Samsung Mobile Devices










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Samsung Mobile Devices

by Michael Gariffo

Docid: 00021346

Publication Date: 2101

Report Type: PRODUCT

Preview

Samsung is not only a leader in the smartphone market but a top contender in
the overall mobile device market. The company may not have been
the first entrant into the smartphone or tablet game, nor has it always
been the most well known, but its steady progress, increasing popularity,
and savvy exploitation of the Android operating system have made it one of the
top smartphone makers on the planet. This report profiles the company’s history marketing mobile
devices, its most popular
current models, and its mobile strategy going forward.

Report Contents:

Vendor

Name: Samsung
Headquarters
2 floor, 46 White Street, 
New York, NY 10013
(212) 675-1312
Web: http://www.samsung.com/
Type of Vendor: Consumer electronics and PCs
Founded: 1938
Service Areas: Global
Stock Symbol: 005930 (KOSPI)

Device History

[return to top of this report]

Smartphones

Although Samsung did offer smartphones and "Media Phones" prior to
the release of the Android operating system, it was not until the launch
of Google’s mobile OS that the company – and the industry at large – began
producing handsets that would be recognizable as smartphones by today’s
consumers. This began in earnest with the release of the original Samsung Galaxy
S. Following the success of this device, Samsung would go on to grow the Galaxy
name into an entire line of Android-based smartphones and tablets, with numerous
entries on all major US carriers and many others around the world. For all this diversification, the company’s primary offering – and its recurring flagship in
the "mainstream" smartphone category – remains the Galaxy S line. There are, however, other handsets that played an important
role in getting Samsung where it is today. With all this taken into account,
this section focuses on Samsung’s Galaxy S line, its Galaxy Note smartphone
line, and its Google-branded Android offerings.

Figure 1. Samsung Galaxy S

Figure 1. Samsung Galaxy S

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – July 1, 2010
  • Launch Price – $199.99 on all major US carriers
  • Features
    • Processor – 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8
    • Memory – 512 MB RAM
    • Display – 4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 800×480 at
      233 PPI
    • Camera – 5 MP rear camera capable of 720p video recording
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS, FM radio, 3G (some
      models)
    • Power – 1500 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Dimensions and Weight – 122x64x10 mm or 4.82×2.53×0.39 inches
    with a weight of 4.2 oz.
  • Description and Reception – The original Galaxy S
    launched as a relative unknown. Although Samsung had previously released the
    Galaxy, that device was barely worthy of the smartphone classification and
    is hardly remember today. Thankfully for Samsung, the Galaxy S far surpassed
    its predecessor, earning glowing early reviews, selling very well, and
    putting Samsung on the map as one of the major players in the Android game.
    In a practice that would become tradition for the Galaxy S line, Samsung
    released the device with a variety of "secondary" names depending on which
    carrier it was made for. These included the T-Mobile Vibrant, the AT&T
    Captivate, the Sprint Epic, and the Verizon Fascinate. In addition to the
    differences in designation, each device also had slightly different
    capabilities. The Sprint version, for example, included a slide out keyboard
    tray, while the T-Mobile variant did not support a 3G network, which
    T-Mobile lacked across most of its coverage area at the time.

Figure 2. Google Nexus S

Figure 2. Google Nexus S

Source: Google

  • Launch Date – December 22, 2010
  • Launch Price – $199 on T-Mobile USA with new two-year contract, or
    $529 unlocked
  • Features
    • Processor – 1 GHz single-core ARM Cortex-A8
    • Memory – 512 MB RAM
    • Display – 4-inch Super Amoled display with a resolution of 800×480 at
      233 PPI
    • Camera – 5 MP rear camera and VGA-quality front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS, 3G data, NFC
    • Power – 1,500 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Dimensions and Weight – 124x63x11 mm or 4.9×2.5×0.43 inches
    with a weight of 4.9 oz.
  • Description and Reception – Although sales of the Nexus S
    would never match those of the Galaxy S II, let alone the Galaxy S III, the
    device did serve as an important milestone for Samsung. First, it showed that
    Google itself trusted the company’s capabilities in making an Android handset
    that it would stake its own reputation on. Second, it showed that Samsung
    could indeed make an impressive, high-end Android handset that could compete
    with HTC and Motorola’s best offerings. The company parlayed this experience
    into its own design philosophies, a move that would eventually result in the
    runaway success of the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note line.

Figure 3. Samsung Galaxy S II

Figure 3. Samsung Galaxy S II

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – February 15, 2011
  • Launch Price – $250 to $299, depending on carrier
  • Features
    • Processor – 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9
    • Memory – 1 GB RAM
    • Display – 4.3-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 800×480 at
      218 PPI
    • Camera – 8 MP rear camera with a 2MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS, 3G, NFC
    • Power – 1,650 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Dimensions and Weight – 125x66x9 mm or 4.9×2.6×0.3 inches
    with a weight of 4.1 oz.
  • Description and Reception – Where the original Galaxy S
    made a spot for Samsung in the Android device market, the Galaxy S II gave
    the company a shot at being the market leader. The device’s
    improved screen, both front- and rear-facing cameras, and enhanced
    performance combined to make a handset that many users are still very
    satisfied with to this day. Ironically, the device’s sleek new design
    would prove both a boon and a curse for Samsung. A boon in that it made
    the device aesthetically pleasing and provided a premium feel to
    the handset; a curse in that Apple would later use the Galaxy S II’s
    design as a major piece of evidence in its never-ending litigation with
    Samsung. The rectangular design, 4 app launcher, and absence of all hardware
    buttons besides a home button are factors that bear a resemblance to Apple’s
    design, enough so that various courts around the world have found that
    Samsung infringed on Apple’s intellectual property. Still, as a standalone
    device, the Galaxy S II showed that Samsung was more than capable of beating
    the former big boys of the Android market, including Motorola and HTC.

Figure 4. Google Galaxy Nexus

Figure 4. Google Galaxy Nexus

Source: Google

  • Launch Date – November 17, 2011
  • Launch Price – $299 on Verizon with a new two-year contract, or
    $529 unlocked
  • Features
    • Processor – 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9
    • Memory – 1 GB RAM
    • Display – 4.65-inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 1280×720 at
      316 PPI
    • Camera – 5 MP rear camera capable of 1080p video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 1.3 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS, 3G data, NFC, LTE
      (Verizon and Sprint versions)
    • Power – 1,750 mAh (HSPA+ version) | 1,850 mAh (LTE
      version)
    • Android Launch Version – 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • Dimensions and Weight – 136x68x9 mm or 5.3×2.7×0.35 inches
    with a weight of 4.8 oz.
  • description and Reception – The Galaxy Nexus was the model that
    ushered Android into its modern era. The device launched as the first
    handset anywhere with Android 4.0 on board, and remained the only device to
    carry the operating system in the US for more than a month. The smartphone’s performance,
    aesthetics, and capabilities were immediately obvious to reviewers and
    consumers alike, as was the handset’s near "retina-quality" screen,
    which looked
    just as good as the iPhone 4 or 4S. On top of this, its graphical processing power let it display
    the same level of advanced graphics as Apple’s latter model. Despite
    launching with Verizon Wireless, the Galaxy Nexus still did not show remarkable sales.
    It was the best selling Google device to date, but nowhere near as
    successful as Samsung’s own Galaxy S II. Since Samsung was already well on
    its way to becoming the most popular Android smartphone maker in the world
    by the time the Galaxy Nexus reached market, the ultimate importance of this
    device for the company was somewhat negligible.

Figure 5. Samsung Galaxy Note

Figure 5. Samsung Galaxy Note

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – October 1, 2011
  • Launch Price – $299 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers
  • Features
    • Processor – 1.4 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9
    • Memory – 1 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.29-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution
      of 1280×800 at 285 PPI
    • Camera – 8 MP rear camera capable of 1080p video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, NFC
    • Power – 2,500 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy Note was launched as a smartphone/tablet hybrid, a
    form factor that quickly came to be known as a "phablet" around the
    blogosphere. Despite other companies having tried to integrate smartphone
    functionality into a small scale tablet device, none experienced much
    success. It was for this reason that the Galaxy Note surprised many pundits and reviewers
    with its strong sales and positive public reaction. In fact, the original
    Galaxy Note reached 10 million units sold in just 9 months. While this
    wouldn’t match
    the massive sales the GS III would later experience, it by far surpassed even the
    most optimistic estimates for this device. Just why the Galaxy Note
    succeeded where others failed is a matter for debate. Some believe the gradual
    and consistent growth in Android handset sizes over the previous two years had prepared the public for the idea of a 5-plus inch screen; others
    simply believe Samsung managed to find just the right size to appeal to
    consumers that thought previous "phablets" were either too small to
    be an effective tablet or too large to be an effective smartphone. In any
    case, this device, with a massive screen and its included stylus, seems like it was
    designed specifically to break every aspect of Apple’s design philosophy. But it did so while selling
    like hotcakes. 

Figure 6. Samsung Galaxy S III

Figure 6. Samsung Galaxy S III

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – May 29, 2012
  • Launch Price – $199 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers
  • Features
    • Processor – 1.4 GHz quad-core Cortex-A9
    • Memory – 1 GB RAM
    • Display – 4.8-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280×720 at
      306 PPI
    • Camera – 8 MP rear camera with a 1.9MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS, 3G, NFC, LTE (some
      versions)
    • Power – 2,100 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Dimensions and Weight – 137x70x9 mm or 5.4×2.8×0.34 inches
    with a weight of 4.1 oz.
  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy S III may have been the company’s greatest achievement. Not only did the
    device match or exceed the hardware statistics of the iPhone 4S (Apple’s
    contemporary offering) in all categories, it exceeded the performance of
    nearly any other Android device available at its launch, with the only
    possible exception being the HTC One X. These facts combined to make the
    handset Samsung’s single best selling phone of all time to that point, with more than 30
    million units being sold in just five months.1 Not only did this
    provide Samsung with massive profits, but it also offered the company the ability to brag that, even if it was only for one month, its
    phone outsold the current iPhone – a feat unmatched since before the
    iPhone 4’s launch.2 Sales of the Galaxy S III remained strong
    for the entire year leading up to the introduction of its successor, the
    Galaxy S 4.

Figure 7. Samsung Galaxy Note II

Figure 7. Samsung Galaxy Note II

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – September 26, 2012
  • Launch Price – $299 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers
  • Features
    • Processor – 1.6 GHz quad-core Cortex-A9
    • Memory – 2 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.55-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution
      of 1280×720 at 267 PPI
    • Camera – 8 MP rear camera capable of 1080p video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, (some
      models), NFC
    • Power – 3,100 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – Apparently, Samsung’s engineers
    subscribe to the philosophy that "bigger is better," because the second
    generation of the Galaxy Note has an even larger screen than its predecessor. On
    release, the Galaxy Note II experienced brisk sales and widespread adoption. Although most
    original Galaxy Note owners were locked into the contracts that
    subsidized their original purchase, the second gen device gathered new
    converts to the phablet form factor from former iPhone and Android owners alike.
    Updates to the model included double the RAM, a larger battery, and a
    "more ergonomic" version of Samsung’s S Pen stylus. However, Samsung
    made a seemingly odd decision to lower the horizontal resolution of the screen
    from 800 to 720 in this generation, dropping the overall PPI of the display to
    267, significantly lower than the iPhone 5 or Samsung’s own Galaxy S
    III. Nonetheless, Note owners seemed to be more concerned with screen real
    estate than resolution, which the Note II provided plenty of. 

