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Smartphone rivals Samsung and LG Electronics unveiled their latest flagship devices on Sunday, seeking to revive sales momentum and buck slowing industry growth.
Phone makers face another tough year in 2016 as a result of subdued global growth and a push by Chinese manufacturers to expand overseas.
In a bid to recapture market share, Samsung launched two new versions of its Galaxy S smartphones and brought in Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg for a surprise appearance to tout the potential of virtual reality, prompting hundreds of people to rush to the stage to record the moment.
LG introduced a modular design to its new G5 smartphones that allows users to replace or upgrade functions such as camera and audio independently. It also launched a virtual reality headset and accessories, including a drone controller to pair with the G5.
Revamps could prove key to smartphone makers as 2016 shapes up to be another tough year: researcher TrendForce expects the smartphone market growth to slow to 8.1 per cent from 10.3 per cent a year earlier.
“The challenge you have got in the smartphone market is breaking through all that sameness. From a design and functionality perspective, everything looks and feels the same,” said Bob O’Donnell, president of Technalysis Research. “So the challenge is finding things that stick out.”
Excitement is also growing over Apple’s new products with social media buzzing with videos suggesting futuristic elements.
