Samsung is one of the world’s giants in the mobile market and covers almost 21% of the total market share.
This is even greater than other huge names in the mobile industry, including Apple, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc.
Even though Samsung phones are considerably higher in price, people prefer them over tons of other Android phones.
Why Are Samsung Phones So Expensive? (Top 9 Reasons)
The primary reason Samsung phones are so expensive is the amount spent on research and development of the technology.
The R&D department of Samsung focuses a lot on researching new technologies and implementing them in their phones with colossal success.
This makes them a lot more expensive than other Android companies that tend to copy the technologies already researched by Samsung with slight changes.
Besides research and development, Samsung also spends a significant amount on marketing their products to raise awareness about technological advancements.
Why are Samsung phones so expensive even when it is such a huge brand?
1. Research & Development
As per reports, Samsung spent $22.6 Trillion on its research and development between 2013 and 2021.
The amount spent has also grown significantly during the year 2022.
The major reason for this is the work done by Samsung in networking and data intelligence to improve the performance of their smartphones.
The research team pays special attention to improving the user interface with the help of the latest technologies.
They also focus on improving these devices’ internal and external hardware to give them a smart look that attracts buyers.
Introducing Samsung Edge is one of the best examples of the work done by the R&D department of Samsung.
Take a look at some of the latest developments made by Samsung in their latest phone, the Galaxy S22.
- Consistent Ip68 rating makes them resist dirt and water for up to 30 minutes up to a depth of five feet.
- AI super-resolution that allows 100x space zoom, including 10x optical zoom.
- Improved battery performance with the advent of EV technology.
- Value tested with the help of third-party laboratories.
The advanced technologies utilized in every latest Samsung phone prove the work done by the company’s R&D department.
The money spent on research plays an integral part in increasing the overall costs of the products.
2. Marketing
Samsung’s marketing strategy has been a game-changer for its success during the last two decades.
Great storytelling and conveying the brand’s message to the consumer uniquely have always been Samsung’s strengths.
The marketing strategy of Samsung was revamped when they decided to invest more in their research and development in the late ’90s.
The company decided to focus more on the technology, which made them spend huge costs on the marketing.
Samsung’s ad campaign turned out to be completely different than other brands.
Its technological advancements were heavily dependent on marketing since they had to convey the brand message uniquely.
Currently, Samsung is the fourth largest advertiser globally, with an ad spend of nearly $9.7 billion in mixed media.
This is a significant amount that contributes mainly to the prices’ uptrend.
3. Product Development And Design
You will always see significant growth and advancement in the components of Samsung mobiles.
To make this happen, Samsung runs a Samsung Design & Innovation Center solely responsible for creating unique designs that users would love.
This Samsung’s internal department comprises design agencies and product architects to improve the quality of designs of Samsung mobiles.
Samsung also spends a significant amount of money to improve the UI of the latest phones they release.
They make this happen with the help of design engineers improving the built-in software and database of the mobile.
The design and development team works closely with the R&D department of Samsung to come up with designs that users would surely love.
As you already know, Samsung phones are extremely slim and smart.
Here are some of the major product design and development advancements in the latest Samsung phones.
- Rounded edge screens with Galaxy Edge Series.
- Folding ability with Samsung Z Fold Series.
- Angular display with large, curved screens.
- Straightforward and easy-to-use interface.
According to recent reports, Samsung is now working rapidly to introduce robotics and AI features within their smartphones.
This is great news for tech-savvy people.
However, more price-conscious people might not find it interesting.
4. Advanced Features
Another primary reason for the increased pricing is the Samsung phone’s advanced features.
The company focuses well on retaining the features Samsung phones already provide with the addition of the latest features.
Here are some of Samsung’s advanced features, unlike the other conventional smartphones.
A. Samsung Dex
Samsung Dex is one of the most advanced features Samsung offers.
With this feature, you can open your mobile phone on a large LED and use it just like a desktop computer by connecting a mouse and keyboard.
B. Knox Security
Knox security feature of Samsung phones makes your device more secure and protected.
The feature is approved and used by some governmental organizations not only in South Korea but also in other countries.
