Two of the biggest companies in the smartphone space are reporting very different results in their latest financial reports. Samsung posted record profits about $9.4 billion, while HTC lost about $101 million, marking the first time the company actually reported a quarterly loss.
To be fair, HTC is primarily a smartphone company while Samsung makes all sorts of consumer electronics. But while HTC’s last few phones have been lauded by critics for their design and performance, Samsung sells far more handsets than its rival.
Samsung’s shotgun approach probably doesn’t hurt: while HTC offers just a few handsets, Samsung seems to offer phones and tablets in nearly every size, shape, and price point imaginable.
The South Korean company also has a lot more money to spend on marketing than HTC, although HTC recently launched a high profile (and kind of inscrutable) $12 million TV ad campaign featuring Robert Downey Jr.
It’s probably too early to consider HTC down for the count. The company still produces some excellent hardware. But it’s becoming clear that these days that might not be enough.
I like HTC hardware, but 1°/ the new HTC has a non-removable battery (I will never buy a phone with a non-removable battery), and 2°/ they don’t support their hardware long-term (my HTC Desire HD can perfectly work with Android 4, but HTC just cancelled the upgrade plans because “it would be a bad consumer experience”…). HTC should understand that planned obsolescence effectively leads to “a bad consumer experience” !
this is what they get for screwing over the consumer they will release the phone but stop supporting it after a paltry 9 months plus their stock roms are so battery intensive.