San francisco/London (Reuters)-
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. on Wednesday unveiled a nearly $2,000 folding smartphone to try to surpass Apple Inc. and its Chinese rivals in technology and
Galaxy Fold will be available on April 26 and take advantage of the new and faster 5g mobile network.
The device looks similar to a traditional smartphone, but then opens up like a book showing the size of a small 7-year-old tablet. 3 inches (18. 5 cm).
Samsung chief executive DJ Koh said at an event in San Francisco that the device "answered skeptics and they said everything that could be done was done . ".
"We are here to prove that they are wrong.
Samsung remains the world's largest smartphone maker, ranking fifth in global handset sales, but did not perform well in the depressed market last year.
China rival Huawei Technology Co. , Ltd.
The price of his Mate phone series is also high.
Market share.
Prices for other Chinese manufacturers such as Xiaomi Corp. are also rising, making Samsung defend its turf in addition to its longtime rival, Apple.
With foldable phones, Samsung will be on the offensive in two aspects of the smartphone race: it offers an eye
In high-end phones that capture new features with big screens, curved screens and the first 5g connection, feature analysts expect Apple to not match until 2020.
Samsung is also making improvements to its flagship Galaxy S and plans to launch a 4g folding phone.
It also challenges the concept of mobile phone costs, making its debut at nearly twice the current highest priceof-the-
Series models of Apple and Samsung.
Patrick Moorhead, founder of Moor Insights & Strategy, said the new folding device could help Samsung stay ahead and attract consumers to upgrade devices that have looked essentially the same over the past five years.
"Samsung and Apple come and go," says Moorhead, leading the high-end smartphone market.
"I think it's an opportunity for Samsung to regain its innovation crown.
Despite the high starting price of $1,980, some Samsung fans say they are willing to pay for it.
Navneet Kumar Singh, a Samsung enthusiast from India, went to San Francisco to watch the press conference and he was ready to place an order.
He said: "The price of the flagship model is a bit aggressive in India, but in the end, you will get a different experience if you invest money.
Samsung has also launched several competing accessories with Apple, including a wireless headset called the Galaxy Buds.
This headset includes wireless charging. One of the features Apple has promised to launch is to compete with AirPods, but has not yet been released.
Samsung also said its new Galaxy phone will be able to wirelessly charge headphones and new smartwatches by setting up accessories on the back of the phone.
In addition to folding phones, Samsung has added new cameras and 5g versions to the Galaxy series.
Verizon Communications will be the first carrier to serve Samsung's 5g mobile phone.
It is expected that these networks will be 10 times faster than the current network, thus improving the viewing of real-time news and sports events.
With the 5g version of its flagship, the South Korean electronics maker appears to have beaten its Chinese counterpart in the 5g race, although the device will only run on a small number of networks launched later this year.
Apple is not expected to release 5g smartphones until the end of 2020.
There are no new networks in many places, but they will be launched this year and next.
Consumers who want to stick to their phones for a few years before the upgrade may now want to buy a 5g phone so it can use these networks later, says Bob O'Donnell of the Institute of Technical Analysis.
This could turn some Apple buyers to Samsung and other Android manufacturers with 5g devices.
"People will consider whether they can use it a year from now?
Two years later? Three years? ” he said.
Rival smartphone makers are expected to announce 5g models at the Mobile World Congress in Spain next week.
Samsung said its 5g phone will be available in early summer.
The Galaxy 10 series needs to attract consumers who are reluctant to upgrade because they only need incremental technical improvements in performance.
All Galaxy series sturdy phones are available from March 8 except monthly Gram, S10 prices from $1,000, S10 prices from $900 and small S10e from $750.
By contrast, Apple's iPhone XS costs $999, while Huawei's premium Mate 20 Pro costs $858.