Knox security provides end-to-end encrypted security capabilities to both the hardware and software of your Samsung phone.
C. Samsung Pass
The Samsung Pass allows you to manage your entire logins with a single password.
With this feature, you get the ability to secure all of your accounts under a single password that can be activated on your phone only.
D. Private Security
Unlike other smartphones, Samsung phones offer a secure private locking option that people can utilize to secure their content.
When you activate the private mode on Samsung, the phone creates a separate folder that remains hidden until you open it with the password you set when configuring the private mode.
E. Find My Mobile Service
Another great feature the Samsung phone offers is the Find My Mobile service.
The feature allows the user to unlock the phone with the help of their body feel, location, or device if the password is lost.
However, the user must set the feature before losing the password to reopen the device.
F. Task Automation
Task automation allows you to automate daily tasks that you carry out from your phone.
The feature is present in the latest Samsung phones and goes with the name of Bixby Routines.
The latest features add real value to the Samsung phones.
This, however, grows the cost exponentially as well.
5. Recyclable Packaging Materials
The quality sustainable packaging materials Samsung uses also add to the overall pricing of the phone.
Samsung is a brand that has been operating for decades.
They have always been keen to develop sustainable policies for the environment.
Also, Samsung’s operations always stay in alignment with the Government policies.
This makes them take necessary actions to ensure the sustainability of their products and packaging materials.
The packaging material offered with Samsung phones is made up of synthetic materials.
They have no environmental hazards and can be decomposed easily if there is no need to recycle them.
6. Brand Value
Samsung has been in the electronics business since 1969.
Initially, the company started as a retail store selling groceries to daily customers.
However, it soon converted into an electronics company and started setting up its production units to produce TVs, mobile phones, and other items.
The company launched its first Android phone, the Samsung GT 17500, on April 27, 2009.
The phone offered both the touch and type features to the users.
Samsung GT series was followed by the Galaxy series, which became the game-changer in the Android phones market.
The Galaxy series left behind HTC, the pioneer of Android phones.
Now, Samsung is surely the biggest Android phone brand in the market and ranked side by side with Apple in the overall mobile industry.
Due to their established name in the market, Samsung charges a significant amount compared to other phone brands.
Why shouldn’t they?
People trust the name and pay for it, considering the years of operations and sustainability of the brand.
7. Many Cheaper Products Available
Another significant reason that might make you feel Samsung phones are overpriced is the availability of too many inexpensive phones these days.
With China strongly capturing markets with brands like Xiaomi and Huawei offering cheaper phones, Samsung might look expensive to you.
Especially in Asia and the Middle East, people find Samsung overpriced because of the significant influence of Chinese brands in the regions.
However, in the US and Europe, these Chinese brands do not influence the customers as much.
Some brands, including Xiaomi, do not even operate in the US, and others, like Huawei, have fewer distribution units.
Even though the Android phone price market has dramatically influenced Chinese brands, most people still prefer Samsung over them.
The major reason is the availability of quality internal and external products.
8. Reliability
The use of quality components and overall reliability also adds to the overall phone pricing.
Samsung always makes sure to maintain the quality of the internal and external hardware components of their devices, making them more reliable than other brands.
This improves the overall build quality of the devices but makes them expensive.
Due to the use of quality components, Samsung mobiles last longer with fewer failures.
That said, the Samsung smartphones are susceptible and can’t bear even minor hits.
The primary reason for this is the entire glass build of panels and external parts.
Also, the repairing cost is considerably high as compared to other brands.
However, if you take extra care of your phones and protect them from any hits, your Samsung phones will surely last longer than you might expect.
9. Accessories
The accessories play an essential part in the increased pricing of Samsung phones.
The accessories provided by the brand are of excellent quality, last longer, and give the users some of the latest features.
At the same time, they add a significant amount to the overall pricing.
Some of the accessories included in Samsung phone boxes are:
- Conventional charger
- Handsfree or earbuds
- Screen protectors
- Wireless charger
However, Samsung is recently cutting down on the accessories with its latest phones.
Are Samsung Phones Long Lasting?
