Latest news with #JustinHume
Daily Maverick
22-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Samsung SA digs in heels over foldables for premium market despite global slowdown
Samsung Mobile SA updated its pricing and model availability for its new folding phones as it moves to extract value from the premium market. Samsung declined to respond to questions about the recent price increases on the Galaxy Fold 7 and Flip 7 or the disappearance of the 256GB Fold 7 variant from its South African online store. That silence is telling, especially in a market where smartphone sales are slowing and consumers are squeezed. 'Fold users typically remain the most loyal… they upgrade more, and they upgrade faster,' Samsung Mobile SA's VP for Mobile Justin Hume told Daily Maverick at the local launch. 'The base is growing every year.' Samsung is banking, once again, on deep-pocketed loyalists, an expanding ecosystem and some health tech to keep its margins intact. Foldable flatline Globally, foldable smartphones are hitting turbulence. In the first quarter of this year, foldables made up just 1.5% of total smartphone sales in Europe, with year-on-year growth of only 4%, according to Counterpoint Research. That's a sharp slowdown from previous years, and some analysts are calling it a warning sign. 'Most consumers are still not sure what a foldable phone is for,' said Counterpoint's Jan Stryjak. 'And many still have concerns about durability and longevity.' Despite this, Samsung continues to dominate the category, but that lead is shrinking. In 2024, global foldable shipments rose 12% to 17.2 million units, yet Samsung's market share fell from 54% to 45%. And 2025 isn't looking much better, with 'no further growth' forecast. Hume acknowledges these headwinds, but argues that in South Africa's premium segment, what he calls the 'R1,000 market and above' (in terms of monthly contract spend), consumer spending is still resilient. 'That market is either corporate-driven, business owners and the like, and there's this imperviousness to some of the economic conditions.' Samsung's best-selling device in the country? The S25 Ultra, outperforming even the entry-level Galaxy S25. Flipping the market For those not willing to drop over R40,000 on a Galaxy Fold 7, Samsung has released the Flip 7 FE, a more affordable version of its clamshell foldable, aimed at making foldables more accessible. At least in theory. Priced at R22,800 (another mysterious price increase for the 256GB version, but the 128GB is curiously absent), it uses in-house silicon and borrows design cues from the Flip 6 to deliver a slimmed-down, but still premium experience. 'We can now land this product at R799 [on contract] for that customer,' Hume said, referring to users on older Flip 4 contracts. 'Yes, it's not as highly specced. But compared to somebody who's only seen the Flip 3 or 4, it's night and day.' The Flip 7 FE is a potential upgrade path for users in that pricing bracket, but its pricing still places it in the high-end category and that the narrow gap between the FE and full-spec Flip 7 may limit its appeal as a more affordable alternative. A data privacy play Samsung isn't just betting on specs. A key part of the Fold 7's value proposition is its integration of KEEP (Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection), which enables on-device encrypted storage that doesn't send sensitive user data to the cloud. 'Your smart toilet could become the point of vulnerability,' Hume quipped, highlighting Samsung's concern with AI-driven data access. 'We manage all that environment from your handset.' This is part of a broader push to challenge Apple's dominance in the privacy conversation. But convincing users that Samsung's approach is trustworthy, especially when it's 'free', is a work in progress. That free references Samsung South Africa's partnership with Aura to launch Samsung SOS+, a free 12-month emergency response service for owners of the Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 smartphones. Hume recounts a general reluctance in the target market to make use of the service. 'The market that hasn't been exposed to that is still trying to work out what exactly that means for them,' said Hume. 'It's good, but it's too good to be true.' It's all still a proof of concept, but Samsung is in a unique position to leverage its Knox platform to provide secure device tracking once users hit the panic button. Taking the fight to the wrist While Samsung leads the pack in wearables bundled with phone purchases with an estimated 80% share of network-based smartwatch sales in South Africa, the brand still struggles in standalone retail sales. 'In pure retail, we know it's an issue,' Hume admitted. 'Our competitors definitely do an incredible job.' Globally, the wearables market isn't growing as fast as it used to. In 2024, it grew just 5.4%, with projections dropping to 4.1% in 2025. Smartwatch sales declined by 4.5% in 2024 and are expected to recover only modestly this year. The big winners? Hearables, which grew by nearly 9% and remain the largest wearables category worldwide. Even so, Samsung is leaning into health as its killer wearable feature. The Galaxy Watch 8 features new sensors to measure vascular load and antioxidant levels. The Watch 8 Classic model also marks the return of the rotating bezel, and Samsung hopes to win over users by giving them full control over their health data. 'The empowerment sits with you,' Hume said. 'You control access. Not the third party.' But with all the sudden price increases and general market decline, the local market will show whether the now flat folding smartphones hit the right note. DM
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- The Citizen
Battle of the bulge: Samsung unveils new thinner Galaxy Z Fold 7
