San francisco/SEOUL (Reuters)-
Samsung Electronics Co. ltd . ) with the first foldable screen, it has won the favor of the smartphone industry, improved its innovation ability and eliminated the criticism of "Fast Followers, the value of nearly 2,000 sets a new standard in premium pricing.
The South Korean tech giant's Galaxy Fold is similar to a traditional smartphone, but it opens like a book showing the size of the second tablet at 7. 3 inches (18. 5 cm).
It will start sales on April 26.
At a San Francisco conference on Wednesday, Samsung introduced widely anticipated aspects, such as its existing top-
Galaxy S phone.
Later, the appearance of the foldable device shocked many people in the auditorium.
Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said: "I was surprised . " He added that the phone could help Samsung revive its mobile business and that Samsung's leading position is being limited by Huawei technology in China.
"I believe you can get out of the mature market through innovation," he said . " He pointed out that when Apple launched the iPhone in 2007, most industry observers believed that the $100 "candy bar" mobile phone market without touch screens was ripe.
Bob O'Donnell of TECHanalysis Research said that it is very important for Samsung to work with Facebook Inc. , Alphabet Inc. , Google and Microsoft Corp. to adapt the application to the new screen.
Even though Samsung had teased the folding phone before, he said, "see it running and see the software-I think, wow.
A good software experience is very important.
The phone, which can run three apps at once and has six cameras, also challenges the concept of the cost of the phone, with its debut almost double the current highest priceof-the-
Series models of Apple and Samsung.
"It is likely to be sold primarily to early adopters due to price reasons.
Prices are key to expanding sales, "said Jin Yong, a former Samsung mobile executive.
Serk is now a professor at chengjunguan University in South Korea.
"It will help Samsung shape the image of an innovative company, but it is unlikely to be profitable.
"I expect Apple to wait a year for a more versatile foldable phone, just like a smartwatch," he said . ".
Brokerage firm Hana Investment & Securities expects Samsung to sell 2 million foldable phones this year at a relatively low price, while another brokerage expects shipments to reach 1 million units.
Of Samsung's 1% smartphones sold last year, it was less than 0. 291 billion.
"The success of a foldable phone depends on whether it meets the needs of tablet users.
We believe it is difficult to achieve meaningful sales with 7. 3-
Meritz Securities analysts said in a note to customers.
"It must be further developed in order to be successful in order to be able to support 10-
With multiple folded inches or larger screens.
Some industry observers say the foldable phone could enter the tablet market. Last year, the tablet market shrank by 6% despite Apple's ipad shipments. Apple’s 7. 9-
IPad Mini4-inch screen, minimum-and cheapest -
Tablets cost $329 to $559. The U. S.
Company order 25
8% of the global tablet market is nearly double Samsung's 13. 3 percent.
Online, social media users are divided on prices, features, and whether consumers need such phones. “Innovative? Sure. Needed? Not sure.
6 cameras, 2 screens and 2 batteries, $1980? ! ?
Twitter user @ JackPhan wrote.
The attitude of Reddit user AmazedCoder is more positive.
"The fact that people only complain about the price should tell you that a lot of people actually want this but don't get it.
The second generation of this thing will be sold like hot cakes.
Although most analysts expect Apple to wait until 2020 to launch a phone that matches the foldable phone, Samsung has set a new price standard in the premium category, trying to revive consumer interest in the industry.
Sales fell last year.
"$1980 galaxyfold no, thank you. . . watch. . .
"The next iPhone will be $1999 right now," said Twitter user @ zollotech . ".