Samsung's new Galaxy Note 4 was officially released to the South African market at an event in Cape Town last night.
While Apple debuted its new series of ultra-skinny iPads and iPad Minis - just six weeks after Apple made its first attempt to edge its way into the phablet market with the iPhone 6 Plus - Samsung discussed the capabilities of its flagship 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 4.
The device features a Quad HD (2 560 x 1 440) Super AMOLED display, multi window functionality, a 16MP rear-facing camera and a 3.7MP front-facing camera with up to 120-degree wide angle for group shots.
The brand highlighted that the handset can charge from 0 to 50% in 31 minutes thanks to its Fast Charging feature and Ultra Power Saving Mode. Selective playback on the Voice Recorder, which allows users to isolate and listen to specific voices when playing back a recording of a group conversation, was also showcased.
There has been phenomenal growth in smartphone uptake, a trend that is set to continue for some time, particularly in emerging markets like South Africa, according to Craige Fleischer, director of mobile communications at Samsung Electronics SA.
Speaking at the event, Fleischer noted the phablet category is the fastest growing segment in the smartphone environment as consumers continue to call for larger screens, touch interfaces and are increasingly using their smartphones for video and multimedia consumption, all of which lends itself to the phablet design.
Recent research from the International Data Corporation cited phablets as the future dominant players in the smartphone space. "Large screens are making it so much easier and more comfortable to consume various media on smart devices. Large screens really are changing the behaviour of our consumers," stated Fleischer.
"Sales of phablets are set to grow from 27 million units to over 330 million units between now and 2015," he said, noting this is almost double the growth being experienced in the standard smartphone market.
Echoing Fleischer's sentiments, Justin Hume, director for product marketing at Samsung SA, mentioned that just a few years ago, the idea of selling a smartphone of this size was almost inconceivable. Today, research shows people are using the S Pen stylus and various multi-tasking applications more and more, which means smart devices really do need to offer consumers a more comprehensive experience, he added.
Shifting gear
Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Note Edge, Samsung Gear S, Gear Circle earphones and the Gear Virtual Reality headset at the event. The screen of the Note Edge phablet features a curved edge where notifications are displayed autonomously from what is happening on the main section of the display.
Samsung Gear S is the latest iteration of the brand's wearable technology. "The Gear S has all of the features that consumers have become accustomed to, but with one significant difference: Gear S is no longer a companion device. It operates independently of the Note 4," said Hume. With a curved Super AMOLED display and 3G, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, users of the Samsung Gear S can read messages and make calls without having to be in close proximity to the user's smartphone. When paired with a smartphone, Samsung's Gear Circle earphones enable users to receive calls, listen to music, and make voice commands via a Bluetooth connection.
Finally, marking the brand's first foray into the virtual reality space, the Gear VR headset makes use of technology from Oculus VR. The headset allows users to watch videos and play games with the illusion that the wearer is completely surrounded by virtual reality. The images viewed through the Gear VR are displayed directly from the Galaxy Note 4, which fits into the front of the headset. This makes the Note 4 the first smartphone designed with virtual reality in mind.
Unfortunately, consumers will have to wait until next year to get their hands on this virtual reality experience, according to Hume. Both the Samsung Gear S and the Gear Circle will be available in South Africa through Samsung's Brand Stores, retail channels and via network partners, from the middle of November.
The Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge are available in stores from today.
Share