Latest news with #CCSInsight
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Samsung unveils thin $2000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 foldable phone as it aims to catch up with Chinese rivals
Samsung has announced the $2000 Galaxy Z Fold 7, its slimmest foldable smartphone yet, as it aims to carve out a market for ultra-high-end devices in a rapidly changing mobile phone landscape. The company chose Brooklyn, New York, to unveil its latest and most premium smartphone, which features hardware refinements and advanced AI features that contribute to its higher cost. The $2000 Galaxy Z Fold 7, launching worldwide on July 25, opens like a book, and is noticeably thinner and lighter than its predecessor. The device measures 8.9 mm when folded shut, and weighs 215 gram, although the title of the world's thinnest foldable still belongs to the Honor Magic V5, which is just 8.8 mm thick. 'Foldables were a bold move by Samsung to leverage its expertise in flexible display technology and offer a highly differentiated product to compete with Apple,' Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, told on Wednesday. Wood admits that the foldable phone category hasn't lived up to expectations. Consumers have questioned whether they actually need a foldable device and have expressed concerns about the durability of these phones. However, Wood remains hopeful that the new products Samsung launched at its Unpacked summer showcase in New York will help reignite interest in foldables. 'With a slimmer, more competitive design, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could play an important role in driving renewed interest,' he said. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, announced alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, flip-style foldables priced at $1,099.99 and $899.99, respectively, is part of Samsung's long-term vision to be a category leader in foldables. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 remains the company's boldest bet at pushing the smartphone form factor with an extremely thin foldable phone. Folding phones, which either open like a book or have a screen that folds in half, gained recognition when Samsung launched its first foldable device in 2019. In recent years, Honor, Oppo, and other Chinese smartphone makers have used slim foldable designs as a key differentiating factor from Samsung. The competition is only increasing, putting pressure on Samsung, one of the world's largest smartphone manufacturers. Samsung's new foldables feature improved designs, better durability, and a host of AI capabilities that could help the company reclaim its position as the leading foldable smartphone maker and boost sales. The entry-level Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, in particular, could open up a new market for foldables, as some analysts believe it may expand the consumer base in key markets, reaching those who had considered buying a foldable phone in the past but were deterred by the high price. 'Having a device that is the size and weight of a traditional smartphone, but with the added benefit of opening to reveal a large display the size of a mini-tablet, is very compelling,' Wood said, when asked how a phone like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers a differentiated experience to users. 'The challenge is that these devices remain extremely expensive, and consumers are still nervous about their durability over long-term use. There needs to be more education to convince consumers that these devices are indeed robust. Over time, they will undoubtedly move further down the price curve, which could make them more attractive to a wider audience.' With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung is placing its bet on a form factor that has achieved the thinness of traditional smartphones, while offering a tablet-sized inner display for enhanced multitasking and more immersive video consumption. That may be the biggest differentiating factor between regular smartphones and foldable devices. Samsung Electronics Co is trying to woo a new set of consumers with its foldable phones. Unlike a laptop or tablet, which can perform similar tasks, a foldable slips easily into any pocket that fits a smartphone. The new foldables test Samsung's marketing muscle and design prowess in a challenging smartphone market, amid economic uncertainty and tariff headwinds. Samsung is charging an upfront premium for these devices, yielding higher profit margins, but there is still a long road ahead to prove that foldables are the devices people never knew they needed. Foldables remain a small slice of the overall worldwide smartphone market, with some analysts predicting just a 2 per cent share this year. However, experts say the opportunity for Samsung is significant, particularly in expanding its market share in the premium smartphone segment in key markets like India. Samsung is manufacturing its new foldables domestically in India. Apple, Samsung's biggest rival in the high-end smartphone market, has been notably absent from the foldables space but is rumoured to launch its first folding iPhone sometime next year. (The writer is attending the Galaxy Unpacked in New York on the behalf of Samsung India) Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. Email: ... Read More
BBC News
26-06-2025
- BBC News
Security fears force council to remove iPads from schools
More than 2,000 iPads are to be removed from school classrooms in Argyll & Bute to avoid the devices becoming a security risk.A report for the local council stated the devices must be taken out of use by October 2026 before they develop "critical security vulnerabilities".Just under 1,000 devices have already been removed this year because of software being out of date and no longer compatible with Apple's security releases. Councillors agreed to provide more than £1.5m of funding over a five year period to expand the existing computer rolling replacement programme (CRRP) to also include iPads and Chrome books. CRRP previously did not cover iPads or Chrome books, meaning there was no funding available to replace iPads when they became director Douglas Hendry said: " Due to a lack of current device replacement strategies at school level, schools can face challenges when outdated equipment, which can no longer be supported, is removed from the network due to becoming obsolete or posing a security risk to the network."In April 2025, the ICT security team advised of the immediate removal of 970 iPads running Apple iPad software below version 17 from the school network due to critical security vulnerabilities."Another 399 iPads are to be removed by October 2025, with a further 904 needing replaced by October Hatton, an analyst with the firm CCS Insight, said the speed of change with modern technology could create regular issues for told BBC Scotland News: "This is certainly a concern in some areas of tech. If we look at laptops, for example, the imminent end of life for laptops running Windows 10 will cause major problems for many organizations yet to upgrade to hardware capable of running Windows 11. "We would expect quite a few cybersecurity concerns to arise over the coming years, for organizations and consumers, if people don't upgrade their devices."Councillor Audrey Forrest, policy lead for education with the local authority, said the CRRP expansion would "ensure that our children and young people have the best possible learning opportunities and gain essential knowledge and skills to help them thrive."
