Samsung's release date plans for the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will actually involve phased rollout. Apparently, the Android flagship will first hit the market in South Korea on April 21 and seven days later consumers located in the U.S. and Canada will get a hold of the touted iPhone 8 rival.
In a recent report, 9to5Google said the GS8 is tipped by analyst Ming-chi Kuo for a market debut on April 21 or a few weeks after Samsung's unpacking of the mobile device, which the same report said will happen on March 29. Kuo did not identify the specific markets where the Galaxy S8 will initially sell but it is presumed that South Korea as Samsung's home base will be among the early recipients.
However, BGR claimed in a new report that Samsung will only commence the deployment of its first 2017 flagship on April 28, which is a timing that is in line with recent rumors. In the past days, it was reported that Samsung has pushed back the GS8 launch from the 21st of April to the 28th.
The same report indicated that for the April 28 push of the Galaxy S8, among the confirmed destinations will be the North American market, specifically the U.S. and Canada.
Now since Kuo is known for his mostly accurate predictions on product releases, the conflicting reports can be translated a scenario in which Samsung will actually make the GS8 available in rolling pace. And it makes sense that the device will be first seen in key Asian markets where Samsung operates from.
Then a week after, it will be a go for America where Samsung has a significant presence. In the past, Samsung has employed the same approach of gradual device rollout, which is dictated mostly by the availability of actual units ready to ship out.
In the last note that was released for the GS8, Kuo indicated that both the GS8 and the S8 Plus will boast of the following feature upgrades: "(1) Full-screen display with no physical home button; (2) all models equipped with 3D-curved cover glass; and (3) six cutouts at the top front consist of a proximity sensor, ambient light sensor (ALS), IR-LED transmitter and receiver for iris recognition, front/ sub camera, and receiver."
And on release date, the Galaxy S8 will unbox in eight color options namely Gold, Silver, Bright or Jet Black, Blue, Orchid and Pink, according to a Twitter post from gadget tipster Ice_Universe.