Samsung Electronics reportedly has revised downward its purchases of parts and components for its latest flagship model, the Galaxy S4, for the second and third quarters of 2013 due to a slowdown in demand in the end market, according to industry sources.

ETNews confirmed once again that Samsung has issued order forecasts on the lower range for this quarter, 20-25 million instead of 25 million firm, and has lowered the forecast for next quarter from 30 million units down to 20 million.

But this does not mean that Samsung is losing its competitiveness in the smartphone segment, but rather indicates an underlying structural change in the industry, where demand for entry-level to midrange smartphones is rising sharply in China and other emerging markets, and the market for high-end models is becoming saturated, said the sources.

Source: etnews