High-End Flagship Successor Lineup Named 'FE'
Planned Since S20 Launch... Responding to Post-Corona Market
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Samsung Electronics releases a Fan Edition (FE) of its flagship series every year. Instead of 'Lite,' it continues the legacy of the quasi-flagship series under the FE series brand.
On the 23rd (local time), IT media SamMobile reported, "Samsung Electronics will release a Fan Edition model of its main smartphones every year," stating that the company will continue the strategy of unveiling innovative products as flagship models and then releasing more affordable devices about six months later.
Previously, Samsung Electronics was reportedly not planning to release a Galaxy S20 FE model while preparing the Galaxy S20 series. However, after the February Unpacked event, reflecting consumer feedback, they decided to launch the Galaxy S20 FE. The Galaxy S20 was a flagship model emphasizing camera specifications, but due to its high price and the COVID-19 pandemic, it only sold about 60-80% compared to its predecessor.
The Galaxy S20 FE reflects Samsung Electronics' strategic judgment that it is difficult to compete with only high-end flagship models after COVID-19. Apple also targeted budget-conscious consumers during product gaps with the affordable 'iPhone SE,' and Samsung quickly planned and developed a product with a premium brand at a lower price point to respond. To reduce costs, camera performance was downgraded, but reasonable features such as 30x zoom were included.
IT media PhoneArena explained, "The Galaxy S20 FE is not an innovative product in itself, but it maintains specifications preferred by fans at a more accessible price compared to the Galaxy S20 or Note20 series," adding, "It abandoned the edge display of the Galaxy S20 and adopted a premium design including a punch-hole camera."
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S20 FE will be available for pre-order in South Korea starting October 6 and will be released in mid-October. Although the price has not been disclosed, it is expected to be set in the high 800,000 KRW range. Considering the Galaxy S20's launch price was 1,248,500 KRW, it is more than 300,000 KRW cheaper. The Galaxy S20 FE features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display supporting a 120Hz refresh rate. It is equipped with a 32MP front camera and a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 12MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera.
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