We’re slowly coming full circle with Galaxy S8 release date estimates. Some rumors said the phone will arrive earlier than anticipated so Samsung can recoup some of its Galaxy Note 7 losses. Then reports claimed the handset is in store for a regular MWC launch, just like the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S6 before it. Then earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal learned that the phone might be postponed until April, as Samsung is dealing with various challenges.
Now it’s time to look at a new report that seems to indicate a regular late-February launch may still be in order, which is great news considering no one wants to wait until April or May for a new flagship Galaxy S phone.
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According to unnamed sources who spoke to The Investor, Samsung is expected to start testing the Galaxy S8 in January, while it’s still working to solidify a launch date.
“Key suppliers are required to provide an initial batch of their parts for the Galaxy S8 from January,” an official at a component maker said. “Full volume supplies will start in February.”
“Considering the parts supplies, the phone launch could come in March as usual, unlike an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal,” a second source said.
Samsung is yet to make any Galaxy S8 announcements beyond confirming that the phone will feature a new Siri competitor based on its recent Viv acquisition, and it will be a while before press invites for a Galaxy S8 launch event go out. Samsung announced both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7 during special Unpacked keynotes held in Barcelona, Spain, that preceded the 2015 and 2016 editions of the annual Mobile World Congress. Both handsets went on sale soon after their respective announcements.
