Samsung has never shied away from taking inspiration from Apple's iPhone designs over the years. In what appears to be a direct response to the popularity of the Jet Black and Black iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung is planning to release a Black Onyx Galaxy Note 7.
Over the last few iPhone release cycles, Apple has introduced a new color option that was exclusive to its latest iPhone series. Sales of these devices were always strong, as sporting one let the world know and gave the owner bragging rights of having the latest and most sought-after iPhone.
Apple launched the Gold iPhone 5s in 2013 and released the Rose Gold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in 2015, which as expected, completely sold out at launch. Samsung introduced its response to Apple's Rose Gold iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus when it announced and recently began selling a Pink Gold Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.
With the release of this year's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple added two new color options that were exclusive to the iPhone 7 series: Black and Jet Black. As expected, when Apple opened up iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus preorders, both the Jet Black and Black color choices quickly sold out. Now that Samsung is in the process of putting its faulty Galaxy Note 7 battery fiasco behind it, the company clearly has Apple's new Jet Black and Black iPhone 7 Plus in its sights and is preparing to launch a Black Onyx Galaxy Note 7, starting in its home country of South Korea.
"We are going to resume our sales of Galaxy Note 7 on the 28th," a high-ranking officer for Samsung Electronics said. "We are planning to formally introduce Black Onyx model in early October."
Samsung had already launched a new Blue Coral Galaxy Note 7, which proved popular since it was also exclusive to its latest and greatest phablet. The report notes that Samsung released a Black Onyx Galaxy Note 7 in India in August and the color option received major interest. The company and wireless retail stores in South Korea appear to believe that the new Black Onyx Note 7 could help turn things around.
"Because colors like gold and silver already have placed themselves as trends in South Korean markets, we still have to wait and see how much Black Onyx model is going to draw attentions from consumers," a cellphone store representative said. "As Black Onyx model is set to be released in South Korea soon, it will be enough to act as a role of lubricant that will turn around an environment that is in disarray due to recall process."
While the Black Onyx Galaxy Note 7 will first launch in South Korea in early October, the report confirms that Samsung is considering launching the new color option in other regions. Samsung often introduces new features on its home turf before expanding to other territories, and we'll keep you posted on any additional details on the rollout as they become available.
