Manufacturers normally expect its latest flagship smartphones to hit it big upon release. However, Samsung's Galaxy S9 is trailing behind the S8 in South Korea.
Market analysts believe that several factors affect the sales of the recently released premium model. Some suggest that the number of product leaks before its launch ruined the surprise for most consumers.
Others note that the lineup from 2017, which includes the Galaxy Note 8, are to blame for its less-than-expected sales.
Experts Weigh In
After some careful research, industry experts have come up with their respective reasons to explain its current market performance. Due to the versatility afforded by the Galaxy Note series signature stylus, it has become the smartphone of choice for consumers. Most people would rather wait until the next one comes out.
Another one suggests that on launch day, manufacturers normally price the handset at the highest. Studies conducted by comparison sites point out that within three months prices often dropped by as much as 35 percent on average.
Furthermore, those who want a great deal can just wait for discounts that come their way as carriers and retailers attempt to move their inventory once the new models become available.
Other Addressable Issues
Comparing how Samsung handles software updates, consumers are reportedly disappointed by how late the manufacturer upgrades their smartphones. Unlike the Google Pixel series and Apple iPhone, patches that involve the next operating system version do not exactly arrive in a timely manner for handsets like the Galaxy S9 and S8.
In fact, Android Oreo was just rolled out for the S8 series and the update still does not include the models that are carrier locked. Historical data shows that the latter is always the last to get updated since networks have to go through certain certification processes and install their issued bloatware.
According to recent reports sourced from South Korea, the younger generation of users either opted to stick with the last year's model or upgrade to the 2018 version of the Galaxy A8 and A8 Plus.
Speculation states that the designers form the company got lazy and just copied almost everything from last year.
Comparison With The Competition
Earlier this year, reports confirmed slow sales for the iPhone X. Rumors even have it that the latest flagship from Apple will see its production stopped soon. If Samsung does not pick up the pace, it is likely that the same thing might happen to its newest premium product.
A review from Fossbytes even recommends that S8 owners should stay with their smartphones and not invest in the S9 just yet. The incremental upgrades do not seem to be enough to justify its purchase.
