Galaxy S8 available for use ahead of official release

SEOUL, April 18 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co.'s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8, became available for users who purchased the devices through preorders Tuesday, with the official release slated for later this week.

Industry watchers said the number of Galaxy S8s that were preordered, which ran from April 7-12, is estimated at 730,000 units, setting a new record by beating the 400,000 units reached by the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 phablet last year.

The South Korean tech giant showcased the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus last month, with the official sales of the device kicking off in South Korea and the United States on Friday.

The devices feature high resolution displays that bend on both ends and come with various innovative technologies, such as iris and face recognition scanners and a smart voice assistance program named Bixby.

Samsung, meanwhile, is expected to face hurdles in securing enough inventory to meet the record-beating preorders for the Galaxy S8 smartphones. The company also faced supply shortages last year when it sold the Galaxy Note 7, resulting in delayed shipments.

colin@yna.co.kr
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