Google, Sony, and Motorola battle for smartphone dollars after Samsung bows out of the race

Samsung abandoned its popular but fire-prone Galaxy Note7 smartphone last week, leaving those who bought it weighing up a refund, exchange, whether to invest in a different Android phone, or a switch to Apple.

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But Google Android phone makers are doing all they can to prevent that last eventuality, with three top-of-the-line phones out this week in Australia.

Samsung’s withdrawal from the smartphone market in the run to Christmas is significant, as the South Korean tech giant was a Google Android champion.

Kantar Worldpanel revealed Android phones made up six in every 10 smartphones sold in Australia in the three months to August, jumping in popularity by more than nine per cent.

Most of those Android smartphones were made by Samsung, making this an unprecedented opportunity for rival phone makers to make their mark.

Strangely, Google is one of those companies, having launched two of its own phones on Thursday.

Kantar Worldpanel ComTech consumer insight director Lauren Guenveur says Google is likely to see more new customers from Samsung than Apple.

“The Pixel announcement could not have come at a better time for Google, with Samsung suspending production of the beleaguered Galaxy Note 7 and instructing users to power down the device and stop using it,” she says.

“(Google’s phones are) likely to steal share away from other Android brands, namely Samsung and Motorola.”

The Pixel ($1079) and Pixel XL ($1269) are touted as the “first phones made by Google,” and feature new software, artificial intelligence engine Google Assistant, fingerprint scanners, 12.3-megapixel cameras with high DxOMark scores, and a 5-inch (12.7cm) and 5.5-inch (13.97cm) screen respectively.

The handsets will also be the first Google phones sold through an Australian carrier, with Telstra offering the devices on a 24-month plans.

Google is not the only Android offering in the game, though.

Sony launched its new flagship smartphone, the Xperia XZ ($999), on the same day, touting a water-resistant body, fingerprint scanner, smart battery charging and, notably, a 23-megapixel camera with two extra sensors to speed up autofocus and deliver accurate colours.

Sony Mobile business development communications head John Featherstone said the Note7 recall could shake up what has become “a very polarised” market.
 

“You would think that given some of the challenges other companies have had, it would certainly make (the Xperia XZ) a viable alternative,” he says.

“It’s got all the specs, it’s still going to be best in class when it comes to camera, it will be best in class around battery design, and it’s got all the other elements like high-res audio and remote gaming.”

Motorola is weighing into the battle too with its first high-end flagship in a long time.

The $999 Moto Z boasts a 5.5-inch (13.97cm) display, 64GB storage, 13-megapixel camera, super slim design, and fingerprint scanner.

But its most innovative additions are its Mods, or magnetised accessories, that add a speaker, projector, extra battery, or even a Hasselblad camera on to its rear panel.

Motorola Mobility Australia general manager Danny Adamopolous says the new flagship is designed to take on the big guys.

“We want to take advantage of the current situation and ride the wave,” he says. “Having a premium product will allow us to do that.”