Counterpoint https://www.counterpointresearch.com/ Technology Market Research & Industry Analysis Firm Thu, 25 Jan 2024 23:07:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/counter_favicon-150x150.png Counterpoint https://www.counterpointresearch.com/ 32 32 Verizon Finishes Positive in a Down Year, Strong Mobile Net Adds Highlight Q4 Earnings https://www.counterpointresearch.com/research_portal/verizon-finishes-positive-in-a-down-year-strong-mobile-net-adds-highlight-q4-earnings/ Thu, 25 Jan 2024 23:07:39 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=research_portal&p=1035076 Overview: Verizon ended the year on a positive, adding 449,000 postpaid phone subscribers. The consumer segment, which has recently been Verizon’s weak point, drove the subscriber growth. FWA also continues to report solid growth. The carrier added 375,000 subscribers during the quarter and now has over three million total FWA subscribers. Despite the subscriber growth, […]

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Overview:

Verizon ended the year on a positive, adding 449,000 postpaid phone subscribers. The consumer segment, which has recently been Verizon’s weak point, drove the subscriber growth. FWA also continues to report solid growth. The carrier added 375,000 subscribers during the quarter and now has over three million total FWA subscribers. Despite the subscriber growth, smartphone sales were down double-digit percentage during the quarter. Further prepaid, network, smartwatch, and promotional analysis are detailed within this report.

Table of Contents:

  • Key Takeaways
  • Postpaid Performance
  • Prepaid Performance
  • Weekly Promotions
  • FWA & Private Networks
  • Smartwatch

Number of Pages: 22

Publication Date: January 2024

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Emily Herbert
China Smartphone Sales Snap 10-Quarter Declining Streak, Up 6.6% YoY in Q4 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/china-smartphone-sales-snap-10-quarter-declining-streak-up-6-6-yoy-in-q4/ Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:30:01 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1035061 Q4 2023 saw 6.6% YoY growth, marking the first quarterly increase in more than two years. Apple took the top spot followed by Xiaomi and Huawei. Apple’s sales dropped 9.0% YoY in Q4 while Huawei’s sales rose 71.1% driven by its 5G chipset. Xiaomi and HONOR managed to sustain growth momentum from Q3 into Q4. […]

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  • Q4 2023 saw 6.6% YoY growth, marking the first quarterly increase in more than two years.
  • Apple took the top spot followed by Xiaomi and Huawei.
  • Apple’s sales dropped 9.0% YoY in Q4 while Huawei’s sales rose 71.1% driven by its 5G chipset.
  • Xiaomi and HONOR managed to sustain growth momentum from Q3 into Q4.
  • For the full year of 2023, China smartphone sales fell 1.4% YoY, compared to a 13.9% YoY decline in 2022.
  • The market is expected to record low single-digit YoY growth in 2024, the first one since 2018.
  • Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, San Diego, Seoul – January 25, 2024

    China’s smartphone sales bottomed out in Q4 2023, increasing 6.6% YoY to mark the first quarterly YoY growth after 10 consecutive quarters of YoY declines, according to Counterpoint’s Market Pulse Service. Huawei’s comeback with its own 5G chipsets continued to attract consumers, while Xiaomi and HONOR sustained strong performance with double-digit growth.

    Counterpoint Research
    Notes: OPPO includes OnePlus; Xiaomi includes Redmi; vivo includes iQOO; Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

    Despite a 9.0% YoY drop, Apple retained its first position in Q4 with 20.2% market share, followed by Xiaomi (16%) and HONOR (15.2%).

    However, from an annual perspective, China’s smartphone sales still declined 1.4% YoY, compared to a 13.9% YoY decline in 2022. Apple ranked first with 17.9% share, followed by vivo (16.9%) and OPPO (16.2%).

    Counterpoint Research
    Source: Counterpoint Market Pulse Service
    Notes: OPPO includes OnePlus; Xiaomi includes Redmi; vivo includes iQOO; Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

    Commenting on the market dynamics, Associate Director Ethan Qi said, “There are several factors behind the YoY growth in Q4 2023. The market was at a low point in Q4 2022, making YoY comparisons more favorable. Besides, new Huawei phones powered by its own 5G chipsets drove the Q4 2023 recovery to some extent.”

    Commenting on OEM performance, Research Analyst Archie Zhang said, “Huawei’s Kirin chipset was the primary driver of the brand’s growth. Xiaomi and HONOR also adopted aggressive strategies, including for marketing and distribution, to boost sales. Xiaomi’s Mi 14 series, HONOR’s X50 series and the HONOR 100 contributed to their strong growth.”

    In Q4 2023, Apple faced stiff competition from Huawei. Besides, the iPhone 15 series’ performance was lukewarm, something which was also indicated by the strong sales of the iPhone 14 series in H1. It seems OPPO and vivo are yet to benefit from the market recovery so far.

    Looking ahead to 2024, Counterpoint Research expects low single-digit YoY growth for China’s smartphone market, bringing it back to growth after five years. Huawei’s mid-end Nova 12 series with 5G Kirin chipsets, launched at the end of Q4 2023, is expected to continue bringing back loyal users. Apple embraced price cuts in January to capitalize on the recovery and offset the pressure from local OEMs. Chinese OEMs are also expected to focus on generative AI, innovative form factors like foldables, and advanced imaging technologies to boost sales and expand their user bases.

    Background

    Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media, and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

    Related Posts

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    Team Counterpoint
    Counterpoint Research Weekly Newsletter https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/counterpoint-newsletter/ Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:28:14 +0000 http://cpr.presscat.kr/insights/counterpoint-newsletter/ Read the latest edition of our insightful weekly newsletter on this page. You can also subscribe to receive it straight in your inbox every week. Weekly NewsletterJanuary 25, 2024 Who and What’s Driving The Recovery in Global PC Shipments? Fill in this form to subscribe to our newsletter. Also read: Global PC Shipments Show Early […]

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    Read the latest edition of our insightful weekly newsletter on this page. You can also subscribe to receive it straight in your inbox every week.

    Weekly Newsletter
    January 25, 2024

    Who and What's Driving The Recovery in Global PC Shipments?

    Fill in this form to subscribe to our newsletter.

    Also read:

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    Team Counterpoint
    Counterpoint Macro Index Report, Q4 2023 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/research_portal/counterpoint-macro-index-report-q4-2023/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 20:10:25 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=research_portal&p=1035046 Overview  Counterpoint’s Macro Index improves again in Q4, rising to 86.17 from 80.99 in September. The three-month and twelve-month outlooks have also been bumped up, reflecting better conditions for the global tech industry.  This uptick can be attributed to improved economic indicators across most major economies, mainly due to lower inflation, leading to the conclusion […]

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    Overview 

    Counterpoint’s Macro Index improves again in Q4, rising to 86.17 from 80.99 in September. The three-month and twelve-month outlooks have also been bumped up, reflecting better conditions for the global tech industry. 

    This uptick can be attributed to improved economic indicators across most major economies, mainly due to lower inflation, leading to the conclusion by markets that the current round of interest rate hikes has ended. However, China remains an outlier, which is still grappling with deflationary pressures.

