‘Respectable’ isn’t good enough for Samsung, as Galaxy S6 sales estimates hit 45 million

By Robert Nazarian Published June 22, 2015

After finally delivering a Galaxy S phone that’s on par with the iPhone, Samsung and analysts had high expectations for the Galaxy S6. Unfortunately, high expectations often times fail to be met, and it looks like that might be the case for the device that many consider the Android phone of the year.

While early estimates pegged the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge sales at anywhere from 50 to 70 million units for 2015, Deutsche Bank is reportedly expecting only 45 million to have shipped. The report calls the number a “respectable” 45 million, and while the prediction might be great for most other mobile manufacturers, Samsung can’t be pleased. Unfortunately, 45 million is at the same level as the Galaxy S4, which was the flagship from two years ago and Samsung’s best-selling phone to date.

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Samsung redefined the Galaxy S series this year, after the Galaxy S5 flopped in 2014. Samsung sold 40 percent fewer Galaxy S5 handsets than the Galaxy S4, which led to a shakeup in the mobile division.

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The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge were introduced to the world on March 1 at Mobile World Congress and immediately received critical acclaim for their quality builds and amazing cameras. However, many pointed out the lack of a removable battery, MicroSD card, and water resistance as major negatives.

The good news for Samsung is the Galaxy S6 is on track to be better than the Galaxy S5, but not being able to show growth over a phone from two years ago has to be a huge disappointment.

Can you imagine what it would be like in Cupertino if this happened to Apple? Unlike the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are shattering records, but Apple’s move to larger displays was a more dramatic upgrade over what Samsung was able to pull off with the S6.

Samsung has the name and the marketing power to sell large numbers of devices. However, with so much competition from other Android manufacturers and the smartphone market so saturated, Samsung will have a hard time keeping up with the status quo, let alone breaking previous records.

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Robert Nazarian

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…

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