Sources: Galaxy Note 8 to launch in late August in New York

A Samsung executive told Korean media that the Galaxy Note 8 would be unveiled in the second half of August in New York.

The report, published by the Investor, comes after a string of contradictory rumors regarding the release date of Samsung’s Next Big Thing. While some early stories suggested Samsung would release the Galaxy Note 8 in the second half of August, the respected Evan Blass reported that the Note 8 would launch in the second part of September. Meanwhile, SamMobile claimed the Note 8 would make its debut at IFA.

Whether Samsung changed its plans or older reports were just inaccurate, it now looks like a launch in the second half of August is more likely.

Financial publication The Bell reported that the Note 8 would be unpacked on August 23. The Investor picked up the report and added a confirmation from a Samsung executive, though the unnamed executive stopped short from confirming the precise date of the event.

The first generations of the Note series launched at IFA in early September, but for the past couple releases Samsung preferred staging standalone Unpacked events in New York.

Read: Galaxy Note 8 – All the rumors in one place

The report comes in the context of rumors of lackluster Galaxy S8 sales. Samsung refuted the reports, which claimed the Galaxy S8 is falling behind the sales of the Galaxy S7.

Thanks to its unique S Pen, the Galaxy Note series is in a class of its own, but that doesn’t mean the phone is immune to competition. The LG V30 will launch at IFA in the final days of August, but Samsung is probably more worried about the OLED, bezel-less iPhone that Apple is rumored to be preparing. As we pointed out here, this iPhone shapes up to be very similar to the Note 8, in appearance (curved display, glass back) and features (facial recognition, dual camera). More than that, Apple will benefit from the novelty of this brand-new device, while the Galaxy Note 8 is expected to offer a largely familiar experience.

Even Google, with its so-called “Pixel XL,” could take on the new Note, though given Google’s abysmal record when it comes to actually marketing its smartphones, we won’t hold our breath.