To Samsung’s credit, they have worked quickly to recall units and to send out replacement units, but like we said, customers are probably going to be a bit more wary about buying the phone now. So much so that a report from the Korea Herald (via Android Central) has quoted one analyst as suggesting that the Galaxy S8 could be launched earlier than expected to help erase this from the memories of their customers.
According to Kim Sang-pyo, an analyst at KB Investment & Securities, “Regardless of the sales resumption, an earlier launch of a new quality flagship model seems to be the most realistic solution to dealing with the current recall crisis.” Assuming that this is indeed what Samsung is planning, the Galaxy S8 could be seeing a very early 2017 launch.
Samsung usually holds a launch event early in the year during MWC, and with MWC 2017 taking place towards the end of February, an earlier launch could see the phone announced possibly even in January, but until then, take it with a grain of salt.