     Table of Contents

    • Counterpoint Macro Index Q4 2023
    • Overview
    • Tech Sector Analysis
    • Regional Analysis
    • Constituent Indices

    Number of Pages: 52

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    Karina Brunoro
    Podcast #73: Thales – Driving Digital Security, Identity Innovations in a Connected World https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/podcast-thales-driving-digital-security-identity-innovations/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 04:06:20 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034940 Continuing our eSIM podcast series, this time we talk to Thales, one of the eSIM provisioning landscape leaders according to Counterpoint’s CORE report. Being in the industry for over 30 years, Thales has played a foundational role in organizations like Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA). Thales also deployed the world’s first GSMA-certified eSIM activation solution on […]

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    Continuing our eSIM podcast series, this time we talk to Thales, one of the eSIM provisioning landscape leaders according to Counterpoint’s CORE report. Being in the industry for over 30 years, Thales has played a foundational role in organizations like Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA). Thales also deployed the world’s first GSMA-certified eSIM activation solution on Google Cloud.

    Thales adopts a hybrid architecture, combining the benefits of public cloud and private cloud for operational excellence and security. It also offers a wide range of activation methods for the consumer market, thus enhancing the end-user journey through various channels. Thales’ strategic focus is on providing eSIM services with a comprehensive portfolio, addressing both consumer and IoT markets, eSIM discovery service, real-time profile adaptation and supply chain optimization.

    In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast’, host Ankit Malhotra is joined by Pascal Di Girolamo, Marketing Director at Thales, to talk about eSIM innovations, digital security and more that Thales is working on. The conversation dives into the challenges faced by the eSIM industry, including the need for enhanced customer awareness and a seamless transition from M2M to IoT. Pascal also emphasizes the importance of certification and collaboration with partners like Qualcomm, and much more.

    Click the play button to listen to the podcast

    You can read the podcast transcript here.

    Podcast Chapter Markers

    00:58: Pascal on Thales’ reaction after learning that it had emerged as a leader in the eSIM provisioning landscape in the CORE report.

    01:56: Pascal gives a brief introduction of what Thales does and its journey in becoming one of the industry leaders.

    09:38: Pascal talks about some of the major trends we have seen in the eSIM industry over the past few years.

    13:51: Pascal on eSIM-only smartphones, and how the 2022 iPhone 14 launch was an inflection point.

    15:51: In 2023, eSIM-only iPhone 15 was expected in more regions, but that did not happen. Pascal talks about possible reasons behind it.

    18:18: Switching gears to IoT, Pascal talks about the new SGP.32 standard.

    20:17: Pascal highlights some of the challenges faced by the industry currently.

    24:00: Pascal talks about the differences between eSIM and iSIM.

    26:24: Pascal concludes the podcast with his thoughts on the commercial availability of iSIM, industry trends, and expectations for 2024.

    Also available for listening/download on:

     

    Related Posts

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    Team Counterpoint
    5G Intelligence Tracker – December 2023 Edition https://www.counterpointresearch.com/research_portal/5g-intelligence-tracker-december-2023-edition/ Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:12:23 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=research_portal&p=1035038 Overview:  The 5G Intelligence Tracker gives the Counterpoint perspective on a curated collection of recent news and other articles on the 5G ecosystem (MNOs, module players, network infrastructure, OEMs, service providers, and more) for competitive and market intelligence. Each month, the tracker’s leading experts provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of affairs in […]

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    Overview: 

    The 5G Intelligence Tracker gives the Counterpoint perspective on a curated collection of recent news and other articles on the 5G ecosystem (MNOs, module players, network infrastructure, OEMs, service providers, and more) for competitive and market intelligence. Each month, the tracker’s leading experts provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of affairs in the ecosystem and potential ramifications, helping connect the dots.

    Table of Contents:

    • Key Ecosystem Developments
    • Other Important Developments
    • Research Snapshot of the Month
      • Report:
        • Highlights from ITU’s WRC-23 Meeting in Dubai
        • RISC-V Targets Small Cell SoC Market
      • PRs, Blogs, and LinkedIn Posts:
        • Selected Highlights from ITU’s WRC-23
    • Service Offerings for Emerging Tech Opportunities – 5G
    • Contacts

    No. of Pages: 17

    Published Date: January 2024

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    Ayush Sharma
    Meet Counterpoint Research at MWC Barcelona 2024 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/meet-counterpoint-research-at-mwc-barcelona-2024/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:14:18 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034861 Our analysts will be attending MWC Barcelona 2024 from the 26th to the 29th of February 2024. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunications sector and understand how our leading research and services can help your business. Request a Meeting Contact Us Fira Gran Via,Barcelona 26th – […]

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    Our analysts will be attending MWC Barcelona 2024 from the 26th to the 29th of February 2024. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunications sector and understand how our leading research and services can help your business.

    Request a Meeting

    Contact Us


    MWC 2024

    Fira Gran Via,
    Barcelona

    26th - 29th February
    2024

    MEET THE TEAM

    Peter Richardson

    Peter Richardson

    Research Vice President

    Counterpoint Research

    Analyst's Bio

    Bio

    Peter has 27 years experience in the mobile industry with extensive experience in market analysis and corporate development. Most recently Peter was Global Head of Market and Competitive Intelligence at Nokia. Here he headed a team responsible for analyzing and quantifying the industry. Prior to Nokia, Peter was an equity analyst at SoundView Technology Group. And before that he was VP and Chief Analyst of mobile and wireless research at Gartner. Peter’s early years in the industry were spent with NEC and Panasonic.
    Neil Shah

    Neil Shah

    Research Vice President

    Counterpoint Research

    Analyst's Bio

    Bio

    Neil is a sought-after frequently-quoted Industry Analyst with a wide spectrum of rich multifunctional experience. He is a knowledgeable, adept, and accomplished strategist. In the last 18 years he has offered expert strategic advice that has been highly regarded across different industries especially in telecom. Prior to Counterpoint, Neil worked at Strategy Analytics as a Senior Analyst (Telecom). Neil also had an opportunity to work with Philips Electronics in multiple roles. He is also an IEEE Certified Wireless Professional with a Master of Science (Telecommunications & Business) from the University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
    Gareth Owen

    Gareth Owen

    Associate Director

    Counterpoint Research

    Analyst's Bio

    Bio

    Gareth has been a technology analyst for over 20 years and has compiled research reports and market share/forecast studies on a range of topics, including wireless technologies, AI & computing, automotive, smartphone hardware, sensors and semiconductors, digital broadcasting and satellite communications.
    Mohit Agrawal

    Mohit Agrawal

    Associate Director

    Counterpoint Research

    Analyst's Bio

    Bio

    Mohit is responsible for tracking Digital Transformation and Internet of Things (IoT) at Counterpoint Research. He has over two decades of rich industry experience having worked with large tech companies like Accenture, Airtel, Nokia, and Microsoft in the past. Before joining Counterpoint, Mohit was the co-founder & CEO of a start-up in the competitive and market intelligence space utilizing big data and AI. He is a keen follower of the developments in devices and key internet technologies like IoT, Blockchain, AI, etc. Mohit is an engineer, MBA and a certified project management professional. He is based out of The Hague in Netherlands.
    Jan Stryjak

    Jan Stryjak

    Associate Director

    Counterpoint Research

    Analyst's Bio

    Bio

    Jan is an Associate Director with Counterpoint Research, based in London, and leads the company’s research in Europe. He is a seasoned analyst with over 17 years’ experience in the TMT sector, most recently with GSMA Intelligence where he was responsible for key research deliverables and led a team of analysts producing highly impactful regional insights. Before that, Jan held strategy and analyst positions at Vodafone and Qualcomm, and started his career with research firm TNS (now Kantar).
    Ethan Qi

    Ethan Qi

    Associate Director

    Counterpoint Research

    Analyst's Bio

    Bio

    Ethan is a Senior Analyst with Counterpoint Mobile and Semiconductors, dedicated to IoT, the wearable, Integrated Circuits and emerging technologies. Ethan had been working in the mobile phone and semiconductor industry for 15+ years. Prior to joining Counterpoint Research, Ethan served Coolpad, VIA and Intel sequentially as senior technology researcher and product manager respectively.
    Jene Park

    Jene Park

    Senior Analyst

    Counterpoint Research

    Analyst's Bio

    Bio

    Jene (Jin Suk) is a Senior Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research based on Seoul korea, Since he started his career in Samsung, he experienced various industry and jobs including Strategy Consultant in international Consulting firms. To pursue his major interest in smart devices and connectivity, he joined Counterpoint Research team. In academic side, Jene holds a Bachelor of Economics degree in Yonsei Univ in Korea.

    HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR

    FEATURED VIDEOS

    MediaTek Demonstrates Voice & Video Calling on 5G Satellite Connectivity | MWC 2023

    MediaTek, at MWC 2023, showcased its 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technology that brings two-way satellite communications to smartphones. Devices with MediaTek’s satellite connectivity will be launched soon. Here is a small demo of voice and video calling using 5G satellite connectivity MediaTek demonstrated at its MWC booth.

    Xiaomi 13 Pro with Leica Camera System: First Impressions | MWC 2023

    At the MWC 2023 event, Xiaomi announced the Xiaomi 13 & Xiaomi 13 Pro smartphones powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform. A key highlight of the smartphones is the Leica Camera Global system which brings the lens system and software tuning to offer a professional photography experience. Xiaomi also announced the 13 Lite smartphone, Watch S1 Pro smartwatch, Buds 4 Pro TWS, and an electric scooter. We had a chance to check out the new smartphones, and here are our first impressions.

    Oasis Smart-SIM Demonstrates new CloudSIM™ Solution | MWC 2023

    At MWC 2023, Oasis Smart SIM along with TATA Communications revealed their latest innovation, CloudSIM™. It is a remote hardware SIM which is stored in a dedicated, secure, GSMA-certified environment. CloudSIM™ is primarily aimed at use cases that do not require permanent connectivity. By limiting the number of profiles required for fleet operations and providing on-demand connectivity, it reduces the overall cost of connectivity. In this video, Jean-Christophe Tisseuil, Chief Marketing Officer at Oasis Smart-SIM demonstrates some of the key use cases of CloudSIM™ solution.

    Qualcomm Demonstrates Aware Platform Use Cases | MWC 2023

    Qualcomm’s Aware platform brings some interesting use cases in asset tracking, like real-time temperature monitoring for cold storage cargo. It can also offer real-time intelligence and asset visibility, impact detection and more. In this video, Qualcomm’ Oleg Kamenetsky, Senior Product Marketing Manager – IoT, demonstrates some of the use cases of Qualcomm Aware platform.

    OUR COVERAGE

    Smartphones

    Semiconductors

    Automotive

    Internet of Things

    Wearables

    eSIM

    PC and Tablets

    Networks and Infrastructure

    Consumer Research

    Emerging Tech

    The post Meet Counterpoint Research at MWC Barcelona 2024 appeared first on Counterpoint.

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    Team Counterpoint
    Meet Counterpoint Research at IESA Vision Summit 2024 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/meet-counterpoint-research-at-iesa-vision-summit-2024/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 10:06:41 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034905 Counterpoint Research is attending the IESA Vision Summit 2024 on 24th & 25th January 2024 Our Senior Analyst, Ashwath Rao, and Research Analyst, Varun Gupta will be attending the expo at Bengaluru, India. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunication sector and understand how our […]

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    Counterpoint Research is attending the IESA Vision Summit 2024 on 24th & 25th January 2024

    Our Senior Analyst, Ashwath Rao, and Research Analyst, Varun Gupta will be attending the expo at Bengaluru, India. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunication sector and understand how our leading research and services can help your business.

    When: 24th & 25th January 2024

    Where: Hilton Convention Centre, Bengaluru, India

    About the IESA Vision Summit 2024:

    IESA Vision Summit 2024 is the 18th edition of the flagship event of India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), the premier trade body representing the Indian Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) industry.

    The theme of this year’s summit ‘Design-Led Manufacturing – Leveraging the Semiconductor Ecosystem’, will bring together over 1000 delegates from around 275 companies, 25+ top government officials and policy makers, 75+ top industry leaders from across the globe, multiple state pavilions encompassing prominent figures from deep tech, MSME and startup ecosystems, incubators, the latest products, innovations and embedded electronics solutions from 80+ exhibitors, industry report launches, MOUs, product launches, policy announcements from participating states.

    Click here (or send us an email at contact@counterpointresearch.com) to schedule a meeting with them. 

    Read more about the IESA Vision Summit 2024

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    Team Counterpoint
    Sony WF-1000XM5 Review: Epitome of Premium Sound with Compact, Lighter Design and Improved Battery Life https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/sony-wf-1000xm5-tws-earbuds-review/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 07:58:42 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034812 We saw a lot of changes in our daily lives in 2023, especially in terms of getting out of the house and traveling, which had been minimized after the COVID-19 pandemic. Offices recommenced to a fuller extent, with which came the return of the office commute. We resumed traveling for product launch events and trade […]

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    We saw a lot of changes in our daily lives in 2023, especially in terms of getting out of the house and traveling, which had been minimized after the COVID-19 pandemic. Offices recommenced to a fuller extent, with which came the return of the office commute. We resumed traveling for product launch events and trade shows. However, one thing remained pretty much unchanged since the COVID-19 lockdowns – online video calls with teams, clients and prospects. For these calls, headphones or TWS earbuds have become even more crucial to ensure better audio quality and these devices have seen some extensive advancements in specs over time.

    Sony launched its WF-1000XM5 (XM5) TWS earbuds in H2 2023, and we have been using a pair extensively for more than four months now. These earbuds feature a more compact and lightweight design, improved ANC, and a better battery life than the previous iteration, the WF-1000XM4 (XM4). Incorporating these upgrades, the new Sony XM5 is priced at $299, a $20 increase compared to its predecessor.

    Commenting on Sony’s TWS sales, Senior Analyst Minsoo Kang said, “Sony, especially in the >$150 segment, has shown steady growth, driven by robust ANC, impressive audio quality, and a loyal customer base. With a focus on products priced at $100 and above, Sony has consistently increased its sales in the premium segment. The XM5 does not feature a significant design change compared to the XM4, but Sony has made notable improvements to the Bluetooth version and weight.”

    We have reviewed the predecessor XM4 in the past. How does the new XM5 fare in comparison? Read our usage experience and detailed analysis below.

    More Compact Design, Better Comfort

    Generation over generation, Sony has worked towards making its earbuds smaller, lighter, and more comfortable. The XM4 earbuds were 10% smaller and the case was 40% more compact than the XM3. The latest Sony XM5 is 25% smaller and about 20% lighter compared to the XM4. Each earbud now weighs 5.9g. In comparison, the XM4 earbud weighs 7.3g each.

    counterpoint-sony-wf1000xm5-earbud-single

    The reduced footprint offers a more comfortable fit without hitting the ear fold, thus ensuring less fatigue, unlike what we experienced in the XM3 and XM4 when wearing for long hours. Sony is bundling four ear tips this time – extra small, small, medium, and large – so you can choose the optimal size to fit your ears. These are foam ear tips and not silicone ones like what you typically see in other earbuds.

    The Sony XM5 earbuds are less chunky compared to the XM4, thanks to the reduced footprint.

