The Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S10 launch dates will be earlier than usual, but the real news is what's making Samsung change the release schedules of the flagship smartphones.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 scored better than the iPhone X in Consumer Reports' smartphone rankings, but the iPhone X was the best-selling smartphone in the first quarter. Samsung, with its next Galaxy smartphones, will be looking to take the throne away from Apple.
Early Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S10 Launch Dates
According to a report from The Korea Herald, industry sources said that Samsung appears to be speeding up the schedule for its flagship smartphones that are set to launch this year and in 2019.
The production of the 6.38-inch OLED displays for the Galaxy Note 9 started in April, which is two months earlier compared to the Galaxy Note 8. According to the report, this means that Samsung is on track to roll out the Galaxy Note 9 one month earlier, as early as August.
Samsung is also expected to unveil the Galaxy S10 ahead of schedule. The Samsung in-display fingerprint sensor is slated to launch with the Galaxy S10, which may be announced as soon as at CES 2019 in early January. In comparison, the Galaxy S9 was announced in February at the Mobile World Congress 2018, then released in March.
Why Will The Galaxy Note 9 And Galaxy S10 Release Early?
One of the reasons why Samsung is looking to release its upcoming flagship smartphones, particularly the Galaxy Note 9, earlier than usual is due to the low sales of the Galaxy S9, multiple sources said.
However, the more intriguing reason for the earlier Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S10 release dates is that Samsung is making room for another line of flagship smartphones. According to the report, it will be none other than the Galaxy X, the Samsung foldable smartphone.
With the Galaxy S10 to be announced at CES 2019, the Galaxy X will take the spot that will open up at MWC 2019 in late February next year. Samsung is reportedly planning to start production of the foldable OLED display in November, which would allow the company to launch the Galaxy X after MWC 2019.
It should be noted, however, that Samsung did not push through with its plan to introduce a foldable smartphone last year, and it will apparently not happen again this year. Samsung is reportedly "dumbing down" the design of the foldable smartphone to be able to finally launch the device. However, will this move make the Galaxy X just a gimmick smartphone, or a breakthrough device?
