Samsung
Would you consider a new premium Samsung smartphone brand over ‘Galaxy’
There’s a rumor that Samsung is searching for a new brand name for premium smartphones to show the company’s utmost competition against the iPhone.
The term ‘Galaxy’ defines Samsung’s entire smart device ecosystem but it primarily relates to smartphones. The Korean tech company has remained the sole champion in sales and market share for years.
The reason for this dominance is the Galaxy brand. It sells millions of smartphones each year in different categories including budget, mid-range, and premium. All of these have one word in common “Galaxy”.
The word Galaxy popularized this brand with premium smartphones in the S-series and Note-series. Since it also offers budget devices, Galaxy made a debut in the J series.
Later the Galaxy adopted for A and Y/F/M series. Ultra-premium foldable phones (Z series) also became a Galaxy member.
Hard to differentiate
A Korean media outlet Etoday recently reported that Samsung is having an internal discussion about a new premium smartphone brand. It says the company has no specific identification for its premium segment because all of its smartphones are now Galaxy.
This aspect would hurt its competitive edge against the iPhone, the best-selling premium device. Some analysts also see this situation as a lack of innovation.
Moreover, the innovation part is taking its global market share away each quarter. In the past two years, we’ve seen iPhone shipments taking over Galaxy devices.
Still, a new identity for the premium segment is a key to this whole conversation. Besides, Samsung is serving tablets, earbuds, smartwatches, and notebooks under the Galaxy brand. That makes the entire brand scenario a big complex for consumers.
In that case, bringing a new identity for premium smartphones will make more sense. This could also increase its efforts in competition against the Apple.
Chinese smartphone companies have become a nemesis for Samsung’s Galaxy brand in the past few years, especially Xiaomi.
The 2023 smartphone shipment data from Canalys ranked Samsung in second spot. It also lost more than 10 percent annual growth compared to 2022.
Though, it wasn’t the only one to lose its growth but Apple and Xiaomi reduced their decline to the lowest. Especially Apple, which releases only four iPhones a year and sells millions of units. On the other hand, Samsung rolled out many new devices in a year but now lags behind in shipment.
Despite being a high-priced device, the iPhone still rules sales over Samsung. That sums up a need for the Korean company to upgrade its strategy and strengthen competition with iPhones.
Why it’s important
Despite an edge-to-edge competition with Apple, Xiaomi, and other Chinese brands, Samsung still has huge advantages.
It uses in-house displays and cameras, brings powerful performance, and provides the latest Android + self-developed One UI features and after-sale software support. It optimizes these aspects to achieve durability and performance simultaneously.
You can get all of these in Samsung’s premium S-series smartphone. No other Android phone maker has this magnitude of self-reliance and user experience.
Some might side with Chinese smartphone maker but their after-sales experience may cool down these arguments. So, Samsung’s S-series phones are the sole competitor for iPhones.
A new smartphone IP would automatically represent Samsung’s top-of-the-line performance, power, better camera, and design for consumers.
Eventually, it will help them to understand the brand value of Samsung’s premium devices before and after launch. Furthermore, it would be able to bundle a few more features into these devices.
Will it happen?
Samsung has not published any statement on this matter but we’ll update this article if it arrives.
For the first time, Samsung has officially posted a brief teaser for the upcoming Galaxy S25 series devices with the One UI 7 launch. The Korean phone maker has unveiled its newest mobile software based on Android 15.
It is currently available in Galaxy S24, S24+, and S25 Ultra. These three devices can sign up for the latest One UI beta via the Samsung Members app (check more details here).
This new One UI version has plenty of new features including the new Now Bar, which offers seamless interactions with essential features directly from the lock screen.
This feature is being prompted for the next-gen Galaxy S series devices.
“Set to be supported on upcoming Galaxy S series devices” Samsung mentioned in the One UI 7 press release. The company has not provided a context or a specific name for these devices but we need no proof of what’s heading our way.
Samsung Galaxy S25 series teaser in One UI 7 press release (Source – Samsung)
Samsung has planned S25 as its next flagship lineup featuring three devices – S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra. These phones will continue the legacy of last year’s devices except for the high-end version with radical changes.
The S25 Ultra will stand out as the most improved smartphone this year with a flat frame design.
The Korean phone maker did not opt for this design language until the Galaxy S24 and S24+, while the S24 Ultra still had some vibes of the previous S and Note series with sharp corners and slightly curved frames.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra CAD Redner (Credits: Androidheadline/Onleaks)
That will change with the new S25U and reflect all over the device including a polished Titanium material.
