Samsung Q2 2018 earnings guidance hints at poor Galaxy S9 sales

It was reported multiple times over the past couple of weeks that Samsung might see a dip in its revenues for the second quarter of this year. That does seem to be the case after looking at the Q2 2018 earnings guidance that the company has released today.

Samsung expects to bring in 58 trillion won or $51.8 billion in revenue for the quarter ending June 30 with an operating profit of 14.8 trillion won or $13.2 billion. The earnings guidance represents a 0.7 percent decline in sales for the company.

Samsung Q2 2018 earnings

Samsung has been posting record profits in every quarter over the past year but it appears that the momentum is slowing down. Q2 2017 was particularly good for the company as it cemented its status as the most profitable tech company in the world. Samsung reported revenue of 61 trillion won or $54.7 billion in the same period last year with an operating profit of 14.7 trillion won or $12.67 billion. It posted an impressive improvement of 72.7 percent compared to Q2 2016.

Analysts had estimated that Samsung would post 14.9 trillion won as operating profit in the second quarter of this year but Samsung itself expects to post 14.8 trillion won or $13.2 billion. Despite the 0.7 percent decline in sales, this represents an 11 percent increase in profit compared to the same period last year.

It’s pertinent to note here that even though Samsung hasn’t sent a new record with its revenues and profits, it earned a record $14.13 billion in Q4 last year, the company expects an 11 percent improvement in profit despite lower sales. This suggests that Samsung has improved its profit margins and made additional cost savings. Moreover, Q2 has historically been challenging for the company.

Many analysts are blaming the decline in sales on the Galaxy S9. There have been countless reports over the past few months that made claims about poor Galaxy S9 sales. Some reports have even said that the Galaxy S9 has sold the lowest of any Samsung flagship since the Galaxy S3 as shipments are expected to barely cross the 30 million unit mark this year.

There will be more clarity on the matter once Samsung releases the full quarterly earnings report later this month. It’s difficult to say at this stage which division has contributed the most to the 11 percent profit increase though with the semiconductor division being the company’s cash cow, it has likely played a major role in that.

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Bixby users in the US can now access sports news and scores

Bixby Home is one of the core components of Samsung’s virtual assistant Bixby. It proactively offers information about news, weather, fitness, upcoming appointments, etc. to the users. Sports content from the popular sports website theScore.com is joining the list now.

TheScore has announced the launch of sports news and scores on Bixby Home for users in the United States. The service will cover updates from the FIFA World Cup, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, MLB Baseball and EPL Soccer.

You can follow favorite teams and leagues

To access the theScore content cards on Bixby Home, users can just press the Bixby button (if available) or swipe right on the home screen of Bixby-compatible Samsung smartphones. Tapping on theScore content card in Bixby will take users to the theScore app (if it’s installed) or to the website.

Sports fans can customize the experience on Bixby by selecting theifavoritete teams and leagues to follow. This can be done either during the theScore onboarding process or by going into Bixby Home settings.

“We are happy to provide theScore updates through Bixby. This enables us to showcase the features that have made theScore one of the most popular sports apps in North America to a huge audience, delivering sports fans on Bixby Home a highly-customizable experience and access to their scores and news headlines at a glance,” said John Levy, CEO and Founder of theScore.

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Galaxy Jean is a rebadged Galaxy A6+ for South Korea

Samsung announced last week that it had released the Galaxy A6 in South Korea. The company didn’t say anything about the Galaxy A6+ at that time so it wasn’t unclear if that model was going to be released in the country as well.

The company has now launched the Galaxy Jean in its home country. It’s not a different device rather it’s a rebadged Galaxy A6+. The device has been listed on Samsung’s official website which mentions that its available from South Korean mobile carrier KT.

A rebadged Galaxy A6+

The Galaxy A6+ has model number SM-A605 and the Galaxy Jean also has the same model number. This confirms that the Galaxy Jean is nothing more than a rebadged version of the Galaxy A6+. Why Samsung chose to call it the Galaxy Jean even though it has already released the Galaxy A6 remains a mystery.

The device features a 6-inch 2220 x 1080 pixel resolution 18.5:9 aspect ratio display and is powered by a 1.8GHz octacore processor. There’s a 16-megapixel f/1.7 aperture rear camera coupled with a 5-megapixel f/1.9 aperture sensor at the back. The device also features a 24-megapixel f/1.9 aperture front camera (check out some real-life selfies here). The fingerprint sensor is at the back below the dual camera setup.

There is one major difference between the Galaxy A6+ and the Galaxy Jean. The Galaxy A6+ has 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage whereas this device has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. External expansion is possible up to 256GB using a microSD card. Customers in South Korea can purchase the Galaxy Jean from KT for 440,000 won or around $400 in Black and Lavender colors. Read our Galaxy A6+ review to find out whether or not this device is worth the money.

