Samsung Launches Flagship Galaxy Note 4, Note Edge And Gear S In UAE

Samsung launched its next generation flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 4 along with a limited edition premium device, the Note Edge and a new smartwatch, Gear S, as part of its World Tour Event in Dubai.

Unveiling the new smartphones, Youngsoo Kim, president, Samsung Gulf said that they were created to suit the new mobile culture, moving towards larger-screen devices.

The Galaxy Note 4, priced at Dhs2,799 in the UAE, retains its predecessor’s display size at 5.7-inches, but it has a Quad HD Super AMOLED display, which according to Hayssam Yasssine, head of Telecommunications at Samsung Gulf Electronics, is the “best of its kind in the market.”

Specifically targeting the Middle East market, the Note 4’s S Pen comes with Arabic recognition technology, and is also billed as being more intuitive to the user’s writing style – it can recognise whether a person is left-handed.

The other new feature that the device includes is a ‘wide selfie’ feature, which basically lets a user take a panoramic shot with the front camera. In terms of specs, the Note 4 has a 16MP rear camera with smart optical image stabilisation and a 3.7MP front camera.

Weighing 176g, the device is 8.5mm thick, and comes with 32GB internal memory and 3GB RAM. Running on Android 4.4 (KitKat), it runs on a 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor.

Available in four colours including black, white, gold and pink, it will retail across the Middle East from October 16.

“Elements of the latest device, including its larger screen size and iconic S Pen technology, has launched a new benchmark in smartphone culture, and captures the demands of the MENA,” said Choong Ro Lee, president of Samsung Middle East and North Africa.

The Note Edge, which includes similar features as the Note 4, comes with a curved edge screen that provides quick access to frequently used apps. Users can also receive notifications directly on the edge screen while watching videos or viewing other information on the device.

Slightly smaller than the Note 4 at 5.6-inches, the Note Edge will be a limited edition model, available in two colours including white and black.

Yassine confirmed to Gulf Business that it will be available in the first week of December in the UAE but did not disclose the price. “It will be priced at a premium since we will have only a limited number of phones, offered through very selective channels.”

He also said he is confident about the performance of the devices in the market despite increased competition.

Samsung currently has the highest marketshare in the UAE for smartphones, with data for August putting its average share at 46.6 per cent, he said.

“We will target high-tech people who use the Note series and also aim to attract more people who haven’t used the Note but like using a larger screen and improved camera features,” he explained regarding the Samsung’s marketing strategy. He did not disclose any details regarding its regional marketing spend.

Samsung Gear S

Similar to Apple, Samsung retained its smartwatch as its last launch during the event. The next generation Gear, priced at Dhs1,299 in the UAE, can be used independently of a smartphone and includes an option to insert a SIM card.

Featuring a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display and a flexible band, the Gear S connects via 3G, bluetooth and wi-fi. Users can reply to incoming messages using the onscreen keyboard, or make and receive calls directly from the watch.

Other features include S Health, music player and a power saving mode. The watch, which comes with 4GB internal memory, is also dust and water resistant.

Samsung currently has a 70 per cent marketshare globally in the wearables segment, and is the market leader in the region as well, according to Yassine.

“Smartwatches, wearables is a new category so we believe it will take some more time to grow. And with all the vendors getting into the segment, it will only create more awareness and lead to faster growth,” he added.