Samsung may just play wet blanket at this year's MWC 2017 as the OEM may not unveil its much-awaited Galaxy S8, the successor of the Galaxy S7, at the event in February.
Before you start shedding copious tears, this is not written in stone. However, considering the news comes courtesy of a Samsung executive, the chances of it being the gospel truth are pretty high.
According to a Reuters report, Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 will not be debuting at the MWC 2017.
"Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Monday it will not unveil its Galaxy S8 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show this year, suggesting the flagship model's launch may be later in the year than its 2016 version," noted the publication.
The report cited Samsung's Koh Dong-jin as the source of information. The company's mobile chief let on that unlike older iterations of the Galaxy S lineup, the Galaxy S8 would not be debuting at the MWC 2017.
Samsung has an event slated for Feb. 27, and fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the flagship device.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Unveil: If Not MWC, When?
The Samsung executive has not disclosed when the Galaxy S8 would be introduced. Thus, the device's launch remains shrouded in mystery.
Rumors have been rife that Samsung could introduce the smartphone on March 29, followed by a mid-April release for the device.
Earlier in January, a gold variant of the Galaxy S8 smartphone leaked online, propelling rumors that the handset would don the attractive hue. The leak also fueled speculation that this was a built up to the Galaxy S8's purported launch at the MWC 2017 in February.
This is not the first time reports have suggested that Samsung will not be showing off its Galaxy S8 at the MWC 2017. It has been indicated that the flagship handset will be showcased only to a few select guests at the event and will not be officially introduced to the world.
The company's executives have stayed mum on this aspect, and whether Samsung will indeed bring the Galaxy S8 to the MWC 2017, albeit for the eyes of a select few, is not clear.
Why The Galaxy S8 Could Skip The MWC
One of the reasons the Galaxy S8 may skip the MWC 2017 is because Samsung is being ultra-cautious about the device's launch. That the company's Galaxy Note 7 was a PR nightmare for the company, owing to its exploding battery, is no secret.
Samsung is possibly leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the same fiasco is not repeated. Therefore, the company could possibly be conducting more in-depth battery safety tests to be thorough. Samsung has an eight-point battery safety check it has implemented after the Galaxy Note 7 debacle, and this process could be taking the company longer than expected.
The detailed battery tests would ensure no problem exists before the Galaxy S8 begins to make its way to consumers. The handset will be checked at every stage to ensure safety measures are in place. One of the reasons behind the Galaxy Note 7's battery incident was the company's haste to manufacture units timely. This is something that Samsung would be looking to avoid with the Galaxy S8.
That the company is reportedly looking to make available only 5 million units of the Galaxy S8 at launch supports the assertion.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr
