Samsung Unveils Note 9, Upgraded Watch and Home Speaker

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 9 in New York, banking on the larger-screen device to rejuvenate sales of a struggling flagship line and fend off Apple’s upcoming iPhones over the holidays, according to Bloomberg.

The 6.4-inch screen Note 9 will start at $999.99 and max out at $1,249.99 becoming, at about $100 above the iPhone X’s upper limit, one of the world’s most expensive consumer phones. It looks similar to last year’s 6.1-inch Note 8 but sports a revamped Bluetooth stylus as well as an upgraded camera that takes sharper photos than the S9 released earlier this year.

Samsung’s latest device enters the ring at a time of slowing smartphone demand globally and a disappointing performance by its cousin, the Galaxy S9. That marquee gadget failed to capture consumers’ imagination or stop Huawei and Xiaomi from grabbing market share at the Korean giant’s expense. It’ll also go up against the new iPhones, typically unveiled in September.

Samsung is counting on its latest device to lead the charge during the crucial holiday season and revitalize a mobile division where profits almost halved last quarter. After a robust decade of growth, demand is cooling as consumers wait longer to replace devices, even as cheaper Chinese brands flood the market and chip away at Samsung and Apple’s longstanding dominance.

At the New York event, Samsung also introduced a new Galaxy Watch that competes with a similar product from Apple. The redesigned smartwatch has a circular screen, is water-resistant, and can connect to LTE cellular networks, the company said. It has improved battery life over previous Samsung watch models, and will be compatible with a new charger that can simultaneously charge smartphones and the watch.

Samsung also debuted a new product product category for its line, the Galaxy Home speaker. It enters a crowded market with Amazon’s Echo, Alphabet’s Google Home and the Apple HomePod. The new speaker has eight microphones and focuses on audio quality, Samsung said. The device has a mesh black design and a tripod-like stand. Samsung called the announcement a preview and said it would share more details in the near future.