Off the File
Off the File is a weekly column written by Android Central’s editor-in-chief. The column appears to be like to develop and go in-depth on matters within the Android house with none limitations.
Samsung simply launched the Galaxy S25 sequence at its annual Galaxy Unpacked occasion. The telephones include all the Galaxy AI options, and a few cellphone upgrades. However most notable is that the Galaxy S25 Extremely is now accessible on the identical value because the Galaxy S24 Extremely. Not growing the worth of its newest flagships is a transfer that I feel is perhaps favorable for Samsung.
The premium Galaxy S25 Extremely begins at $1,299, the identical value that the S24 Extremely launched at. On the time of the S24 Extremely launch, nonetheless, the worth of the cellphone was elevated by $100 from the Galaxy S23 Extremely.
Throughout Android Central’s briefing for the S24, a Samsung consultant mentioned that the worth enhance for the S24 Extremely was due to upgrades to the cellphone itself.
“During the last three years, now we have added and improved Extremely dramatically and now we have prided ourselves in offering an best possible worth that we are able to to our prospects,” the consultant mentioned.
“Nonetheless, right now with a lot of the additions and enhancements that had been introduced from extra enhancements from chipsets to cameras, sensors and capabilities, it was simply one thing that we’re unable to soak up this go round.”
A way more spectacular chipset and a greater value
I discover it most spectacular and fascinating that this 12 months Samsung was capable of get a model new, and way more highly effective, chipset into the system and nonetheless didn’t have to extend the worth of the cellphone. All the sequence launched with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and extra importantly is that it’s not simply the Extremely that bought the brand new chipset, however your entire lineup of gadgets, which incorporates the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. These telephones additionally didn’t get a value enhance.
Jitesh Ubrani, analysis supervisor for IDC’s Worldwide Cellular Gadget Trackers, mentioned that whereas it’s frequent that almost all producers launch new telephones with new chips, it’s “quiet notable that Samsung isn’t elevating costs.”
However on the identical time he did point out that in 2025, most producers are seemingly not going to be elevating costs.
“I don’t [think] we’ll see many value hikes this 12 months from different distributors both as a result of inflation is cooling and costs are quiet excessive anyway,” he mentioned.
Alternatively, OnePlus just lately launched the OnePlus 13, which additionally runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The corporate raised the worth of the cellphone to $899, and enhance of $100 in comparison with the earlier mannequin, which was priced at $799, already undercutting its closest rivals. That mentioned, it nonetheless prices lower than the $999 Galaxy S25 Plus.
A poor performing 2024 is about to turnaround
The previous 12 months was a difficult 12 months for Samsung. Whereas the Galaxy S24 sequence had a profitable launch, it didn’t actually assist enhance the downard trajectory of Samsung’s gross sales. And in April of that 12 months, the corporate initiated a six-day workweek for executives to create “a way of disaster” among the many firm’s management group.
The place Samsung started to actually battle was after launching its Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6, which in lots of tech circles had been extra iterative updates to what it launched the earlier 12 months. The telephones weren’t tremendous thrilling and weren’t as revolutionary as they’ve been in earlier years. It bought the purpose Samsung needed to apologize for its lack of innovation final 12 months.
IDC confirmed Samsung misplaced smartphone market share as of Q2 2024 in comparison with the earlier 12 months and that the corporate’s market share dipped to 18.4%, down from 20%.
And admittedly, if Samsung wished to have a greater 2025, elevating costs wouldn’t be the fitting transfer.
Ubrani agrees, but in addition provides, it in all probability received’t be a superb look to shareholders both. “After a poor efficiency in 2024, elevating costs would seemingly damage them from a share perspective,” he mentioned. “That is much more true in markets like Europe or Asia the place there tends to be extra model range.”
IDC, in an e-mail first-look report, indicated that the S24 sequence took up the growing share of Samsung’s shipments throughout its launch quarter, including that it contributed “to 22% of Samsung shipments in 1Q24.”
Due to its focus, IDC mentioned that the corporate’s share within the worldwide premium market finally rose to as a lot as 20% up to now 12 months, up from 15% in 2021.
The place the corporate has all the time shined is thru their promotional exercise and Ubrani notes that the foldable market will likely be a bit quiet permitting for the S sequence to win.
“Moreover, the marketplace for foldable smartphones is anticipated to point out some softness this 12 months as the expansion price slows. This might doubtlessly result in elevated promotional exercise throughout Samsung’s S lineup notably within the premium value manufacturers later within the 12 months which might additionally assist the corporate promote extra telephones,” he mentioned.
Finally, I am glad, as a result of Samsung did the fitting factor right here by not elevating costs. It’s a greater search for the corporate and it’s a higher factor for patrons. I feel if prospects are searching for new telephones they need to significantly take into account the most recent cellphone as an alternative of selecting to purchase an older mannequin due to value hikes.
I look ahead to seeing how Samsung improves this 12 months.
The last word AI cellphone
Are you able to improve to essentially the most highly effective Android cellphone thus far? Now’s the right time as Samsung’s providing some unbelievable offers on the Galaxy S25 Extremely.
