Beautiful, isn't it?

For what seems to be an eternity, we have speculated about the hotly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S3 release date. Rumor after rumor, our hopes were kindled, only to be brutally crushed when the supposed launch date passed joylessly.

First, it was January at the CES. Then, this week’s MWC was pegged as the perfect occasion to launch the S3 (in 2011, the Galaxy S2 was announced at MWC). But Samsung made it clear that we won’t see the new S3 in Barcelona.

So the next supposed release date became the Angry Birds Space launch event in March 22. But come on, Angry Birds is big, but not Galaxy S3 big. And certainly not big enough to deserve to share the limelight with the vaunted Galaxy S3. A Samsung representative quickly denied the Angry Birds connection. With that being said, when can we realistically expect the Galaxy S3 to launch?

Galaxy S3 to Be Released in July

We have strong reasons to believe that the S3 will finally grace us with its presence sometimes in July. While we can’t offer a precise Galaxy S3 release date, several clues suggest that Samsung will hold out until the middle of the summer to announce its new flagship device. Here are the most important:

• The South African Connection

MTN, a South African carrier, told the press that they already “ranged” the new Galaxy S3 for a July release window. In carrier-speak, ranging means planning the release of a device to the customers. MTN is a relatively large carrier, running operations across multiple African countries, so it makes sense for Samsung to fill them in on their upcoming devices.

Moreover, MTN got a lot of heat from local customers for not carrying the Galaxy Nexus, which explains the eagerness to announce that the new and improved Galaxy S3 will come on their network. Although we can’t guarantee that the rumor is accurate, this type of sources are generally more accurate than the anonymous gossips that usually make the rounds of the tech blogs.

• The Summer Olympics

The 2012 Summer Olympics will take place in London between the July 27 and August 12. What’s that got to do with the Galaxy S3 release date? Well, Samsung is a major sponsor of the Games, being listed as one of the select Worldwide Partners. This gives the Korean tech giant an excellent opportunity to show their new product to a global audience that is estimated to reach 5 billion people.

What better time to launch a flagship device than when all eyes are on you? Sammy knows that and will do everything to capitalize on the attention garnered by the Games. This is why we are willing to bet on a S3 release date that is close to the July 27 opening ceremony.

• The American Problem

Last year, the Galaxy S2 was announced in late April and launched a few days later worldwide, with one BIG exception – the United States. In the U.S., the S2 was sold under various carrier-specific monikers, like the Epic 4G Touch. Sammy had to drive a hard bargain with the carriers, due to the strong competition from the iPhone and Motorola’s competitive lineup of devices. The result: a four months delay that probably cost Samsung dearly.

This year, Samsung seems to have taken a cue from last year’s fiasco. As we speak, the Koreans are probably hard at work preparing the new Galaxy S3 for a smooth release. These preparations take a lot of time, and a summer release would give Samsung just that – the time it needs to properly woo the largest smartphone market in the world.

• The iPhone Factor

Like it or not, everything Apple does, and especially the regular releases of new iPhone iterations, has a huge impact on the plans of Android manufacturers. And Samsung, with all its might, is no exception. Apple is likely to launch the new iPhone 5 sometimes in the autumn. If Samsung wants to stand a fighting change in the crucial North American market, it must wisely time the Galaxy S3 release date so it can steal the iPhone’s thunder.

Last year, with a staggered and repeatedly delayed release, the S2 did well, but its performance was dwarfed by the iPhone 4S. This time, a more coordinated attack could yield better results for the S3.

• Samsung Told Us

Last but not least, Samsung itself told us that we shouldn't set our hopes high for a spring release. When a Samsung representative rebutted the Angry Birds launch rumor, he also said that a mid-year release date for the Galaxy S3 is more probable.

The new S3 is hotly anticipated, and the rumor mill keeps spitting out all kinds of presumed specs, details, and release dates. Maybe Samsung is trying to temper the gossip a notch. The last things it needs is to build too much hype around the S3, and then, to leave us all hanging. Samsung knows that frustration can be dangerous and may be trying to set some realistic expectations.

What Do You Think?

And there you have it. The five clues that make us believe the Samsung Galaxy S3 release date will be sometimes in mid-summer, probably in July. Sammy may announce the phone a few weeks sooner, but is likely to go for a short window between the announcement and the actual launch.

We may be wrong. Heck, we hope that we are wrong, so we can get our greedy hands on that beautiful Galaxy S3 sooner. Oh, and if you're interested, we have fresh details on specs and looks, here.

What do you think? Will the Galaxy S3 grace us any time soon or will we have to wait for the summer?

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We will be updating this piece extremely often, so be sure to check back for details! Our rumor hunters scour the web endlessly for new leaks and details,  and we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to find the release date for the Samsung Galaxy S3!

Special thanks to Concept-Phones and Bob Freking for the latest Galaxy S3 rendering. 

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