics giant was also rumoured to be planning to introduce a reworked Galaxy Note7 in select markets, India included, to cut down on losses, but such plans were subsequently refuted by the company itself.
It remains to be seen how the eventual sales figures turn out. Samsung is also expected to price its new flagships around the $1,000 mark, which makes the brewing 2017 flagship smartphone battle even more exciting.
Manufacturers like LG, Huawei and Sony have already introduced their 2017 flagships, with Sony stealing the show in terms of the specifications on offer. These handsets may eventually be overhauled by Samsung and Apple, all of which depend on the coming months. Apple's OLED iPhone 8 will sell more than Samsung Galaxy S8: Analyst