Figure 8. Samsung Galaxy S 4

Figure 8. Samsung Galaxy S 4

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – April 26, 2013
  • Launch Price – $199 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers
  • Features
    • Processor – 1.9 GHz Snapdragon 600 SoC
    • Memory – 2 GB RAM
    • Display – 5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution
      of 1920×1080 at 441 PPI
    • Camera – 13 MP rear camera capable of 1080p video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 2,600 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 had some
    very large shoes to fill when it launched. Although the company had some success
    prior to the Galaxy S III, that was truly the jumping off point for Samsung’s
    reign as the king of all Android handset makers. Following up on that act, the
    company seemingly struggled to come up with something that would wow consumers
    again. Reviewers did largely praise the Galaxy S 4 for its impressive internal
    components as well as its enhanced display and improved performance. However,
    the smartphone was called out for being too iterative. It provided no real
    differentiation from its predecessor aside from a more powerful CPU and more
    attractive screen. Given the fact that the GS3 still had more than enough juice
    to keep even power users happy at the time of the GS4’s release, it seemed like
    a weak draw to convince users to spend their precious upgrades on a device that
    hadn’t changed nearly as much as people had been hoping for. Despite all this
    negativity, the GS4 still had no trouble in the sales department, with the
    device selling more than 40 million units in its first six months on the market.

Figure 9. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Figure 9. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – September 25, 2013
  • Launch Price – $299 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers
  • Features
    • Processor – 1.9 GHz Snapdragon 800 SoC
    • Memory – 3 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution
      of 1920×1080 at 388 PPI
    • Camera – 13 MP rear camera capable of 1080p video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 3,200 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy Note 3 launched as
    the largest entry yet in Samsung’s "other" smartphone line. Although
    by this time the phablet form factor had proven itself a worthy
    option, Samsung continued to push the envelope in an attempt to find the
    largest device that consumers were still willing to think of as a phone, and not
    simply as a tablet capable of making phone calls. The internal components of the
    Galaxy Note 3 were the most impressive released by Samsung to that point, with
    the device being more than capable of competing with dedicated tablets thanks
    to its Snapdragon 800 CPU and 3GB of RAM. As has become the norm, the Galaxy
    Note 3 did very well, although not quite as well as its more mainstream
    cousin, the Galaxy S 4. 

Figure 10. Samsung Galaxy S5

Figure 10. Samsung Galaxy S5

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – April 11, 2014
  • Launch Price – $199 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers, with various installment-based pricing plans available
  • Features
    • Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC
    • Memory – 2 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution
      of 1920×1080 at 432 PPI
    • Camera – 16 MP rear camera capable of 1080p video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, LTE-A
      (some models), NFC
    • Power – 2,800 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy S5 was once again a
    huge success for Samsung, despite the company having done little with the
    update to shake the idea that its flagship line had become very iterative.
    Early sales once again beat its predecessors by a comfortable margin and made
    the device into Samsung’s best selling handset of all time. Reviewers
    largely praised the unit for its performance and unusually high level of water
    and dust resistance for a non-ruggedized phone. However, Samsung’s continued
    use of its TouchWiz Android overlay did cause some early issues with
    performance and stability, a problem that was only partially ameliorated by
    Samsung’s subsequent efforts to correct them. However, minor glitches of this
    type have, unfortunately, become par for the course in nearly all models of
    Android smartphones and tablets that use a "skinned" version of the
    operating system, and are in no way limited only to Samsung’s units. 

Figure 11. Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Figure 11. Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – October 25, 2014
  • Launch Price – $299 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers, with various installment-based pricing plans available
  • Features
    • Processor – Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 5433 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 805,
      depending on version
    • Memory – 3 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED with a resolution of
      2560×1440 at 515 ppi
    • Camera – 16 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 3.7 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 3,220 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy Note 4 launched into
    a market that was much more friendly to the phablet-sized smartphone than any of its
    predecessors. At this point, even non-phablet handsets had reached screen
    sizes that would have been considered massive just a few years earlier. This
    meant that the Note 4 had a much easier time convincing consumers that they
    really did need a screen that large, and it showed in the device’s early and
    widespread sellouts. Initial reviews of the device praised its massive, bright,
    and crisp display, as well as several new innovations added to the S-Pen stylus.
    The device’s camera was also well-received, thanks in large part to it being
    among the first smartphone units capable of recording 4k video. While the Note 4
    did not outsell its slightly older cousin, the Galaxy S 5, the gap between sales
    figures for the two models showed a narrowing trend.

Figure 12. Samsung Galaxy S6

Figure 12. Samsung Galaxy S6

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – April 10, 2015
  • Launch Price – $199 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers, with various installment-based pricing plans available
  • Features
    • Processor – Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420
    • Memory – 3 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED with a resolution of
      2560×1440 at 577 ppi
    • Camera – 16 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 5 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 2,550 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy S6 launched at a time when
    Samsung was, for the first time in many years, struggling to maintain its
    customer base. Due to the wide-scale saturation of the smartphone market by
    this time, Samsung was primarily attempting to recapture customers that were
    on their second, third, or fourth smartphones. These more experienced
    smartphone owners were looking for something that differentiated their next
    purchase from their existing smartphones. Since Samsung’s product lines had
    remained relatively iterative for several years, the company’s product design
    was often called stagnant and unimaginative. Because of this, 2015 would mark
    the year when Samsung made a drastic change to its design aesthetics and
    device features. Gone were the expandable storage and removable battery,
    replaced by a unibody glass and metal design with a premium exterior look and
    feel. Although the design aesthetics and build quality were highly praised,
    the loss of expandable storage and the freedom to swap out batteries in the
    middle of the day or add a larger power pack to the device were lamented by
    many. Still, the resurgence of Samsung’s sales figures during the year would
    suggest that the GS6 and the devices it launched alongside were a move in the
    right direction. 

Figure 13. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Figure 13. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – April 10, 2015
  • Launch Price – $249 to $299 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers, with various installment-based pricing plans available
  • Features
    • Processor – Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420
    • Memory – 3 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED with a resolution of
      2560×1440 at 577 ppi
    • Camera – 16 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 5 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 2,550 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge was
    essentially a clone of the standard S6 with a new, novel screen design. The
    curved-edge display on this device was not a first for Samsung, which had
    already produced the Galaxy Edge. It was, however, the first time this type of
    display was introduced to the company’s flagship line. Although the S6 Edge
    offered little over and above its more normal sibling, its reception was
    seemingly even more positive than the Galaxy S6’s, with early purchase volume
    outstripping Samsung’s ability to supply retailers. This was, of course, also
    due to the fact that the company’s ability to produce the curved display was unable to match demand, an issue
    was corrected in relatively quick fashion. In any case, the new display design was successful enough
    that the Edge offshoot of the main Galaxy S line has remained in place since
    the device’s launch, with the wraparound display also having been upsized into
    a phablet class device. 

Figure 14. Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Figure 14. Galaxy Note 5

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 21, 2015
  • Launch Price – $299 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers, with various installment-based pricing plans available
  • Features
    • Processor – Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420
    • Memory – 4 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED with a resolution of
      2560×1440 at 518 ppi
    • Camera – 16 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 5 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 3,000 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – Like the Galaxy S6, the Note 5 launched
    sans MicroSD card slot and removable battery. However, the loss of these
    features caused a bit more of an uproar due to the fact that the Note line was
    widely thought of as a device geared specifically towards power users. These
    type of users, and their typically heavy workloads, tended to rely more
    frequently on the extra storage and power options previously included in the
    line. Making matters worse was the fact that Samsung actually chose to include
    a smaller battery than that seen on the previous year’s model, despite
    doing relatively little to reduce the device’s power consumption. Whether this
    was a design decision in order to keep the Note 5’s profile svelte or
    a choice based on the reduced power consumption made possible by Android 6.0
    (Marshmallow), which the device would later be updated to, remains unclear.
    Although these were generally considered to be points against the device, its
    new design, narrower bezels, and expanded S-Pen capabilities all played very
    well among reviewers and the public alike. The device seemed to remain
    somewhat of a niche offering, like its predecessors, but it also showed sure
    signs of inching its way closer to the mainstream customer base enjoyed by the
    Galaxy S line. This was thanks largely to the fact that many, many other
    phablet-class devices had, by this point, been on the market for years, giving
    the public time to become accustomed to the idea of a device sized similarly to
    the Note 5.

Figure 15. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

Figure 15. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 21, 2015
  • Launch Price – $299-$349 with a new two-year agreement on all major US
    carriers, with various installment-based pricing plans available
  • Features
    • Processor – Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7420
    • Memory – 4 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED with a resolution of
      2560×1440 at 518 ppi
    • Camera – 16 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 5 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 3,000 mA·h lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy S6 Edge+ shares the same
    relationship with the Galaxy Note 5 as its smaller cousin shares with the
    Galaxy S6, meaning the S6 Edge+ is essentially a clone of the other device
    with a new screen strapped on. However, unlike the Note 5, the S6 Edge+ does
    not include the S-Pen, and is essentially Samsung’s first mainstream entry
    into the phablet marketplace to eschew a stylus. The company’s
    growing number of massive devices mirrored the market’s growing desire for
    them, and resulted in Samsung selling an impressive number of the high-end
    handsets. It should be noted, however, that with S6 Edge+’s high-end components
    and innovative screen design came an equally high-end pricetag. The phone
    launched as one of the company’s most expensive ever, with full-retail pricing
    often going as high as $849, or as much as $100 more than the typically
    expensive Note line’s latest entry at the time. This is due, primarily, to the
    additional cost of manufacturing the curved-edge display on the S6 Edge+. While
    Samsung may have worked out the majority of its production flow kinks by the
    time this device launched, it was still unable to bring the price of producing
    these unusual displays down to the point where it could be sold for a comparable
    retail value to the company’s flat-screened line. None the less, the S6 Edge+
    received praise equal to, if not greater than, the accolades heaped on Samsung’s
    other 2015 redesigns, resulting in a year of nearly unanimous successes for
    Samsung’s smartphone business.

