No. 154 / Oct 18, 2021
Every year, Samsung and Apple fight a war of nerves in the smartphone market. Accordingly, opinions about Galaxy and iPhone are sharply divided. According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea on August 12, 2020, 61% of all smartphone users used Samsung Galaxy smartphones and 18% used Apple iPhones. However, compared to the overall average, it was found that the younger the person, the greater the preference for the iPhone. In other words, although Samsung Galaxy users account for a high percentage of smartphone users, most Apple iPhone users consist of young and loyal Apple customers.
This year, there are some different movements among people who prefer iPhones. After Z flip3 was released by Samsung, many loyal Apple customers turned to Samsung. Why did it happen? Most loyal Apple customers are of the Millennium Generation and Generation Z (Generation MZ). Generation MZ is sensitive to trends and has a strong personality, so Apple’s innovation and modern design correspond to their characteristics. However, there are many areas in which the iPhone 13 cannot meet their needs and wants. People implied that there was no innovation by their lukewarm responses. Even a Samsung official said, “How much cooler would that be if it could fold in half?”, “Anyone else feeling déjà vu? Just us?” on Twitter, sniping at Apple.
In contrast, responses to the Z flip3 were better than those to the iPhone. The sleek two-tone design of the Z flip3 that can be decorated with individual characteristics, a unique display that folds in half, and convenience of Samsung pay has garnered popularity among generation MZ. According to Samsung Electronics, approximately 920,000 pre-reservations were made in a week. That is about 1.3 times higher than for the Galaxy Note 20 and 1.8 times higher than for the Galaxy S21.
However, this situation does not mean that Apple is lagging behind. Apple said, “Our products are 50% faster in the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and 30% faster in the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).”, “Competitors are in a hurry to catch up with the performance of chips released by Apple two years ago.”, sniping at Samsung during the iPhone 13 launch. In addition, on October 1, 2021, when pre-orders for the iPhone 13 were opened in Korea, they ran out of stock in minutes.
In any case, Samsung is expected to continue using its strategy of expanding its mid-low product lineup and targeting the 2030s to grow their company. Apple seems to be growing by realizing the premium brand value and the innovation that Apple pursues. In other words, Samsung and Apple are realizing their mission statements. Therefore, the answer to the question of which company’s smartphone is better or worse depends on the decision of consumers who directly use the smartphone. It seems best that people choose their own phone according to their individual needs and wants. Which phone do you prefer?
By Kim Ju-ri, AG Cub reporter
rlawnfl98@ajou.ac.kr
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