The supposed early 2017 debut of the Samsung Galaxy S8 seems to be on track, as Samsung will reportedly test the flagship prototype by January.
According to South Korea-based media outlet, The Investor, while Samsung has yet to confirm launch and release dates for its next flagship, the Galaxy S8 is expected to come out in the first part of 2017, as the South Korean tech giant will reportedly start tests for prototypes as early as January. Supposedly, third-party suppliers familiar with Samsung's roadmap schedule told the industry follower, "Considering the parts supplies, the phone launch could come in March as usual, unlike an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal."
WSJ reported that while Samsung will want to make an early appearance for the Galaxy S8, the major improvements in the new flagship, like an AI-supported digital assistant, will likely delay the release of the flagship by April.
Usually, Samsung debuts its new Galaxy S-series flagships early in the year, normally showcasing it in the annual Mobile World Congress trade show that is slated in February. The tech maker then follows it up with the release of the flagship a month after.
Meanwhile, although Samsung has yet to come out with confirmed details on its next flagship, speculations on the supposed improvements for the Galaxy S8 have already made their way online. Supposed specs and features for the new lineup include an AI digital assistant, dual-cam setup, as well as near bezel-less display without a physical home button. It is also expected that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will get top-tier components under the hood, like the latest Exynos and/or Snapdragon chipset, paired with at least 6 GB of RAM.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to debut at the next MWC event, scheduled for late February 2017.
