Samsung’s Android-powered Galaxy J4 and Galaxy J6 handsets were certified yet again earlier this week, having passed through China’s National Communications Commission, with the implication of the development being that both smartphones will eventually be released in the Far Eastern country. The two members of the upcoming Galaxy J (2018) family were already approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance, with the standards agency disclosing they run Android 8.0 Oreo, i.e. Samsung’s custom implementation of the Google-developed operating system.
The mobile devices are expected to compete in the lower mid-range price bracket and be released globally, though Samsung is likely to prioritize developing countries due to the budget-conscious philosophy behind its Galaxy J lineup. The Galaxy J4 is expected to be visually similar to its 2017 predecessors, featuring a conventional 16:9 screen and a physical Home button, whereas recent reports and leaks pointed to the new Galaxy J6 sporting an 18.5:9 Infinity Display and possibly even a dedicated Bixby key. The entire series is otherwise expected to feature a metal unibody design and start at approximately $200, depending on the model and market.
Samsung’s general smartphone strategy is highly diversified and consistently sees the company launch dozens of new handsets on an annual basis, covering every price point and demographic, with many countries receiving particularly branded or designed Galaxy devices meant to cater to their local needs. That approach propelled Samsung to the top of the smartphone industry, with the company now holding the title of the world’s largest handset vendor by both shipments and sales, according to numerous market analytics firm. Its mobile leadership makes radical strategy shifts unlikely for the time being, at least until someone challenges that dominance. Samsung is now said to be planning on diversifying its handset portfolio even further, with the company being expected to launch its first foldable smartphone in the first half of 2019.