When it comes to product ecosystems, no one does it better (or worse if you're against vendor lock-in) than Apple, which, incidentally, has just announced a bunch of new products — read here. But Samsung, too, has done an admirable job of building its own ecosystem. While it doesn't come close to Apple's level of integration, Samsung's ecosystem is definitely more extensive. It doesn't just revolve around mobile devices. The South Korean firm sells everything from home appliances to smart home gadgets to computers. Here are five Samsung ecosystem products that are worth being locked in:
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the more accessible and mainstream-friendly of Samsung's two foldable phones. And its clamshell foldable form factor isn't something you'll find from Apple. The latest version increases the size of the external screen, which makes a bigger difference than you'd think. Lastly, the Flip 5 (S$1,498) won't give you sticker shock, seeing as it's about the price of a flagship smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
While Apple focuses solely on the premium segment, Samsung will sell you a phone at almost any price point. So if you can't justify paying over a thousand dollars for a phone, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G (around S$500) is a solid mid-range phone that probably offers 75% of the performance and features of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S23 series, but at less than half the price. In fact, the battery life is about as good as the S23+.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic
Not every product refresh brings something truly new to the table. While the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (S$598) isn't a big leap over last year's Watch 5 models, it does bring back the rotating bezel, which adds precision and tactility to watch interactions. For this reason alone, it's worth getting this smartwatch. But that aside, the Watch 6 Classic, which includes improvements to sleep tracking, is better than most of its rivals, and is a good companion for anyone with an Android smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
From the ease of use to features that only work with Samsung devices, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (around S$300) makes a strong case for (or against) product ecosystems. Thanks to its excellent ANC and solid audio quality, it's a good pair of true wireless earbuds for anyone, regardless of their allegiance. But you do get more with a Samsung device, such as 360 audio with dynamic head tracking and support for 24-bit high-resolution audio.
Samsung S95C OLED TV
An example of a product category that you won't find on the Apple side (no, Apple TV 4K doesn't count) is the Samsung S95C OLED TV (S$4,699 for 65-inch). This excellent TV uses Samsung's own QD-OLED tech for top-notch picture quality. It works very well with Samsung devices for tasks like screen mirroring and syncing of the speakers with Samsung's soundbar for greater immersion. You can even control other Samsung devices through its SmartThings IoT hub.
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