2018.02.2523:14:00UTC+00Samsung Launches Galaxy S9 Smartphone

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. launched its Galaxy S9 smartphone, which has more focus on visual applications for social media, hoping to entice younger generation consumers who are tech savvy to weather a market slump.

Smartphone makers, which are set to stay flat or even contract following slow growth of one percent in 2017, are now putting their emphasis on features designed to attract consumers to let go of their old mobile devices earlier than they would have previously.

Samsung unveiled its flagship phone at the mobile gadget fair in Barcelona on Sunday, attracting a large number of reporters who wanted to see how the South Korean tech giant could innovate in a category which the big players are technologically neck-to-neck than ever.

Samsung's president of IT and mobile communications, DJ Koh, said that the most important function of a mobile phone today was “visual communication” and the Galaxy S9 has been created with the visual and social generation in mind.

The S9 features improved cameras, an AI-powered voice tool and social media functions that are easier to use than prior offerings. Two versions of Galaxy s9 were released and will go on sale on March 16 in most countries.