Galaxy C7 Pro breaks cover in a series of leaked images

Back in September, we exclusively revealed that Samsung is working on two new handsets as part of its Galaxy C series, which will eventually launch outside of China. We’ve heard a lot about the bog-standard, mid-range variant, the Galaxy C5 Pro, and it’s even posed for a photograph, but information has been a little sparse with regards to its high-end brethren, the Galaxy C7 Pro.

Fortunately, that’s just changed. Earlier today, a series of leaked images surfaced online, showcasing the design of the long-rumored Galaxy C7 Pro from all angles. As you can see, it sports an almost identical aluminum iPhone-esque unibody to the Galaxy C7 that launched back in June 2016. However, there are a couple of minor changes visible in the images, including an upgraded camera sensor.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy C7 Pro is expected to sport a 5.7-inch Full HD display, a Snapdragon 626 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable internal storage and a 3,300mAh battery. It should ship running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow skinned with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface when it launches first in China, priced at CNY 2,799 ($405).

It doesn’t look like we’ll have to wait too much longer for the Galaxy C7 Pro to hit the open market, either. It’s already been granted FCC and Wi-Fi certification, which usually indicates that a release is imminent. Our best guess is that Samsung is putting the finishing touches to the device’s software, then it’ll be ready to hit the shelves. Recent rumors point towards that happening before the end of January.

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Samsung SDI showcases a car battery that can be charged up to 80 percent in just 20 minutes

Samsung SDI has showcased a next-generation car battery that offers electric vehicles a driving range of up to 600km. The high-end battery cell, which can be rapidly charged up to 80 percent in just 20 minutes, is being displayed at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2017 in Detroit. These new batteries are planned to be mass produced sometime in 2021.

Apart from this high-density battery technology for electric vehicles, the company also showcased an integrated battery module with a 10 percent decrease in component units and weight compared to current-generation models. Samsung SDI claimed in a press release that its “technological know-how in materials and processes that vastly decreased the resistance inside a battery cell” led to the development of these new batteries.

We are increasingly witnessing a change in many automakers’ sourcing strategy from battery cells to modules in the EV sector; thus, Samsung SDI is expecting a rising customers’ demand in the integrated battery modules.

The company also showcased “21700″ cylindrical batteries with improved energy density, power, and performance. These battery models are said to be attracting a lot of US-based automobile startups for their electric vehicles. The company started the construction of an automotive battery factory in Hungary in August last year.

Lately, Samsung SDI was under immense pressure after its batteries, which were used in the discontinued Galaxy Note 7, started catching fire. However, it is said that the batteries weren’t the actual cause of fire or explosions, but the smartphone design itself.

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Samsung might establish a factory to manufacture TVs and appliances in the United States

Like many companies, Samsung manufactures its TVs and home appliances at a factory in Mexico and then ships them to the United States under the regional free-trade agreement. Incoming US President Donald Trump has said time and again that he’s going to tweak the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to charge hefty tax on products imported from Mexico for sale in the country. He’s been vocal about charging this tax from US companies like Ford and General Motors as well which build some of their cars for the US market at factories in Mexico.

Samsung can’t sit idly by while such a major shift in the business environment looms on the horizon. North America happens to be its largest home appliance market. Around 30 percent of Samsung’s total appliance sales are accounted for by customers in the United States where it also sells high-end products like its premium Quantum Dot TVs and the Family Hub refrigerators.

Samsung is now thinking about setting up a factory in the United States to manufacture TVs and appliances. “It is true we are considering the establishment of an appliance factory in the US. It is natural that an enterprise responds accordingly when a client nation’s policy changes,” a Samsung Electronics official told The Korea Herald, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet.”

It’s obviously in Samsung’s best interests to have a plan in place to deal with Donald Trump’s protectionist policies. The company has the largest market share in the US home appliance market so it has every reason to do whatever it can in order to hold on to that. Its rival LG has also hinted at the possibility of setting up a factory in the United States.

