Even though Samsung is the biggest mobile vendor on the planet saturation in the top end and tough competition in the mid-range and low end segments of the market have proven to be major challenges for its mobile business. Samsung wants to cement its lead further and now its looking towards high-end devices with curved displays, something it hopes will be tough for rivals to copy.
But it is easier said than done. It will only be feasible for Samsung if these curved displays are produced cost-effectively, and that developers are convinced to tailor their applications for the new format.
Since the industry has collectively moved on to larger display sizes this presents a challenge to those trying to push distinctive design, like Samsung is with the Galaxy Note Edge. However Kim Nam-su, a senior designer at Samsung Electronics, believes that a change in platform can bring a variety of new considerations and that a curved screen “is a big solution for overcoming these challenges.”
Samsung needs to do something, and fast. Samsung Electronics is on track for the worst annual profit in three years, with analysts predicting a one-third drop in operating profit for this year. The company is launching more mid-range devices to make up the difference but there is still hope that a distinctive edge in the high-end market might provide growth.