Tahawul Tech
20-06-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Global second-hand smartphone market sees annual drop
Recent CCS Insight data has highlighted a 2% year-on-year drop in global second-hand smartphone shipments marking the first annual drop recorded in more than three years. The research organisation noted that the decline comes as operators face increasing consumer preference for SIM-free handsets bought directly from manufacturers or online platforms. An estimated 27.1 million devices were sold globally in the organised secondary market in the first quarter of the year, down from 27.6 million in Q1 2024. However, Ben Hatton, Market Analyst at CCS Insight, described the Q1 slowdown as 'nothing more than a blip', pointing to a positive long-term outlook in the coming quarters. A key growth opportunity is expected to come from trade-in programmes. Indeed, data showed that just 31 per cent of European consumers currently trade in or sell old phones, highlighting an untapped supply of more than 100 million devices annually. As tighter European regulations restrict device imports, the research company noted that despite a slow Q1, strong device buybacks in late 2024 show vendors with internal trade-in schemes are better positioned for long-term supply stability. Simon Bryant, VP of research at CCS Insight, highlighted Samsung's Galaxy Club in the UK as a model to watch, stating such initiatives 'help businesses lock consumers into trade-in agreements, improving take-back and supporting higher residual values for the leading brands in the secondary market'. Looking ahead, Hatton noted 'more mature' markets like France and the UK, which fell 11 per cent and 3 per cent respectively, will remain key to gauging the recovery of the second-hand European smartphone sector for the remainder of 2025. Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: Stock Image
UPI
19-06-2025
- UPI
Samsung might launch its next foldable smartphone next month
Samsung likely will unveil the next thinner version of its foldable smartphone next month. Its previous version Galaxy Z Fold 6 (pictured) was introduced in Tokyo in 2024. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo June 19 (UPI) -- Samsung likely will unveil the next thinner version of its foldable smartphone next month. Over the weekend, leaks showcased a look at the Galaxy Z Fold 7 -- it has a thinner hinge, larger camera bump and a 200 MP sensor. It will run on Android 16 and has an 8-inch inner display and 6- to 5-inch cover display. "The newest Galaxy Z series is the thinnest, lightest and most advanced foldable yet -- meticulously crafted and built to last," Samsung said in a blog post earlier this month. The phone is reported to be slimmer at 4.5mm unfolded. It has titanium hinge components, refined crease control and a Snapdragon 8 Chipset. The camera is expected to be upgraded from a 50MP to a 200MP sensor and uses AI-enhanced image processing. "With foldables, thinness has become more critical than ever because people aren't prepared to accept the compromise for a thicker and heavier phone to get the real estate that a folding phone can deliver," Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, said on Thursday. According to a Laptopmag leaker, the phone will be revealed on July 11 and will go on sale July 25. Analysts are expecting models to be priced at about $2,000 and a little higher depending on U.S. tariffs. CCS insight said that foldables will account for just 2% of the overall smartphone market this year. In previous years, over 50% of foldable phone owners have all switched back to traditional phones in the next upgrade cycle, according to data.
Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
The Big Tech Show: What Apple announced for iPhones, Macs, iPads and Watches at WWDC, and its minimalist position on AI
Adrian is currently in Cupertino at Apple Park, California, where Apple just showcased their latest product upgrades. There were three main areas of focus; iOS 26, Liquid Glass and AI features. CCS Insight analysts, Ben Wood and Leo Gebbie, joined Adrian to discuss the new suite of Apple updates. The conversation began on the topic of AI. Both analysts pointed out that Apple's platform based approach to AI which centers on privacy is behind the other main players in the artificial intelligence space but that the typical Apple customer may not be buying hardware based on its AI capabilities. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.
