Analysts said the Galaxy S23 smartphone series, with its cameras and faster chips than its predecessor, could still face weak demand as consumers spend less amid surging inflation in a struggling global economy. — Reuters
SEOUL: Samsung Electronics has unveiled its latest premium smartphones with a focus on their powerful cameras, in a test of its brand power as the market for mobiles undergoes unprecedented contraction.
Analysts said the Galaxy S23 smartphone series, with its cameras and faster chips than its predecessor, could still face weak demand as consumers spend less amid surging inflation in a struggling global economy.
Acknowledging that challenge, the head of Samsung’s mobile experience, or MX Business, told reporters at a briefing after the event that there was a “noticeable shift to the premium segment” in developing and emerging markets.
“We intend to focus on the premium segment in developed markets as well as some of the countries where we are seeing solid growth,” he said.
The smartphone maker showed off the S23 Ultra’s performance at the Samsung Unpacked event in San Francisco with snippets of two films, “Behold” by Ridley Scott, director of “Gladiator” and “The Martian,” and “Faith” by South Korean director Na Hong-jin both filmed using the top-line Galaxy smartphone.
It is Samsung’s first-ever 200-megapixel camera sensor, and the series uses Qualcomm Inc’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile processor.
Qualcomm said that with the S23 series, 100% of the processors used will be from Qualcomm.
At the event, executives from Samsung, Qualcomm and Alphabet Inc’s Google gathered on the stage to highlight their partnership in the XR space, which includes virtual and augmented reality.
Anshel Sag, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said the three worked together in the XR space about a decade ago, but the reboot to partner this time comes as Apple Inc is expected to launch its mixed reality headset this year. — Reuters
