By Chris Nicholls
SYDNEY: Samsung has entered the rapidly expanding 4-star top loader market and stated they plan to undercut market leader Fisher & Paykel by up to $200 in price.
The announcement, made yesterday at Samsung’s annual whitegoods roadshow, makes Samsung the fourth entrant into the rapidly expanding 4-star top loader market, and while they may not have been the first, Whitegoods Marketing Division general manager Mark Leathan said price would make them competitive.
“[The Fisher & Paykel AquaSmart] is $1,099, so we’re $200 underneath that [for the 8 kilo model].”
Leathan did not reveal the 7.5 kilo prices, but said despite the price advantage, “pre-orders on the 8 kilo have surprised us”.
Both the 8 kilo SW80USP and 7.5 kilo SW75USP come with 4-star WELS ratings, and use Samsung’s silver nano antibacterial system.
Samsung also used the event to launch what they claimed was Australia’s first ‘thin insulation’ refrigerator, the ‘Space’.
The new refrigerator, which uses thinner insulation, a smaller compressor and more compact lighting to squeeze 735 litres into a 600 litre refrigerator’s footprint.
“The thing this lets you do is innovate your kitchen without renovating,” said Leathan.
"We believe that this is going to be a real innovator in this marketplace. And this technology will come down … throughout the whole range of fridges in the marketplace,” he said.
The Space will be available from June.