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Samsung moves up Galaxy Note 4 launch in response to strong iPhone 6/Plus sales

Samsung has reportedly decided to move up the launch of its new Galaxy Note 4 smartphone following a positive reaction and strong first week sales from Apple’s new larger iPhones 6 models. The KoreaTimes cited an unnamed employee in Samsung’s marketing department who said “the positive reaction from consumers to those two Apple devices prompted us to launch the Note 4 earlier than previously scheduled.”

The same employee added that the company will be “aggressive in promoting the Note 4 as it’s true that we are being challenged and pressured amid a difficult situation.” Another Samsung employee reportedly told the publication that Samsung hopes to ship 15 million Note 4 units in its first month of sales. Apple this week announced it had sold 10 million iPhone 6 models during its first weekend and said it “could have sold many more iPhones with greater supply.”

Perhaps Samsung hopes it can sway undecided consumers looking to upgrade to a larger smartphone by moving up the launch. The new Note 4 features a 5.7-inch display comparable to Apple’s largest 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus model. 

The company previously planned to launch the device in October in Korea but is scheduled to announce a new September 26 launch date on carriers in the country later this week. That’s the same day Apple is starting its second wave of iPhone sales in over 20 countries around the globe. The Galaxy Note 4 is available to preorder stateside as of last week with the device expected to ship mid-October.

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Comments

  1. omeudentista - 10 years ago

    People’s know Samsung copies Apple..

    • ClikFire_ (@ClikFire) - 10 years ago

      You isheep are pathetic. I prefer Android but still think apple products are good as I have been using macs since 2003, but how do they copy? The 1st Galaxy was similar to the iphone but that was like 5 years ago their software their design everything is completely night and day different. Fingerprint Scanners and Gold are nothing new to smartphones. If Anything Apple has completely copied Android and Samsung both. ios 7 and ios 8 features torn from way older versions of Android. Then Apple makes 2 iphones with exactly the same size as the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 which many consider the 2 devices that took Samsung’s Galaxy success to another level. Also S Health out years before Health Book. You sheep are hypocrites.

      • drhalftone - 10 years ago

        Apple is the only manufacturer to put a 64-bit processor in their phones while the rest of the industry says that they’re completely unnecessary. So when Samsung comes out with their first 64-bit phone, you will agree that’s copying Apple or are you saying that Samsung lied?

      • joergsi - 10 years ago

        So you really believe that Apple copied Samsung? Do you know this: http://de.slideshare.net/davebolomey/review-iphone-galaxy-s1

        Have a look at this and then tell me who copied who?

      • lin2logger - 10 years ago

        And you poor little TOOL are completely IGNORANT to actual FACTS. Sad. Keep up the blather. You’re not worth my time and I’m not going to explain what everybody else knows and is easy to research… with exception of you apparently. But then if you did, you’d have nothing to TROLL with anymore, huh? Yeah, bummers.

    • gunda (@bhaigunda) - 10 years ago

      Now Apple copying Samsung

  2. dennyc69 - 10 years ago

    You can always bank on Samesung to have that “What about Me????” attitude. Someone should ask them if they need a towel or some cheese perhaps.

  3. Jeremie M. | LYMF (@lymf) - 10 years ago

    Desperate times, desperate measures…

  4. fredhstein - 10 years ago

    Once again, Samsung out-innovates. They offer a pink case.

  5. scumbolt2014 - 10 years ago

    Samsung: we’re so stupid we’ll release our garbage phone right after Apple sold 10 million iPhone’s in 3 days. As smart as their marketing campaigns (which sucks).

    • drhalftone - 10 years ago

      Interesting comment. I was at a MS store the other day which is within 50 yards of an Apple store. The apple store was packed with people, while the MS store had more employees than customers. So let’s say an open minded customer goes to the same mall still trying to decide between the two brands. Seeing a store packed with people sends a clear message that Apple is the better platform unless your one of those people who just wants to swim upstream.

