Samsung’s just announced Galaxy S23 launch will help keep it competitive

The announced Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones look remarkably like their predecessors, making any case for an upgrade difficult to argue, especially in current market headwinds and increased cost of living crisis. However, on closer inspection, the company has been tinkering under the hood to provide notable pointers that may entice consumers otherwise. Firstly, Samsung has traded up performance in the Galaxy S23 series through the use of Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip, which is to be marketed under the strapline ‘Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform For Galaxy’.

This is the first time Samsung has turned to Qualcomm for all its S series phones, ditching its own Exynos silicon for markets outside the US. While the move will provide unparalleled performance, power, and advanced AI improvements, the expected speed increase will also give Samsung a definitive, early lead among competing Android smartphones in 2023. Secondly, among other features announced across the series is the addition of a larger 200MP Adaptive Pixel sensor in the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This will provide substantial improvements in both low-light camera settings and resolution, offering advanced features that are still trading as significant points of differentiation in a sea of upgrade plainness amongst most premium competitor phones.

It cannot be understated that Samsung’s latest set of flagship smartphones comes during a period of sustained global macroeconomic instability, leading to weak demand in the sector. However, while much of this squeeze is down to a decline in mass-market smartphones, the high end has held up well and has kept relatively unaffected by such economic fluctuations. For Samsung to stay relevant in the premium sector, this latest set of souped-up Galaxy S devices will help keep it competitive until the next raft of competing smartphones is launched. Moreover, an expected portfolio expansion of 5G and foldable smartphones throughout 2023 will help Samsung consolidate revenue growth and sustain leadership in a contracting market, says David McQueen, Research Director at global technology intelligence firm ABI Research:

The announced Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphones look remarkably like their predecessors, making any case for an upgrade difficult to argue, especially in current market headwinds and increased cost of living crisis. However, on closer inspection, the company has been tinkering under the hood to provide notable pointers that may entice consumers otherwise. Firstly, Samsung has traded up performance in the Galaxy S23 series through the use of Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip, which is to be marketed under the strapline ‘Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform For Galaxy’. This is the first time Samsung has turned to Qualcomm for all its S series phones, ditching its own Exynos silicon for markets outside the US. While the move will provide unparalleled performance, power, and advanced AI improvements, the expected speed increase will also give Samsung a definitive, early lead among competing Android smartphones in 2023. Secondly, among other features announced across the series is the addition of a larger 200MP Adaptive Pixel sensor in the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This will provide substantial improvements in both low-light camera settings and resolution, offering advanced features that are still trading as significant points of differentiation in a sea of upgrade plainness amongst most premium competitor phones.

It cannot be understated that Samsung’s latest set of flagship smartphones comes during a period of sustained global macroeconomic instability, leading to weak demand in the sector. However, while much of this squeeze is down to a decline in mass-market smartphones, the high end has held up well and has kept relatively unaffected by such economic fluctuations. For Samsung to stay relevant in the premium sector, this latest set of souped-up Galaxy S devices will help keep it competitive until the next raft of competing smartphones is launched. Moreover, an expected portfolio expansion of 5G and foldable smartphones throughout 2023 will help Samsung consolidate revenue growth and sustain leadership in a contracting market.

CT Bureau