Samsung could advance launch of Galaxy S8, believe analysts

Samsung might advance the launch of its next-gen Galaxy S series flagship, dubbed S8, following the global recall of the Galaxy Note 7, believe analysts.

This could be possible as Samsung did not have enough time to focus on the sales of Note 7, reports Sammobile. The company had started selling the device on 19 August in select markets such as the US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the UAE and South Korea.

Before the handset could see a European release, Samsung announced a global recall and stopped the sales after incidents of the handset exploding while being charged emerged. Samsung will offer a new Note as replacement in some markets including the UK, Korea and Australia from 19 September.

"Smartphone demand has polarised: advanced and emerging markets, and premium and budget phones," Kim Sang-pyo, an analyst at the securities firm told the Korean Herald. "If Samsung's flagship smartphone launch is delayed to the end of the first quarter of next year, the profitability of the mobile business division could be worsened next year," added Kim.

He believes an early launch of the S8 could be a realistic option for the company to deal with the recall crisis. Another analyst at Mirae Asset Securities told the Herald that Samsung could reduce the sales impact from the recall by launching its next flagship, rather than working on increasing the Note 7 sales.

Galaxy S8 model number and codename

The Galaxy S8 is expected in two model numbers, SM-G950 and SM-G955, bearing codenames Dream and Dream2 respectively, reports Sammobile quoting insiders. The Galaxy S7 model number is SM-G930.

The company usually bumps the model number by 10 for its flagship phones. Going by that practice, the S8 should have been SM-G940. Number 4 is believed to bring bad luck in South Korea. Samsung has done this in the past as well. The Galaxy S3 came with GT-I9300 but the Galaxy S4 was GT-I9500, instead of I9400.