Figure 16. Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Figure 16. Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – March 11, 2016

  • Launch Price –
    • S7 – $700 
    • S7 Edge – $849

  • Features
    • Processor – Samsung Exynos 8890 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
      (depending on variant of each device)
    • Memory – 4 GB RAM
    • Display –
      • S7 – 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED with a resolution of 2560×1440 at
        577 ppi
      • S7 Edge – 5.5-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED with a resolution of
        2560×1440 at 534 ppi
    • Camera – 12 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 5 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power –
      • S7 – 3,000 mAh
      • S7 Edge – 3,600 mAh

  • Description and Reception –

    Following the success of the Galaxy S6 Edge and Edge+, Samsung decided
    to go full throttle on its curved-edge display design philosophy, replacing the
    traditional flat screen on their flagship device with the curved-edge
    display for the seventh iteration. In another strategy shift, Samsung decided to
    shed some of the differentiation previously seen in its Galaxy S, Edge, and
    Edge+ product lines, trimming its variations down to a pair of
    size choices. For the first time, the S7 and S7 Edge were essentially the same
    device on an internal basis. The only differences between the two was their
    size and the sizes of their displays. Nearly everything else was the same. This
    strategy closely mirrored the one that Apple had been using since the launch of
    its iPhone Plus line and was seemingly a move in the right direction for
    Samsung, at least as far as the company’s sales figures for this generation
    went. Both devices were lauded for feeling great in the hand, despite their
    relatively large size, as well as their build quality. Many of Samsung’s power
    users were also thrilled that both devices once again included a MicroSD card
    slot, making it possible to expand the storage of either smartphone by as much
    as 256GB. 

Figure 17. Samsung Note 7

Figure 17. Samsung Note 7

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – March 11, 2016
  • Launch Price – $849
  • Features
    • Processor – Samsung Exynos 8890 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
      (depending on variant )
    • Memory – 4 GB RAM
    • Display – 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED with a resolution
      of 2560×1440 at 518 ppi
    • Camera – 12 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 5 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 3,500 mAh

  • Description and Reception – Whereas the S7 and S7 Edge were a high
    point for Samsung, the launch of the Note 7 was almost certainly the biggest
    unmitigated disaster in the company’s history. Following what seemed like a
    great launch, complete with rave tech site reviews, reports began to arise that
    several Note 7 devices were overheating and were even catching fire or
    exploding. It soon became clear that there was a real and very dangerous problem
    with the Note 7, forcing Samsung to issue a recall of the device while it was
    still in its infancy. With the problem seemingly resolved, Samsung began issuing
    "fixed" units to countries around the world. Unfortunately, these supposedly
    safe devices soon began mimicking their predecessors in combusting. The result
    this time was unprecedented measures by regulatory authorities, banning the
    dangerous devices from airplanes and mandating recalls and special shipping
    procedures. The company, while extremely apologetic, still lost a huge share of
    the public’s goodwill during these events. In an attempt to salvage its image,
    Samsung completely cancelled the Note 7 and took measure to collect any
    remaining devices in the hands of the public. This unprecedented move ended what
    can only be described as a sad chapter in Samsung’s history.

Figure 18. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

Figure 18. Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – April 21, 2017
  • Launch Price – $749
    (S8) or $849 (S8 Plus)

  • Features
    • Processor – Exynos Octa-core 2.5 GHz CPU or Snapdragon Octa-core2.45
      GHz CPU (depending on market)
    • Memory – 4 GB or 6GB of RAM (depending on market)
    • Display –
      • S8 – 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of
        2960×1440 at 572 ppi
      • S8 Plus – 6.2-inch Super AMOLDED display with a resolution of
        2960×1440 at 529 ppi
    • Camera – 12 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 8 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 
      • S8 – 3,000 mAh
      • S8 Plus – 3,5000 mAh

  • Description and Reception – As the first major flagship smartphone
    launch following the events of the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, the debut of the Galaxy
    S8 and S8 Plus had an immense amount of pressure to succeed. It could be argued
    that Samsung’s entire future in the smartphone market hinged on this launch.
    Knowing this, Samsung designed the S8 line to include two of the most
    technically and visually impressive phones ever released. Not only did both
    sizes of device now come with internal components exceeding nearly anything else
    on the market at the time, but both included what many described as the most
    visually stunning display to ever grace a smartphone. This is because of both
    the extremely high saturation levels and detail produced by Samsung’s well-known
    AMOLED panels, and the fact that the company had managed to create a form factor
    that nearly eliminated all front-facing bezels from both devices. Only a small
    sliver of bezel was left at the top and bottom, while the side bezels were gone
    entirely, replaced by the curved screen edge Samsung had begun to favor in
    recent years. The public and professional reception to the device was immediate
    and highly positive, with most reactions including some form of praise for the
    nearly borderless screen. Samsung also received a wide rang of compliments for
    its build quality, performance benchmarks, and battery optimization. Although no
    single device could entirely erase the stain left on the Samsung brand by the
    Note 7, the S8 and S8 Plus did as much for the company as any single product
    could possible be expected to.

Figure 19. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Figure 19. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 23, 2017
  • Launch Price – $949
  • Features

    • Processor – Exynos Octa-core 2.3 GHz CPU or Snapdragon Octa-core2.35
      GHz CPU (depending on market)
    • Memory – 6GB of RAM
    • Display – 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of
      2960×1440 at 521 ppi
    • Camera – 12 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 30
      frames per second and a 8 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 3,300 mAh

  • Description and Reception – Some pressure may have been taken off
    of the Note 8 by the highly successful launch of the Galaxy S8 line, but the
    Note 8 still had the unenviable role of being the direct successor to the
    biggest disaster in smartphone history. Because of this, Samsung took a somewhat
    safe path with the Note 8, closely mirroring the design of the S8 line, and
    choosing to include a smaller, and much, much safer battery within the Note 8
    than the one featured in the Note 7. Aside from these cautious, albeit obvious,
    choices, the Note 8 held closely to its line’s pedigree. Once again, buyers
    received an upgraded S-Pen, allowing them to access the Live Edge features and
    stylus improvements that were originally launched with the Note 7, but never
    truly experienced by the public due to the phone’s recall. Although the device
    received much praise, and, more importantly, no reports of dramatic or explosive
    failures, it seemed that the launch of the Note 8 once again marked a return to
    this line being a niche device. That is largely because of the increasing size
    and feature set of the Galaxy S Plus models. Where consumers would once have had
    to buy a Note model to get the best internal hardware, largest screens, or
    curved-edge displays, they could now obtain all of those things by choosing the
    significantly less expensive S8 Plus. This meant that only the users that
    actually require the S-Pen stylus really needed to pay attention to the Note 8.
    Still, a large portion of the market continued to appreciated the extra
    productivity and creativity options provided by the S-Pen, insuring that the
    Note 8 continued to fill consumer demand.

Figure 20. Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

Figure 20. Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – March 11, 2018
  • Launch Price – $720
    (S9) or $840 (S9+)

  • Features
    • Processor – Exynos Octa-core 2.7 GHz CPU or Snapdragon Octa-core2.8
      GHz CPU (depending on market)
    • Memory – 4 GB (S9) or 6GB of RAM (s9+)
    • Display –
      • S9 – 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of
        2960×1440 at 570 ppi
      • S9+ – 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of
        2960×1440 at 529 ppi
    • Camera – 12 MP rear camera capable of 4k video recording at 60
      frames per second and a 8 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 
      • S9 – 3,000 mAh
      • S9+ – 3,550 mAh

  • Description and Reception – With its smartphone business
    largely back on track at this point, Samsung chose to stay the course with
    its 2018 edition of the Galaxy S line. This iteration was very, very close
    to its predecessor in external design, once again favoring Samsung’s
    curved-edge display and minimal top and bottom bezels. Some complained at
    the iterative nature of the release while others took it in stride, noting
    that Samsung, like Apple, had fallen into the habit of alternating between
    iterative releases and true redesigns. There were some minor tweaks to the
    unit, however. These included a new home for the fingerprint sensor beneath
    the rear camera, support for 60FPS video in 4K resolution, and the standard
    lineup of CPU improvements.

Figure 21. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Figure 21. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 23, 2018
  • Launch Price – $999+
  • Features

    • Processor – Exynos Octa-core 2.7GHz CPU or Snapdragon Octa-core2.6
      GHz CPU (depending on market)
    • Memory – 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on configuration
    • Display – 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of
      2960×1440 at 516 ppi
    • Camera – Dual12 MP rear cameras capable of 4k video recording
      at 60 frames per second and a 8 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 3G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 4,000 mAh

  • Description and Reception – Having regained its confidence in the
    phablet marketplace with the launch of the Note 8, Samsung chose to diverge a
    bit from its previous offering once again with the launch of the Note 9.
    However, instead of updating the smartphone itself, the majority of Samsung’s
    new features for this generation could be found in the updated S Pen. For the
    first time, the S Pen included Bluetooth connectivity allowing it to serve as a
    remote for the Note 9 from a distance. This allowed for functionality such as
    using the S Pen as a presentation remote, as a remote camera shutter, and more.
    Of course, the Bluetooth functionality required power, meaning that the S Pen
    could, technically, go dead for the first time. Thankfully for users, Samsung’s
    charging scheme for the stylus meant that it only needed to spend 40 seconds
    stowed inside the Note 9 in order to build up approximately 30 minutes of usage
    time. The Galaxy Note 9 is also one of the first Samsung smartphones to adopt the increasing
    number of rear cameras the industry was favoring at the time of its release.
    This allowed the unit to provide better photo results due to improved depth of
    field. Aside from these changes, the Note 9 provided only iterative updates to
    its predecessor, once again positioning it as a niche device geared primarily
    towards power users that actively require a stylus.

Figure 22. The Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+

Figure 22. The Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – March 8, 2019
  • Launch Price – $999+
  • Features

    • Processor – Exynos Octa-core 2 x 2.73GHz CPUs or Snapdragon Octa-core 2.8
      GHz CPU (depending on market)
    • Memory – 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on configuration
    • Display –
      • S10 – 6.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of
        3040×1440 at 580 ppi
      • S10+ – 6.4-inch Super AMOLDED display with a resolution of
        3040×1440 at 549 ppi
    • Camera – Dual12 MP rear cameras capable of 4k video recording
      at 60 frames per second and a10 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 4G data, LTE, NFC (5G
      also available on the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G variant).
    • Power – 
      • S10 – 3,400 mAh
      • S10+ – 4,100 mAh

  • Description and Reception – Samsung’s trend of growing both the
    physical size and the percentage of their smartphone’s front face that are
    occupied by screens continued with their 2019 flagship. The Samsung Galaxy
    S10 and S10+ almost completely eliminated screen bezels in favor of an
    edge-to-edge display. To accommodate a front-facing camera, the unit was
    equipped with a "hole-punch" display, with one small circle cut out from the
    display to allow a lens to face the user. This, along with Samsung’s first
    in-display fingerprint reader, eliminated most of the front-facing hardware
    that had taken away valuable screen space in past units. Users and reviewers
    largely praised these moves by Samsung, though some did complain that the
    fingerprint reader was not as fast or accurate as more traditional
    iterations of the security device had been. The company also won points
    among many traditional audio fans for its continued dedication to the
    inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone port, something most smartphone lines had
    eliminated by this point in history. This generation also marked the first
    time that Samsung released a 5G variant of its flagship smartphone. The
    Galaxy S10 5G was a post-release update made available first in the
    manufacturer’s home country of South Korea. Though it did eventually make
    its way to the US, the still very limited 5G network availability at the
    time made it a very niche device, with little real impact aside from its
    status as a first-of-its-kind device.

