What is Flagship? What is a Flagship product?

In this technological age, there have been many times when you have heard phrases like 'this is a flagship product', 'this phone is currently flagship', 'this product is equipped with features. Flagship '. It's hard to describe the term flagship in a specific sense, because most people simply have their own definition.

If you try to understand the original meaning, the flagship has absolutely nothing to do with smartphones or technology products.In the original sense, flagship was the ship carrying the command of a naval fleet, the flagship ship and flagged by officers (since the flagship was born, flag = flag).When you think carefully about the meaning of the word, it may also be a bit related, but the problem is why is it used to describe mobile devices, not another word?

What is flagship equipment?

As mentioned, in the original meaning of the flagship word, we will be able to find relevance to leading technology devices.Flagship is a special ship carrying the commander in a fleet of ships, it is often the largest, most modern, equipped with the best equipment and always at the forefront of every mission.As for the technology equipment, flagship is basically the best or most important product of a manufacturer.In other words, flagships are a company's top devices, they must be equipped with the most advanced features along with the most modern hardware that the manufacturer has.

Flagship - The essence of a manufacturer

In a nutshell, conceptually, the idea here is that a flagship will be the best device a company will bring to the market.However, there are also many technology experts who have expressed their own views on the definition of flagship.Please quote here the views of some of the leading technology experts such as Luka Mlinar, Lahn Nguyen, Josh Noriega, Joe Hindy and Kris Carlon as follows.

According to Luka Mlinar, the term "flagship" refers to a company's most comprehensive device and does not necessarily lead to features and specifications.Lahn Nguyen's view is similar when he considers a flagship to be the most popular and best-selling device, regardless of whether it owns the top specs or not.Josh Noriega also agrees with these two points, saying that different companies - even manufacturers of low-cost devices, will have their own flagship devices.

In Joe Hindy's eyes, flagship is basically a product that can aggregate everything that a manufacturer can offer in a single device.However, Kris Carlon says that every company that can choose the device will be their flagship, which means that the device can carry some or all of the best available specifications. At that time, for example, a Samsung Galaxy S9 plus only has 6GB of RAM, not 10GB like Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, does not mean that Samsung Galaxy S9 plus is not a flagship because according to standards, 4G RAM Currently on mobile devices has been considered relatively sufficient.In addition, a flagship must be an improvement over the previous year's product.

Kris Carlon continues to explain that the concept of flagship can give us some comparisons between the same devices that are considered flagships.That is why we often have comparisons between each manufacturer's leading devices, and the first basis for this comparison is at the selling price.However, sometimes the resale price has nothing to do with specifying what a flagship device is, especially with the growing number of manufacturers creating products called 'flagship'. Cheap'.Therefore, it is more reasonable when the selling price is only a reference whereby we can compare the devices in the same segment and evaluate their value.

In short, on the concept of a flagship device, we will have two conclusions as follows:

1. Flagship is a key product of a manufacturer and at the same time, they can affirm their brand compared to other competitors.Flagship must be the latest phone, equipped with the most advanced hardware at the time of its launch.
2. Flagship is not necessarily the product that is equipped with the most modern or most expensive hardware, but just a manufacturer's best-selling phone in the period after it was released.

In fact, the second opinion received more concurring opinions.In addition, manufacturers of low-cost phones can also have their own flagship products.

The top device of the peak

What are the factors that separate a flagship from other competing devices in the smartphone market?Since all smartphone manufacturers can designate what their top devices are, there will definitely be a lot of comparisons offered when it comes to the industry's leading products. .So what is the defining characteristic of separating a flagship device from other competing devices in the smartphone market?Members of Android Author groups including Brian Reigh, Bogdan Petrovan, Nirave Gondhia and Gary Sims tried to answer this question.According to Brian Reigh, a leading device must fit most of what is considered to be the top specs in the mainstream smartphone market.He said it was difficult to consider a device with a 1080p screen that is flagship, while many of the most popular OEMs have switched to Quad HD screens.Bogdan Petrovan mentioned that while technical specifications and performance are the driving factors, marketing and brand awareness can also be a factor that distinguishes between flagships.Similarly, Nirave Gondhia explains that the top specs are seen on the smartphone market (he specifically refers to Qualcomm Snapdragon 845) that should be equipped in a top device instead of a hardware level. lower.

