Samsung’s latest Galaxy smartphones, watches hit global markets

Samsung Electronics Co.'s latest models of its flagship Galaxy series of smartphones, watches and tablets have begun hitting the shelves of the company’s sales outlets, including Galaxy Experience Spaces, globally.

The much-anticipated Galaxy Z Flip5, Z Fold5, the Watch6 series and Tab S9 series have become available for purchase, the South Korean tech giant said on Friday.

The latest models will initially be available in 50 selected markets, including Korea, China, North America and Europe, as of Aug. 11 and then in other countries by the end of September.

Its fifth-generation foldable devices – the Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 – have already seen strong demand across the globe, with record-breaking preorders in markets such as Latin America, Southeast Asia and Europe.

Samsung said on Tuesday it received preorders for a record 1.02 million units of the two new foldable smartphones over a week.

“Early user responses to the new Galaxy devices have been demonstrated by the preorder momentum,” said TM Roh, president and head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung.

“Our goal is to provide our consumers with novel and engaging experiences that cater to various lifestyles.”

SAMSUNG PINS HIGH HOPES ON NEW FOLDABLES

Samsung pins high hopes on the new Galaxy Z foldable smartphones, unveiled at its Galaxy Unpacked 2023 last month.

Roh said foldable phones will account for one-third of the company’s domestic sales of its flagship Galaxy smartphone series this year.

The Galaxy Watch6 series, among new features, offers in-depth sleep analysis, personalized fitness insights and comprehensive wellness functions, according to Samsung.

The Galaxy Tab S9 series offers a one-of-a-kind tablet experience thanks to its industry-leading Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays and the in-box S Pen.

Those buying foldable smartphones can take advantage of promotions such as lottery events, discounts on handsets using affiliated credit cards and trade-in value for used models, and content use benefits.

For the latest smartphones, Samsung collaborated with up-and-coming Korean artists to create unique accessories, including a smartphone case promoting Korea’s efforts to host the 2030 International Expo in Busan.

In the second quarter, Samsung solidified its position as the world’s top smartphone vendor by volume, widening its sales gap with Apple Inc.

Samsung aims to sell more than 10 million smartphones, led by its latest foldables, this year.

Write to Ik-Hwan Kim at lovepen@hankyung.com

In-Soo Nam edited this article.