Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra production plans leak out as the S-line’s flagship status is questioned

Still, Samsung forecasts that its actual shipments, which are usually about 10% lower than the overall production numbers, will be a healthy 270 million number. That’s more than the 260 million it would ship in 2022, so the production forecast adjustment might be reflecting better portfolio distribution planning and tighter cost controls instead of simply a recession doom and gloom.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra sales

A new Galaxy S series may be in the cards

The Fold 5 is still expected to move 3.54 million units, a fine increase from the 2.9 million forecast for the Z Fold 4, but demand for the Flip 5 Samsung expects to stay largely flat in 2023. This could mean that Samsung is not planning any huge design or specs changes to its clamshell line of phones with bendy screens.

The lion’s share of Samsung’s phone production forecast for next year, however, goes to its bread-and-butter Galaxy A-series which are expected to net the whopping 74% if its 2023 sales. As such, Samsung is mulling an overhaul of what it considers “flagship” phones, as only one in its typical S-line trio could be called that with clear conscience and priced as such.

In a conference call set last week, Samsung mentioned that it is preparing to launch a new S-series of phones that will strengthen the “core identity and experience” of the Galaxy brand. While it may have simply meant the upcoming Galaxy S23 series, Samsung could also be envisioning changes in the composition of its top-end S-line of phones to better reflect their flagship status.