Analysts: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is not the answer to Samsung's problems

With Samsung's mobile business now showing a year-over-year decline, many Samsung analysts have been keeping an eye on the rumored specs for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The brokerage firms' pencil pushers were hoping that the next iteration of Sammy's phablet could save the day. The device is expected to be unveiled on September 3rd, at the IFA show in Berlin.

There is no question that the Galaxy Note 4 will have some scrumptious specs on board. We're talking about a 5.7 inch screen with a 1440 x 2560 resolution display. A Snapdragon 805 is powering the phablet, which is expected to employ 3GB of RAM, a 16MP rear-facing camera, and 32GB of native storage.

While it sounds like a power user's dream, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 might not be able to single handedly turn around Samsung's fortunes. Neil Shah, research director at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, says that specs are not Samsung's problem. Samsung needs to use premium materials for the Galaxy Note 4, says the analyst. And with a larger screened iPhone just weeks away, Wall Streeters are hoping that Samsung has included something new with the device. Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics, says that at this point in the game Samsung needs a "revolutionary design," like a bendable screen. He says that the manufacturer also needs to lower prices, and add more high-end features to its entry-level phones.

Samsung also needs to consider markets like India, where just 6% of the population owns a mobile phone. In both India and China, Samsung's entry-level models are priced 30% above the low-end offerings produced by local companies like Xiaomi. And Google's Android One program will help manufacturers build low priced Android models that will be sold for $100 or less. These phones will start rolling out in India later this year, with local firms like Micromax selling them. Local brands in China and India have been eating away at Samsung's market share in those countries. Last quarter, Xiaomi topped Samsung to take over the top spot in China.


While a loaded Samsung Galaxy Note 4 might be great for those who buy the device, most analysts believe that Samsung needs to worry more about the phones it is selling in the emerging markets, if it wants growth in mobile devices to return.

source: PCWorld via BGR