This week in tech, Samsung unveiled its latest smartphone lineup, the Galaxy S24 series, featuring the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24. Meanwhile, Google CEO Sundar Pichai informed employees to anticipate additional layoffs in 2024.
Apple also made waves by surpassing Samsung as the largest smartphone manufacturer and making its $3.5K USD Vision Pro available for pre-order.
Here’s a roundup of the top tech stories of the week to keep you informed about industry trends.
Samsung Unveils Galaxy S24 Series of Smartphones
Samsung officially introduced its upcoming generation of smartphones, the Galaxy S24 series, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 chipset. The models feature flatter screens and slimmer bezels to maximize display space, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra being Samsung’s first-ever Titanium model.
The series also introduces Galaxy AI, offering features such as Live Translate, Circle to Search, Generative Edit, and Instant Slo-Mo. Preorders for the Galaxy S24 are now open, and the official launch is scheduled for January 31.
Apple Overtakes Samsung as Top Smartphone Manufacturer
After 12 years as the world’s leading smartphone manufacturer, Samsung has been surpassed by Apple. According to the International Data Corporation, Apple sold 234.6 million units in 2023, slightly edging out Samsung’s 226.6 million units. This shift in ranking underscores the fierce competition in the smartphone market, as noted by Ryan Reith, group vice president of the IDC’s Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. The IDC’s report attributed Apple’s success to the increasing trend of premium devices, particularly the release of the iPhone 15 in September 2023, and Apple’s unique trade-in opportunities.
