South Korea's No.1 tech firm Samsung Electronics Co. is expected to see the combined sales of its soon-to-be-released smartphones -- the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge -- reach more than 50 million units this year, a report said Friday, adding they will become "the most successful Galaxy S model."
"The lead that Samsung makes with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge is likely to continue across several quarters. So we project that Samsung will sell more than 50 million units of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge combined this year," Hong Kong-based industry tracker Counterpoint said.
"This is more than the previous best-seller, the Galaxy S4, which sold around 45 million in its first year," the researcher added, which also painted a 55-million sales outlook for the newcomers, given Samsung manages to overcome a possible delay in producing complicated curved screens of the Galaxy S6 Edge.
With South Korean mobile carriers commencing preorders earlier this week, the two latest smartphones will hit the global market on April 10.
The new Galaxy S6 series, unveiled ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Spain last month, boasts the industry's first wireless-charging batteries and Samsung's mobile payment system set for a local debut in the second half of this year.
The offbeat Galaxy S6 Edge also has been grabbing the market's attention with the industry's first screen that is curved at both ends, providing users with a wider view. This was an upgrade from the Galaxy Note Edge, which bent its screen on only one side.
The researcher, however, said that although new smartphones are threats for other Android-powered handsets, the impact on the U.S. rival Apple Inc. will be limited.
"The Galaxy S6 and its Edge variation will take more share from other Android competitors rather than Apple," it said. "With the large screen iPhone, Apple has successfully retained its user base."
Counterpoint added there will be consolidations among smaller smartphone makers down the road, apparently as the excessive competition in the market has caused several players to make little returns.
"Usually it's the No. 1 player that plays this role, but we are not clear if Samsung is even interested in such a strategy," Counterpoint said. "The time for consolidation has come and if Samsung does not emerge as the consolidator someone else will." (Yonhap)
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