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Samsung may unveil the Galaxy X before the Galaxy S10 next year

Samsung’s rumored foldable smartphone, commonly referred to as the Galaxy X, has been the subject of many ‘leaks’ and reports in the recent months. From its display size to battery capacity to alleged pricing, a lot has been ‘leaked’ and speculated about the coveted Galaxy X. So far, most of the available information about its launch and availability has been mostly vague with references to sometime early next year. A new piece of info from China seems to provide a more concrete date for the announcement of the Galaxy X.

According to the well-known Chinese leaker, Ice Universe, current plans by Samsung indicate that the Galaxy X might be unveiled at CES 2019, while the Galaxy S10 would launch at the MWC 2019. While the stated Galaxy S10 launch date is consistent with the Galaxy S9/S9+ unveiling, the rumored Galaxy X announcement at the CES 2019 sounds strange since Samsung rarely launchers any flagship smartphones at the CES.

Galaxy X may be a niche device

However, many reports have stated that the upcoming Galaxy X may be a niche offering with limited supply and an exorbitant price tag. The strategy may be similar to what Samsung did with the curved screens on its flagship smartphones. The first-generation Galaxy X may be used as a test device to gauge market response and gather feedback before turning the idea into a mainstream product. If that is indeed the case, then it makes sense for Samsung to launch it on a different date from the Galaxy S10 to not take away the thunder from the company’s flagship for 2018

It is worth pointing out that all of this is speculation and tentative information. Even though Ice Universe has a reliable track record, it is still possible that the information may turn out to be false or dates may change due to various factors. It is thus advisable to take all this information with a pinch of salt.

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Samsung Android Go smartphone certified with Android 8.1 before launch

Samsung has developed its first Android Go smartphone which the company is likely going to launch soon. We exclusively reported a couple of weeks ago that Samsung is testing this device bearing model number SM-J260G in dozens of markets across the globe including the United Kingdom, France, Russia and India.

The Samsung Android Go smartphone has now been listed at the Wi-Fi Alliance where it has been certified with Android 8.1 onboard. Such certifications are always taken as an indication of an impending launch. This certification thus suggests that it may not be long now before the first Samsung Android Go smartphone is officially launched.

Samsung Android Go smartphone

We exclusively leaked several images of the Samsung Android Go smartphone two days ago. The images confirm that contrary to reports, Samsung’s first Android Go device won’t be running stock Android. The handset will merely have the Go versions of Google’s official apps installed while the Samsung Experience skin will be very much there.

To be clear, Google has never said that Android Go devices will offer a stock Android experience. The Android Go initiative only promises an improved user experience on cheap Android devices with 1GB of RAM or less with apps that require less memory and storage space.

The images that we leaked also revealed that this device will be running Android 8.1 Oreo at launch which has been reiterated today by the certification. As far as the specs ago, the handset may feature a 1.4GHz quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. It may also have an 8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera with a 2,600mAh battery.

No word as yet on when Samsung is planning to launch its first Android Go smartphone, the markets where it’s going to be made available and how much it’s going to cost. Reports suggest that this device will be branded as the Galaxy J2 Core at launch but there’s no confirmation of that just yet.

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Samsung’s next flagship flip phone may get a dual camera

You won’t find a lot of takers for a flagship flip phone in major markets across the globe but Samsung has found a niche market for such a product in China. It has been launching its W-series of flagship flip phones in China for a few years now with the latest model, the W2018, being launched in December last year.

Samsung is reportedly working on the successor to this handset which may presumably be called the W2019 under codename Project Lykan. Word on the street is that this device will feature a dual camera system.

First flagship flip phone with a dual camera

The W-series flip phones from Samsung are bonafide flagship smartphones when you look at the spec sheet. The W2018 is basically a mix of the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8 with its Snapdragon 835 processor, 6GB of RAM, 64GB storage and the world’s first 12 megapixel f/1.5 aperture camera. The device shipped with Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

The handset also features two 4.2-inch Full HD displays, a 5-megapixel front camera, a dedicated Bixby key and a USB Type-C port. Like its predecessor, the W2018 was only launched in China.

A China-based leakster claims that the W2019 is going to feature a dual camera system at the back. That’s not so hard to believe since the W-series does have flagship-level specs. Moreover, dual cameras are hardly limited to flagship devices anymore. Samsung devices like the Galaxy J7+ and the Galaxy A6+ already feature dual camera systems so this is very much within the realm of possibility.

No further information is available about the W2019 at this point in time but we can reasonably expect the Snapdragon 845 and at least 6GB of RAM in the handset. There’s little reason to believe that Samsung will launch its next flagship flip phone in any other market except China. We’ll likely be hearing more about this device in the months to come as Samsung may only launch it by the end of this year.

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Samsung’s technology makes 3GHz+ a reality for ARM’s Cortex-A76 CPU

Samsung today announced that it’s expanding the strategic foundry collaboration with UK-based semiconductor design company ARM to its 7/5-nanometer FinFET process technology to maintain its dominance in the era of high-performance computing.

