Samsung powers ahead with 5G phones

Powered by 5G: A man walking past an advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G smartphone in Seoul. Samsung Electronics expects a smaller-than-expected fall in third quarter operating profit due to strong sales of the Note 10. — AFP

SEOUL: Strong sales of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note 10 smartphone series are limiting forecast profit falls at the South Korean tech giant, raising hopes it is getting back on a growth track after years of moribund sales.

Samsung, the world’s largest smartphone maker, is powering ahead with the launch of 5G phones and US$2,000 foldable handsets as it heats up competition with rivals Apple of the United States and China’s Huawei following a battery explosion scandal in 2017 that hurt sales.