      So now Samsung goes to market with a phone right at a time when Apple is getting all the publicity. If they go toe to toe with Apple on sales, great for them, but without a clearly differentiating feature over their previous Galaxy, they won’t have the built-in fan base that Apple has. No matter how you slice it, Apple just has way too much pent up demand for their new phones from their own fan base, let alone Android to iOS switchers. I can’t see any circumstance that would let Samsung post comparable sales figures to Apple’s, and all their doing is setting themselves up for failure when they sell only half as many phones. The tech blogs will simply quote the sales figure that Apple phones sell at a greater rate than Samsung.

  6. chrisl84 - 10 years ago

    Wonder if they’ll surprise us all with a “Milk Pay” now that Apple Pay is out.

    • Dizzy Dame - 10 years ago

      samsung is actually trying to work with paypal to start their own payment system installed on their phones

    • ClikFire_ (@ClikFire) - 10 years ago

      you do realize nfc payments have been possible on Android for 3 years now? I have been paying with Google wallet for over a year now.

      • chrisl84 - 10 years ago

        Google wallet where purchase history is not tokenized and sold to the highest bidder for advertising. Yeah that’s a great service!

      • drhalftone - 10 years ago

        If there is any value to it, then how did Apple convince the banks to give them 0.0015% of every transaction? I would have expected the banks to say take a hike and force Apple to take the same cut as Google, which is zero.

      • lin2logger - 10 years ago

        WOW… I pity anyone ignorant enough to actually USE a service such as that and then even admit to it in public.

        Seeing that you clearly don’t give an f about your privacy (as do Google), why don’t you just send them a few copies of your house and car keys and a DNA profile while you’re at it? It would speed matters up greatly and they MAY even give you a cut of the cash they’re making off your stupidity! Wouldn’t that be cool?!

        Oh no, wait. You’re getting all those really gnarly “services” for “FREE” in return, huh? Yeah…
        *facepalm*

      • lin2logger - 10 years ago

        DAMN good point there, drhalftone. Bravo. Yes, it’s a VERY telling fact.

  7. A month from now Samsung will brag about how it “shipped” 50 million units to dealers.

    • lin2logger - 10 years ago

      LOL… dream on!! They just BARELY sold that many of the S4 in A MONTH and never EVER of any ONE model. Get off the drugs.

      • Robert Nixon - 10 years ago

        I’m pretty sure he was being sarcastic.

      • Tim Jr. - 10 years ago

        YEah, thats sarcasm .. :)

        Pointing out how samsung likes to talk ‘shipped’ instead of actual SOLD and in a consumers HANDS .. and they NEVER want to talk about how many were return to send from retailers! :D

  8. lin2logger - 10 years ago

    Translation: WE BE DAMN SCARED!!!!

    Shows you the difference (and importance) between being the “We be so successful because we have MARKETSHARE” and “We’re successful because we’re ACTUALLY MAKING MONEY”. Guess who’s who.

    Lotta good that super-super marketshare is doing them, eh?? If it actually meant anything in the long term, something like this wouldn’t scare them shitless, would it? They know that selling inferior hard and software to just a bunch of school kids (until they can afford an iPhone) ain’t gonna cut it too long.

  9. They have no shame. I would be so ashamed to move a launch like this. I would never do that but yet I wouldn’t be so sh*t mafia company like they are.

    • 89p13 - 10 years ago

      Samesung has neither shame nor innovation! All they have are cheap, knock-off clones that run a “free” OS – that’s an open door to all data.

      And that’s why their stock is performing like it is. You can fool people for only so long.

  10. Im assuming they are trying to capture the customers that walk in looking for an iPhone and it’s not available immediately. Most cell phone clerks at company stores and 3rd part stores push Android based phones. I have talked to work colleagues and friends that have walked into a store wanting an iPhone and walk out with something completely different. When asked why they changed their mind, they said the clerk told them this is a “better” phone. Blind faith, no research, nothing just the word of a clerk that gets a bonus for selling a certain brand phone. The truth is, most won’t care about the tech in their phone. They just want something that takes decent pics, text, work email and can video chat with others.

