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 increase and go in-depth on matters within the Android area with none limitations.
Samsung simply launched the Galaxy S25 collection at its annual Galaxy Unpacked occasion. The telephones include the entire Galaxy AI options, and a few telephone upgrades. However most notable is that the Galaxy S25 Extremely is now obtainable on the similar value because the Galaxy S24 Extremely. Not rising the worth of its newest flagships is a transfer that I believe could be 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, nevertheless, the worth of the telephone was elevated by $100 from the Galaxy S23 Extremely.
Throughout Android Central’s briefing for the S24, a Samsung consultant stated that the worth improve for the S24 Extremely was due to upgrades to the telephone itself.
“During the last three years, we now have added and improved Extremely dramatically and we now have prided ourselves in offering an very best worth that we are able to to our prospects,” the consultant stated.
“Nevertheless, right now with a lot of the additions and enhancements that had been introduced from extra enhancements from chipsets to cameras, sensors and features, 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 yr Samsung was in a position to get a model new, and way more highly effective, chipset into the gadget and nonetheless didn’t have to extend the worth of the telephone. Your entire collection launched with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and extra importantly is that it’s not simply the Extremely that received the brand new chipset, however the whole lineup of gadgets, which incorporates the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. These telephones additionally didn’t get a value improve.
Jitesh Ubrani, analysis supervisor for IDC’s Worldwide Cell Machine Trackers, stated that whereas it’s frequent that the majority producers launch new telephones with new chips, it’s “quiet notable that Samsung isn’t elevating costs.”
However on the similar time he did point out that in 2025, most producers are doubtless not going to be elevating costs.
“I don’t [think] we’ll see many value hikes this yr from different distributors both as a result of inflation is cooling and costs are quiet excessive anyway,” he stated.
Then again, OnePlus just lately launched the OnePlus 13, which additionally runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The corporate raised the worth of the telephone to $899, and improve of $100 in comparison with the earlier mannequin, which was priced at $799, already undercutting its closest rivals. That stated, it nonetheless prices lower than the $999 Galaxy S25 Plus.
A poor performing 2024 is about to turnaround
The previous yr was a difficult yr for Samsung. Whereas the Galaxy S24 collection had a profitable launch, it didn’t actually assist enhance the downard trajectory of Samsung’s gross sales. And in April of that yr, the corporate initiated a six-day workweek for executives to create “a way of disaster” among the many firm’s management crew.
The place Samsung started to actually wrestle 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 yr. The telephones weren’t tremendous thrilling and weren’t as revolutionary as they’ve been in earlier years. It received the purpose Samsung needed to apologize for its lack of innovation final yr.
IDC confirmed Samsung misplaced smartphone market share as of Q2 2024 in comparison with the earlier yr and that the corporate’s market share dipped to 18.4%, down from 20%.
And albeit, if Samsung needed to have a greater 2025, elevating costs wouldn’t be the precise transfer.
Ubrani agrees, but in addition provides, it most likely gained’t be a superb look to shareholders both. “After a poor efficiency in 2024, elevating costs would doubtless harm them from a share perspective,” he stated. “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 collection took up the rising 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 stated that the corporate’s share within the worldwide premium market finally rose to as a lot as 20% prior to now yr, 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 might be a bit quiet permitting for the S collection to win.
“Moreover, the marketplace for foldable smartphones is anticipated to indicate some softness this yr as the expansion charge slows. This might doubtlessly result in elevated promotional exercise throughout Samsung’s S lineup significantly within the premium value manufacturers later within the yr which may additionally assist the corporate promote extra telephones,” he stated.
Finally, I am glad, as a result of Samsung did the precise factor right here by not elevating costs. It’s a greater search for the corporate and it’s a higher factor for patrons. I believe if prospects are on the lookout for new telephones they need to severely think about the newest telephone as a substitute of selecting to purchase an older mannequin due to value hikes.
I sit up for seeing how Samsung improves this yr.
The final word AI telephone
Are you able to improve to probably the most highly effective Android telephone so far? Now’s the right time as Samsung’s providing some unimaginable offers on the Galaxy S25 Extremely.