(Reuters)-Samsung Electronics has made public on Tuesday its thinner smartphone model so far, complete with improved artificial intelligence features while looking at Apple in the premium market.
The launch of the S25 Edge is designed to meet the growing demand, especially consumers in their 20s and 30 years, by more portable smartphones.
“Feedback was clear – users wanted something thinner and easier to carry without sacrificing performance,” said Samsung, who made structural changes to reduce the thickness of the internal components, including the printed circuit board and thermal systems.
Analysts said the launch was strategically scheduled to anticipate Apple, which should launch a thinner iPhone in the second half of this year.
“By launching the product a few months in advance, Samsung can impact Apple and attract consumers looking for thinner smartphones. It seems to be a calculated decision to capture this demand segment,” said Ryu Young-Ho, senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities.
The S25 Edge will be on sale in South Korea on May 23 and in the United States on May 30, Samsung said, adding that it will launch the device in about 30 countries.
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From US $ 1,099, the model has a 6.7 -inch screen and a 5.8mm thick body, making it larger than the basic S25 model and slightly heavier.
The S25 EDGE has the latest Samsung incorporated AI functions, including Multimodal Ia that allows users to interact with the device in real time through vision and voice using the camera to ask questions.
Samsung did not reveal the production site of the new model.
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At the launch event, Samsung has discarded concerns about possible performance and heat management problems with the device.
“Some may worry that a thinner phone compromises performance or has difficulty with heat management,” said Samsung Electronics executive vice president, Moon Sung-Hoon. “We have been able to design a thinner steam chamber to adapt to thin design. We are confident that the S25 EDGE can be used without worrying about overheating,” Moon said.
Samsung has become the world’s leading smartphone brand in the first quarter, winning 20% of the global market and narrowly surpassing Apple, which filed 19%, according to counterpoint Research.
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Last month, however, Samsung said sales of the second quarter could be affected if the risks of trade war weaken the demand.