Yes, Samsung phones last long if you make a habit of using them in responsibly.
Typically, Samsung phones last two to three years without issues if you have an average usage time.
However, the period even reduces significantly if you use it more frequently throughout the day or use it roughly.
After two or three years, your phone might start facing issues with the battery, performance, and overall build of the phone.
Here are some ways to improve the life of your Samsung phones.
1. Use Auto-Brightness Settings
The auto-brightness settings of the phone allow the phone’s sensor to adjust the brightness according to the lighting of the surrounding area.
This increases the efficiency of the phone, especially the glass panel.
2. Turn Off Additional Features When Not In Use
If you are not using it, it is also essential to turn off some additional features like WiFi, Bluetooth, Hotspot, Data, etc.
These features cost additional battery power and reduce the performance of your phone.
3. Uninstall Unwanted Applications
Keeping all the unwanted applications on your phone is another bad habit that can significantly impact your phone’s life.
Every application costs extra power and takes up space.
These unwanted applications cause issues to the phone’s life, but they also become the reason for reduced performance because of the unwanted cache data.
4. Use Power Saving Mode
Power saving mode is a great feature provided by Samsung to improve battery performance.
The power-saving mode helps reduce the power of your phone by closing different applications and features that are consuming extra energy.
This can also be a great feature to apply if there is no charger available and your phone’s battery is running low.
The power-saving mode offers two modes.
One is that of the minimum power saving, while the other one is available to save maximum power.
You should enable the one as per your preferences.
5. Get Your Phone Fixed By Professionals
The primary reason for the reduced life of Samsung phones is the repairing done by nonprofessionals.
Most people try going to local repair shops close to them to get their phones fixed.
This can be risky for your phone since you are unsure about their experience in repairing Samsung phones.
Considering this fact, you should always prefer to get your phone repaired by professionals authorized by the company.
This will give you surety about the quality of work you will get.
Even if there is any issue caused, you can easily claim about the mistakes made by the company during the repair.
What Are The Most Common Problems With Samsung Phones?
Samsung phones can cause some problems for the users even with the high buying prices.
However, Samsung is continuously taking all the necessary steps to solve these problems to make Samsung phones the best choice for the users.
Here are the three major problems you might have to face as a Samsung user.
1. Battery
The battery is surely one of the primary reasons most people avoid purchasing Samsung phones.
Since these phones are extremely smart, lightweight, and slim, they use smart batteries that offer less power.
Due to the less mAh and battery power, Samsung batteries last for a lesser period, which can be a considerable problem for people who use their phones more frequently.
To solve this problem, Samsung increased the battery power of the S21 to 4,000 mAh.
They again reduced it to 3,700 mAh in the Galaxy S22, which is still better than the older phones of the Galaxy series.
2. Glass Body
Samsung phones come with a glass body and screen, which can be a severe issue for people who use their phones roughly.
The glass body and panel can cause issues to the phone even with the slightest of hits, which can cost you a significant amount to repair.
You have to take special care of your phone to make it work properly.
Also, make sure to use glass protectors for the screen and rubber protectors for the back.
This will protect your phone to a great extent.
However, your phone still won’t be able to bear major hits.
3. Overheating
Although overheating is not common, some phones might still face this issue.
The issue was most common in Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge.
The overheating of the phone was mostly caused by the problems with the phone’s board.
The latest Samsung devices do not have the common overheating issue.
Even if you face the issue within the available warranty time, Samsung will replace the phone without any problem.
If the issue arises after the warranty ends, you will have to change the phone since there is no solution to the overheating of the board.
However, it is better to get it checked before changing the phone.
This can be a real downside of purchasing a Samsung phone, considering the high price.
Conclusion
When comparing the prices and features, Samsung phones can be a great choice.
A brand that has been in the industry for several decades deserves to ask for a significant amount for the brand value.
Since Samsung is constantly working on developing new technologies, there are chances of prices going even higher.
As far as the problems are concerned, they are common with every electronic brand you purchase.
Some might not have the same problems as Samsung, but they can have even more significant issues.
You need to be sure of your needs and make your purchasing decision accordingly.
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