Marketing and brand recognition can also be important factors

Gary Sims has a unique perspective on flagship models.In Gary's opinion, only Android devices can be flagship, and this is because Android device manufacturers are competing with Apple.As we all know, the iPhone is considered a high-end device despite owning less impressive specs than today's high-end Android smartphones.More specifically on this issue, Gary Sims thinks the flagship will be an Android smartphone and at the same time the iPhone's biggest competitor in terms of features, innovation and of course price.

On flagship, all must be top

Although most members of the Android Author group believe that flagships can be categorized based on the manufacturer's level or the location of the product in the price segment, there will still be some points we need. must mention specifically.The first is the idea that "cropping" is something that basically doesn't exist in top smartphones.

Nirave, John Dye, Joe and Kris once mentioned the cropping when explaining their views on flagships.They all agree with the view that in order for a device to become a true flagship, manufacturers cannot, or are not allowed to cut any factor in any way.To clarify, Kris explained that a flagship device with only 4GB of RAM and not 6GB is not necessarily a cut off of the manufacturer.Instead, the trim is primarily related to the use of low-end (poor quality) or intermediate-level hardware or software, while newer and better options can be used.

To illustrate his opinion, Joe declares his belief that the cult phone earlier this year is Samsung Galaxy S9 will not be eligible to become a true flagship.He explained that Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus has certain features that S9 does not have.Therefore, Galaxy S9 technically will not be the best product that Samsung brought to the market at the time.Instead, Joe believes that only Galaxy S9 Plus is considered a leading device and can inspire improvements on devices in the lower segment, so only the new Galaxy S9 Plus As Samsung's true flagship at the time of its launch, Galaxy S9 doesn't deserve this title.

Flagship also has many levels

Jimmy Westenberg also agrees with the idea that the flagship must be the best product the manufacturer has ever launched.However, he further explained that a company can have a lot of flagship by assigning a leading device in each price segment on specifications.This means that companies that produce many different devices at different prices may have a flagship for the low-end segment, a flagship segment of the mid-range segment and a flagship for the high-end segment.On the one hand, the appearance of cheap and medium-priced flagships may contradict the concept of flagship if you have been used to the concept of a flagship being a top product.On the other hand, both Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and Xiaomi Mimix 3 are considered to be flagships although located in two segments of relatively different selling prices, so we can see that Jimmy Keith's explanation is complete. all valuable.

Commercial value and marketing

Perhaps, in the opinion of experts on the concept of flagship, John Velasco's point of view is the most surprising.In John's opinion, a flagship is a device designed to be of great commercial appeal, regardless of its specifications.Bogdan, too, has mentioned that marketing and branding can be the most contributing factors to a product's flagship title.If you have the idea that when evaluating whether a device is flagship or not, the top factor must be technical, you will see this point of view is absurd!However, it will be completely meaningful when you carefully analyze the powerful advertising campaigns that many manufacturers have applied to some of their devices.

Recently, Samsung's top devices such as Galaxy Galaxy S9, S9 Plus and Note 9 have been heavily advertised.Samsung has pumped money without any effort to improve the identity of these products in public.In addition, there are also many advertising campaigns for the FPO, V9 and Vivo V9s, which undoubtedly motivated the hype in users' perceptions and wishes for these devices.Although the ability to trade may not be the driving force behind the flagship status of a flagship product, it is undeniable that a strong advertising campaign can help a device become attractive and successful.

Opinions from experts

Throughout the article, you've heard some views from Android Author team members, now it's time to synthesize and re-evaluate those views.At this point, it's clear that your flagship awareness has been more or less changed, right?In summary, these are summaries of expert views on the flagship concept:

1. Flagship is the best device that manufacturers launch to the market.
2. Flagship is the device with the most modern features.
3. Flagship are Android smartphones that can compete with Apple's iPhone.
4. Flagship is the best device in a certain price segment.
5. Flagship is a combination of what is most optimal, there should not be any clutter.
6. Flagship is a device designed to enhance the position and level of brand identity for manufacturers.
7. Flagship is a device that receives a lot of self-advertising and marketing.

That is the opinion of experts around this issue.What do you think is a flagship product?Please share the comments in the comment section below!

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