Samsung Electronics Begins Event for Preliminary Experience of Galaxy S7

Competition for Smartphones between Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Apple has started. New Smartphones by these 3 businesses are produced to defend their markets by responding against lack of growth of Smartphones and fast-growth of Chinese manufacturers and to rebound from slump in sales. To show these intentions in action, these businesses have pushed release dates forward by about a month and are anticipating early competition for success of their Smartphones.

Samsung Electronics has started its way of advertising its new product by exhibiting Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge at about 2100 stores such as Samsung Digital Plaza, stores of 3South Korean mobile telecommunication businesses, Hi-Marts and others starting from the 29th of February and starting events for customers so that they can experience Galaxy S7 in advance. This is the first time when Samsung Electronics’ new products are introduced to South Korean customers after it had introduced them at MWC 2016 in Barcelona on the 21st.

It was very quiet at stores on the first day of event, which was mainly prepared to increase level of completion of functions, because it was a weekday and there were many places that were preparing for events in the morning and had started them in the afternoon. Number of customers had increased in the afternoon, and responses from customers were diverse.

“Just like how a premium Smartphone should look, its exterior looks very elegant.” said a customer who was seen at KT Square in Gwanghwamun. “I’ve heard that Galaxy S7 is able to film videos or take pictures in dark areas because it uses bright lenses.” This same customer had shown much interest in camera’s functions and functions like waterproof and dustproof functions.

Photo Image
<Samsung Electronics has started an event that allows customers to experience Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge preliminarily at 2100 stores in South Korea. Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge that are exhibited at KT Square in Gwanghwamun. Staff Reporter Yoon, Sunghyuk | shyoon@etnews.com >

“Because it seems that its appearance has not changed much from before, it is somewhat hard to distinguish between Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7.” said a customer who visited SK Telecom’s Jongno Store. This customer had shown interest in exact release date and price of Galaxy S7 and free gifts that come with Galaxy S7.

An employee at this Jongno Store said that people have shown lesser interest in Gear VR that expected. This employee explained that a possible reason could be because Samsung Electronics has been providing Gear VR as a promotion item since Galaxy S6. This employee added that customers’ exact responses towards Galaxy S7 can be known in couple days since it is still in the beginning stage of event.

Starting with Samsung Electronics, Apple and LG Electronics are going to introduce their new products one after the other. During sometime this month, Apple is going to release iPhone 5SE that has a 4-inch screen. It is heard that its cost is going to be between $405 and $487 (500,000 KRW and 600,000 KRW) and has a 4-inch screen, live photo and ApplePay functions, and a rear camera with 12 million pixels. This is Apple’s strategic move to overcome lack of sales of iPhone 6S and secure competitive edge in low and medium-priced phone markets.

LG Electronics is going to release G5 in early April in global markets sequentially. G5 uses a module method that can exchange many devices (Friends) and has a dual-camera on its backside. LG Electronics used a full metal uni-body design for the first time out of all LG Electronics’ premium phones and is clearly different from G4 in design.

Competition between Galaxy S7 and G5 is expected as some customers had inquired about exhibition and release date of G5 at Galaxy S7’s experience event.

Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Apple are looking to reverse images of their brands by pushing forward release dates of new products than their previous models. Galaxy S7 is going to be released one month earlier than release date of Galaxy S6 (4/10/2015). Presale is going to start on the 4th of March, and it will be officially released in 60 countries on the 11th.

Release date for G5 is also going to be released about a month earlier than release date of G4 (4/29/2015). Apple is going to introduce a new product after just 6 months from release date of iPhone 6S. Turnover of situation for all 3 businesses is urgent as decrease of quarterly sales is predicted this quarter.

Staff Reporter An, Hochun | hcan@etnews.com