Samsung and Apple are in the lead on the smartphone market, but for how much longer? The Korean tech giant is expected to introduce two new smartphones, possibly the new version of Galaxy S6 edge, that will have a curved screen, and Galaxy Note 5, their newest phablet.
If Samsung usually holds on to device announcements until September, this year they might want to get a head start over their main competitor, Apple. The latter will probably announce the latest version of iPhone (6s or 7) on September 9. This would give Samsung enough time to beat Apple to market.
It’s no secret Samsung has been struggling to make ends meet and satisfy the market’s requirements. This stemmed from the slow manufacturing process caused by the curved screen of the new smartphone.
But Samsung can’t be happy looking at the numbers. Their sales are sluggish, with most recent reports showing their incomes have decreased by eight per cent as a whole and as much as thirty eight per cent only in the mobile division.
This is happening as a result of the fierce competition on the smartphone market. With Chinese manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi breathing down the necks of Samsung and Apple, the fight for territory is only now beginning.
Samsung and Apple are currently holding the first places on the Australian market, but the jury is still out for who’s winning the third place. With Sony, HTC and LG witnessing severe sale drops, other cheaper manufacturers seize the moment to expand to new markets.
We’re talking about Xiaomi and Huawei, whose devices are on the rise. They are already on the first place on the Chinese market and now they have their eyes set on Australia. There’s no wonder their smartphones are doing well. Xiaomi released the Mi Note in January, selling it for $487, as opposed to Apple 6, for which you had to pay $1286.
Huawei decided for another strategy. They went ahead and increased their prices. It was a bold move, but it paid off. Only in the first half of 2015 they witnessed their revenues doubling, reaching 7.23 billion dollars.
They’re also looking at an increased demand. During the last six months their shipments spiked by thirty nine per cent as opposed to the last years’ deliveries. With Samsung and Apple staying on the high end edge of the smartphone spectrum, is Huawei’s strategy getting the firm on its path to number one?
Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge sales didn’t match Samsung’s expectations. While they can blame it on the ever changing smartphone market, that doesn’t change the fact the competition is advancing at a strong pace.