Samsung, Apple rivalry set to heat up in September

Samsung is laying ground for big, competitive moves this fall with two new devices that could amp up its rivalry with Apple.

Samsung executives have said the company plans to release a smartwatch and a new version of its big-screen Galaxy Note smartphone ahead of a major mobile conference next month in Germany. The launch comes ahead of Apple’s expected Sept. 10 event to unveil its next version of the iPhone and possibly a cheaper Apple phone to compete with other smartphones with a lower price tag.

Sinking profitability is a problem facing many companies that make top-tier smartphones. As the markets for high-end smartphones hit close to a saturation point, it’s become harder for firms to pick up easy growth. To compensate, companies have had to start lowering their price points, particularly in emerging smartphone markets such as China. Analysts have linked that price competition to the growing popularity of the devices.