Samsung lost a whopping $12 billion of its market value after weak smartphone sales!

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is clearly the most popular Android smartphone to date – it sold a whopping 10 million devices within the first month of availability. However, analysts are now increasingly worried that with the launch of many S4 derivatives like the Galaxy S4 Active the S4 message is diluted and margins are driven lower. And now investors have started reacting to the news as Samsung Electronics lost a whopping $12 billion of its market value.

With the launch of more affordable devices in the mid and low end segments Samsung is going for volume, but analysts are worrying this will take a toll on profits. On the positive side, more affordable devices will be a good countermeasure againstrising powerful Chinese mid-rangers.

Also, Apple, Samsung’s main rival company, is expected to soon launch a trade-in program allowing users to exchange old iPhones for newer models, and this is also seen as a serious threat to Samsung mobile devices.

Credit rating agencies like Fitch have a high A+ rating for Samsung stock, but do not plan to upgrade it further as they are looking for signs from Samsung to clear concerns about its big dependence on the volatile consumer electronics market.

Samsung announces the Galaxy Core, coming this month

Samsung simply loves to flood the market with its devices! Even if it already has a good number of models in a particular segment of the market, it’ll just continue launching more and more just to make sure that the competition’s offerings get lost in the sea of Samsungs.

OK, we don’t know if that’s really the strategy behind Samsung’s actions, but today’s news from Seoul certainly doesn’t refute it… The company has officially announced yet another Android smartphone, the Galaxy Core, and even though this model will not treat you to the very best of Android, it’ll certainly deliver all the core goodies that the platform and Samsung can offer.

The Samsung Galaxy Core will be a low- to mid-range model with a 4.3″ WVGA display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor (possibly a MediaTek or something like that), 5MP camera and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. One of its more interesting features is that it will come in a Dual SIM variant, where the two SIM card slots will be able to remain active simultaneously.

The Galaxy Core will come with the lovely TouchWiz Nature user interface and all of its useful features like Smart Stay, S Voice and Smart Alert, with the last one alerting you to missed calls and messages once you pick the phone up. Neat stuff!

Users who are willing to purchase the dual-SIM version of the Samsung Galaxy Core will be able to do so as soon as this month, while those who’d prefer the single-SIM variant will have to wait until July. The company hasn’t announced the markets where the Galaxy Core is going to launch, but Europe and Asia are safe bets.

Samsung announces Galaxy Mega 6.3 and 5.8 phablets!

Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Mega 6.3 and Galaxy Mega 5.8, a pair of Android-powered ‘phablet’ smartphones.

The two devices have been described as mid-range but offer similar display sizes and form factors to their large premium counterparts – the Galaxy S4 flagship and the Galaxy Note 2 phablet. However, some of the specs are surprisingly high-end for a middle bracket device. We’ve reached out to Samsung for confirmation on where these phones will sit in the market, but at this stage it couldn’t reveal specific pricing.

The Galaxy Mega 6.3 has a 6.3-inch LCD display with a 720p resolution. It packs a decent punch owing to the use of the Exynos 5250 dual-core Cortex-A15 chip found inside the Nexus 10 tablet. This is clocked at 1.7GHz and has 1.5GB of RAM, options for 8GB or 16GB of onboard storage and microSD support for cards up to 64GB.

There’s an 8-megapixel camera on the rear and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing secondary. The phone has a number of TouchWiz features from Samsung’s Galaxy S4 flagship, the Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy S3, including Air View, Pop Up Play Video, Multiscreen, Group Play music, S Translator and Drama shot mode for the camera. The battery pack is 3,200mAh and the phone runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It also supports 4G LTE and HSPA+ connectivity, along with the usual set of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB, NFC, MHL TV-out and the same infrared remote control functionality as the Galaxy S4.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 has a qHD LCD display but it uses the same processor, although it’s clocked slower at 1.4GHz. It lacks the 4G connectivity but other perks, including the infrared control, are all present and correct. The battery is smaller at 2,600mAh but the rest of the spec and features remains exactly the same as its larger cousin.

Both phones are coming to Europe at the beginning of May, though no precise date or availability has been given. Samsung alsonotes that the models will differ by market.

Samsung Galaxy Mega handsets with 5.8″ and 6.3″ screens coming!

Samsung is preparing to introduce a new series of Galaxy devices carrying the Mega moniker, a report by SamMobile suggests.

The information comes from an inside source, who confirmed that two Galaxy Mega smartphones are in the works. The first is codenamed Galaxy Mega 5.8 with a model number GT-I9152. Obviously, we are talking about a handset with 5.8-inch display and the model number pointing to its dual-SIM nature.

More interestingly, the second one is carrying the codename Galaxy Mega 6.3, which hints at a 6.3-inch display – the same as the Galaxy Note III is rumored to pack. However, the model number GT-I9200 doesn’t correspond with Samsung Galaxy Note naming convention Nxxxx (Galaxy Note II N7100, Galaxy Note N7000), so it will most likely lack S Pen functionality.

Everything should be revealed once those two phones get out of Samsung’s factories. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 should do so around the end of May, start of June (week 22, as per SamMobile), while the Galaxy Mega 6.3 around mid-June (week 25).

Samsung Project J could bring us three devices: Galaxy S IV with wireless charging, S IV mini and… a smartwatch!

The Samsung Galaxy S IV is without a doubt the most anticipated Android device this year, and while there is still no official information about the upcoming Samsung flagship, here is an extremely interesting rumor. Stick with us here, the Samsung Galaxy S IV first leaked as Project J, and then was referred to in rumors by the Altius codename, which was later on associated with the GT-I9500 model name.

So basically, we can assume the Galaxy S IV would get released as theSamsung GT-I9500, if those rumors are to be believed. So far so good, looking back at things you’d logically assume the Galaxy S IV was also Project J.

And while that may be true, a leaked list of accessories suggests Project J is not just one device, but actually consists of three devices. And the Samsung Galaxy S IV is only one of those three. And while it is the most anticipated one, the other two might prove equally interesting.

But before we continue with those, let’s see what the leaked list of accessories for the Project J Altius (aka the Galaxy S IV) reveals. Apart from the covers and pouches, we have a 2,600mAh battery as an accessory. That is likely a replacement battery and we can assume the S IV will launch with 2,600mAh battery as well.

Next comes a wireless charging kit, so one could also think the S IV is getting wireless charging capabilities built in.

Moving on to the next on the Project J list is the J Mini Serrano, which could well turn out to be a Samsung Galaxy S IV mini of a kind judging by the three covers listed for it.

Finally, we have probably the most exciting piece of news. Samsung might be working on a smartwatch under the Project J Active Fortius codename. That is something strongly suggested by the accessories for the mysterious device – an arm band and a bike mount. Take a look at all the leaked accessories, obtained by Sammobile and let us know what you think about those upcoming gadgets.

Project J Altius:
– Clear Cover
– Flip Cover
– Protective Cover
– Pouch
– Extra Battery Kit
– Battery 2600 mah
– Wireless Charging Kit
– HDTV Adapter
– Headset

Project J Mini Serrano:
– Clear Cover
– Flip Cover
– Protective Cover

Project J Active Fortius:
– Arm Band
– Bike Mount
– Pouch