It was only a few years ago when the smartphone market pretty much consisted of a decision between Apple or Samsung when it came to wanting the best device (there was also the superior Windows phone devices, but they somehow never gained traction due to poor quality apps, despite the strengths of the OS). However, thanks to the continued improvement of other companies like Google, Sony, Huawei and even a resurgent Nokia, that decision is no longer so clear cut and now almost all manufacturers have a decent handset worth having.
Obviously though with all that added competition, it was always going to be difficult for the likes of Apple and Samsung to maintain their success and it appears it’s the latter company that is struggling most to keep with the times as a recent earning call to shareholders (as reported by The Verge) has revealed the flagship Galaxy S9 is not selling as well as hoped. Granted the company is still making a profit, but its growth is down overall and its growth that investors are most after. Most of their big profit though appears to have the way of their TV and semiconductor division and not its smartphone division with even its OLED panels (which are used in the iPhone X) reportedly also underperforming.
It’s interesting times for Samsung who are unsurprisingly more at risk of the increased competition than Apple are. While the Android market might be a lot bigger than the iOS market, Apple has done a superb job if keeping customers loyal to its OS platform, something which Samsung doesn’t really have. It also means that to stand out from the competition, it needs to be more innovative than Apple needs to be, which will drive up expenses and make it more difficult for the company to make a profit out if their devices.
I have no doubt though that this will only force the company to think harder about their devices and hopefully come up with even better phones in the future. Their easy successes in the smartphone industry are likely a thing of the past, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still hold a large percentage of the market if they continue to make great phones. I guess at the end of the day, the winners are the consumers who are getting better and better products from each of the manufactures.
Last Updated: July 31, 2018
Neji
July 31, 2018 at 12:15
Maybe, just maybe if they didn’t charge a metric buttload for the damn phone then sales would have been better.
Admiral Chief
July 31, 2018 at 12:20
Funny you should say “metric + buttload” since a butt is 108 Imperial gallons.
So metric butt load will likely cause most calculators to divide by zero
Gavin Mannion
July 31, 2018 at 12:07
I finally moved to Android, due to my iphone dying, and I regret it every day. I looked at the Samsung Galaxy but for that price I may as well get the better quality phone.. the iPhone
Samsung used to be a good quality phone for a decent price, now it’s the good quality phone for the same price as an excellent quality phone. Just not worth it
Skittle
July 31, 2018 at 12:15
Sony4Life
Admiral Chief
July 31, 2018 at 12:09
Silence old man, the future is now!
Go back to your earpods!
😛
Gavin Mannion
July 31, 2018 at 12:10
hey I didn’t say all Apple things were good.. Earpods are amazing tech but also stupid tech. I also really want to get my headphone jack back
Admiral Chief
July 31, 2018 at 12:18
Look, if you are/were happy with your Apple, then so be it. But sadly, it is not an apples vs apples (hehehe) comparison since the like for like Apple phone costs way more
Gavin Mannion
July 31, 2018 at 12:32
well look… an iPhone 8 is cheaper than a Samsung 9 so yeah I’d still go with the iPhone then.
Admiral Chief
July 31, 2018 at 12:36
But iP8 doesn’t even remotely compare with the S9
Gavin Mannion
July 31, 2018 at 12:37
pfft… pfft I say…. I would still take the iPhone 8. Waiting to see what is announced this year to jump back from my Android nightmare
Admiral Chief
July 31, 2018 at 12:38
You took a really poopy phone and now judging Android phones based on the poopy phone experience!
Just saying…
Gavin Mannion
July 31, 2018 at 12:56
I’ve experienced the P series Huwaei and the Sony’s and Samsungs as well.. They all have issues but my number one issue against Android is the apps. iPhone always gets the best apps first and they always just work.
Not to mention Android tablets are a disaster so I want a phone that pairs with my ipad
Admiral Chief
July 31, 2018 at 13:00
Well there you have it, you are used to Apple, and you want to sync with the pad, so the choice is made.
I just use a selection of apps and don’t go browsing for new apps frequently. So the app argument is lost on me.
The Samsung UI is for me the best, just works (dislike the Sony version a LOT), the iOS is also quite a crappy OS for me.
What I want out of a phone:
– Fast response
– Battery life
– Above average and fast camera
S8+ ticks those boxes for me
Lord Chaos
July 31, 2018 at 13:16
I like the freedom Android gives me.
Hate being locked in and apple feels like they kiddie proofed everything.
Also, Apple are quick to withdraw apps, Steam Link being a prime example
G8crasha
August 1, 2018 at 07:29
Many people say they don’t like Android when they move across from Apple. I can’t stand Apple (especially when the bosses come to me with their iPhones and ask me to figure out why something is happening/is not happening) simply because I’ve been using Android for so many years. It’s not to say that any one OS is better than the other. I believe it’s just case of what you are familiar and comfortable with.
Galaxy isn’t Android. There are tons of great phones that use Android. Huawei are making waves nowadays.
Admiral Chief
July 31, 2018 at 12:08
Here is a suggestion:
STOP RELEASING A NEW MODEL EVERY YEAR LIKE STUPID APPLE
G8crasha
August 1, 2018 at 07:27
Agreed. There changes to each annual iteration don’t justify the upgrade. I had my S4 for 5 years before I got the S9 this year, and I will keep this phone for another 5 years until I get the S14!
I_am_Duffman!
August 1, 2018 at 10:32
The problem is, people don’t all upgrade at the same time. People usually have 2 year cycles on their contracts. So if Samsung only releases every 2 years (say 2016, 2018, 2020 and so on) people upgrading their contracts on the same cycle will be very happy. But people on the off year (say 2017) will probably not be happy in upgrading to a year old phone with the speed tech is increasing, so they will simply jump ship to a competitor. Simple answer, they have to release a phone every year. Problem is, Samsung releases 2 flagships in a year in the form of a Galaxy S and the Note. They are eating into their own slice of the pie.
Original Heretic
July 31, 2018 at 12:58
Oh no… Poor big corporation is making less profit. Shame….
Admiral Chief
July 31, 2018 at 13:00
xD
Draco Lusus
August 1, 2018 at 09:39
Cause people are waking up to the fact that they can get on par or better hardware and software in OnePlus and Xiaomi for half the price…
Lord Chaos
August 1, 2018 at 11:55
Might not be as they hoped, but they’re still on top. And read this morning that Huawei has knocked Apple out of second place