    As most of us are not used to foam ear tips, wearing them may feel a little strange initially but with time they feel more comfortable and help greatly in improving wearability and reducing pressure on the ears.

    counterpoint-sony-wf1000xm5-earbuds

    In terms of design, Sony has retained the gold accent on the microphone mesh cover for each earbud, which gives it a distinct look. The case and the touch-sensitive outer edge of the earbuds have a matte finish. However, most of the exterior is made of glossy plastic, which makes the earbuds a bit slippery when removing from the case, especially if you have sweaty or oily fingers. Overall, the aesthetics of the XM5 look nice and premium.

    New Head Tracking Gestures, More Stable Connection

    The Sony XM5 is packed with a host of features; some new, some improved over the predecessor:

    • Adaptive Sound Control to automatically switch between ANC and ambient modes.
    • Automatic firmware updates, without needing any manual intervention.
    • Head gestures to accept and decline calls by simply nodding your head.
    • Multi-point control for simultaneous connections.
    • Wireless charging and quick charge (up to one hour of music payback in a three-minute charge).
    • LDAC with Hi-Res Wireless support.
    • Six mics and dual processors for better audio quality and noise cancellation.
    • Google Fast Pair for Android, and Swift Pair for Windows.
    • Find Your Equalizer feature lets you choose the sound settings that suit your music listening preferences.

    Adaptive Sound Control is an interesting feature that allows you to customize the EQ and noise canceling level depending on your activity or location. For instance, in the office, you might want to keep ambient mode on so you can listen to your colleagues sitting next to you. In a gym, you may want to turn the ANC on, and the bass turned up to pump that extra adrenaline as you work out.

    counterpoint-sony-wf-1000xm5-review-adaptive-sound-control

    The activity-based adaptive mode can have ANC turned on when you are sitting in one place, allowing you to enjoy an immersive listening experience. Similarly, the moment you start walking or running, it can automatically turn on the ambient mode to ensure you can hear your surroundings more clearly. Though the mode switching is not instant, it takes about five to eight seconds to detect the activity and then switch.

    Adaptive Sound Control works perfectly to switch through optimal EQ, ANC, and ambient modes depending on your location and activity.   

    The head gesture feature to accept and decline calls is neat and works as expected. When you get an incoming call, simply nod your head up and down to accept the call. If you want to decline a call, you can move your head sideways.

    The multi-point connection feature allows you to simultaneously connect the earbuds to two devices at the same time. It can intelligently switch between devices. For instance, if you are watching a video or listening to music on the laptop/tablet, and you get a call on the phone, the playback will stop, and after the call has ended, the playback on the laptop will resume. With a new chipset, Sony is also offering this feature in LE (Low Energy) mode, though it is in beta as of now.

    Support for Google Fast Pair is a good addition. This makes it easier to pair by just opening the lid of the case and placing it closer to an Android smartphone. Bluetooth needs to be turned on though. It takes away the hassle of finding the device and manually pairing it. Similarly, Swift Pair for Windows 10/Windows 11 laptops makes it easier to pair with a laptop by putting the earbuds in pairing mode. The pairing button is present at the back of the case, just beside the USB-C port.

    Automatic firmware update is another good addition. Once new firmware is available, it will be automatically downloaded and installed, so you need not manually check and install the updates.

    Lastly, there is also a new Find My Equalizer feature that lets you find the right sound balance to suit your listening preferences. Simply play a song, and it will present some numbered bubbles, each having a different subtle effect. You need to tap on the numbers, hear the difference, and choose the optimal setting that sounds the best to you.

    counterpoint-sony-wf-1000xm5-review-custom-eq

    Based on those inputs, it will create a custom equalizer (EQ) for you, which will be saved in the earbud profile, and that EQ will be consistent across all devices, music, and movies that you watch. It worked well for me, adding slightly more bass while keeping the five-band EQ flat.

    Find My Equalizer is a perfect tool for finding optimal sound tailored to your taste, without manually fiddling around with the EQ.

    Performance: Stable Connectivity, Great Sound, Long Battery Life

    The XM5 offers a more stable connection, thanks to the new Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity standard. We tested the earbuds across multiple devices – MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro), iPhone 15 (AAC codec), and Xiaomi 13 Pro (LDAC). However, most of the music listening was on the Xiaomi smartphone as it supports LDAC codec for high bit-rate audio.

    Sound Quality:

    Sony is known for offering excellent sound quality on its headphones and TWS earbuds, and it has done the same in the new XM5. These earbuds come with 8.4mm dynamic drivers, up from 6mm on the XM4. Sony is also using two materials – one for low and the other for high-frequency sounds.

    While listening to music with the equalizer flat, you can immediately hear that the emphasis is still on the lower frequencies a bit. It is perfect for workouts where most of us lean on the hip-hop genre, but when sitting in a home or office, the sound may get a little bass heavy. For most of the listening, we reduced the bass by two levels, and then it sounded well and balanced. Soundstaging in the XM5 is a bit wider compared to the XM4, and detecting different instruments in a sound is much easier.

    However, the audio on XM5 is not as rich and full as in the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Otherwise, these are an excellent pair of earbuds to enjoy immersive music and video-watching experience.

    Noise Cancellation and Call Quality:

     Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient features have always been one of the highlights of the 1000XM series, and Sony has improved this further with every new generation. The new XM5 earbuds come with a total of six mics (three on each earbud), that can catch more ambient noise to filter, thus offering a slightly noticeable difference in ANC. We found it most effective on airplanes, trains, and even places like malls and airports. It also reduces wind noise considerably.

    Noise Cancellation and Ambient modes have been improved over the XM4, thanks to the six-mic system.

    But it is not just the mics, this time Sony has used two chips – the Integrated Processor V2 for better noise canceling, improved sound quality, low power consumption, and also for better connectivity, and the HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e, which is also used to further improve noise canceling and sound quality. Sony says the two processors work together in offering around 20% more noise cancellation compared to the XM4.

    counterpoint-sony-wf1000xm5-tws-case-inside   

    The mics also enable crisp and clear ambient mode, to let you hear things clearly when using the Speak-to-Chat feature, without having to remove the earbuds. On calls, it uses a bone conduction sensor to capture voice vibrations and AI-driven noise reduction algorithms to isolate your voice from ambient noise. We used the earbuds for phone calls, and also for Microsoft Teams calls, and the receiver was able to hear the voice clearly, whether we were in the office or commuting in a cab or metro.

    The XM5 offers crisp and clear call quality in most of the ambient noise scenarios we tested.    

    Battery Life:

    In terms of battery life, Sony claims up to eight hours of continuous music playback on a single charge with ANC on, and up to 12 hours with ANC off. The case offers two additional charges, meaning you can get up to 36 hours of music playback. During our testing, we found the claims to be accurate, and in fact, surpassing even the said claims. On a long-haul 10 flight from London to Mumbai, we got around nine hours and 20 minutes of total playback time with ANC on, before the battery on the earbuds completely drained and needed charging again.

    Better battery life and quick charging offer long listening time.

    The quick charge feature is also faster now. A quick three-minute charge can offer up to one hour of battery life. In our test, a quick five-minute charge offered roughly an hour and 35 minutes of music playback, lasting and entire Mumbai-Delhi flight from take-off to landing.

    counterpoint-sony-wf1000xm5-tws-case-back

    Final Words

    The Sony WF-1000XM5 is an excellent pair of TWS earbuds loaded with a lot of features not found in the competition. They sound great, offer crisp ambient noise that allow you to stay aware of your surroundings, and great noise cancellation when you want to cut off and be in your zone. Features like head tracking for accepting and declining calls, multi-point connection, and adaptive sound control set them apart.

