Samsung on
Wednesday unveiled a new model of its Galaxy Note as it seeks to leave behind
the debacle over exploding batteries in the previous generation of the device,
and mount a renewed challenge to Apple and its soon-to-come iPhone 8.
Introducing
the Note 8 “phablet” at an event in New York City, executives repeatedly
thanked fans who had remained loyal to the device.
“None of us
will ever forget what happened last year,” said Samsung president of mobile
communications business DJ Koh.
“But, I will
never forget how millions of dedicated Note loyalists stayed with us; so let me
express my deepest gratitude.”
The South
Korean giant laid claim to being the first smartphone maker to field a
“phablet” device — combining features of smartphones and tablets — when it
introduced the first Note five years ago.
Samsung did
not disclose the price of the Note 8, which will hit shops on September 15 but
will be available for pre-orders starting Thursday.
Note 8
features include dual cameras on the back, with improved image capabilities,
and a signature “S Pen” for drawing or writing on touch screens.
“All in all,
it was a good day for Samsung,” Moore Insights and Strategy analyst Patrick
Moorhead said at the event.
“The Note 7
is clearly behind them and now it’s onto the future with the Note 8.”
The analyst
depicted the Note 8 as Samsung’s best opportunity in years to gain market share
in the fiercely competitive premium smartphone market.
iPhone turns
10
The Note 8
debut comes on the heels of Samsung launching new Galaxy 8 smartphones, and as
the South Korean consumer electronics giant and fellow market leader Apple seek
wow factors that can help them fend off challenges from rising Chinese-based
manufacturers.
Apple is
under particular pressure to dazzle as the culture-changing California iPhone
maker looks for a way to maintain its image as an innovation leader in a global
market showing signs of slowing.
Apple is
expected to unveil a 10th anniversary version of the iPhone in September.
“Clearly,
Apple wants to do something different,” NPD Group analyst Stephen Baker told
AFP.
Reports say
the new iPhone will include a high-quality, edge-to-edge screen with a notch in
the top for an extra camera supporting 3D facial recognition.
Some
speculate that the back of the new handset will be glass and will offer
wireless charging.
Meanwhile,
Google-made Pixel smartphones that debuted last year will likely get a second
generation in the months ahead.
Global
smartphone sales saw a modest decline of 0.8 percent in the second quarter of
2017, an IDC survey showed.
Samsung
maintained top spot in the crowded field with a 23.3 percent market share,
while Apple held onto second place with 12 percent, according to IDC.
“Samsung had
the Note 7 debacle, but it appears their troubles are behind them,” GlobalData
analyst Avi Greengart told AFP. “Samsung is doing some amazing things with its
display and design.”
‘Infinity’
and beyond
Note 8
handsets boasted “infinity” screens that span edge-to-edge on handsets, to
enhance the viewing of video or help to juggle multiple tasks.
Samsung said
it also built its Bixby virtual assistant smarts into Note 8 as it battles to
compete with artificial intelligence being meshed into handsets powered by
Apple or Google-backed Android software.
Note 8 also
boasted water and dust resistance, along with wireless charging capability.
“We
appreciate the relentless passion of the Note community,” Koh said during a
presentation focused almost as much on Note fans as it was on the new handset.
“They’ve
been a constant inspiration to us, and we designed the new Note for them.”
In an
interview with CNBC, Koh confirmed that Samsung is working on a smart speaker
infused with Bixby smarts that will take on home assistant devices fielded by
Amazon, Google and Apple.
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