Samsung's tablet size bingo continues, with its latest effort being a 10-inch Galaxy Note. But the company's tablets aren't faring too well, one executive has revealed at Mobile World Congress.
"Honestly, we're not doing very well in the tablet market," Hankil Yoon, product strategy executive for Samsung, told reporters, including CNET News' Roger Cheng. Ouch. So how's it going to go about remedying this? By cannibalising its own products. Seriously.
Asked about whether the latest 10-inch Galaxy Note might impact on sales of the original 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab, Yoon said: "The best thing to survive in the market is to kill your products. We want to stay competitive in the market."
It's certainly refreshing to hear one of these suits call it how he sees it. He went on to clarify, saying the original Galaxy Tab wasn't a success, so Samsung changed tack by introducing the Galaxy Note with a stylus for making notes and doodling.
"Even if the design is similar, how you use [the Note] is totally different," he said. In which case, I'd ask why Samsung has just introduced the near-identical Galaxy Tab 2. As well as a 10-inch version.
But it's just a matter of time before people come round to the larger sizes like the 5-inch Galaxy Note, according to Yoon. Three years ago, the largest phone in Samsung's line-up had a 3.7-inch screen, while the Galaxy S2 has a 4.3-inch screen.
"Once I used this [Galaxy Note], the Galaxy S2 looks too small," he said. "I don't go back to any other smart phone or tablet."
As well as the soul-destroying conveyor belt of mindless iteration, Samsung has crammed a projector into a phone, the quirky Galaxy Beam. But we're really waiting for news on the Galaxy S3, and it looks like it shouldn't be too long now.
What do you think of Samsung's tablets? Let me know in the comments below, or on our Facebook page. And for everything Mobile World Congress, have a look at mwc.cnet.co.uk.
Update: Samsung got in touch to say Hankil Yoon had been "misinterpreted".
Its spokesperson added, "Seeking to kill your own product by releasing increasingly compelling devices might position Samsung as a confident brand. A brand ambitious to improve its products so that the choice for consumers is between several Samsung products rather than between Samsung and its competitors' products." Well that clears that up.
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Comments 9
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Ross SuBo Coulter 28 February, 2012 10:50
My small thought on this:
Tablets tend to be bought by two groups of people. Those looking for a cheap portable option, which due to Samsung pricing is not them. And those that buy Apple, again which Samsung aren't. If they're able to produce a product that's cheaper to the final customer then I'm sure the Samsung name would win the customer's over compare to the likes of the other cheap and mid range makers.
I would like to say I'm not an Apple fan boy but from a consumer's perspective this is how I see the current market. Spend up to £200 on a "cheap" one or spend almost double and get an ipad.
Peter Hudson 28 February, 2012 10:51
As much as I love my Galaxy S2, I would never even consider buying a Galaxy Tab to replace my iPad.
the reason they aren't doing so well is because the galaxy tablets are just one in a range of millions of different tablets that look identical and run on the same android software. There is literally nothing to separate all the android ones except for price.
That's why the iPad stands out against them all. It will be interesting to see what happens when the windows 8 tablets start appearing. We'll see if it shakes things up a bit
anonymous 28 February, 2012 10:57
If Samsung makes the galaxy tab 11.6 with the rumored specs for screen, memory and quad core CPU it will certainly be a hit. Add to that the note's stylus and drawing applications and ice cream sandwich and we have a dream tablet. It could then be named the Galaxy Note 11.6.
Peter Hudson 28 February, 2012 11:53
Really? will it though? it'll just be another android tablet that looks the same but with an extra inch on the screen.
If samsung really want to be successful in tablets, they have to do something that separates the galaxy range from all the other android tablets.
anonymous 28 February, 2012 13:01
It is not rocket science Samsung. You have a portfolio of pads from 10" to 7" yet the cost difference between them all is marginal. Reduce the cost of the smaller tablets, try £200, and try and undercut Apple with the larger tablets. Simples!!
anonymous 28 February, 2012 13:21
Personally, I would have bought the galaxy tab 11.6 because I have general needs such as internet browsing, watching videos, etc. I even think the previously released galaxy tab 10.1 was nice but I did not like the dated honeycomb interface. I think androids are overall similar due to comparable hardware and similar software.
If Samsung wants to be special, maybe they can focus more on:
1- Useful applications as they did in note10.1 and that the ipad has (free apps and purchased ones)
2- better hardware materials (less plastic)
3- beautiful UI that allows multi tasking - not only two or three
4- usb ports without the need for adapters
5- more security
6- competitive prices
7- look less like the i pad 2 (which Samsung successfully did with the new 10.1 tablet and note at mwc.)
anonymous 29 February, 2012 21:00
the new Tablet Note 10.1 should have been an improvement in every single way from its small sibling ...the stylus the battery the camera the apps and the future proofing potential should all have been dealt with ..there is still...time and samsung can always innovate more with 3rd gen and future gens..I think Samsung is actually being very brave tech of yesterday can move into tech of the future and the Stylus will change quite a few people's attitudes ..wait and see
anonymous 29 February, 2012 22:52
In response to Peter Hudson's remarks, I find myself a little confused.
He berates Android tablets as being "millions of different tablets which look identical" (since, I project, they run differing iterations of the Android OS).
However, aren't the millions of iPad owners in exactly the same "predicament"?
They all have tablets which look identical, and also run differing iterations of iOS.
The differences in functionality are minimal and coalescing all the time. The user-friendliness of Android is better than that of the iOS and you are much less tied down to particular file formats with Android than with iOS. Plus Android tablets tend to be noticeably cheaper than iPads.
Samsung makes quality, reliable devices, which I know from experience. When they become somewhat cheaper, I would have no hesitation about buying one of their tablets.
anonymous 1 March, 2012 12:31
I will buy a Samsung tablet and enjoy the new android os, just not a dual core one. My five year old LG laptop is dual core. I want hardware that can support future application requirements.