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Samsung to start Galaxy S8 testing in January

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics is expected to start testing its upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone in January, while it is still gauging the launch date, multiple suppliers told The Investor on Nov. 8.

“Key suppliers are required to provide an initial batch of their parts for the Galaxy S8 from January,” said an official of a parts maker on condition of anonymity.

“Full volume supplies will start in February.”

Parts makers were mixed about the launch schedule of Samsung’s new flagship phone that is usually unveiled at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona in February and goes on sale in March globally.

“Considering the parts supplies, the phone launch could come in March as usual, unlike an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal,” said a source from another supplier who also wished to be unnamed.

On the day, WSJ reported that the S8 launch could be delayed to April as Samsung is preparing to add a new button for voice-powered artificial intelligence function to the new phone. The company didn’t confirm the report.

Following the unexpected withdrawal of the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7, its flagship phone in the latter half of this year, Samsung is pushing hard to upgrade features for the S8. With related rumors already piling up, the phone is widely expected to feature a bezel-less design with a body-to-screen ratio of more than 90 percent, a dual-lens camera and the AI-based assistance solution.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)