    However, there are some areas where Sony can make further improvements. These earbuds support head tracking and 360 reality audio, but unlike the Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, the compatibility is very limited. The ‘Speak-to-chat’ with bone conduction is a great feature, but similar to the previous generation, it is very sensitive and gets activated even when humming to music. Audio tuning can be slightly improved to enhance the richness and fullness of the audio.

    Related Posts

    The post Sony WF-1000XM5 Review: Epitome of Premium Sound with Compact, Lighter Design and Improved Battery Life appeared first on Counterpoint.

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    Ritesh Bendre
    Global PC Shipments Show Early Signs of Recovery in Q4 2023; AI PC to be Major Driver in 2024 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/global-pc-shipments-show-early-signs-of-recovery-in-q4-2023-ai-pc-to-be-major-driver-in-2024/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:36:49 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034801 The global PC market’s shipment contraction cycle reached an end in Q4 2023 with a 0.2% YoY decline. PC OEMs’ rankings remained unchanged. Restocking saw soft momentum at the end of 2023. AI PC, a key topic at the recently concluded CES 2024, will be in the PC industry’s spotlight in 2024. AI PC and […]

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  • The global PC market’s shipment contraction cycle reached an end in Q4 2023 with a 0.2% YoY decline.
  • PC OEMs’ rankings remained unchanged. Restocking saw soft momentum at the end of 2023.
  • AI PC, a key topic at the recently concluded CES 2024, will be in the PC industry’s spotlight in 2024.
  • AI PC and commercial PC replacement are expected to support 5% YoY shipment growth in 2024.
  • Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, San Diego – January 18, 2024

    The global PC market ended Q4 2023 with a 0.2% YoY shipment decline, according to the latest Counterpoint Research data. This was the eighth consecutive quarter of a YoY shipment decline. The year-end holiday season failed to trigger a meaningful shipment recovery. Both OEMs and ODMs expect that shipment momentum will come back in H1 2024.

    For the full year of 2023, the global PC market saw a 14% YoY shipment decline due to a slowdown in commercial and consumer sectors both. Besides, there were several product launches in the second half of 2023, most of which will start shipping in 2024. This affected the shipment momentum in 2023. On the other hand, PC inventory level normalized to a healthy level, paving the way for upcoming new products.

    Mixed performance in Q4; shipment correction cycle in 2023

    PC OEMs’ rankings remained unchanged throughout 2023 as soft demand and inventory digestions held back shipment performance across the market. However, we still saw different growth trajectories of top PC vendors. Lenovo and HP both had around mid-single-digit YoY shipment growth in Q4 2023 thanks to market recovery and warm restocking momentum in North America. Dell saw a 9% YoY shipment decline due to the commercial sector slowdown, while Apple remained resilient in the quarter with a 2% YoY shipment growth.

    Counterpoint Research
    Source: Counterpoint Research PC market monitor

    For the full year of 2023, Lenovo and HP continued to lead the market with 24% and 21% market shares, respectively, with the latter reporting a relatively resilient 5% YoY shipment decline thanks to warm restocking momentum in the North American market. Dell had a 16% market share while suffering weak commercial demand which resulted in a 20% shipment decline. Apple also left 2023 with a 14% shipment decline while maintaining its market share at around 9%.

    AI PC to be major driver of PC industry in 2024

    We believe AI PC will be in the spotlight in 2024 as Intel and AMD both have CPU solutions (Meteor Lake and Hawk Point) for next-generation AI PCs. In Q4 2023, PC vendors also continued to announce new AI PC products across different segments. After CES, more AI PC products will be launched by vendors, though we expect the major replacement cycle will be backend-loaded in H2 2024. We expect to see a 50% AI laptop sales share in 2025, with at least an NPU or an AI accelerator (AI engine) equipped in the PC in addition to its major CPU and GPU.

    AI Laptop Penetration will Climb in Coming Years

    Counterpoint Research

    Enterprise spending slowdown and the process of destocking in 2023 will trigger PC vendors’ restocking demand, which would be a driver for the commercial PC sector. On the other hand, Qualcomm’s Nuvia-based Snapdragon X Elite solutions for Arm PC would be an additional driver throughout 2024. This will potentially mark another milestone for Arm PCs, followed by Apple’s success in its M-series MacBook series.

    Background

    Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

    Related Posts

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    Team Counterpoint
    TSMC beats profit and revenue expectations in the fourth quarter https://www.counterpointresearch.com/about/in-the-press/tsmc-beats-profit-and-revenue-expectations-in-the-fourth-quarter/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:12:46 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=in_the_press&p=1034853 “TSMC’s strong ramp-up in N3 and AI applications positions it as a major beneficiary in AI semiconductors,” Brady Wang, associate director at Counterpoint Research, said Tuesday…Read more

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    “TSMC’s strong ramp-up in N3 and AI applications positions it as a major beneficiary in AI semiconductors,” Brady Wang, associate director at Counterpoint Research, said Tuesday…Read more

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    Ayush Sharma
    eSIM Intelligence Tracker – December 2023 Edition https://www.counterpointresearch.com/research_portal/esim-intelligence-tracker-december-2023-edition/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 07:33:17 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=research_portal&p=1034785 Overview: The eSIM Intelligence Tracker gives the Counterpoint perspective on a curated collection of recent news and other articles that have made an impact on the eSIM ecosystem (MNOs, module players, OEMs, service providers, and more). It gives readers an idea of the current situation in the sector and potential ramifications, helping connect the dots. […]

    The post eSIM Intelligence Tracker – December 2023 Edition appeared first on Counterpoint.

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    Overview:

    The eSIM Intelligence Tracker gives the Counterpoint perspective on a curated collection of recent news and other articles that have made an impact on the eSIM ecosystem (MNOs, module players, OEMs, service providers, and more). It gives readers an idea of the current situation in the sector and potential ramifications, helping connect the dots.

    Table of Contents:
    • Analyst Insights
    • Key Ecosystem Developments
    • Other Important Developments
    • Contacts

    Number of Pages: 13

    Publishing Date: January 2023

    The post eSIM Intelligence Tracker – December 2023 Edition appeared first on Counterpoint.

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    Ayush Sharma
    XR (AR & VR Headsets) Report on Market Insights and Trends, Q3 2023 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/research_portal/xr-ar-vr-headsets-report-on-market-insights-and-trends-q3-2023/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 07:03:06 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=research_portal&p=1034781 Overview: The global XR market continues to decline in Q3 2023 with its lowest volume since Q4 2020. This represents a continuous annual decline since Q4 2021. Outdated headsets from major OEMs, a lack of a high-quality content library and high price points are the main drivers of the XR market’s decline. The main challenge OEMs […]

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    Overview:

    The global XR market continues to decline in Q3 2023 with its lowest volume since Q4 2020. This represents a continuous annual decline since Q4 2021. Outdated headsets from major OEMs, a lack of a high-quality content library and high price points are the main drivers of the XR market’s decline. The main challenge OEMs are facing is the lack of compelling and high-quality VR content and experiences. Standalone VR headsets captured 60% of the total XR market shipments in Q3 2023, down from 93% in Q3 2022This is attributed to the presence of Sony PSVR 2. Global AR shipments remain very low, due to a lack of sales of AR headsets. AR is still in its early stages and needs a breakthrough headsetClubbing of solutions in a single headset will bring more opportunities for the AR headset industry.