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Samsung reportedly wants to ship 100 million units of the Galaxy J

Samsung is said to have set its shipment goals for the mid-range Galaxy A and entry-level Galaxy J smartphones at 20 million and 100 million units respectively. This according to a “person briefed on the matter” cited in a report out of South Korea today. It has only been a week since Samsung introduced its new Galaxy A (2017) lineup which brings some of the features from the company’s flagship lineup, such as a waterproof design and a fingerprint sensor, in a more affordable package.

The Galaxy J handsets are Samsung’s entry-level offering and they have proven to be quite popular in emerging markets including but not limited to South America and India. Samsung will be hoping to continue that momentum and ship 100 million units of the Galaxy J alone. If you feel this might be a lofty goal, wait till you hear what the Korean media is saying about Samsung’s goals for the Galaxy S8. It’s claimed that Samsung has set a shipment goal of 60 million units for its upcoming flagship smartphone.

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Samsung Electronics shares hit another record high

Despite all of the troubles that it has had to put up because of the Galaxy Note 7 over the past few months, investors are still confident in Samsung’s business and that confidence is reflected in the performance of the company’s stock. Samsung Electronics shares have hit a fresh record high of 1.86 million won (roughly $1,550) a pop. This wasn’t just the intraday high but the stock’s closing price yesterday and the level appears to be holding so far, it was a 2.82 percent increase of 51,000 won from the previous day.

The recent rally can partly be attributed to Samsung’s earnings guidance for the fourth quarter of 2016. The company expects to post a 50 percent year-over-year increase in operating profit despite the fact that it has had to absorb the financial impact of the Galaxy Note 7 recall. However, the company’s bottom line has been supported by robust sales of its chips and displays that have helped offset the losses from the Galaxy Note 7.

Samsung is due to announce the full earnings report for Q4 2016 in the near future. Investors are likely to remain interested in the company’s stock as it’s expected to come out swinging for the fences with the Galaxy S8.

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Galaxy S8 shipment target reportedly set at 60 million units

Citing industry sources, a report out of South Korea today claims that Samsung has set a shipment target of 60 million units for the Galaxy S8. The company has reportedly asked its component suppliers to supply parts based on its shipment target of 60 million units. Samsung is also said to have confirmed to its suppliers that it has postponed the release schedule for the Galaxy S8 from March to mid-April. Another recent report claimed that the Galaxy S8 would be released on April 18.

If this shipment goal is indeed true, it shows the level of confidence that Samsung has in its upcoming flagship smartphone. The 60 million unit goal is significantly higher than the total shipments of its previous flagships. Samsung shipped 45 million units of the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy S6 and 48 million of the Galaxy S7.

According to the report, Samsung is going to start mass production of the Galaxy S8 in March and will then start rolling out 5 million units of the new flagship every month. Some analysts doubt that Samsung will be able to meet its shipment goal of 60 million units for the Galaxy S8 given that the premium smartphone market is becoming increasingly saturated. Tough competition from its Chinese rivals isn’t going to make things any easier.

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Galaxy A5 (2016) and Galaxy A3 (2016) Nougat update being tested

We exclusively reported about a month ago that Samsung has started working on the Android 7.0 Nougat update for the Galaxy A (2016) series. Australian carrier Optus started testing this update for the Galaxy A5 (2016) just a few weeks ago. Samsung is also testing said update for the Galaxy A5 (2016) and the Galaxy A3 (2016). Both handsets have been spotted on GFXBench running Android 7.0 Nougat.

It’s a good sign that Samsung has started testing the Nougat update for these devices. Those who own one should hold on to hope that the company will release Nougat for the Galaxy A (2016) fairly early in 2017. It goes without saying that this series will only get Nougat after Samsung has released it for its flagship devices. Samsung recently said that it’s going to try and release Nougat to the public for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge by the end of January.

There’s good reason to believe now that the Galaxy A (2016) series will receive said update soon after the flagships are taken care of.

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