Samsung magic stays with Galaxy S5

DUBAI — Samsung’s latest Galaxy device made good on its pre-launch hype and promise to deliver, racking up healthy numbers on its first official sales day in the UAE.

The Galaxy S5 smartphone, the newest in the South Korean tech giant’s highly-successful flagship range, hit UAE shelves on Friday, and as in the past, consumers made their way to retailers.

“The reception has been very positive and encouraging,” Manish Arora, head of the Samsung Busi- ness Unit at Jacky’s, told Khaleej

Times by telephone on Friday. Major UAE electronics retailer Jacky’s now manages three Samsung-branded stores in Dubai.

Arora said that the anticipation and interest for the Galaxy S5 only got better right from when it was first announced in February’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

He said that strong numbers were recorded in the pre-launch alone, which further spilled into its stores yesterday.

“On the first day, we expect anywhere between 300 to 400 units to be sold in all our locations,” he said, but clarified that as at Press time, official figures were still being compiled and the final number would obviously be ready by the end of the business day.

If those figures would hold true, given the large number of electronics retailers in the UAE, Samsung would be in for another immensely-successful launch of its industry-leading product.

Arora said the current level of sales for the Galaxy S5 would continue through April and “hopefully” even May, but that may be just the tip of the iceberg; the second Gitex Shopper Spring Edition is set to be held from April 23 to 26 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and everybody knows what happens to electronics sales when Gitex comes around.

“Customers have had positive conversations about the Galaxy S5,” he said.

Alongside the Galaxy S5, Samsung also launched smart wearables — the Gear Fit, Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo.

UAE telecom company Etisalat has also announced special packages for the smartphone.