The quest to be the thinnest foldable smartphone is hotting up. The quest to be the thinnest is hotting up after Samsung launched its latest foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and new Galaxy Flips including an FE edition that is easy on the pocket. The seventh generation of its book-style Galaxy Z Fold, which debuted at its Unpacked event on Wednesday redefines foldable phone design as the competition to beat the battle of the bulge takes centre stage. Launch – Galaxy Z Fold 7 Samsung first teased bringing 'an Ultra-experience' to 'a smaller and more portable form factor' weeks ahead of the launch, pointing to a more advanced camera and plenty of AI. It then noted that its 'newest Galaxy Z series is the thinnest, lightest and most advanced foldable yet'. On launch night, Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the more budget-friendly Z Flip 7 FE in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday, for those who want a foldable phone at a more cost-friendly price. No race Justin Hume, vice president for mobile at Samsung Electronics in South Africa told The Citizen that the company is not racing to be the thinnest. 'As much as we might be the thinnest right now, the purpose was about the form factor for the customer to utilise, because if you go thinner than this significantly, it does lose that ability to actually open the device properly, it feels a bit unnatural,' Hume said. By comparison, Huawei's triple fold Mate XT is 3.6mm thick when fully unfolded, while Honor's recently unveiled Magic V5 measures 4.1mm thick when unfolded. Between the first generation of the Galaxy Z Fold, which debuted in 2019, and last year's Z Fold 6, the phone became about 29% thinner and around 37 grams lighter, according to Samsung. Hume said they could have gone thinner with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. 'So, right now, it opens at just 4mm thick, that is basically the size of a USB-C port. I think we are close, maybe it could go a little thinner. Whether that's practical or not, I don't know. But now it is very much about making sure that I'm not compromising any of the other hardware.' ALSO READ: Samsung unveils Galaxy A series smartphones with 'awesome' AI [VIDEO] 'Excited' Hume said they are excited about the Galaxy Z Fold 7. 'This is effectively the Galaxy S25 Ultra that is being split in half going to a 4mm wide device when opened, that's the size of a USB-C port. 'It's got a 200MP camera on board, full 8-inch display on the inside, unrivalled in terms of AI capability and camera quality display is available on these products,' Hume said. In addition to being thin, the Z Fold 7 offers Samsung's best phone camera to date. The foldable has a massive 200-megapixel main sensor. Camera It also comes with a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide. The company has once again tweaked the inside camera. It's no longer under the screen and offers a wider 100-degree field of view with 10MP of resolution. For selfies, Samsung has once again gone with a 10MP sensor above the phone's cover screen. Rounding things out, the company has updated its visual engine to support 10-bit HDR capture. No pen Internally, the new phone features Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a 4,400mAh battery. Samsung has dropped S Pen support, claiming stylus use on the Z Fold 6 was 'really low' and part of the reason the new foldable is so slim. Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 foldable phones will launch with Android 16, becoming the first Samsung devices to run the new OS. Making the Z Fold 7 feel as close to a standard phone as possible, with the added perk of a spacious screen when you open it, could help lure new customers who are hesitant to step outside of their comfort zone. Galaxy Flip 7 Samsung also launched an upgraded clamshell foldable. The new Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a 4.1-inch edge-to-edge FlexWindow display with 1.25mm bezels. That's good enough to give it the thinnest display bezel on any Samsung phone. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 boasts a 6.9-inch main screen, a 120Hz refresh rate, Exynos 2500 chipset, and a 50MP main camera. It also works with Google Gemini, along with Samsung's own suite of AI features, including Now Bar and Now Brief. Galaxy Flip FE While foldable phone are still very pricey, Samsung's Flip FE is expected to appeal to those who want a foldable phone at the price of a midrange device. The design of the new model doesn't include any of the flourishes found on the Z Flip 7, including the edge-to-edge Flex Window display or the larger internal screen. Foldable phones The thinness of a foldable phone has become a battleground for smartphone makers to appeal to consumers who want the large screen size the device has to offer without extra weight. Foldables represented less than 2% of the overall smartphone market in 2024, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). Samsung was the biggest player with 34% market share followed by Huawei with just under 24%, IDC added. Honor took the fourth spot with a nearly 11% share. Availability and pricing A major barrier for people wanting to make the leap to foldables is price. Last year's Galaxy Z Fold 6 cost R44 000 while the Z Flip 6 was marked at R26 000. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will retail at R42 999 for the 256GB model, R45 999 for 512GB and R49 999 for 1TB. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 will retail at: Galaxy Z Flip 7 512GB – R27 499 Galaxy Z Flip 7 256GB – R24 999 Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE 256GB – R21 499 Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE 128GB – R18 499 Watches Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 series during the Unpacked event, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Galaxy Watch 8 now features a thinner design reminiscent of last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra. [REVIEW] Huawei Mate XT: No tri-fold gimmick smartphone, but it's pricey
