Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Note 7 will be announced Aug. 2, but recent reports suggest the 2016 flagship may go on sale the same day as its unveiling. A source in the telecommunications industry told Korean publication ET News Samsung has “secured supplies” for an Aug. 2 debut. While an official release date for the Galaxy Note 7 has not been revealed, pundits believe these details could indicate mobile carriers will have the Galaxy Note 7 available starting Aug. 2.
Keeping in mind that the report has come out of Korea, there is a possibility this prospective release date could pertain only to Korea. While the Galaxy Note 7 will be announced at a main launch event in New York City , with satellite events in London and Rio de Janeiro, it is possible the device could see immediate availability in its home market, while broader global availability may begin days or weeks later.
Samsung has had similar launches in the past, with flagships releasing first in Korea and neighboring markets like China. In 2014, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 4 in Korea and China in late September , while other major markets (including the U.S. and Europe) received the device in mid-October.
In the U.S., carriers sometimes have their own individual release dates for marketing purposes. For more recent devices, including the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy Note 5, Samsung has opted for more global launches with most major markets opening device availability on the same day. In 2015, the Galaxy Note 5 was announced Aug. 13 , but released Aug. 21. However, having local launches earlier on has also been a way for the manufacturer to drum up excitement for its new products. Reports indicate Samsung may be aligning the Galaxy Note 5 launch with the Rio 2016 Olympics , for which it is an electronics sponsor. The Olympics begin Aug. 5.
Meanwhile, reports from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) indicate six models of the the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 are approved for use in the U.S., including four for the major carriers, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. The other two models may be for regional carriers or unlocked versions. However, FCC approval at this point is a good sign Galaxy Note 7 availability will be widespread.