    Table of Contents:

    • XR (AR/VR) market trends Q3 2023 by device type.
    • XR (AR/VR) market trends Q3 2023 by retail ASP
    • XR (AR/VR) Market Trends Q3 2023 by Top Brands
    • XR (AR/VR) major specs analysis Q3 2023
    • XR (AR/VR) forecast by headset type
    • XR (AR/VR) forecast by brands
    • XR (AR/VR) forecast by regions
    • XR recent Updates and Future Trends

    Number of Pages: 21

    Published Date: January 2024

    The post XR (AR & VR Headsets) Report on Market Insights and Trends, Q3 2023 appeared first on Counterpoint.

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    Ayush Sharma
    Samsung Galaxy S24 with Galaxy AI Takes On-device Intelligent Experiences Mainstream https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/samsung-galaxy-s24-galaxy-ai-on-device-intelligent-experiences/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 06:01:45 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034755 Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC. The headline feature this year is the Galaxy AI which brings a host of on-device AI experiences. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung’s first smartphone to have a titanium frame. At the Galaxy Unpacked event at San Jose in […]

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  • Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC.
  • The headline feature this year is the Galaxy AI which brings a host of on-device AI experiences.
  • The Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung’s first smartphone to have a titanium frame.
  • At the Galaxy Unpacked event at San Jose in California, Samsung unveiled its all-new Galaxy S24 smartphone line-up. As usual, there are three smartphones – Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra. On the hardware side, while the upgrades are iterative, the big story this time around is the Galaxy AI carrying a lot of on-device AI features powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC.

    According to our recent report, we expect over 1 billion Generative AI (GenAI) smartphones to be shipped cumulatively between 2024 and 2027. Qualcomm is likely to capture over 80% of the GenAI smartphone market over the next two years, with the Galaxy S24 series showcasing early capabilities of some experiences.

    counterpoint-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra

    Design-wise, not a lot has changed compared to the Galaxy S23 series, except for the Ultra model, which is Samsung’s first smartphone to come with a titanium frame, similar to what we have seen on the iPhone 15 Pro models. Titanium is significantly lighter and thinner than aluminum, yet stronger to enhance durability. Samsung has also done away with the curved screen design, and the S24 Ultra now features a flat screen with thin bezels.

    WATCH: Galaxy AI: First Look at the Intelligent Features of Samsung Galaxy S24 Series

    Galaxy AI brings host of on-device AI experiences

    Assistants have been around for over half a decade now, but the use cases and capabilities have evolved over the years. Below are some AI Assistant features of the Galaxy S24 series:

    Baked right into the native phone app, Live translate can be used to have real-time, two-way voice and text translations to book a cab, hotel or restaurant, and much more. There is also an interpreter mode, where live translations can be done and viewed on a split-screen. As all this happens on-device, the conversations are completely private and secure, and never leave your device. Besides, it can also work without Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity.

    counterpoint-samsung-galaxy-s24-on-device-ai
    Source: Samsung

    Intelligent assistant: The Galaxy AI also extends its capabilities to the assistant in the message and instant messaging apps to improve conversational tones to make them more polite and grammatically correct. The Chat Assistant can also generate catchy social media captions. With AI built into the Samsung Keyboard, you can even translate messages in real time. It has support for 13 languages.     

    counterpoint-samsung-galaxy-s24-chat-assistant-android-auto
    Source: Samsung

    When your smartphone is connected to your car using Android Auto, the AI Assistant can summarize the incoming message and also suggest relevant actions, such as sending your ETA, and even replies so you can focus on driving without having to look at the phone or screen.

    Notes and Transcript Assist: Samsung Notes with AI Assistant can help generate summaries, create templates with pre-made formats, and much more. It can also create different covers with a brief preview making them easy to spot.

    For voice recordings, the AI can detect multiple speakers and use voice-to-text to transcribe and summarize the recordings. It can even help translate the transcription into different languages.

    counterpoint-samsung-galaxy-s24-circle-to-search
    Source: Samsung

    Circle to Search: Online search has transformed our lives, whether it is looking for information, a place, or much more. Samsung is offering Galaxy users a new tool called Circle to Search, an intuitive, gesture-driven search powered by Google. Users can long-press the home button and tap/highlight/circle anything on the screen to see some high-quality, helpful results. So, whether it is a beautiful background in your friend’s social media photo or across a website that you are surfing, it is now easier to search via Google.

    Galaxy AI extends to camera with photo and video editing tools

    At the Snapdragon Summit 2023, we saw a lot of use cases, like generative fill for photo expansion, AI zoom any place, and much more. Many of those on-device features are now a part of the Galaxy S24 lineup powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC.

    Edit suggestions: A lot of us use our smartphone as a primary camera to click photos and record videos. And there may have been times when you see a reflection or glare, especially when clicking photos near a window. The Gallery app on Samsung phones offers suggested edits that let you erase reflections and shadows, and even erase unwanted objects and people from the photo. The feature has already been present since the Galaxy S22 series, but now it is much faster with on-device AI and can offer better results with improved algorithms.

    ounterpoint-samsung-galaxy-s24-generative-edit
    Source: Samsung

    Generative Edit: How many times have you clicked a photo and wished you could relocate people and objects in the frame? Well, the Generative Edit option lets you do exactly that. You can tweak photos by repositioning the subject, fill in parts of the image background, and remove unwanted objects too, giving you more freedom and creative control in the editing process, all on the device. Whenever these changes are made, a watermark with metadata is put in the image so that it is known that it is an edited image.

    Instant Slow-mo: Lastly, the Galaxy AI also lets you add slow motion to action-packed videos. It does this by adding frames based on the movements in the video. For instance, your kids playing, or dogs and cats running around can be converted into slow motion.

    Samsung Galaxy S24 series: Specifications and features

    As mentioned above, the Galaxy S24 series is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC. The new chipset has a 20% more powerful CPU, 26% more powerful GPU, and a 42% faster NPU, compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy SoC in the Galaxy S23 series. With support for Ray Tracing, the new Galaxy smartphones also come with 1.9x larger vapor chamber for cooling to offer a smooth gameplay experience.

    All three S24 models come with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Vision Booster tech offering a peak brightness of up to 2,600nits to deliver great outdoor visibility. They all have an adaptive 120Hz screen refresh rate, which adjusts between 1Hz and 120Hz based on the on-screen content. The S24 Ultra comes with a 6.8-inch screen, whereas the S24+ comes with a 6.7-inch screen, both having QHD+ resolution. The vanilla Galaxy S24, on the other hand, comes with a 6.2-inch FHD+ screen.

    The Galaxy S24 has 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB/512GB storage options. The Galaxy S24+ has 12GB of RAM with 256GB/512GB storage options. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, has 12GB of RAM with 256GB/512GB/1TB storage options. The Galaxy S24 and S24+ come with a 4,000mAh and 4,900mAhbattery, respectively, whereas the Galaxy S24 Ultra has a slightly larger 5,000mAh unit. With wireless charging support on all smartphones, the S24 supports 25W wired charging, whereas the S24+ and Ultra offer 45W fast wired charging speeds.

    counterpoint-samsung-galaxy-s24-and-plus-features
    Source: Samsung

    In the photography department, the Galaxy S24 and S24+ come with the same camera hardware. You get a 12MP ultra-wide camera with 120-degree FoV, a 50MP wide camera with OIS, F/1.8 aperture and 85-degree FoV, and a 10MP telephoto camera with f/2.4 aperture and 3x optical zoom capabilities. Up front, all three smartphones come with a 12MP selfie camera.

    counterpoint-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-zoom

    The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, comes with the same 12MP ultra-wide camera with 120-degree FoV, but the other camera’s specs change. It has a 200MP main wide camera with OIS, f/1.7 aperture and 85-degree FoV. Then there are two telephoto cameras – a 50MP one with 5x optical zoom and a 10MP onewith 3x optical zoom. There is also 10x hybrid zoom and 100x space zoom capabilities.

    counterpoint-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-features
    Source: Samsung

    On the connectivity side, all smartphones support 5G, Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth v 5.3. And while the S24 Ultra has Wi-Fi 7, the S24 and S24+ come with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. All devices are also IP68-rated for water and dust resistance and they ship with Android 14 OS and One UI 6.1 skin on top. Samsung has raised the bar once again with its commitment where the S24 series will get seven years of software upgrades and security updates.

