Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs: Will the flagship's development delay affect the device's debut schedule?

The logo of Samsung Electronics is seen at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, July 4, 2016.Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

It is said that development for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 has been delayed for two weeks, leading to speculations that the holdup may lead to a delay in its debut and subsequent release.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a member of the development team for Samsung's next flagship admitted that due to the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, the development for the Galaxy S8 has been delayed for two weeks. Ostensibly, the Samsung engineers continue to focus on checking out the problem with the Galaxy Note 7, making sure that it will not happen again with the Galaxy S8.

Although the delay is already in place, it is expected that the setback will not have any consequences for the Galaxy S8 debut and release. It is already expected that the next Samsung flagship will debut early next year, appearing in the 2017 Mobile World Congress. In addition, the Galaxy S8 is said to feature a new battery made by LG Chem, a trusted brand in supply components. This means that there is a low chance of the Galaxy Note 7 issue appearing in the Galaxy S8.

Meanwhile, the delay is certainly understandable, since the Galaxy Note 7 issues led to a recall and discontinuation of the lineup. Figures estimate that the South Korea-based tech giant will shell out at least $5 billion or more in the global recall and lost sales for the Galaxy Note 7. Meanwhile, investors have also moved to de-value Samsung stocks to the tune of almost $20 million.

The Galaxy Note 7 is supposed to be Samsung's recent flagship. However, the iteration suffered from heating and exploding issues due to a defect in its battery. Samsung has already made two batches with different battery components — one of the two from Samsung's own company affiliate — due to recalls, though the issue remains unresolved.

With the Galaxy Note 7 discontinued, fans are looking forward to the Galaxy S8.