14 DAY TRIAL // The Galaxy S8 is unlikely to hit the shelves as early as the previous Galaxy S models. Although Samsung usually launches its flagship smartphones for the first half of the year in March, the Galaxy S8 will be an exception.
We reported earlier this month that industry sources confirmed Samsung Galaxy S8 would be launched on the market on April 18. Today, a new report claims the flagship will be released in mid-April, most likely during the third week of the month.
“Samsung Electronics has confirmed that the release schedule has been set in mid-April, possibly in the third week,” an industry source who refused to be named told The Investor.
According to Samsung's suppliers, the South Korean company plans to ship no less than 60 million Galaxy S8 units by the end of the year. If the information is accurate, it would be the highest number of flagships Samsung sells in a year.
“Samsung has requested its partners to provide their supplies based on the tech giant’s 60-million shipment goal,” said one source at a supplier.
Only the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 flagships have sold more than 60 million units in a year. The former accounts for 70 million devices in 2013, while the Galaxy S3 sold 65 million back in 2012.
“As the release date of the S8 has been postponed to mid-April, Samsung seems to have set a more ambitious goal than before to make up for the loss caused by the Note model,” another industry source said.
According to the cited source, Samsung Galaxy S8 mass market production will begin in March, which is why a number of 5 million units could be made available in some markets a few months earlier than the expected late April release.
It remains to be seen whether Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S8 at a dedicated event in New York or it will opt for the usual MWC reveal.