    • greenbelt2csp - 10 years ago

      Yup, they base their decision on a 23y/o tech nerd who then goes home to his mom’s basement and plays Call of Duty all night until they have to go to the store again…

      • Chris Sanders - 10 years ago

        Actually don’t insult that 23/yo tech nerd please.

      • greenbelt2csp - 9 years ago

        I can, because I was there once. :) Basement and all…

  11. moofer1972 - 10 years ago

    15m in a month?! LOL. Major LOL

    • lin2logger - 10 years ago

      Well, to be fair, they DID do 11 million on the S4. And if anything, the amount of smartphone wannabes is GROWING (rapidly)… thanks to the iPhone of course. :-P

  12. tuandbui (@tuandbui) - 10 years ago

    Herb the troll …. where are you?

    • Edison Wrzosek - 10 years ago

      Maybe he got run over by the SGN4 delivery van…

      • lin2logger - 10 years ago

        We’re allowed to dream (and hope), aren’t we?

      • al0963 - 10 years ago

        LOL!!!!

    • 89p13 - 10 years ago

      Ah, come on – we all need a troll – and old Herb sure fits the formula. If Jobs was alive – I’d swear he was HerbTheTroll. Controversy gets our blood pumping – and laughing at the ridiculous “facts” Herb posts is good for us.

      Herb – you out there?

  13. Copying release date… they’ve no limits!

  14. moofer1972 - 10 years ago

    They will call it the Galaxy Note +6

  15. Manuel Rivera-Ortiz - 10 years ago

    I admire competition. In fact I even like some of the iPhone alternatives out there and respect them for their hard work and resolve toward making the future brighter and more connects for all of us. What I do not respect is bullying and copy cats. Samsung is a bully and a copy cat. They are a desperate company that like the mafia of yesteryear will resort to anything to make a buck which it turns out they’re not even making with their plastic phones for little kids.I’m currently in Switzerland and to me a Samsung phone is the equivalent of a Swatch trying to say it is as good as a Rolex or Piaget. Swatch, plastic and cute for kids, Rolex and Piaget, for responsible grown-ups who can afford something nicer. Samsung makes nice things and even innovates but it all gets lost in the bully. That’s too bad I have come to hate them. I won’t even buy their TVs, rather get SONY at least they’re doing their own thing.

    • liquidwolverine1 - 10 years ago

      Same here. Used to like Samsung before 2007. I will avoid them at all cost. would rather use LG than Samsung.

    • ClikFire_ (@ClikFire) - 10 years ago

      ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? ” What I do not respect is bullying and copy cats. Samsung is a bully and a copy cat. ”

      Apple is the Biggets copy cat of all! And the Biggest Patent Troll in the World.

      ios 7 and ios 8 rip off older android features, Apple makes a Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 equivalent. Seriously The Comments on this article are Baffling, Never have I seen such Stupidity in my life.

      • mechanic50 - 10 years ago

        The only one making stupid comments here is you, why do you waste your time making statements with complete lack of knowledge about the subjects you talk about? Your like a proud parent watching there son in a marching band noticing that he is out of step saying ” Look there all out of step but Jim”. You can’t see the forest because of the trees.

    • 89p13 - 10 years ago

      Manuel – Outstanding Post! You have summed it up very nicely. We do need the competition to force innovations in the market. What we don’t need is the Samesung “Blatant Copy and Say It’s Original” companies. While I will never own a Rolex or a Piaget – I can afford a new Apple every year or two. And I stick with Apple for one simple reason – They Just Work!

      Walled in App store and closed O/S – It Just Works.

  16. bloodymerzkizzoid - 10 years ago

    Dear Samsung,

    • lin2logger - 10 years ago

      Yes, bloody? We’re listening…

      – Samsung

      • greenbelt2csp - 10 years ago

        We have our copiers set on overdrive…please tell us your inside information bloody. Have you been discovered? Is that why you didn’t finish your statement? Remember the arsenic pill we gave you. We copied it from some James Bond movie…we hope it works, didn’t have time to really test it we just needed to get it out the door. Take the blue pill….or was it the red pill…we don’t remember we just made a bunch of pills in different colors and sizes thinking SOMEBODY would buy a few. Jeez what a mess we’ve made….

