Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will release new variants of the Galaxy S8 and LG G6 primarily due to the upcoming launch of the Apple iPhone 8, industry sources said on Friday. While both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have a history of revising their flagship smartphone series, that practice is likely directly connected to Apple’s mobile release schedule, with the Cupertino, California-based tech giant traditionally launching new iPhone models in September. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone and Apple is reportedly looking to go all out with its latest iOS flagship, which is what reportedly prompted both Samsung and LG to refresh their latest product lineups in an effort to not lose customers to the most profitable handset manufacturer on the planet.
Samsung is said to be adding at least one new color variant of the Galaxy S8 that’s called Rose Gold, sources with knowledge of the matter said today. While the same model was already leaked yesterday, the latest report indicates that the Seoul-based consumer electronics manufacturer will be retailing Rose Gold variations of both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, with previous leaks hinting that only the latter will be available in a new color. Apart from a new variant of its latest flagship, Samsung may also try to slow down the sales of the iPhone 8 by releasing a refurbished version of the Galaxy Note 7 that will ship with a smaller, 3,200mAh battery and otherwise be identical to the discontinued flagship. While the Galaxy Note FE (Fandom Edition) — that’s expected to be marketed as the Galaxy Note 7R in China — will only be available in limited quantities in select Asian countries, Samsung may be hoping that the device will still be able to affect the sales of Apple’s upcoming handset.
According to recent reports, LG is preparing to launch two new models of the G6 – the G6 Plus and G6 Pro. The former is expected to be a somewhat more premium variant of the original device while the later should be a slightly downgraded version, though both will primarily differ in terms of internal flash memory and wireless charging support, industry insiders previously said. Later this year, Samsung and LG are expected to take on Apple more directly by releasing the Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30, with both devices being predicted to hit the market around September.