The UAE is to be the first country in the world to receive a gold-plated version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone.
The eagerly anticipated device is set for launch in the Emirates tomorrow, with the 24K gold-plated version also available via Axiom Telecom stores.
The special edition Galaxy S6 will be priced at Dh5,499, while the S6 edge will cost Dh5,999.
“The market in the UAE is discerning and has a true appreciation for the finer things,” said Faisal Al Bannai, Axiom chief executive.
“After receiving increasing customer inquiries for luxury editions of the new Samsung models, we are happy to be the first to introduce these powerful devices enwrapped in 24 carat gold.”
The regular 32GB version of the S6 is priced at Dh2,599, and the Galaxy S6 64GB is Dh2,899.
Although the phones lose the waterproof protection that the S5 offered, plus the ability to remove the battery, they have an improved camera, better software and sleek metal design with a glass back.
Samsung expects that the pair of Galaxy S6 smartphones that go on sale at midnight will help the company overcome a recent surge by its rival Apple.
Demand for the Galaxy S6 Edge, which features a screen stretching down two sides, probably will exceed supply as the company works to manufacture enough flexible screens, the co-chief executive Shin Jong Kyun said in Seoul yesterday.
The other model has a traditional flat display and will cost less. The new S6 models have 5.1-inch screens, which are in between the screen sizes of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
“S6 is the best made phone by Samsung in terms of design or specifications,” said Keon Han of Credit Suisse in Seoul. “The market, carriers and even consumers are all on the same page that Samsung’s new phone is different from the past models.”
Mr Han expects the company to sell as many as 50 million units this year, setting the stage for an earnings boost from mobile to components.
Samsung will ship 49.8 million S6 units this year, according to the average of eight analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Analysts estimate the company shipped about 38.3 million units of the S5 and more than 65 million of the S3 released in 2012.
IBK Securities in Seoul predicts Samsung could ship as many as 55 million S6 models.
Even at the top of the analyst range, the S6 will be outsold by Apple, which shipped more than 74 million iPhones in the December quarter, riding momentum in China from its move to bigger screens. Samsung fell back into a tie with Apple that quarter as the world’s biggest smartphone vendor, according to Strategy Analytics.
First-quarter operating income fell 31 per cent to 5.9 trillion won even as rising demand for memory chips and displays more than offset a slump in smartphones, Samsung said on Tuesday.
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MATCH INFO
FA Cup fifth round
Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m
Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
The%20Genius%20of%20Their%20Age
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Company%20Profile
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The%20specs
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Company%20Profile
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.