Figure 23. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and 10+

Figure 23. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and 10+

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 23, 2019
  • Launch Price – $999+
  • Features

    • Processor – Exynos Octa-core 2.73GHz CPU or Snapdragon Octa-core2.8
      GHz CPU (depending on market)
    • Memory – 8GB or 12GB of RAM, depending on configuration
    • Display –
      • Note 10 – 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of
        3040×1440 at 580 ppi
      • Note 10+ – 6.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of
        3040×1440 at 549 ppi
    • Camera – Two 12MP and one 16MP rear cameras, capable of 4k video recording
      at 60 frames per second and a 10 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 4G data, LTE, NFC
    • Power – 
      • S10 – 3,500 mAh
      • S10+ – 4,300 mAh

  • Description and Reception – For the first time in the history
    of the company’s original phablet line, Samsung decided to release two sizes
    of the Galaxy Note. Its tenth iteration came in a standard model, which was
    actually slightly smaller than its predecessor, and a "+" model that debuted
    with a massive 6.8 inch display, as large as some full-on tablets. The
    device maker also once again advanced its built-in S-Pen stylus, bringing
    additional motion controls and interactivity with more first-party apps to
    the accessory. As with the Galaxy S10 line mentioned above, Samsung also
    released a 5G variant of the note 10, though it was even more of a niche
    device in the US due to the aforementioned lack of widespread network
    support at the time.

Figure 24. The Samsung Galaxy Fold

Figure 24. The Samsung Galaxy Fold

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – September 6, 2019
  • Launch Price – $1,980+
  • Features

    • Processor – Exynos Octa-core 2.84GHz CPU or Snapdragon Snapdragon
      855
    • Memory – 12GB of RAM
    • Display –
      • Inner – 7.3-inch Flexible Dynamic AMOLED running at 1536×2152
        for 362 ppi
      • Outer – 4.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of
        720×1680 at 397 ppi
    • Camera – Two 12MP capable of 4k video recording
      at 60 frames per second and a 10 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 4G data, 5G data (in
      some markets) LTE, NFC
    • Power – 4,380

  • Description and Reception – Samsung long-rumored,
    massively-hyped debut of a folding smartphone was originally supposed to
    take place in mid 2019. However, the device was eventually delayed to the
    third quarter of that year when an initial run of pre-release units that
    were sent out to reviewers and influencers for testing proved to be a
    miserable failure. All the fears about the fragility and lack of reliability
    that flexible display might present seemed to realized when test units began
    to fail en masse. Some of these failures were due to factors like users
    unwittingly removing what seemed to be a screen protector only to discover
    the film had been an integral part of the now-broken display. Other blunders
    appeared to rest entirely on Samsung’s shoulders, with reports of debris
    actually making it behind the device’s folding display in just a few short
    days of use. Critics pointed to obvious flaws in the design, including the
    aforementioned screen film, which could easily be peeled off, as well as a
    hinge that has relatively large gaps that could allow debris inside the
    surprisingly fragile handset. The ultimate result was that Samsung recalled
    all units that were out in the wild and began a months-long retooling
    process. When the Galaxy Fold finally did release, it did so into a market
    that was much more tepid towards folding smartphones, due in large part to
    Samsung’s own mistakes. That said, the staggering price tag of almost $2,000
    likely meant that this device was only ever going to be a toy of the
    technological elite. But, Samsung’s own catastrophic first crack at a
    folding smartphone may have set the technology back more than advanced it.

Figure 25. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip in Three Colors

Figure 25. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip in Three Colors

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – March 6, 2020
  • Launch Price – $1,380
  • Features

    • Processor – Snapdragon Snapdragon 855 or 865, depending on market
      and network configuration
    • Memory – 8GB of RAM
    • Display –
      6.7-inch foldable AMOLED running at 1080×2636 for 425 ppi with a
      1.1-inch external notification display running at 112×300 for 291ppi
    • Camera – a 12MP wide angle lens with a 12MP ultrawide featuring
      optical image stabilization and a 10MP selfie cam
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 4G data, 5G data, NFC
    • Power – 3,300mAh

  • Description and Reception – Shortly after debuting its
    first foldable smartphone capable of transforming from a smartphone form
    factor into a small tablet, Samsung debuted its first clamshell foldable.
    Designed to directly compete with the revived Motorola RAZR folding
    smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip offered a display size that would once have
    been considered on the high end of phablet-sized, while remaining quite
    pocketable thanks to its ability to fold down the middle. While the unit was
    largely praised for its clever hinge design and generally cutting-edge
    internals, it was also panned for its nearly $1,400 price point, which
    offered very little in the way of benefit over the company's standard
    S-series line of smartphones, aside from the novelty and convenience of a
    device that could be folded vertically. That said, many users still
    appreciated these benefits enough to adopt the device, if not nearly so many
    buyers as might be expected to purchase a standard S-series release.

Figure 26. The Samsung Galaxy S 20 Family

Figure 26. The Samsung Galaxy S 20 Family

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – March 6, 2020
  • Launch Price – $999+
  • Features

    • Processor – Exynos 990 Octa-core 2.73GHz CPU or Snapdragon
      Snapdragon 865
    • Memory – 8/12/16GB of RAM
    • Display –
      • S20 – 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 3040×1440 at
        563 ppi
      • S20+ – 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 3040×1440 at
        525 ppi
      • S20 Ultra – 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of
        3040×1440 at 511 ppi
    • Camera –
      • S20 – A 12MP wide angle, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 64MP telephoto
        with a10MP front-facing selfie cam
      • S20+ – Same as S20 with an added 0.3MP Time of Flight sensor
      • S20 Ultra – A 108MP wide angle lens, a 48MP telephoto lens with
        periscope zoom, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 0.3MP Time of Flight Sensor,
        with a10MP front-facing selfie cam
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 4G data, 5G data, NFC
    • Power –
      • S20 – 4,000mAh
      • S20+ – 4,500mAh
      • S20 Ultra – 5,000mAh

  • Description and Reception – Samsung chose to jump its
    version number 10 ahead with the launch of its Galaxy S20 smartphone line,
    bringing the moniker in line with the device's year of release, and denoting
    what the company felt was a major redesign for its original flagship
    smartphone line. That update focused mainly on two areas: displays and
    cameras. On the S20 line's front, Samsung managed some of its smallest
    bezels ever, making its new, higher resolution displays look even more
    impressive as they wrapped around the edges of the handset. This visual
    appeal was joined by some of the company's most impressive photographic
    prowess, particularly in the Galaxy S20 Ultra variant. This device featured
    an unusually large camera bump which housed a 108MP telephoto camera
    equipped with a periscope optical zoom lens capable of up to 100x zoom.
    While the practicality of images zoomed in to this degree on a smartphone
    was debatable, the accomplishment was, none the less, a major feather in
    Samsung's cap at the time. The line was generally very well received,
    although Samsung did receive come criticism for launching even the base
    model at essentially the $1,000 price point, with the top-end Ultra unit
    going for around $1,600 at launch. This complaint was later alleviated
    somewhat by the release of the Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition), which lowered
    the price to just $699 with very few compromises when compared to its
    originator.

Figure 27. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Line in Multiple Colors

Figure 27. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Line in Multiple Colors

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 21, 2020
  • Launch Price – 
    • Note 20 – $999
    • Note 20 Ultra – $1,299

  • Features

    • Processor – Exynos 990 Octa-core 2.73GHz CPU or Snapdragon
      Snapdragon 865+
    • Memory – 8 or 12GB of RAM
    • Display –
      • Note 20 – 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of
        2,400×1080 at 393 ppi
      • Note 20 Ultra – 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of
        3088×1440 at 495 ppi
    • Camera –
      • Note 20 – A 12MP wide angle, a 64MP telephoto with 30x optical
        zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide with a10MP front-facing selfie cam
      • Note 20 Ultra – A 108MP wide angle lens, a 12MP telephoto lens,
        a 12MP ultrawide, and a 0.3MP Time of Flight Sensor with a10MP
        front-facing selfie cam
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 4G data, 5G data, NFC
    • Power –
      • Note 20 – 4,300mAh
      • Note 20 Ultra- 4,500mAh

  • Description and Reception – Samsung's 2020 edition of its
    original phablet also took up the "20" naming convention. Where previous
    Galaxy Note releases were clearly designed with smartphone power users in
    mind, touting faster CPUs and upgraded memory figures, the Note 20 was
    somewhat more toned down, essentially providing a stylus-equipped
    alternative to that year's S-series smartphones with very little in the way
    of consistent upgrades over its more mainstream counterpart. Along the same
    lines, the Note 20 was also priced more similarly to the 2020 edition of the
    S20, beginning at the same price and topping out at a lower $1,299 at
    launch. The Note 20 Ultra, despite including the 108MP sensor seen in the
    S20 ultra, lacked the massive periscope zoom potential and the 16GB of RAM
    option, bringing its price down below the S20 Ultra's $1,600 peak. It was
    clear by this point that Samsung had begun merging the design philosophy of
    the Note 20 line with its S20 line more and more. That decision would reach
    its zenith with the debut of the S21 line early in 2021, which was the first
    non-Note smartphone series to support Samsung's S-Pen stylus.

Figure 28. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Figure 28. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – September 18, 2020
  • Launch Price – $1,999.99
  • Features

    • Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon Snapdragon 865+
    • Memory – 12GB of RAM
    • Display –
      • Internal – 7.6-inch flexible AMOLED display with a resolution of
        2,208×1,768 at 373 ppi
      • External – 6.23-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of
        2260×816 at 386 ppi
    • Camera – A trio of 12MP shooters: wide angle, telephoto, and
      ultrawide with a 10MP selfie camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 4G data, 5G data, NFC
    • Power – 4,500mAh

  • Description and Reception – While Samsung's original
    Galaxy Z Fold may have been touted as the beginning of a folding smartphone
    revolution, it was widely called out for including some major flaws that
    would be deal breakers for most smartphone shoppers, particularly at its
    lofty price point. The Z Fold 2 made a point of addressing many of those
    flaws by adding a much larger external display, an improved hinge design
    that would be more resistant to dirt entering the smartphone, and a set of
    internal components that could directly compete with Samsung's best standard
    smartphones at the time. Unfortunately, what it did not address was the
    massive price gap between standard models and folding options. The Z Fold 2
    once again launched at a staggering $1,999, putting it out of reach for all
    but the most enthusiastic and affluent smartphone shoppers. That said, the
    unit was widely praised for making a folding smartphone seem much closer to
    wide-scale viability–in function, if not price–than any before it.