  17. Mac Daddy - 10 years ago

    OMG, is that actually the phone? I thought it was in an ugly case! Jeezus, counterfeit iPhone on the front, cheap plastic lawn furniture shell on the back. What a piece of crap, I can’t believe anyone would actually buy that ugly POS.

  18. lin2logger - 10 years ago

    **STYLUS**!!!!

    Nuff said. *facepalm*

    • rafterman11 - 10 years ago

      It has a stylus because, unlike the iPhone or anybody else, the Note has a 256 level pressure sensitive Wacom Digitizer for a touch screen.

      While I don’t care much for Android and prefer iOS, the Note series is a tremendously innovative piece of hardware and its foolish to try and mock it for being anything different.

      • Edison Wrzosek - 10 years ago

        Excuse me? Stylus’ went out the door in 2007, and it’s an archaic piece of data entry technology on mobile devices.

        It has uses in graphics design, artwork studios on large-scale input surfaces. The 2000’s called and want their old tech back.

      • jrox16 - 10 years ago

        Agreed, however, I do not believe people use this very often. In fact, I know a couple people with Note 3’s who never use the stylus. I’m not saying my anecdotal tiny sample size is proof of anything, but it’s just my suspicion that while technically it might be an innovative concept (although there’s nothing new about a stylus, been around forever), it can still be a gimmick few ever actually use.

      • rafterman11 - 10 years ago

        Archaic? No, not even close. Its not for data entry, its for drawing and other tasks that need highly precise levels of pressure. You do know what a Wacom tablet is, right? Now you can have one that fits in your pocket. But I know, Apple will do it in a few years, and you’ll declare it the most innovative thing ever.

      • lin2logger - 10 years ago

        Wow… wear your idiocy on your sleeve much and fabricate complete BS to justify you moronic kiddie-tools??

        Gee, thanks to your AMAZING doofus stylus and phone I guess I can trash my WACOM CREATIVE with its silly ** 2048** levels of pressure, for people that in fact ACTUALLY care about a minimum of quality when it comes to such a task. Too bad I can’t have your BRILLIANT **256** levels… (LOOOL!!)… a level that Wacom didn’t even have IN THE EIGHTIES!

        Oh well. You win!! You’re just way to smart on the subject!

        *facepalm*

      • drhalftone - 10 years ago

        You know, Wacom makes a really nice Fineline stylus with multiple levels of pressure, as does Adobe. Fifty Three’s pencil is an exceptional stylus as well. All of them work with iOS.

  19. Al Ferguson - 10 years ago

    Entirely too much plastic to be considered a flagship device.

  20. jrox16 - 10 years ago

    This is called PANIC. :)

    • rafterman11 - 10 years ago

      Sort of like the panic Apple has, releasing its own Smartwatch, after Samsung and Android Wear have done it?

      All companies counter competition moves. It laughable reading all the commenters here who seem to think Apple doesn’t do it too.

      • Blake Merrell - 10 years ago

        rafterman11, to be fair, apple has been in research and discover mode on an apple watch for years now. This has been hinted and rumored about, even by Tim Cook himself, in multiple interviews. Just because they let their process mature before delivery doesn’t mean they are panicking or countering. They let their new venture develop like a fine wine, and we will all be thankful for it.

        On the contrary, changing a sell date to the same date as the industry leader is a bit of a panic. Would apple ever change their release dates because of what Samsung did? No.

        Apple sets the pace, even if it seems slow at times (like Awatch), everyone else tries to maintain it.

      • liquidwolverine1 - 10 years ago

        Lol if Apple would have panicked they would have released their watch before Samsungs last 5 versions….in fact they still haven’t rteleased it yet…they just introduced it and are releasing it when it is to their standards…no rush at all.