Along with that, the S25 series will adopt the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with improved performance for single and multi-core. Early comparison shows this new chip will provide better all-round performance over the Galaxy S24.
Samsung has not officially announced a launch date for the Galaxy S25 series but it could unveil somewhere in early Q1 2025.
Samsung hasn’t yet started the One UI 7.0 beta program in the US, but there will soon be one. The One UI beta program is generally available for eligible Samsung Galaxy devices in the US.
As per the latest confirmation, the One UI 7 beta program is set to start on December 5th for the Galaxy S24 series users in Germany and the UK. The US users are likely to receive the beta program invitation banner in their Samsung Members app installed on the devices.
Typically, the latest flagship models like the Galaxy S series (Galaxy S24 and S23) and sometimes newer foldable (Fold6 and Fold5) devices are included in the initial rollout of the One UI beta program. Older flagships and some mid-range models might also join the beta program later.
What do we know about the Samsung Beta program?
The beta program often starts in select regions with countries like the US, South Korea, India, and Germany being among the first to receive access. However, no exact schedule is provided for when each country will join the beta program except Germany.
When and where do we receive the beta update in the US?
Specifically, the One UI beta program in the US has been available through select carriers. T-Mobile often participates in Samsung’s One UI beta programs. It is among the first carriers to support beta versions in the US.
Additionally, unlocked Samsung Galaxy devices in the US can join the beta program. Other carriers like Verizon and AT&T don’t offer the beta program for the carrier-locked Galaxy devices. However, unlocked models on these networks can still participate in the beta program.
For the US, you can sign up through the Samsung Members app, which is necessary for participation. To get the beta, you need to follow this:
1. Download the Samsung Members app from the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store.
2. Log in with a Samsung Account.
3. Look for the banner or notice about the One UI Beta Program and register.
While exact release dates can vary, based on the information available, the One UI 7 beta is anticipated to start around December 5th for eligible devices, with a full release expected in January alongside new device launches, the Galaxy S25 series.
Note: The article is updated on December 4th with the latest available information for Samsung Galaxy users in the US.
Samsung Galaxy S25 series will consist of three variants a standard, a Plus, and an Ultra model and there is a chance that the phone maker could bring a Slim model with some high-end specifications.
The smartphone industry is continuously evolving and companies are working on new designs to take the lead in the competition. In that case, form factor has remained a key constraint in experimenting with new models.
These design fluctuations could be seen in screen, weight, and thickness. Following these trends, phone makers have poured resources into reducing the device weight while featuring different displays.
Samsung has made remarkable progress in screen and weight management with the Galaxy S24 series and the recent Fold lineup.
So, the next battle leads us to the thickness. That’s where Samsung will collide with Apple for their next generation of devices – Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim and iPhone 17 Air.
Before we say anything further, you should know that these phones aren’t officially announced. However, leaks and rumors are suggesting that Samsung could offer more in this slim genre than Apple.
S25 Lineup
Based on the existing information, Samsung Galaxy S25 standard and Plus models will come with a flat frame and a flat screen like their predecessors. However, the S25 Ultra will bring major upgrades over the S24U.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra CAD Render (Source – Androidheadline)
Even with this new change, the Ultra model doesn’t look super slim. Also, its rumored 6.8-inch screen may not allow the device to overcome its architectural challenges. Therefore, the phone could only make a slight reduction rather than drastic cuts in thickness.
A previous report suggests that Samsung could unveil a new S25 Slim with notable differences and low quantity to test the market response. If it garners the expected response, Samsung will ramp up ambitions for a slim model in 2026.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim but Ultra Specs
Next year’s iPhone Air is expected to make new changes in overall thickness with only one rear camera and a display scaling around 6.5 or 6.6 inches.
While bringing a similar screen size, Samsung reportedly has a design and feature-rich experience for the S25 Slim. Unlike its rumored rival, the Galaxy S25 Slim could equip a 200MP camera, the same as the Samsung S25 Ultra.
Another rumor reveals that the phone may use a 50MP ultra-wide and 50MP telephoto camera. These combined, the S25 Slim will have the same camera configuration as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra flagship.
To achieve a slim outlook, Samsung is working on a thinner circuit board to reduce the weight to the lowest. It will also rework the battery material for a custom version to fit inside the device while maintaining its key design features.
Furthermore, this device could pack the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset for performance and the new AI features onboard.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim Release Date
Samsung is working with supply chain partners to fetch the required components to build this smartphone. A previous report indicates that the Korean tech company might unveil this phone alongside the S25 lineup, another predicts a later launch.
We’ll update this article once a final launch date is available.