Figure 29. The Samsung Galaxy S 21 Family

Figure 29. The Samsung Galaxy S 21 Family

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – January 14, 2021
  • Launch Price –
    • S21 – $799/$849
    • S21 Plus – $999/$1,049
    • S21 Ultra – $1,199/$1,249/$1,399

  • Features
    • Processor – Exynos 2100 Octa-core 2.8GHz CPU or Snapdragon
      Snapdragon 888
    • Memory –
      • S21 – 8/12 of RAM
      • S21 Plus 8/12GB of RAM
      • S21 Ultra 12/16GB of RAM
    • Display –
      • S21 – 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080×2400 at
        421ppi
      • S21Plus – 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080×2400
        at 394 ppi
      • S21 Ultra – 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of
        1440×3200 at 515 ppi
    • Camera –
      • S21 – A 12MP wide angle, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 64MP telephoto
        with a 10MP front-facing selfie cam
      • S21Plus – Same as S20
      • S21 Ultra – A 108MP wide angle lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with
        periscope zoom, a 10MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide, with a 40MP
        front-facing selfie cam
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS , 4G data, 5G data, NFC
    • Power –
      • S21 – 4,000mAh
      • S21Plus – 4,800mAh
      • S21 Ultra – 5,000mAh

  • Description and Reception – Samsung's S21 line was
    largely an iterative update. However, it did reveal a shift in focus within
    Samsung's pricing and design strategy towards cheaper devices with somewhat
    lower-end specs. This can be seen most dramatically in two areas, the S21
    line's displays, and its external materials. First, the displays on the S21
    and S21 Plus feature a 1080p horizontal resolution, significantly lower than
    anything Samsung had launched as a flagship model in several years. While
    all three versions did include the company's smoother 120hz refresh rate,
    this drop in maximum resolution can only be seen as a downgrade, when
    compared to the S21's direct predecessor. Along the same lines, the premium
    glass and metal design of the S20 was replaced with a polycarbonate
    backplate on the S21, while the 21 Plus and 21 Ultra retained a frosted
    glass rear. These changes did knock about $200 off the launch price of the
    devices across the line, but they certainly put a dent in Samsung's ability
    to claim it had launched the best of the best for 2021. It is also worth
    noting that this is the first generation of the S-series to support
    Samsung's S-Pen stylus. While none of the trio sport a location to store the
    digital pen, Samsung did launch a series of cases that included storage for
    the S-Pen within them alongside the S21 line.

Tablets

Samsung currently maintains two different tablet
lines: The Galaxy Tab A and the Galaxy Tab S. The Galaxy Tab A is the company’s
more standard offering, continuing the long-term role of the Tab line, while the
Tab S is something of a replacement for the old Galaxy Note tablet line.. The Galaxy Tab
A line
includes both 8-inch and 10.1-inch versions, while the Galaxy Tab S line
includes a 10.5-inch model.

Figure 30. Samsung Galaxy Tab

Figure 30. Samsung Galaxy Tab

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – Cellular Version -November 2012 (exact date varies by
    carrier) | Wi-Fi Only Version April 11, 2011

  • Launch Price – $299 with carrier subsidies, $299 for later Wi-Fi
    only model

  • Features

    • System-on-Chip – Samsung Exynos 3110 ARM Cortex A8
    • Memory – 512 MB RAM
    • Display – 7-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 1024×600 at 170 PPI
    • Camera – 3.2 MP rear-facing camera with a 1.2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS/CDMA (depending on
      version)
    • Power – 4,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy Tab
    was Samsung’s first entry into the modern tablet marketplace. The device
    launched on all four major US carriers within a month of each other and was
    originally marketed as a mobile data-centric tablet computer. Samsung did later
    release a Wi-Fi only version, but not until the Galaxy Tab had basically reached
    its end of life. The Tab launched at a time before Amazon’s Kindle Fire had
    opened consumer’s eyes to the 7-inch tablet market, meaning it had a much harder
    time proving to potential buyers that they needed a device somewhere in size
    between an iPad and their smartphone. Some early reviews found the device
    promising, but it should be noted that the Galaxy Tab launched with 2.2.1 on
    board, an operating system that was never intended to run a tablet. The results
    were poor aesthetics, often mis-sized or mis-shapen graphics, and overall less
    than stellar performance. Samsung promised to smooth these rough edges in
    subsequent software updates, but the device was never brought past 2.3, meaning
    it never received access to Google’s tablet-centric Android 3.2 (Honeycomb).

Figure 31. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

Figure 31. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – Cellular Version (T-Mobile) and Wi-Fi Only Version
    October 2011

  • Launch Price – Wi-Fi Only Model – $349, T-Mobile Model – $449

  • Features

    • System-on-Chip – 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 SoC processor
    • Memory – 1 GB RAM
    • Display – 7-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 1024×600 at 197 PPI
    • Camera – 3.0 MP rear-facing camera with a 2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM/UMTS (T-Mobile version)
    • Power – 4,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
    strongly resembled its predecessor, but improved over the previous model in
    several areas. First, the device was considerably more powerful, with an
    improved processor and double the memory. This was accomplished while also
    reducing the overall size, particularly the thickness of the device. Thanks to
    these updates, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus launched with Google’s Android 3.2
    (Honeycomb) operating system. This did provide an improved user
    experience but was still not on par with the
    likes of Apple’s iPad or even some of the more powerful 10-inch Android tablets. Also
    not helping the Tab 7.0 Plus’ case was its $349 price tag, with a
    cellular-capable version (only available at T-Mobile) which
    costs consumers almost as much as an entry level iPad. Although this model is
    still available, it has largely been replaced by the Galaxy Tab 7.7" and Galaxy
    Tab 2 7.0.

Figure 32. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Figure 32. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – February 2012
  • Launch Price – $449
  • Features

    • System-on-Chip – 1.4 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 SoC processor
      Samsung Exynos 4210
    • Memory – 1 GB RAM
    • Display – 7-inch Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1280×800 at
      197 PPI
    • Camera – 3.0 MP rear-facing camera with a 2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, CDMA 
    • Power – 5,100 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – With the exception of some
    external changes and a slight difference in screen size, the Galaxy Tab 7.7
    is very similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. The primary new
    features of the unit were its Super AMOLED screen and a slightly faster
    processor. Unlike its older counterpart, the 7.7-inch model also ran on
    Verizon Wireless’ cellular network and was available exclusively from that
    carrier during its lifespan. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 has been discontinued.

Figure 33. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

Figure 33. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – June 8, 2011
  • Launch Price – $350 at Verizon Wireless
  • Features
    • System-on-Chip – 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM processor
    • Memory – 1 GB RAM
    • Display – 7-inch panel with a resolution of 1024×600 at 170 PPI
    • Camera – 3.2 MP rear-facing camera with a VGA front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, CDMA, LTE, IR Blaster
    • Power – 4,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – With the launch of the Galaxy
    Tab 2 line, Samsung officially made its Galaxy Tab family into the more
    budget-minded of its two series. The downgraded cameras, smaller battery,
    slower processor, and lower resolution screen are all sacrifices made to reduce
    the cost of the unit. Nonetheless, the line has now built up something of a
    following with relatively modest but consistent sales. As of the time or
    writing, the Tab 2 7.0 was sold out at Verizon Wireless, likely due to the
    holiday rush. This is also Samsung’s first 7-inch device to run on Google’s
    Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, the first re-unified tablet/smartphone
    version of the mobile platform.

Figure 34. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Figure 34. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – April 22, 2012
  • Launch Price – $350 at all major US carriers
  • Features
    • System-on-Chip – 1.5GHz, Dual-core Krait
    • Memory – 1 GB RAM
    • Display – 10.1-inch panel with a resolution of 1280×800 at 149 PPI
    • Camera – 8 MP rear-facing camera with a 2 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, CDMA, GSM
    • Power – 6,860 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
  • Description and Reception – As with the 7-inch counterpart,
    the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is the company’s budget tablet at its display size. The
    device was designed to serve as a cellular-capable counterpart to the Galaxy
    Note 10.1, which is available only in Wi-Fi. Although it was by no means a flop,
    the Galaxy Note 2 10.1 is lower powered than many of its counterparts, which has
    led to most potential Android tablet buyers ignoring the model in favor of the
    Google Nexus 10 or one of Asus’ Transformer models.

Figure 35. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Figure 35. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 6, 2012
  • Launch Price – $499.99 for 16GB of internal storage or $549.99 for
    32GB of internal storage

  • Features

    • System-on-Chip – 1.4GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor
    • Memory – 2 GB RAM
    • Display – 10.1 -inch panel with a resolution of
      1280×800 at 149 PPI
    • Camera – 5 MP rear-facing camera with a 1.9 MP front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
    • Power – 7,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – Although the
    "Note" moniker began as the company’s phablet line, it has since
    been expanded to denote any mobile product Samsung releases for use with a
    stylus. Like the Galaxy Note series, the Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with its own version of the company’s S Pen stylus. The interactive writing implement
    provides on board buttons for extra functionality, gesture controls, and other
    enhanced features. Aside from the presence of the stylus, the Galaxy Note 10.1
    is a relatively unremarkable tablet when compared to its current competitors.
    Despite being priced at an equivalent level to the iPad, the Galaxy Note 10.1’s
    display is much lower resolution, its cameras are not as high quality, and its
    connectivity options are much more limited. The device’s unique ability to offer
    writing, drawing, and other pen-based forms of interaction earned it an
    important spot among those customers that require this type of interaction.

Figure 36. Google Nexus 10

Figure 36. Google Nexus 10

Source: Google

  • Launch Date – November 13, 2012

  • Launch Price –

    • Wi-Fi Only: $399 (16GB) $499 (32GB)

  • Features
    • System-on-Chip – Samsung Exynos 5250
    • Memory – 2 GB RAM
    • Display – 10.06-inch LCD with a resolution of 2560×1600 at 299 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 5MP camera capable of 720p video recording with
      1.9 MP front-facing camera for video chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
    • Power – 9,000 mAH lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – Ironically, Samsung’s most
    powerful and, arguably, most attractive, tablet does not bear its own brand
    name. Instead, the company produces the unit for Google’s Nexus family.
    Google’s success in the 7-inch tablet market gave it enough confidence to go after
    Apple on the home turf of the original 10-inch iPad. Google knew that it
    would need a cutting edge device to compete with the iPad juggernaut, and
    Samsung delivered with a higher resolution screen than the iPad’s, a more
    powerful processor, twice the RAM, and, perhaps most importantly, a price
    point $100 lower than Apple’s entry level iPad.

Figure 37. Galaxy Note 8.0

Figure 37. Galaxy Note 8.0

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – April 11, 2013
  • Launch
    Price –

    • Wi-Fi Only: $359 (16GB)
    • Cellular: $349 (with 2-year AT&T contract) or $449 (without
      contract)

  • Features

    • System-on-Chip – Samsung Exynos 4412
    • Memory – 2 GB RAM
    • Display – 8-inch LCD with a resolution of 1280×800 at 188 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 5MP camera capable of 720p video recording with
      1.3 MP front-facing camera for video chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, LTE (AT&T Version), Bluetooth
    • Power – 4,600 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy
    Note 8.0 was designed to be a mid-ranged option for those seeking a tablet
    somewhere between the company’s phablet offerings and its 10-inch Note and Tab
    lines. However, the unit’s 8-inch screen size puts it up against the likes of
    Google’s Nexus 7 and Apple’s iPad Mini. In neither comparison does the Galaxy
    Note 8.0 fare well. It’s relatively meager resolution, combined with a price tag
    that puts it $50 above the base model iPad Mini with Retina display, makes the
    device a hard sell. Still, there is a niche market that has adopted Samsung’s
    inclusion of its S-Pen stylus as a must-have in their tablet purchases, and this
    is where the Note 8.0 has managed to shine. Unfortunately, that particular
    segment of the market remains small enough that Samsung’s sales of the Note 8.0
    are barely registering on the radar.

