Do you think a newcomer stands a chance against the Apple-Samsung duopoly? (poll results)

by Daniel Petrov

Jul 10, 2017, 8:50 AM

Holographic display, stack-on 6k camera, and ingenious modular sandwich design - is this disruptive enough?

We asked you last week if you think that a newcomer in the field of $600+ phones can be disruptive enough to change the status quo, and give Apple or Samsung a run for their money. After all, announcements like Andy Rubin's Essential phone, and RED's Hydrogen One prove that there can be unique propositions, stellar ideas and enough potential for disruption outside of the Apple-Samsung duopoly. Well, 29% of our 1290 respondents remain hopeful with these recent developments, while 43% give newcomers a chance if they are focused on certain niche markets. Just 28% believe that the cards are already dealt, and that the high-end market has become a two-horse race for good.

Love it or hate it, the flagship phone market is increasingly becoming a playground for two. Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S line are duking it out in the pit on a regular basis with varied success, barely leaving a space for the other fighters. There is a good reason for that - both are gigantic companies that offer unique propositions that are hard to replicate. Apple has the aura of the richest, most successful company in history with its design, performance and brand recognition, while Samsung's vertical integration of in-house flexible OLED panels, chipsets and memory, are almost impossible to copy on that scale even for established companies.