The pandemic boosts demand for more expensive devices with the Korean tech giant’s phone reaching $ 700 – $ 300 less than the regular S20 cost -.
Samsung got another Galaxy S20 for its fans, and the device is designed for our extraordinary times. The Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, also known as the Galaxy S20 FE, has some of the high-end features found in the rest of the S20 lineup – like low-band 5G connectivity – but with a starting price of $ 700 (£ 699, AU) at $ 999). It’s $ 300 less than the regular Galaxy S20. The addition of the Superfast Millimeter Wave 5G connection to the Verizon model raises the price to $ 750 (although the carrier is currently offering a promotional discount of $ 50).
The 6.5-inch S20 FE features a Snapdragon 865 processor that is similar to the rest of the lineup and includes IP68 water resistance. It has three rear camera lenses, including a 30x area zoom found on the S20 and S20 Plus. It is available in six bright colors. One of the device’s biggest differences from the rest of the lineup: the back is made of plastic instead of glass.
Samsung, which unveiled FE on Wednesday during its third default unpacked event in the past two months, hopes to attract people who live on a $ 1,000 phone but still want the attractive features of the company’s Galaxy S lineup. . And these are the ones who want the Galaxy S brand instead of the cheaper and simpler Galaxy A devices. During the coronavirus pandemic, it may cause a lot of potential buyers.
“This is an excessive response to the pandemic,” said Drew Blackard, vice president of product management for Samsung Electronics America, in an interview before the news broke. “We’ve really seen the need for a more value split offering that focuses on the core features we know our users like the most and are prioritizing the most.”
Blackard said the company has considered introducing a device in the middle of the A-series, ranging in price from $ 110 to $ 650, and the lower end of the S series starting at $ 999. This has happened in the past, such as the $ 650 Galaxy S10 Lite launch in January at CES 2020.
But the pandemic caused Samsung to speed up the development and release of FE, which is something it can do as it controls many parts of its supply chain. FE, which will go on sale in the US on October 2, arrives about seven months after the second S20 went on the market, while the S10 Lite became available in the US a year after its siblings went on sale. .
“One of Samsung’s main advantages and competitive advantage in the market is speed,” said Blackard. “We can design new products very quickly and reach the market.”
Samsung, which lost its crown as the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer to Huawei in the second quarter, is presenting its new devices in a challenging environment. Instead of facing a strong mobile market, with 5G and foldable screens getting people to upgrade their devices, most phone manufacturers are seeing less demand amid the novel coronavirus epidemic. More than 31 million people have died, more than 31 million injured, and millions more are unemployed when they get a steady salary the next time.