The Citizen
13-05-2025
- The Citizen
Introducing Samsung SOS+ subscription service
Samsung South Africa has partnered with AURA to officially launch Samsung SOS+, a free-to-use, 24/7 subscription service exclusive to the new Galaxy A56, A36 and A26 device owners. In an emergency situation and on demand, the service will immediately geolocate you and send traceable private security and medical emergency services, giving you peace of mind wherever you are in South Africa. This makes the latest Galaxy A Series the ultimate all-in-one safety solution in your pocket combining communication, smart tech, and personal security in one package. Samsung SOS+ is provided by AURA, the leading emergency response platform that stands apart through its unwavering commitment to transforming emergency response. Since 2017, AURA has been delivering real-time, life-saving assistance to those in need, ensuring immediate access to medical and security services when every second counts. Samsung isn't just offering a service, we're embedding access to safety directly into the everyday lives of our customers. Emergencies don't come with warnings. Whether it's a car accident, a health event, or an unexpected threat while walking home, time is critical. Samsung's SOS+ is designed for instinctive use, it's accessible with just one tap from the ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact list and there are multiple ways to access the service, via the app, SMS and toll free number. It's fast, intuitive, and designed to help registered Galaxy A users in stressful situations. 'Woven into people's daily lives, Samsung acts as an enabling tool and a source of empowerment. If Samsung devices are always with our customers, why can't they be the lifeline our customers reach for, should such an emergency situation happen? Now with Samsung SOS+, the Galaxy A Series offers immediate access to security and medical assistance.' said Justin Hume, Vice President for Mobile eXperience at Samsung. The reality for many South Africans is that they do not have access to quick medical and emergency services. Recent reports suggest that only 17% of South Africans have medical aid that gives them access to get private ambulances, less than 13% having access to private security, and in the poorest communities, that number falling to just 1.2%, Samsung SOS+ could be life-changing. 'Samsung SOS+ turns your phone into a personal safety tool – one call, and professional help is on the way,' added Warren Myers, CEO of AURA. 'We're not just offering peace of mind – we're delivering it with unmatched speed and nationwide. Safety is a basic human need, and our mission is to save lives by democratising access to on-demand emergency response services.' Samsung's Galaxy A Series offers smartphones built on the foundations of dependable innovation and affordability. Building on this, access to the Samsung SOS+ subscription service is available, free of charge, on any new Galaxy A26, A36, and A56 device from 05 May 2025 to 06 August 2025 as a Proof of Concept. All devices purchased on or after 1 May 2025 qualify for the promotion. Samsung SOS+ is immediately there for you – accessible via the SOS+ APP or toll-free number – with immediate help, live location tracking, giving customers peace of mind. 'At Samsung, we're committed to enriching lives not only through innovative technology and devices, but also meaningful services that matter to our consumers,' said Hume. Designed for instinctive use, Samsung SOS+ offers: Once registered through a quick process, in any medical and emergency, customers simply dial the dedicated toll-free Samsung SOS+ subscription service number, which triggers an alert and shares their live location directly with AURA's secure platform. The closest vetted responder – either medical or armed response – is immediately automatically dispatched from AURA's nationwide network of over 3,500 professionals. Simultaneously, users receive a call back from the personalised call centre to offer reassurance and confirm help is on the way. One-tap access from your contacts or the phone's ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact list Multimodal communication: via app, SMS, voice, or web Toll-free and Data-free functionality: location tracking can be activated through SMS Live responder tracking: users can see help approaching in real time – offering critical peace of mind How do I set up the service? Step 1: Purchase and activate the device. Step 2: Have all the current Samsung software updates downloaded and installed from the settings menu on the device. Step 3: Download the Samsung Members application from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play Store on the device. Step 4: Register for a Samsung Members account, then select 'Galaxy A-series Samsung SOS+ Launch Offer' promotional banner in the 'Benefits' section of the Samsung Members application and follow the prompts to complete the online registration and form. Step 5: Once the online form (referred to in step 4), has been submitted, the user will be required to complete the Samsung SOS+ service on-boarding process via the registration link and will be required to agree to and enter into the Application Terms. Buy the new Galaxy A56, A36, or A26 today and unlock 12-months free security and medical emergency peace of mind ready when you need it with the Samsung SOS+ subscription service. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
