Samsung Electronics Co. revealed a Galaxy S5 smartphone, which is provided with a fingerprint reader and a larger screen than the current model. The company is trying to engage the attention of its high-end customers in order to keep them away from its biggest competitor Apple Inc. and its iPhones.
According to Min Cho, who is the Marketing Director of the mobile unit of Samsung Electronics, the new smartphone, which is also water-resistant, will be launched for sale on April the 11th. Its features will also include an improved battery that lasts longer in comparison to its S4 predecessor. The new S5 device was shown at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It uses the Android software of Google Inc. and also owns a download booster for fourth-generation networks and Wi-Fi.
The company explained that the new device of the Galaxy S series will be provided in four colors – black, white, blue and gold, and its back has a leather feel. Samsung Electronics also revealed that the main camera of the smartphone will have a resolution of 16 megapixels, in comparison to its predecessor – the S4 model, which has a 13-megapixel camera. In addition, its battery is improved and will last 20% longer than the one of the S4 device. Samsung Galaxy S5 will be provided with a full high-definition 5.1-inch display on an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode screen, or AMOLED.
The launch of the new iPhones in September 2013 held down the demand for high-end devices from the Galaxy series, which led to decreasing sales in the most profitable segment of the market. As a result, Samsung Electronics posted its slowest earnings growth since 2011. The company, however, announced its first wearable devices that use Tizen software and plans to release more smartphones until the end of 2014 in order to regain its positions and eliminate the rivalry of Apple and Chinese smartphone manufacturers.
The companys stock has declined by 13% during the past 12 months, decreasing its market value by about 27 billion dollars.
One of the analysts working for Leading Investment & Securities Co. – Oh Sang Woo, said for Bloomberg: “I dont think the new S5 smartphone itself will be a major game changer. Still, it is expected to sell about 50 to 60 million units a year so it will contribute big to Samsungs earnings.”
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd rose by 0.45% in Seoul to settle the session at 1 334 000 KRW, raising the companys market value to 196.5 trillion won.
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