The Arm Artisan physical IP platform will be based on Samsung Foundry’s 7LPP (7nm Low Power Plus) and 5LPE (5nm Low Power Early) process technologies which will make 3GHz+ performance a reality of ARM Cortex-A76 processor.

3GHz+ performance for ARM Cortex A76 CPU

“Collaboration with Arm in the fields of IP solutions is crucial to increase high-performance computing power and accelerate the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning capabilities,” said Ryan Sanghyun Lee, vice president of Foundry Marketing Team at Samsung Electronics.

Samsung presented the details of the recent updates its foundry roadmap from 7nm EUV development to 3nm Gate-All-Around Early technology at the Samsung Foundry Forum 2018 today in Seoul, South Korea.

The company has reiterated that it will have its 7LPP process technology ready for initial production in the second half of this year. The first process technology based on extreme ultra violet is in development and Samsung expects to complete it by the first half of 2019. The company’s 5LPE technology will enable greater area scaling and ultra-low power benefits based on the latest innovations in the 7LPP process.

ARM’s Artisan physical IP platform for Samsung’s 7LPP and 5LPE process includes HD logic architecture, a complete suite of memory compilers and 1.8V and 3.3V GPIO libraries. The company is also going to provide Artisan POP IP solutions on its latest processor cores with ARM DynamIQ technology.

ARM unveiled the Cortex A76 back in May. It’s the company’s first CPU that only runs 64-bit kernel-level code and supports apps that use 32-bit A32 and T32 instruction sets in addition to 64-bit A64. What that means in simple terms is that all apps will run normally on this next-generation CPU. The company also unveiled its Mali G76 premium GPU design to complement the A76. We can expect devices powered by this CPU to arrive next year.

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Samsung’s Over The Horizon ringtone reworked by elementary school kids

Samsung’s Over The Horizon ringtone is perhaps the most well-known in the world today, due in part to the sheer number of smartphones the company has sold in recent years. Over The Horizon really came into its own with the strings-heavy version that debuted on the Galaxy S5, and Samsung has offered fresh takes on the tune each year by inviting popular musicians and composers. This time around, Samsung turned to elementary school students in the Netherlands for a “digital” reimagining of Over the Horizon.

Over The Horizon digitally reworked by school kids

As part of the ‘Digital Composing in Class’ competition, which “aimed to widen the scope of musical education in the nation,” Samsung tasked schoolchildren for coming up with their own versions of Over The Horizon. The best one was from a group of sixth-grade students from Ichthusschool, an elementary school in Nijkerk, and it was chosen for the simplicity, engaging melody, and “peaceful atmosphere.” The ringtone was composed using a tablet app that Samsung isn’t naming, but the final take was performed by Metropole Orkest, a Grammy-winning orchestra. Metropole Orkest also performed four other ringtones that were shortlisted in the final round of the competition, though Samsung is only letting us listen to the winning tone.

And the winning tone is certainly a calm and soothing one, with the primary tune being played on a harp to the very end. Could it be the default ringtone on the upcoming Galaxy Note 9? Probably not, as it wouldn’t be loud enough to be audible in noisy environments, though we can certainly expect it to be loaded as an alternative version of Over The Horizon in the ringtone selection menu.

Use the player below to listen to the tune.

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Galaxy Note 9 support pages are now being listed on Samsung’s websites

We’re a little over a month away from the official unveiling of the Galaxy Note 9 so it’s not surprising to see that Samsung is laying the groundwork on its websites across the globe to host information about its new flagship. The official Galaxy Note 9 support pages are now being listed on Samsung’s websites across the globe.

This isn’t the first time that this is happening. Samsung normally lists the support pages for upcoming handsets a couple of weeks before they’re set to arrive. We’ve already seen this happen for devices like the Galaxy A6 and the Galaxy Tab S4.

Galaxy Note 9 support pages

The official Galaxy Note 9 support pages don’t reveal any information about the device itself at this point in time other than its SM-N960F model number which is already known. The pages will obviously be updated with information once the device is officially announced next month. The pages have been listed on Samsung’s websites in France, Norway, Denmark and Finland. They’ll go live in other regions as well eventually.

Samsung hasn’t confirmed much about the Galaxy Note 9 at this point in time. It recently confirmed that the new flagship is going to be officially unveiled on August 9 at a special event in New York City.

As we’ve mentioned in our detailed coverage of all Galaxy Note 9 specs and features, the handset is going to feature an Exynos 9810/Snapdragon 845 processor with 6GB of RAM. There are reports that Samsung may introduce a variant with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage in some markets.

The new S Pen might be one of the biggest selling points of the new flagship. The FCC listing for the Galaxy Note 9’s stylus has essentially confirmed reports that the S Pen will get Bluetooth support which will enable it to perform new features. No word as yet on when Samsung is actually planning on releasing the Galaxy Note 9 but we’ll surely get that information on August 9.

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