      • lin2logger - 10 years ago

        It’s actually much less laughable to see what a pathetic and ignorant little TROLL you are. Trying SO hard and face-planting in the process EVEN HARDER. Ouch.

        Never mind that the idea of a “smart watch” never even dawned on any of your big idols until the first rumours about APPLE’S “smart watch” came up (talk about a knee-jerk panic reaction… look at the COMPLETE SHITE they crapped out as fast as they could just to be able to scream “FIRST!”! LOL!!) and that Apple has had the Watch in development for THREE YEARS, so even since before the first rumours. *yaaawn*

        But hey, we’re used to you at least TRYING to seem like you have even the slightest clue what you’re blathering about. So do keep up the delicious (even though very painful to watch) entertainment!! :-)))))

  21. Robert Paul - 10 years ago

    I have a copy machine here. I will just run my iPhone thru it and put a Samsung Label on it. LOL

  22. iPhone 6 or Note 4, whichever you are getting, is your thumb ready for that big phone? Is your little pinky ready to support all the burden all the weigth? No, without any grip assistance, not too many human can handle big phones one-handed or not. #nobiggi is designed to solve this #firstworldproblems

  23. Wes - 10 years ago

    I stood in Futureshop watching people look at the new iPhone for 20 mins today. 9 out of 10 people didn’t realize there was more than one, looked at the Plus, said something along the lines of “I heard the new one was too big, and it sure is. Forget that.” And walked away.
    Apparently Apple botched the sku differentiation, and most average people have no idea there are two of them. And one isn’t “huge”.

    • rettun1 - 10 years ago

      While I too heard people saying that the plus was too big as they were playing with it, the phones on the table alternated between the 6 and the 6 plus. And I think there is enough distinction between the two sizes that people realized the difference. Give human beings some credit

      • lin2logger - 10 years ago

        Don’t feed the clueless BSing troll. We have enough already.

      • Wes - 10 years ago

        Those 9 out of 10 people thought the smaller iPhone 6 was “the old iPhone” or “last year’s model”. I have little credit left to give.

  24. al0963 - 10 years ago

    Now they have Chamfered edges, imagine that, now Apple moved from that. They might be thinking “damn it i thought they were going to use chanfered edges again, now they are round! Lets call this off lets make them with round edges, LOL”

  25. drtyrell969 - 10 years ago

    In your dreams they care about iPhone launch numbers…oh and the bending feature. That’s a good one.

  26. Girl In Pigtails - 10 years ago

    Wow, I remember why I do not read the comments section now…

    Beta Max vs. VHS… HDDVD vs. BluRay… Playstation vs. XBox… Do you people think there is some 0 sum game that allows you to gain reputation or awesomeness points by talking trash about another product? Both phones are quite nice and many many people would love to own either of them.

    I also find it quite amusing how people keep bashing Samsung for their faux leather back while iPhone has an all aluminum build. I get a new smart phone every year and I have owned iPhones, Samsung, HTC and the original Nexus One. You know what the first item I buy for all of my phones? How about the most popular accessory for any phone (brand agnostic) on the market? That’s right it is a case for the phone.

    If you know anything about the Samsung product (which is clear most people who hate do not) is that the back is removable. This means the most popular “Case” for the Samsung products happen to be the S-Flip case (or similar off brand). It replaces the back cover when you install it. What is the purpose of the extra expense and a completely different style of removable aluminum back if a vast majority of people are replacing it to begin with? On that subject, I am tired of seeing all these absolutely gorgeous (and I am not joking here) iPhones with stupid Hello Kitty, Batman, Nintendo etc… covers on them just hiding all of the beauty that truly is an iPhone.

    I currently own an S5 for the following reasons.

    #1. Removable/Replaceable battery (Self explanatory for anyone who travels as much as I do)

    #2. SD card support (Though honestly this is becoming MUCH less of an issue with cloud storage)

    #3. Google integration (This is not a plus for everyone, but since moving from the iPhone 4, I now am really tied into the Google ecosystem. Again not everyone likes this)

    That’s it.

