Samsung set to launch new flagship smartphones

I have a Samsung Galaxy Neo, which I think is a 2015 or '16 model. It's not one of their top of the line models but it works really well.

The price of it was nothing like the 100,000 yen Apple is taking for the iPhone X and it does pretty much everything I need a smartphone to do.

If Samsung can keep their really good Galaxy models reasonable in price, they should be able to surpass the over-priced iPhones in the foreseeable future.

Reports are they will charge close to what the iPhoneX costs for the upcoming S9. As usual, Apple sets the bar, and after making fun of them, Android makers tend to follow suit (and this is coming from a die-hard Android fan). Pixel was the worst, making fun of the lack of headphone jack, and then ditching it from their latest version.

Anyway what i find is that the improvement of phones has slowed recently. I am using an S7 Edge, which is already a couple of years old, but still blazingly fast. I will probably upgrade to a secondhand S8 once the S9 is announced and the prices on older models drop accordingly.

I will probably upgrade to a secondhand S8 once the S9 is announced and the prices on older models drop accordingly.

And switch carries. You get an even better deal usually. Went from an iPhone 4 to the 6s, there would be an increase in my SoftBank monthly fee of around ¥8000 to ¥10000. Switched to AU and it's under ¥6000. Granted, I have limited data now and it sometimes slows which is aggravating but manageable.

If Samsung charges close to the iPhoneX, they will be sorely disappointed

Sales of iPhoneX has been a disappointment for Apple

‘Disappointing’ sales see Apple cutting iPhone X production in half this quarter

https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/29/iphone-x-sales-production/

Samsung should know firsthand - they make the OLEDs for the iPhone X

"Samsung will reportedly cut OLED panel production due to lower-than-expected iPhone X sales"

https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/20/17032996/samsung-oled-panel-iphone-x-apple-production

The iPhone X is causing Samsung problems – just not the way we predicted

For the second time in a matter of days, a report from Asia claims that Apple’s iPhone X is seriously hurting Samsung. It’s just not the way we thought back when the iPhone X launched.

Weaker-than-expected sales forced Apple to revise its iPhone X parts orders, these reports say. And Samsung, the only manufacturer of OLED screens good enough for Apple’s iPhone, is now forced to slash its OLED panel production.

A new report from Nikkei today explains that by lowering iPhone X orders, Apple has left Samsung scrambling to find new customers for its OLED panels. The report explains that Samsung initially ramped up production to meet demand for the iPhone X, but now faces excess capacity as Apple reportedly cuts the device’s production…

Samsung knows the hurt that Apple is putting on them

There's not as big a market for US$1,000 phones as people now realize

I have a Samsung s8 and love it. Best phone I have ever had.

Well it turns out the reports were wrong, the S9s are cheaper than the iPhoneX, although the S9+ is not that far off it. Plus some agressive campaigns in for early orders. Of course none of that matters here in Japan, where they will be sold on collusioned carrier contracts.

@FizzBit

And switch carries.

I encourage you to look around again once your AU contract is up. I switched to an MVNO (third party provider) a few years back and i havent paid over 3000yen a month since then. To be fair some of them are pretty atrocious at lunchtime/evening rush hour. But Biglobe has been quite good. Its quick enough for what i want to do (watch instagram/youtube videos etc).

I buy a secondhand phone once a year @ around 30-40k. Sell my old phone for 20-25k (Samsung's keep their value), plus my monthly plan costs of 2500-3000yen a month depending on whether i make any calls (hardly ever). So my yearly phone spending is 41,000 - 56,000 depending on the bargains i find while looking for a new phone (and i get to enjoy a 'new' phone every year).