Earlier this month, a Russian tech journalist revealed that Samsung’s new smartphones Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have seen strong pre-orders in several key markets. Now the Korean electronics giant has confirmed that it had received “stronger than expected” pre-orders for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The new phones will go on sale in 60 countries on Friday, March 11.
Will Galaxy S7 revive Samsung’s flagging sales?
During a press event in Seoul, Samsung’s mobile business president Koh Dong-jin told Reuters that the pre-orders have exceeded the company’s expectations. Dong-jin hopes the new devices would help revive Samsung’s sales in countries like China, the world’s largest smartphone market where Apple and Chinese vendors have showed tremendous growth in the last few years.
The Samsung executive did not reveal the exact number of pre-orders it has received in various markets. The company had sweetened the deal by offering a free Gear VR headset to anyone who pre-ordered the new phones. However, a report from Korean publication Business Korea contradicts Samsung’s claims. Citing industry sources, Business Korea says the pre-orders have been lukewarm even in Samsung’s home turf.
Galaxy S7 not ‘unpopular’
The publication noted that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge pre-order numbers were surprisingly low in South Korea. But industry watchers say it is not because the new phones are “unpopular.” It is mainly because the buyers no longer prefer the pre-order system. Anyway, it does reflect poorly on Samsung’s plan to entice consumers by giving a free Gear VR to anyone pre-ordering the new phones. LG’s revolutionary new G5 with its modular approach might also have prevented buyers from going for the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge.
Galaxy S7 comes with a 5.1-inch QHD Super AMOLED display while its dual-edge sibling features a 5.5-inch screen. Both phones include a hybrid microSD slot, meaning you can use it to expand the storage or insert a second SIM card. The always-on display allows users to check time, notifications, and date without having to wake up the phone. The new smartphones pack a 4GB RAM, 12-megapixel main camera and 5MP front snapper.