    Honestly everything else feels the same to me with a minor UI tweek here or there between the products. Both offer quality cameras that allow me to take great photos I can share with friends or post on my blog (Lets be honest here, how many of you are printing out 12×15 photos?) Both screens are top notch; Specs do not tell the whole story here, they both are very good screens. Good audio quality (though mostly irrelevant as most of us use Bluetooth speakers at this point.

    Bottom line, both products are quality. Both products are far overpriced for an item I replace yearly and both products offer me all the features I actually use on a daily basis (Phone, Camera, Email, Calendar, Audio and Video.

    Get a grip people!

  27. manny2know - 10 years ago

    Look at the specs and then decide which is best note 4 has 16mega camera..larger screen…better resolution overall good. Apple has still 8 mega camera smaller 5.5 inch.. Apple are following android..window..htc .. Lg have had bigger apple are falling behind so deciding if you cannot beat them then join then at the end of the day the phone with better screen.. Better cpu… Better features in my world is a better phone apple are still on dual core and samsung are in a league of pc computing do the maths and you’ll know who is and will be th best

  28. b9bot - 10 years ago

    They will be lucky to get half a million the first week. Bye bye Samsung!

  29. Wow. The Samsung hate on this pro Apple website is strong and deep. Reminds me of the arrogant Sony back in the days. I strongly doubt this move up is due to Apple. If that was the case, they would have moved the US date and not the Korean date.

  30. James Katt - 10 years ago

    Why buy Samsung when you can buy a better and cheaper Chinese Android Phone? Exactly, you don’t.

  31. James Katt - 10 years ago

    Xiaomi has a better Android phone than Samsung. They’re going to kick Samsung’s butt.

  32. It is not a response, is a reaction! MMG

  33. trinities - 10 years ago

    gtfo samsung, desparetely trying to outsell it still

  34. Leah Joan - 10 years ago

    As a past WP8 and iOS user, I was trying to decide between the Note 4 and the iPhone 6 Plus for my next upgrade. The 6 Plus is really underwhelming when it comes to new features, and everything I read logically convinced me that the Note 4 was for me. I love the stylus, the customizability, and the true multitasking. But then I actually played with a Note 3 to test drive, and realized that Android itself will just never be for me. The UX is just disorienting and disconnected and not nearly as well-thought-out as iOS or even WP (and not just because I’m “not used to it” or “too stupid to use Android”). This is even after I hid TouchWiz and got a nice-looking launcher and theme. It was just the little details that bothered me — mismatched text sizes on my home screen, deceptive crapware on the app store (“free theme! oh but after you download it you have to complete three surveys to earn 100 points to use it!”). It felt like 80% of the apps/themes I downloaded were garbage. I find crap in the Apple store on occasion, sure, but I always immediately delete it and know that I’ll be able to easily find something good instead. I just didn’t feel that way on Android. I guess if I had hours and hours to dig through and figure out the good apps for what I need, I could have a great experience on Android, but I like that I don’t need to put much work into iOS to make it feel great. And the ideas of customization and widgets are super appealing to me, but I was disappointed to find that I couldn’t find a single theme/skin/whatever that looked nearly as good as iOS. Also, sometimes I would download a theme/skin and my HOME SCREEN would have an advertisement on it! I was just floored by this. It made me feel so uncomfortable that Android even allowed that (but I get it, Android allows EVERYTHING.) Most of the stuff I tried out just felt cheap and trashy. Sure, iOS is boring, but it’s clean, feels premium, looks pretty damn good, and does the job well. And it makes sense. Some dude who creates Android launchers or themes on the side is just not gonna be able to make something as meticulous as the team of full-time Apple designers. I walked away from my Note 3 experience feeling bummed out that I was going to miss out on the stylus and cool features, but also a little relieved that the decision was so easy for me.

  35. gunda (@bhaigunda) - 10 years ago

    And now Apple copying Samsung

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.