Samsung could launch Galaxy S21 flagship phone early to get Huawei share

Samsung could launch its flagship Galaxy S smartphones more than a month earlier than expected in an attempt to gain market share from Huawei and defend against competition from Applesaid three sources familiar with the matter.

Huawei once challenged the top position of Samsung in the global smartphone market, But the Chinese rival is in survival mode, with US restrictions cutting off the supply of chips used in smartphones and telecommunications equipment.

South Korean chip industry officials are hopeful that Joe Biden’s presidency will ease some of these restrictions, although they are far from certain as they also expect the new US administration to maintain a position firm on China.

Samsung is preparing to launch its new Galaxy S21 in late January next year, after previously launching its S20 flagship phone in early March of this year, the sources said, who asked not to be named because of the plan. is not public.

Samsung declined to comment.

The South Korean company shipped 59% of Galaxy S20 5G series phones to the United States in the second quarter compared to the performance of the previous model a year earlier, according to research firm Canalys. In contrast, Apple shipped 15% more of its flagship iPhone 11 than last year’s bestseller, the iPhone XR.

Samsung, which lost its No.1 position to Huawei in the second quarter, regained the crown in the third thanks in part to U.S. restrictions on Huawei.

A person from a major supplier of smartphone chips said Huawei’s supply is expected to run out early next year.

Samsung, however, faces increasingly intense competition from Chinese rivals such as Xiaomi and Oppo, which should take advantage of Huawei’s struggle to retain market share.

Apple also launched its iPhone series in October, about a month later than usual, stepping up the competition.