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While many phone makers grandly reveal their new devices at Mobile World Congress in February each year, Samsung has managed to launch its S-series phone earlier than many other major flagships, and in doing so set the tone for the year. . This includes price, with the Samsung Galaxy S20 setting the precedent for a price hike for phones to come in 2020. But given the rumors Since its successor, the Galaxy S21, will cost the same, we may not pay more for this year’s phones.
That makes some sort of sense: Almost all of the top-tier phones of 2020 saw a price increase, which was largely attributed to new chipsets and discrete modems to support 5G connectivity. To use Samsung as an example, the launch price of the Galaxy S10 2019 was $ 899 / £ 799 / AU $ 1,349, while the Galaxy S20 2020 came with a starting price of $ 999 / £ 899 / AU $ 1,499.
Sure, the S20 improved the screen refresh rate to 120hz, made some camera improvements (including expanding telephoto capabilities to 30x digital zoom), and gradually improved specs with a new chipset, but 5G. felt like the justification for the price increase
Of course, it’s very important to incorporate what the industry hopes will be the next great telecommunications standard into your phone line, but was it worth the added cost for the average consumer? Especially if 5G doesn’t prevail outside of major city centers, leaving many S20 owners without the benefit they paid for. In hindsight, the 2020 price increase looked like it was coming, whether the advances warrant it or not.
Now is not the time for higher phone prices
Higher 2020 prices are easier to accept if phone price tags remain static until 2021, if these Galaxy S21 leaks suggesting a fixed price end up setting the financial standard for other new phones to follow year-round. . Incremental improvements (this year’s faster chipset, slightly better cameras, refined software, etc.) are welcome, but without a must-have new feature for phones, there’s not much of an argument for flagships to get even more expensive. .
Prices may even release; Google Pixel 5 and LG V60 ThinQ cost less than their predecessors despite integrating 5G. Even if they made a few compromises and left out certain features to get to those cheaper price points, those moves showed deference to consumer tastes.
If there is any movement, it is in the expansion of new levels of flagship phones: the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) and iPhone 12 (as well as iPhone 12 mini) are available to price-conscious consumers who still want 5G. Heck, even if it doesn’t technically come at a flagship price, the Google Pixel 4a 5G almost has the specs to fall into that category, but it packs a solid mid-range cost. Today are not yesterday’s discounted phones; They are more limited versions of the best phones that make compromises but retain the best parts of the new phones.
So what would justify a price hike? The Samsung S10 phones were more expensive than the S9 for a reason, more cameras, and a dramatic expansion in photographic capacity could do it. Longer battery life could also seal the deal (especially if the phones could keep us going for two, three, or even four days without recharging).
Or, pie in the sky, we could see foldable phones get cheap enough to be true alternatives to flagships.
Given that none of these appear to be on the cards in the top-tier phones of 2021, we expect the S21 to lead the way. no rise in phone prices this year. This would be great news in any year, but especially a relief after this one.