    Pricing and availability

    The Galaxy S24 starts at $799 whereas the Galaxy S24 Plus will be available starting from $999. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, will be available starting from $1,299. Pre-orders start on January 18 and the smartphones will go on sale starting January 31.

    Related Posts

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    Ritesh Bendre
    HONOR’s Latest AI Feature Puts Flagships Into New Orbit https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/honors-latest-ai-feature-puts-flagships-into-new-orbit/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 03:45:02 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034742 HONOR’s new premium bar-type smartphone series, the Magic 6, features upgraded specifications, new designs and an emphasis on AI capabilities. Magic OS 8.0 introduces an ‘Intent-based User Interface’, enabling the OS to understand and predict user intentions. The development points towards future smartphones equipped with AI agent functions, altering the user experience and the dynamic […]

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  • HONOR’s new premium bar-type smartphone series, the Magic 6, features upgraded specifications, new designs and an emphasis on AI capabilities.
  • Magic OS 8.0 introduces an ‘Intent-based User Interface’, enabling the OS to understand and predict user intentions.
  • The development points towards future smartphones equipped with AI agent functions, altering the user experience and the dynamic between smartphone OEMs and app developers.
  • Magic OS 8.0 supports intuitive user interactions beyond traditional text and voice commands, like clicking and dragging, to aid task completion.
  • The Magic 6 series is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and features advanced camera specifications.
  • HONOR recently launched a premium bar-type smartphone series, the Magic 6. In addition to upgraded specs and new designs, what is notable is the transfer of app-based AI features to an OS-based AI agent, capable of substantially altering the current smartphone ecosystem.

    Powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the Magic 6 series’ on-device AI makes it unique. The Magic 6 features a 7-billion-parameter Large Language Model (LLM) on the device. Users can search for photos using vague descriptions and use AI to create video clips even when offline. Besides, Magic OS 8.0 supports other regular AI features such as generating texts, summarizing articles and smarter voice assistant.

    But more importantly, Magic OS 8.0 also introduces a concept called ‘Intent-based User Interface’, under which the OS can understand and even predict the user’s intention, and then assist in completing the task. To realize this vision, Magic OS 8.0 has launched a function called the ‘Magic Portal’ function.

    To provide an example of this feature, consider when you receive a 50-word text message that includes an address from a friend for a gathering. By long-pressing the text, a menu bar pops up on the right side of the screen, displaying possible apps you might want to use. In this case, the apps could include maps for navigation and Uber or Lyft for taxi hailing. Further, you don’t have to separate the specific address from the 50-word message or copy and paste the address into another app’s specific area. What you need to do is simply drag the entire text box to the map app, and then the navigation plan for the address is created in seconds.

    Counterpoint Research

    In the future, we may see these types of AI-agent functions on our smartphones. The AI agent will help users find services and complete tasks. This new user experience could substantially change the relationship between smartphone OEMs and app developers. To stay competitive, apps will have to find their niche and provide unique services that users cannot find elsewhere. Besides, to leverage the power of AI, many developers tend to limit themselves to texting in the chat box or speaking. However, intuitive interactions like clicking and dragging could also greatly assist users in completing tasks.

    Magic OS 8.0 will first be available on the Magic 6 series and later on other HONOR smartphone models and tablets.

    Counterpoint Research

    The Magic 6 series also features other spec updates in addition to the SoC. It boasts a 50MP main wide camera with an f/1.9 aperture, a 32MP telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. The Pro version elevates the main wide camera with an f/1.4-2.0 adjustable aperture. This f/1.4 aperture improves photo quality in low-light environments and creates a better bokeh effect. The Pro version replaces the regular version’s telephoto camera with a periscope camera at 180MP. This periscope camera employs a 1/1.49-inch CIS imaging sensor with 2.24μm equivalent sensibility and an f/2.6 aperture.

    Both the Magic 6 and Magic 6 Pro feature an LTPO OLED display, with peak brightness reaching up to 5000 nits.

    Furthermore, the Magic 6 Pro supports two-way satellite communications. HONOR claims to have greatly optimized the device’s power consumption for satellite communication. The Magic 6 Pro can support 8 minutes of real-time voice communication or send 16 two-way text messages in super-low battery (just 5%) scenarios.

    Related Posts

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    Team Counterpoint
    OPPO Find X7 Series Sets AI, Photography Benchmarks for Flagship Smartphones https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/oppo-find-x7-series-sets-ai-photography-benchmarks-for-flagship-smartphones/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:52:02 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034712 The newly launched OPPO Find X7 series embraces AI applications. The Find X7 Ultra’s quad-camera system covers most of the common photography scenarios. The dual-periscope camera brings a new benchmark to mobile photography. OPPO launched flagship models OPPO Find X7 and OPPO Find X7 Ultra in China recently. Compared to its predecessor, the Find X7 […]

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  • The newly launched OPPO Find X7 series embraces AI applications.
  • The Find X7 Ultra’s quad-camera system covers most of the common photography scenarios.
  • The dual-periscope camera brings a new benchmark to mobile photography.
  • OPPO launched flagship models OPPO Find X7 and OPPO Find X7 Ultra in China recently. Compared to its predecessor, the Find X7 series has plenty of upgrades. Some of these cover generative AI, mobile photography and privacy protection.

     Counterpoint Research

    With the Find X7 series, OPPO has embraced generative AI for its smartphones. Thanks to the 7-billion-parameter LLM of AndesGPT, the Find X7 series brings AI functions such as natural language comprehension and phone call content summary. With the device-side and cloud-side LLMs working together, the Find X7 can also implement AIGC elimination, providing a new experience for image editing functions. What’s more, LLM is also combined with voice assistant to provide practical AI functions such as text to image, picture to text, and text content summary.

     Counterpoint Research

    The OPPO Find X7 Ultra’s upgrades in photography are also significant. OPPO has used the world’s first dual-periscope cameras for its rear camera module. With the help of the new 6x periscope lens, the model can cover focal segments from 14mm to 135mm.

    The 50MP ultra-wide camera is suitable for landscape images. The 1-inch large-size CIS main camera brings strong support for photography under dark light conditions. The 3x and 6x periscope cameras can compress the background and get a clean composition, suitable for portraits and close-up photos. Dual-frame technology also results in rapid shutter response. The algorithm provides better image quality for digital zoom and portrait photography, greatly reducing blur in the subject motion and keeping the image quality high. The continuing collaboration with Hasselblad also gives the photos a professional and unique tone.

     Counterpoint Research

    The periscope lens has been seen as a premium smartphone feature. With full-channel multi-scene optimization, OPPO has set a new benchmark for mobile photography in flagship models, while targeting the high-end with its own innovations.

