‘The reaction has been nothing short of absolutely incredible’ – Samsung is very happy with early Galaxy S24 sales
But can the company’s latest handsets dent Apple’s dominance?
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By all accounts, theSamsung Galaxy S24series is off to a flying start. The company’s new phones broke pre-order records inIndiaandSouth Korea, and we’ve now had confirmation that European customers proved equally eager to get their hands on the Galaxy S24,Galaxy S24 PlusandGalaxy S24 Ultrain the first week of release.
“Right across Europe, over the first seven days of pre-orders, the Galaxy S24 series surpassed the total pre-order volume we achieved with the Galaxy S23 series,” James Kitto, Samsung’s VP of UK sales, announced in a recent presentation attended by TechRadar.
“The reaction has been nothing short of absolutely incredible,” Kitto said, adding that “the mobile market has been re-energized by AI,” in reference to the suite ofGalaxy AI featuresnow available across all three phones in the Galaxy S24 line.
Kitto didn’t elaborate on the numbers, but we do know that, in South Korea, the Galaxy S24 achieved the highest number of pre-orders in Galaxy S series history. Interestingly, 65% of those pre-orders were for the company’s top-of-the-range Galaxy S24 Ultra model, reflecting a similar demand for Apple’s flagshipiPhone 15 Pro Max, which last yearoutperformed the iPhone 14 Pro Max in terms of first-week sales.
So, canSamsung’s latest smartphone lineup make a meaningful dent inApple’s continued dominance of the smartphone market? As we reported last year,Android fans are switching to iPhones in record numbers, and popularity breeds more popularity. The more people that use iPhones, the more popular iPhones become – but Samsung will be hoping that its unique take on AI can help stop the bleeding.
“The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most technically advanced device we’ve ever brought to market,” Kitto explained. “We’ve combined our much-loved hardware with the mind-blowing possibilities of AI [to make] the world’s first AI-capable phone.”
And Samsung is right to toot its own horn. In ourSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review, we described the company’s latest flagship as “a phone that transcends the smartphone category,” and it now sits pretty at the top of ourbest phonesranking.
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That said, Samsung won’t be able to claim ownership of the AI space for long. Apple isreportedly spending over $1 billion a year on AI development, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman confirmed last month that severaliPhone-specific AI features are on track for a big unveiling at WWDC 2024.
The likes of Siri, Messages, Apple Music and Pages are expected to receive significant AI-based improvements this year, with the formerreportedly in line for a ChatGPT-style makeover. TheiPhone 16andiPhone 16 Pro Max, then, will almost certainly arrive bearing an enviable arsenal of Galaxy-rivalling features.
For now, though, the wind is in Samsung’s favor. If you’re interested in our own, more detailed verdicts on the company’s latest handsets, check out ourSamsung Galaxy S24 review, hands-onSamsung Galaxy S24 Plus reviewandSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.
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Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.
Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
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