Figure 38. Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, 8.0, and 10.1

Figure 38. Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, 8.0, and 10.1

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – July 7, 2013

  • Launch Price –

    • Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 –
      • Wi-Fi Only: $179
      • AT&T HSPA+: $199 (with two-year contract) or $299.99 (without
        contract)
    • Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 –
      • Wi-Fi Only: $279
    • Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 –

      • Wi-Fi Only: $359

  • Features
    • Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 –
      • System-on-Chip – 1.2 GHz dual-core PXA986 (Cortex A9)
      • Memory – 1 GB RAM
      • Display – 7-inch LCD with a resolution of 1024×600 at 169 PPI
      • Camera – rear-facing 3.15MP camera with 1.3 MP front-facing camera for video chat
      • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, HSPA+ (AT&T Version), Bluetooth
      • Power – 4,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
    • Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 –
      • System-on-Chip – 1.5 GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos 4212
      • Memory – 1.5 GB RAM
      • Display – 8-inch LCD with a resolution of 1280×800 at 188 PPI
      • Camera – rear-facing 5MP camera with 1.3 MP front-facing camera for video chat
      • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
      • Power – 4,450 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
    • Galaxy Tab 3 10.1
      • System-on-Chip – 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2560
      • Memory – 1 GB RAM
      • Display – 10.1-inch LCD with a resolution of 1280×800 at 150 PPI
      • Camera – rear-facing 3.15MP camera with 1.3 MP front-facing camera for video chat
      • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
      • Power – 6,800 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – The 2013 refresh
    of Samsung’s more budget-minded Galaxy Tab line is one of the company’s
    stranger decisions. From the inclusion of both a 7-inch and 8-inch model to
    the fact that the 8-inch version has the most high-end components in several
    areas, the entire release is somewhat strange. Add to this the fact that
    pricing places all three models only slightly below much more established
    products from Samsung’s competitors and it is not hard to understand why the
    entire line has remained something of a fringe offering for Samsung.

Figure 39. Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)

Figure 39. Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – October 10, 2013

  • Launch Price –

    • Wi-Fi Only: $559 (16GB) or $599 (32GB)

  • Features
    • System-on-Chip – 1.9 GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 5420
    • Memory – 3 GB RAM
    • Display – 10-inch LCD with a resolution of 2560×1600 at 298 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 8MP with 2 MP front-facing camera for video chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
    • Power – 8,220 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy Note
    10.1 launched as Samsung’s highest-end tablet to date and the company’s
    first self-branded offering that could compete with Google’s Nexus 10.
    Despite the Nexus 10 having been nearly a year old at the time of this
    device’s release, and Samsung having been that device’s original
    manufacturer, it’s own product lines had yet to include anything that could
    match the CPU, RAM, and display resolution of the Google-branded product.
    That changed as Samsung put out the 2014 edition of the Note 10.1, thanks to
    a brand-new octa-core SoC and a display that was nearly the twin of the
    Nexus 10. However, despite being a very close match for Google’s branded
    slate, the Note 10.1 launched with a price tag at least $150 higher. This,
    once again, pushed Samsung’s offering towards the "nice device" category,
    thanks to the fact that it was adopted largely by users who absolutely
    required the accuracy and functionality provided by the company’s S-Pen
    stylus and were willing to pay the price difference for it.

Figure 40. Galaxy Tab S 8.4" and 10.5"

Figure 40. Galaxy Tab S 8.4" and 10.5"

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – June 27, 2014 (Tab 10.5") and July 3, 2014 (Tab
    8.4")

  • Launch Price –

    • Galaxy Tab S 8.4" –
      • Wi-Fi Only: $299
      • Wi-Fi and LTE: $529
    • Galaxy Tab 3 10.5" –
      • Wi-Fi Only: $499
      • Wi-Fi and LTE: $629

  • Features

    • Galaxy Tab 3 8.4" –
      • System-on-Chip – SM-T705 – Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
      • Memory – 3 GB RAM
      • Display – 8.4-inch LCD with a resolution of 2560×1600 at 359 PPI
      • Camera – rear-facing 8MP camera with 2.1 MP front-facing camera for video chat
      • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE (select models)
      • Power – 4,900 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
    • Galaxy Tab 3 10.5"
      • System-on-Chip – SM-T705 – Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
      • Memory – 3 GB RAM
      • Display – 10.5-inch LCD with a resolution of 2560×1600 at 288 PPI
      • Camera – rear-facing 8MP camera with 2.1 MP front-facing camera for video chat
      • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE (select models)
      • Power – 7,900 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – Aside from
    their varying display and battery sizes, the Tab S 8.4" and 10.5" are
    essentially the same device internally. Although this results in a slightly
    lower pixel density for the larger of the two, both units are generally much
    higher end than their Galaxy Tab line predecessors. That said, while this
    generation abandoned the middle-of-the-road components the Tab line was known
    for, it did so at the literal cost of a considerable price increase with the LTE
    versions of these tablets matching their iPad competition for price. It became
    clear during 2014 that the Tab line would now be Samsung’s flagship tablet
    series, while it’s Note line would move into a more niche role, specifically
    focusing on users in need of a productivity device with pen functionality.
    Although generally well received, neither size of the Tab S did much to
    differentiate itself from the company’s previous offerings.

Figure 41. Galaxy Note Pro 12.2"

Figure 41. Galaxy Note Pro 12.2"

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – February 13, 2014
  • Launch Price –
    • Wi-Fi Only: $649 (32GB) 
    • Wi-Fi and LTE: $899

  • Features

    • System-on-Chip – 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC
    • Memory – 3 GB RAM
    • Display – 12.2-inch LCD with a resolution of 2560×1600 at 247 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 8MP with 2 MP front-facing camera for video chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
    • Power – 9,500 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy Note Pro
    12.2 is designed to be both Samsung’s largest mainstream tablet to date and its
    most high-end tablet. Although this premium model comes at a premium price,
    Samsung has made it clear that it is firmly targeting the sector of users that
    require a productivity machine with full pen functionality. This edition
    features much of the same, updated S-Pen functionality introduced with the Note
    4, further expanding the multi-tasking and mouse-like behavior made possible by
    Samsung’s proprietary stylus.

Figure 42. Galaxy Tab E 9.6"

Figure 42. Galaxy Tab E 9.6"

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – July 13, 2015

  • Launch Price –

    • Wi-Fi Only: $249.99
    • Wi-Fi and LTE: $329.99

  • Features

    • CPU – 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM 8916
    • Memory – 1.5 GB RAM
    • Display – 9.6-inch LCD with a resolution of 1200×800 at 150 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 5MP with 2 MP front-facing camera for video chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE (Verizon version)
    • Power – 7,300 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy Tab E 9.6" was
    designed to be a budget-minded, larger screened tablet. Like most models in
    the Tab line, it does not feature the high-end components or high-resolution
    display of its Note line counterparts, but does offer affordable pricing for
    tablet buyers on a budget. However, unlike many budget tablets, the Tab E
    9.6" does offer an LTE-enabled version running on Verizon Wireless’
    network. Unfortunately for Samsung, the device did not seem to gain much
    traction, as it was already seeing steep discounts at the carrier before the end
    of 2015. It should be noted that a Barnes & Noble-branded variant of the device
    was produced as the "Galaxy Tab E 9.6" Nook." It was essentially identical to
    the standard version, but included extra software to give consumers direct
    access to the booksellers e-reading apps and storefronts.

Figure 43. Galaxy View

Figure 43. Galaxy View

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – November 30, 2015
  • Launch Price – $599.99
  • Features

    • CPU – Octa-core 1.6Ghz, Samsung Exynos7580
    • Memory – 2 GB RAM
    • Display – 18.4-inch LCD with a resolution of 1920×1080 at 119 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 5MP with 2 MP front-facing camera for video
      chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
    • Power – 5,700 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – The Galaxy View
    was the first tablet of its kind from Samsung. Rather than being designed
    primarily for portability, the unit was created to be a versatile
    streaming media terminal. It’s massive (for a tablet) screen and built-in
    stand make it ideal for placing on a coffee table, countertop, or wherever the
    user may be to serve as a home for Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, or any other
    supported streaming media service. While the device did gain some coverage as a
    novel idea, it was not a particular success for Samsung, with most customers
    continuing to use more traditionally-sized tablets for their media viewing
    needs.

Figure 44. Galaxy Tab S3

Figure 44. Galaxy Tab S3

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – March 24, 2017

  • Launch Price – $599.99

  • Features

    • CPU – Quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
    • Memory – 4 GB RAM
    • Display – 9.7-inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 2048×1536 at
      264 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 13MP with 5 MP front-facing camera for video
      chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, options 4G LTE
    • Power – 6,000 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – At the time when the Galaxy Tab
    S3 launched, Samsung had gone almost two full years without a major new entry
    into the tablet marketplace. With the exception of a few variants and
    carrier-specific models, the company’s entries into the tablet marketplace had
    all but dried up. To reintroduce itself to the game, Samsung designed the Tab S3
    to be decidedly high end, aimed more at competing with the likes of
    Windows-enabled tablets and the iPad Pro than with iPad or other Android slates.
    The accomplish this goal, Samsung created a tablet with full S-Pen support, as
    well as a new feature for the line, an included keyboard cover. This cover
    allowed the device to better fulfill use as a laptop replacement, and to capture
    a portion of the growing segment of the tablet market that appreciated a
    physical keyboard being available as a first-party option. Since the tablet
    marketplace was shrinking, as a whole, at this point in history, the Tab S3 may
    have flown largely under the radar. Despite this, the unit was generally well
    received, being largely described as a very capable, if somewhat pricey tablet.

Figure 45. Galaxy Tab S4

Figure 45. Galaxy Tab S4

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 1, 2018

  • Launch Price – $729+

  • Features

    • CPU – Octa core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
    • Memory – 4 GB RAM
    • Display – 10.5-inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 2560×1600 at
      287 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 13MP with 5 MP front-facing camera for video
      chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional 4G LTE
    • Power – 7,300 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery

  • Description and Reception – Following the success of its
    predecessor, the Tab S3, the Tab S4 upped its screen size slightly and added a
    redesigned stylus while maintaining its high-end pedigree. Once again, the
    premium tablet also supported a keyboard cover, although it was not included
    with the device. This extra cost, on top of the already pricey $720+ retail
    value meant that the Tab S4 was priced more closely to tablets with full
    desktop-class operating systems that to almost any other competing offering. The
    only direct competitor running a mobile OS was Apple’s iPad Pro, but even that
    device’s starting price was lower at the time of release. However, it should be
    noted that the iPad Pro required the separate purchase of an Apple Pencil for
    stylus functionality, bringing the respective pricing of the units into near
    lockstep.