    Related Posts

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    Team Counterpoint
    Handset Sales by Model January 2022 – November 2023 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/research_portal/handset-sales-by-model-january-2022-november-2023-2/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:06:52 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=research_portal&p=1034735 Overview: This report tracks quarterly global handset model sales data by OEM with the key specifications. This report gives an insightful view of the changing trends in smartphone components and driving factors in the various price segments. It covers 99% of the global handset market with specification analysis. Time period: Jan 2022 to Nov 2023 […]

    The post Handset Sales by Model January 2022 – November 2023 appeared first on Counterpoint.

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    Overview:

    This report tracks quarterly global handset model sales data by OEM with the key specifications. This report gives an insightful view of the changing trends in smartphone components and driving factors in the various price segments. It covers 99% of the global handset market with specification analysis.

    • Time period: Jan 2022 to Nov 2023 with monthly granularity
    • By brand (450+) and models (6000+)
    • By regions: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle-East & Africa, Asia
    • Countries: USA, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, Turkey, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK
    • Specification and prices (30+)
      • Price bands
      • Chipsets by OEMs
      • Chipset by models
      • Display Size
      • Display Type
      • NAND
      • RAM
      • Rear camera counts
      • 22+ other specifications

    Published Date: January 2024

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    Ayush Sharma
    Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Phones Go Heavy on Industry’s Next Big Hope: Generative AI https://www.counterpointresearch.com/about/in-the-press/samsungs-galaxy-s24-phones-go-heavy-on-industrys-next-big-hope-generative-ai/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 09:25:53 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=in_the_press&p=1034897 Worldwide smartphone shipments are forecast to have hit a decade low in 2023, with the industry having declined in size for two years straight, according to Counterpoint Research. But in recent months, sales have begun to rebound as the economy improves, with projections for 3.3% growth in 2024, Counterpoint said. The recent smartphone sector downturn […]

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    Worldwide smartphone shipments are forecast to have hit a decade low in 2023, with the industry having declined in size for two years straight, according to Counterpoint Research. But in recent months, sales have begun to rebound as the economy improves, with projections for 3.3% growth in 2024, Counterpoint said.

    The recent smartphone sector downturn came amid a stall in meaningful leaps in technology that wowed users, such as a front-facing camera, larger displays or faster networks that let people stream content on their mobile devices. Generative AI offers a shot to bring back some novelty and compel consumers to upgrade their devices, said Tom Kang, a Seoul-based research director at Counterpoint.

    Few smartphones command the global demand—and top dollar—of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 devices. Samsung is expected to account for half of the roughly 100 million smartphones equipped with generative AI capabilities to be shipped this year, with Google’s Pixel and major Chinese brands including Xiaomi and Vivo also contributing, according to Counterpoint.

    But unlike Samsung, Chinese smartphone brands mainly serve their domestic market, with virtually no presence in the U.S. and some sales in Western Europe and India for their high-end models, Counterpoint said…Read more

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    Ayush Sharma
    Two-thirds of Cars Sold in Q3 2023 Featured Embedded Connectivity https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/global-connected-car-sales-q3-2023/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 08:34:25 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034710 Global connected car sales grew 28% YoY in Q3 2023. Developed countries with strong government push lead in connected car sales. By 2030, more than 90% of connected cars sold will have embedded 5G connectivity. Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, San Diego – January 17, 2024 Global connected car sales* […]

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  • Global connected car sales grew 28% YoY in Q3 2023.
  • Developed countries with strong government push lead in connected car sales.
  • By 2030, more than 90% of connected cars sold will have embedded 5G connectivity.
  • Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, San Diego – January 17, 2024

    Global connected car sales* grew 28% YoY in Q3 2023, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Global Connected Car Sales Tracker. Every 2 out of 3 cars sold in Q3 2023 had embedded connectivity in them. China led with around 33% share in global connected car sales, followed by the US and Europe. These top three regions constituted more than 75% of the global connected car sales in Q3.

    Commenting on the market dynamics, Senior Analyst Soumen Mandal said, “Germany has the highest share of connected cars in its passenger car sales owing to the initial government push towards connected vehicles through mandates like eCall. After Germany, the US, France, and the UK have the highest share of connected cars in their respective passenger car sales.

    With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles, the connectivity penetration in a car is increasing. 4G still dominates this space with more than 95% sales share, while 5G adoption is slower than the industry’s projections earlier. The lack of robust 5G infrastructure along the highways, non-availability of unique 5G use cases within the car, and supply chain issues are some of the reasons for slower adoption of 5G in passenger cars.”

    Share of Connected Cars in Passenger Car Sales, Q3 2023

    Mandal added, “With growing consumer tech awareness and need for connectivity, the sales of non-connected cars are steadily declining. The top five automotive groups accounted for nearly 45% of the connected cars sold in Q3 2023. Toyota Group led the charts in terms of shipments with a 12% sales share, closely followed by the Volkswagen Group. GM Group, Hyundai Kia Automotive Group and Stellantis were the other three in the top five.”

    Global Car Sales Share by Automotive Group, Q3 2023

    Commenting on the market outlook, Vice President Research Neil Shah said, “The connectivity in cars is slowly gaining preference in developing economies too and becoming the main differentiator in the market. It is expected that more than 95% of all new passenger cars will have embedded connectivity by 2030. 4G connectivity will continue to dominate, while 5G connectivity will gradually rise with the introduction of more L3 and above cars in the market. 2026 will likely be the inflection point for adopting 5G in automotive applications. By 2030, more than 90% of connected cars sold will have embedded 5G connectivity.”

    * Sales here refer to wholesale figures, i.e. deliveries out of factories by respective brands, and consider only passenger cars with embedded connectivity.

    The comprehensive and in-depth ‘Global Connected Car Tracker, Q3 2023’ and ‘Global Connected Car Forecast, 2019-2030F’ are now available for purchase at report.counterpointresearch.com.

    Feel free to reach us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.

    Background

    Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media, and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.

    Follow Counterpoint Research

    press(at)counterpointresearch.com

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    Team Counterpoint
    Meet Counterpoint Research at the 31st Convergence India Expo 2024 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/insights/meet-counterpoint-research-at-31st-convergence-india-expo-2024/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 06:14:18 +0000 https://www.counterpointresearch.com/?post_type=insights&p=1034701 Counterpoint Research is attending the 31st Convergence India Expo 2024 on 18th January 2024 Our Senior Analyst, Anshika Jain, and Research Associate, Subhadip Roy will be attending the expo at New Delhi, India. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunication sector and understand how our […]

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    Counterpoint Research is attending the 31st Convergence India Expo 2024 on 18th January 2024

    Our Senior Analyst, Anshika Jain, and Research Associate, Subhadip Roy will be attending the expo at New Delhi, India. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunication sector and understand how our leading research and services can help your business.

    When: 18th January 2024

    Where: Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India

    About the 31st Convergence India Expo 2024:

    The 31st Convergence India Expo is the largest Tech event in India that brings together various sectors through the convergence of technologies. With a focus on new-age technologies and innovative solutions, the expo brings together professionals, digital innovators, international businesses, and leaders from various industries, including IT, ICT, Broadcast, IoT, Fintech and Embedded Technology. It is co-located with 9th Smart Cities India Expo and is being organized by the Exhibitions India Group (EIG), along with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MOHUA) and ITPO (Ministry of Commerce & Industry).

    Click here (or send us an email at contact@counterpointresearch.com) to schedule a meeting with him. 

    Read more about the 31st Convergence India Expo 2024

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    Team Counterpoint