Samsung Electronics introduced its latest Galaxy S25 smartphones in Seoul and San Francisco on January 22. The devices are powered by Qualcomm chips and Google's AI model, with Samsung aiming to boost sales and compete with Apple and Chinese rivals through enhanced AI features.
During the launch event in California, Samsung also teased a slimmer version of the flagship phones, intending to release the Galaxy S25 Edge in the first half of the year before Apple's expected new product launch.
While Samsung led the industry with its AI-powered smartphone release, it struggled against Apple and Chinese competitors in the global market last year. Executive Vice President Park Ji-sun expressed confidence in the direction the company is heading in terms of AI technology.
The Galaxy S25 series remains priced between $799 and $1,299, with the new smartphones leveraging Google's Gemini AI as the default engine and featuring Samsung's upgraded Bixby voice assistant.
Analyst Thomas Husson noted the challenge of differentiating Bixby but acknowledged that AI features could enhance Samsung's brand reputation.
The Galaxy S25 promises a tailored AI experience, with features like the "Now Brief" service offering personalized recommendations based on user data for privacy protection.
Samsung chose Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for the entire Galaxy S25 range, marking a significant shift from its own Exynos chips. The decision impacts Samsung's chip business, although the company did not specify the reasoning behind this change.
Looking ahead, Samsung plans to incorporate the Exynos chip into its upcoming foldable phones, recognizing the importance of the Galaxy S25 series amid stiff competition in the market.
Samsung's fourth-quarter profits fell short of expectations, attributed to chip development expenses and heightened competition in the smartphone sector.