Figure 46. Galaxy Tab A 10.1

Figure 46. Galaxy Tab A 10.1

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – February 1, 2019

  • Launch Price – $199.99+

  • Features

    • CPU – Exynos Octa core 1.6GHz CPU
    • Memory – 2 GB RAM
    • Display –
      • 8.0 – 8-inch LED display running at 1280×800 for 225 PPI
      • 10.1 – 10.1-inch LED display running at 1920×1200 for 189 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 8MP with 5MP front-facing camera for video
      chat
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional 4G LTE
    • Power –
      • 8.0 – 5,000mAh
      • 10.1 – 6,150mAh

Description and Reception – When Samsung decided to revamp its
tablet line in the late 2010s, the company realigned the Tab A line as its
budget-friendly offering. Although it still offered the line in sizes up to 10.1
inches, the internal components were decidedly lower-end, with 2GB of RAM
powering some version, while the company’s high-end smartphone carried as much
as 12GB at the same time. However, the units were priced accordingly, running at
under $300 for even the upgraded models with 4G connectivity. None of these
units were going to revolutionize Samsung’s tablet presence, but they were not
designed to. Rather, their sole job was to keep the company in the budget
category with a new, refreshed entry. By all accounts, they did this job
admirably, serving to compete directly with the likes of the Kindle Fire and
other Android-based budget tablets at the time.

Figure 47. Galaxy Tab S6 (2019)

Figure 47. Galaxy Tab S6 (2019)

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – July 31, 2019

  • Launch Price – $649.99+

  • Features

    • CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
    • Memory – 6 or 8 GB RAM
    • Display – 10.5-inch Super AMOLED Display running at 2560×1600 for
      287 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing dual cameras (13MP and 5MP) with an 8MP
      front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional 4G LTE
    • Power – 7,040mAh

  • Description and Reception – While the Tab A line available at this
    time was geared towards more budget-conscious consumers and those interested in
    a tablet primarily for media consumption, the Tab S6 was designed to be a
    full-fledged laptop-replacement tablet. To this end, Samsung released the device
    alongside a companion keyboard cover and option S Pen accessory. Unlike the S
    Pen that shipped with the company’s Note smartphones, this model was a
    full-sized stylus with pressure-sensitive input and various ways of remotely
    controlling the tablet. The internal components were also on part with the likes
    of the iPad Pro line, further cementing the unit’s power user target audience.

Figure 48. Galaxy Tab S7

Figure 48. Galaxy Tab S7

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – August 22, 2020
  • Launch Price – $649.99+

  • Features

    • CPU – Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+
    • Memory – 6 or 8 GB RAM
    • Display –
      • S7 – 11-inch IPS LCD display running at 2560×1600 for
        274 PPI
      • S7+ – 12.4-inch OLED display running at 2800×1752 for 266 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing dual cameras (13MP and 5MP) with an 8MP
      front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional 4G LTE and 5G
    • Power –
      • S7 – 8,000mAh
      • S7+ – 10,090mAh

  • Description and Reception – The Tab S7 was a largely iterative
    update to 2019's S6 line, slighting upping the size of the standard model from
    10.5 inches to 11 and adding a top-end "S7+" 12.4-inch variant. This larger unit
    made the model more able to directly compete with the largest iPad Pro models
    being made by Apple at the time. Like the iPad Pro, Samsung also seemed to want
    to position the Tab S7 line as laptop replacement tablets, once again including
    the S-Pen stylus in the box, although the pictured keyboard dock was still sold
    separately.

Figure 49. Galaxy Tab A7

Figure 49. Galaxy Tab A7

Source: Samsung

  • Launch Date – September 28, 2020
  • Launch Price – $229.99+

  • Features

    • CPU – Qualcomm SM6115
    • Memory – 3GB RAM
    • Display – 10.4-inch TFT display running at 2000×1200 for 224 PPI
    • Camera – rear-facing 8MP camera with a 5MP
      front-facing camera
    • Connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
    • Power – 7,040mAh

  • Description and Reception – The Tab A7 was released as Samsung's
    media-centric tablet for 2020, offering a large battery and high-resolution
    screen, while omitting the laptop-like performance of its S7 counterpart. To
    further promote this positioning, Samsung also added quad speakers with Dolby
    Atmos support and built-in surround sound capabilities.

Device Comparison

[return to top of this report]

This section is presented in two
segments: Smartphones and tablets. Each section profiles several aspects of
its given device form factor and compares the offerings from several
companies. 

Smartphones

With the
exception Apple’s
iOS, every other smartphone platform, Android included, is installed on numerous
models all on sale at any given time, but with varying specifications, features,
and capabilities. It would be impossible to compare each and every one of these,
and any list of that type would be almost immediately obsolete, in any case.
Instead, this section will look at the most dominant product lines currently
competing with Samsung’s own offerings, including those of Google itself.
Although specific devices may be referenced, the primary goal is to examine the
companies which have consistently provided the most worthy competing products
for a given mobile operating system, including other variations of Android and
iOS.

App and Media Store

Although Samsung’s devices do not
generally run a completely stock version of Android, they do all ship with
access to Google Play, the official app and media store for Android operated by
Google itself. This is also true of nearly all Android handsets from any
manufacturer as the app store is a built-in component of the Android operating
system. Due to this fact, all Android handsets, whether they are made by Google,
Samsung, LG, HTC, or another company, stand on a level playing field in at least
this one area. As for Google Play, it currently boasts more than 3 million apps,
over 12 million books, tens of thousands of television shows, and millions of
songs.

Samsung itself does offer a
selection of applications for the Android operating system, primarily those
designed to allow its mobile devices to network with its other product lines
such as smart TVs and home theater components. This offering is, however, very
much smaller than Google Play or any of its competitors and does not generally
factor into the decision to purchase a Samsung device in any meaningful
way. 

Google Play’s primary competitor
in this space is far and away Apple’s iTunes and App Store. Although the maker
of iOS often refers to its media store and app store separately, they are
essentially a single storefront spread across two distinct applications. Like
Android’s Google Play, iOS’ access to the App Store and iTunes is ubiquitous to
all devices. Apple boasts very similar totals at any given moment for the
numbers of apps, books, movies, and music available. Although the company was
previously called out for its heavy use of DRM on downloaded songs, it has since
ended that practice. It does, however, still impose DRM restrictions on
some videos. It should be noted that the Apple App Store is much more tightly
curated than Google Play, a fact that often leads to more restriction in the
types of apps available but which also tends to provide much greater protection
against malicious applications making their way to users. 

Finally, there are the wildcard app and media
stores, which are not tied to a specific platform. Although these are extremely
numerous and often less than reputable, there are a few major players actually
having an impact on the mobile device landscape. The most important of these, by
far, is Amazon. Its presence as a seller of Android apps, as well as its
platform-agnostic offerer of movies, music, and books, has undoubtedly put a
dent in the sales figures of all three aforementioned OS makers. Its app store
security is also on par with Apple’s, meaning users purchasing software
from it have little to fear. 

Screens and Dimensions

Although Android smartphone screens seem to be growing continually larger
with each successive generation, there remains one distinction between what is
considered average at a given moment and what is considered massive: the title
of "phablet". As the name would suggest, this refers to a device that has a
large enough screen and enough tablet-like features to be considered a hybrid,
falling somewhere between a smartphone and tablet. Samsung practically
originated the phablet category with its Galaxy Note line and has continued to
dominate it with strong sales for every subsequent device released with the Note
moniker, as well as the newer Plus or Ultra variants of its S line. Although companies like LG, HTC, and
others have fully embraced the "bigger is better" philosophy, none have reached
the same level of success as Samsung in this space.

This is one area where Apple has had to play catch-up with
Android. The company entered the phablet market when it released its iPhone 6+
model. While
the device’s smaller cousin continued to feature a screen on par with what can be found in Samsung’s
Galaxy S line – or more mainstream offerings from LG and HTC – the iPhone 6+
sat firmly in phablet territory with a display even larger than Samsung’s
contemporary offering, the Galaxy Note 4. This trend has continued through the
subsequent generations of primary flagship devices for both companies. The fact that Apple finally acquiesced to the growing market
for larger screens shows the massive influence Samsung’s Note line has had on
the mobile phone industry as a whole. 

Local and Cloud Storage

This is an area where Samsung’s offerings mirror those of any Android
handset. All manufacturers’ devices are able to access the free tier of
cloud storage made available by Google’s own Google Drive offering. Any Android
device owner can also take advantage of the same cloud-based storage options
provided by Google Play, which will store most media purchased from its shelves
in the cloud until the user is ready to download it. 

While Apple does not offer a self-branded storage service in the same vein as
Google Drive, it does provide a similar level of cloud-based storage for files
downloaded from iTunes.

This area is also heavily populated by third party competitors that, in most
cases, are platform agnostic. The most popular of these services is Dropbox,
which is accessible from both major mobile operating systems, as well as from
nearly any device with a desktop-class Web browser.

Browser

Google’s decision to include all components of Android with the versions made
available to third parties places Samsung on an even keel with all of its
Android-based competitors. Although Google’s Pixel line does come
pre-installed with the latest edition of the company’s Chrome browser for
Android, any device running a moderately up-to-date version of the operating
system can download an identical version of the browser. As for the browser
itself, the mobile version of Chrome offers most of the same features as its
desktop counterpart, including advanced bookmark management, tabbed browsing,
rich media playback, and the ability to run advanced Web apps. As with all
versions of Google Chrome, users can also sign in to their Google account while
using the Android App in order to have instant access to their bookmarks,
history, saved passwords, and more. 

Apple is Chrome’s greatest competitor here. The company’s Safari browser has
been considered the gold standard for mobile Web browsers since the launch of
the first iPhone. Although Chrome has come to match the original in nearly
every way, it is still a very tight race with each company adding the
occasional new feature in an attempt to innovate past its competitors. 

The only other factor in this market is the presence of third-party browsers.
These include mobile versions of Firefox and Opera, as well as a browser
produced by Samsung itself. While some of these browsers boast enhanced security
or other specialized functions, none have anywhere near the market share of
Google’s Chrome or Apple’s Safari.

Price

Samsung’s pricing is difficult to nail down, as it is less standardized than
Apple’s, and tends to fluctuate more from year to year. While the 2020 S-series
relied on a ~$999 price point for the
its flagship models with an approximately 6-inch screen, the 2021 release
dropped that figure by about $200, though it could still stray as high as $1,400
for its top-end ultra variant.

This level of pricing puts the company on par with Apple’s mainstream pricing
of $999+ for its newest generation of iPhone 12/12 Pro devices. That said, the lower-priced iPhone
lines, such as the iPhone 12 Mini, could compete directly with Samsung’s S line, despite not being at the top
of Apple’s catalogue.

Tablets

The following section profiles the features of
the Samsung’s tablet lines in comparison with the flagship offerings of its
closest competitors. 

App and Media Store

The app and media store landscape for the tablet market is essentially
identical to its smartphone counterpart, with one notable exception. While all
of the same statistics and digital products on offer are duplicated here, Amazon
has a much, much larger impact due to the availability of its Kindle Fire tablet
line. Although the company’s Android app store and media offerings are still a
third-party option in the smartphone space, Amazon is very much a first-party
provider in the tablet realm. It’s app store may not have the same volume as the
Android-default, Google Play, but its tighter curation and ability to pull down
offerings from nearly all of the most popular app developers still provide it
with a near match for Google’s selling power. Conversely, its standing as a
household name in the media consumption market gives it a leg-up in the sale of
movies, music, and books. After all, the Kindle brand referred to a line of
e-readers before it named a line of tablet. 

Screens and Dimensions

As recently a five years ago, Samsung was one of very few companies besides
Google offering tablets in the 7-inch and 10-inch form factors. This, of course,
has changed drastically since then, with Android tablets available in
every conceivable size: as small as 7 inches, and as large as 24
inches. However, the 7/8-inch and 9/10-inch form factors are still the most
popular and are where the stiffest competition lies. Samsung has produced one of the
largest tablet libraries of any major manufacturer, with multiple offerings in its
Tab and now retired Note families at 8-, 10-, and 12-inches. Meanwhile, Apple offers its iPad
Mini line, iPad, and iPad Pro lines to compete with Samsung’s small, mid-sized,
and largest offerings, respectively. In both cases potential buyers are given the choice
between size and power vs. portability. 

Although Microsoft’s Windows operating system is also available on a
selection of smaller-sized tablets from the likes of Dell and others, the
company itself seems to adhere to a 10 to 12-inch screen size as being ideal given
its exclusive adherence to that form factor in its Surface tablet line. 

Tablets, like smartphones, are quickly reaching the point where resolution on
the displays simply cannot be improved any further because of limitations to
the human eye. Android, iOS, and Windows are all currently available primarily
on models that are HD resolution or better, with some units going as high as
500+ pixels per inch. However, this is one area where Samsung has,
generally,
lagged behind. It is only with the launch of the 2014 edition of the Galaxy Note
10.1 that the company matched the industry standard for what can be
considered a crisp, high-resolution display. Oddly, it was one of the first
manufacturers to be able to compete with Apple’s Retina Display thanks to its
production of the 2560×1600 screen on Google’s Nexus 10. However, it took nearly
a year for the company to release a self-branded device, the aforementioned Note
10.1, with similar characteristics for its display. Samsung’s current tablet
offerings continue to focus on other areas of the user experience, leaving pixel
density levels in the mid to high 200s.

Local and Cloud Storage

The local and cloud storage options for the tablet marketplace are identical to
those found in the smartphone section. Although Amazon is vastly more important
here, its lack of a successful, consumer-facing cloud storage service means that
it is largely limited to the same cloud-based storage of media purchased from
its shelves that is offered by all major competitors at this point. 

Browser

Like Samsung’s smartphone lines, its tablets also have free access to the
latest version of Chrome via Google Play. This app behaves nearly identically
to its smartphone counterpart, aside from some adjustments to resolution in
order to fit the larger screens. A similar practice can also be seen in Apple’s
versions of Safari on the iPad family. Microsoft, on the other hand,
runs a full desktop-class version of its Internet Explorer browser on all
tablets, whether they are operating with a full version of Windows or Windows
RT. 

Amazon is once again an important entrant into this segment. Its Silk
browser, which is available on all modern Kindle Fire tablets, features a
pre-caching capability that expedites Web browsing by preemptively loading
additional Web pages which the user may visit next in order to shorten page
transition times. 

While there are several third-party offerings in this space, the only
platform that has received wide-ranging adoption is Microsoft’s
Windows. Owners of a Windows-based tablet running the full operating system, not
Windows RT, are also able to choose from offerings like the desktop version of
Google’s Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox. 

Price

Pricing in the tablet marketplace is highly
fluid. While smartphone pricing can remain unchanged for years at a time, tablets have no such restriction and are limited solely
by supply and demand. As the tablet marketplace itself was
arguably created by Apple, the standard pricing scheme seems to have also been
their doing. Traditionally, tablets near or at the 10-inch screen size have sold
for between $300 and $500 for their base models, while those at the smaller 7- to
8-inch size were typically between $200 and $300. 12-inch
laptop-replacement tablets with mobile operating systems are currently ranging around the $700 to $1,000 price point. That
said, there are also premium tablets in the 10-inch slot that can run over the
$700 price point due to support for external keyboards and styli.

Sales and Market Share

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Smartphones

Market share for smartphones is
usually calculated on two bases: platform market share and OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) market share. The
first measures the total percentage of users currently on a given platform
(iOS, Android, etc), while the other measures the number of a
particular manufacturers’ phones that are in use. Although Samsung has Google to
thank for designing a mobile operating system to drive its hardware, the
company’s dominance in the hardware market is all its own. 3

Table 1. Top Smartphone
Platforms for Mid 2019
Market Position Company (Platform) % of Mobile Sales Year-Over-Year Change
1 Google (Android) 72.48% -1.65%
2 Apple (iOS) 26.91% +2.12%
3 Other OS 0.2% +0.0%

Source: Statcounter

Table 2. Top Smartphone
Manufacturers as of November 2020
Market Position Company (Platform) % of Mobile Sales Year-Over-Year Change
1 Samsung (Android) 22% +1.7%
2 Huawei (Android) 14.1% -2.8%
3 Xiaomi (Android) 12.1% +3.6%
4 Apple (iOS) 11.1% +0.6%
5 OPPO (Android) 8.2% +0.3%
6 Others (Primarily Android) 32.5% -3.4%

Source: Gartner

To more deeply examine the impact Android has had on Samsung’s products
sales, it is necessary to examine the sales figures of the mobile operating
system as a whole versus those of its competitors. Although precise sales
figures for all Android devices are not known, and
Apple is often vague about its own sales figures, there are some important
statistics worth mentioning. 

  • Android
    • Despite being the "official" Google Android phone line, the
      company’s own handsets have actually accounted for a relatively small portion
      of Android’s overall sales. Samsung itself called the sales of the
      device "miniscule" in a court document filed as part of an
      Apple lawsuit.4
      Google has tried over the years to expand its presence via multiple
      acquisitions, the latest of which was the portion of HTC responsible for
      the Pixel smartphone line. However, the company still resides within the
      "Others" category on most market share lists.

    • Despite Google having designed the operating system, the best-selling
      Android devices for the past several years have been Samsung’s, with the
      company’s Galaxy S line still representing the peak of its sales. In
      fact, the Galaxy S8 line sold more than 20 million units in its first
      few months on the market, essentially doubling the success of its already highly successful
      predecessor, despite being the first major release following the
      Note 7 disaster.5
  • Apple iPhone
    • In total, Apple sold more than $137.6 billion worth of iPhones during
      its 2020 fiscal year.6 Comparing this to the $28.9 billion Apple made during the same
      year selling Macs proves
      the iPhone is, by far, the most important product for the company.

Tablets

Pinning down sales and market share statistics for the tablet marketplace is
often very difficult. Not only are many manufacturers cagey with their
sales numbers (Amazon in particular), but the marketplace changes so quickly that
a hot new release could completely alter the landscape before the previous
quarter’s sales have even been tabulated. 

With that in mind, the most recent tablet marketshare numbers from research
firm IDC show that Samsung has benefited greatly from the surge in tablet use
and sales likely spurred on by the growing number of users at home for extended
periods of time during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Figure 50. Tablet Ownership by Brand

Figure 50. Tablet Ownership by Brand

Source: IDC

While Samsung’s growth in the tablet space is extremely impressive, it is
nowhere near as dominant as its share is in the smartphone space. However, this was not
always the case. It has,
at times, nearly matched Apple’s
sales figures, and has arguably forced to follow in
its footsteps in the tablet arena. If the launch of the iPad Mini were not
enough evidence that Samsung seems able to pick up on consumer desires for new
tablet form factors more quickly than apple, then the iPad Pro unveiling
should prove the point once and for all. Not only did it launch with the same12-inch screen size as the Galaxy Note Pro, it
was also Apple’s first tablet
to support a first-party stylus, something which the Note line had had for
years at that point. 

All that said, Samsung seems to have largely shifted its focus away from
tablets based on mobile operating systems. The company’s most high-profile
launches over the past few years in this space have been laptop-replacement
tablets and convertibles that run desktop-class operating systems like Chrome OS
or even Windows. It is unclear when, or if, Samsung will ever return to the
habit of leading the way on tablets designed, from the ground up, to work on the
same OS as their smartphone counterparts.

Outlook

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Samsung is a consistent leader of the OEM mobile phone market.7
Although this also includes the company’s non-smartphone the vast, vast majority
of the company’s success is being derived from its smartphone offerings. This is
a trend that is guaranteed to continue as more consumers in developing nations
make the transition from a traditional cell phone to a smartphone device.
Samsung, like Apple, is very aware of this fact, and has shifted its focus into
the smartphone space more and more in recent years.

Unfortunately for Samsung, this has left it somewhat vulnerable
as a company, with its fate largely dependent on the success for failure of its
latest mobile phones. This fate is less sure today than it once was, thanks to the
infamous failure of the Galaxy Note 7 and the more recent disastrous initial
debut and subsequent delay of the Galaxy Fold. Both incidents showed how disastrous one bad release
can be. Although
Samsung’s sales figures rebounded both times, the stain of these massive,
seemingly avoidable blunders continue to
tarnish what was once a nearly flawless record. Meanwhile, Google is
strengthening its position in the
smartphone space as a first-party device maker, with its Pixel line featuring
none of the third-party branding previously found on Google’s former
flagship Nexus line. This means that Samsung will have to
contend even more closely with the literal maker of Android. While Google has,
so far, been generous in offering all aspects of Android’s capabilities to all
third party device makers, that could change at any point.

While they may not be as large a part of Samsung’s success or failure, its
tablet offerings also make up a huge part of it mobile device’s business. It has
shown, time and again, that it’s form factors and design decisions can lead the
industry, with even Apple itself having to follow suit in offerings like the
iPad Mini and iPad Pro. As the tablet market slows, and once again trends
towards cheaper models, Samsung may be wise to revise and refresh its lower-cost
offerings to better compete with the ascendant Amazon Kindle Fire product line.

Summary

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Samsung finds itself in position of increasing strength in the
smartphone market and in the tablet arena. While its
sheer size and long history of devices have helped Samsung to weather recent
years' storms, it is undeniably on shakier ground than it once was thanks to
multiple high-profile blunders in its products and the shaky legal status of its
leadership. It cannot afford another blunder like the Note 7 or
Galaxy Fold if it wishes to continue to maintain an overall upward trajectory.

Even without the remnants of the fallout from black marks like the Note 7 fiasco remaining, other dangers
still exist for Samsung. It must also remain vigilant of what a target its
long-term success has made it. Despite not having designed the Android operating system,
Samsung has been the target of more lawsuits relating to it than Google itself. This is,
unfortunately, all too common in today’s ever-more litigious telecom world. However,
cases against Samsung filed by companies the size of Apple, of which there are
currently several in progress, provide a real threat to Samsung’s livelihood. Potential
injunctions, sales bans (some of which have already occurred on a short-term
basis), and other legal actions must be avoided at all costs. If Samsung can
managed to dodge these legal attacks, then the company’s future should remain
bright.

References

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About the Author

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Michael Gariffo is an editor for Faulkner Information Services. He
tracks and writes about enterprise software and the IT services sector, as well
as telecommunications and data networking.

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