Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 just confirmed for 2017

 

You can at least call Samsung's determination to sell phones – as if the Galaxy Note 7 recall never happened – "fireproof."

The Samsung Galaxy S8, and, surprisingly, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are both being readied for launch next year, according to the company.

This is the first indication that the Samsung Galaxy Note name won't be retired, despite the fact that it's tied to several battery explosions and two recalls. 

Samsung's 2017 smartphone plans were outed in an effort to promote an attractive new upgrade program in its home country of South Korea.

Dubbed the "Galaxy Upgrade Program," this plan allows Note 7 customers who exchange their troubled phone for an S7 or S7 Edge to receive a S8 or Note 8 next year. 

There's no telling whether or not this plan will come to the US, UK or other regions of the world. Samsung said "availability of such a program in other markets will be dependent on the situation in each country," according to Reuters.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8 expectations

Samsung's comeback story begins when it launches the Galaxy S8. That's been tipped to happen on February 28 at Mobile World Congress, or soon after.

The latest rumors says the Galaxy S8 may be delayed by up to two weeks, as the company's engineers try to solve the Note 7 battery overheating problem.

However, when it does launch, the S8 is supposed to eschew a flat version in favor of a curvy design, a boost to RAM and two cameras on back. 

As for the battery, it may get a little help from LG-made batteries in 2017. The Note 8 is likely to be a bigger version of the S8, complete with an S-Pen stylus.

Is all of this enough to overcome the stigma of two recalls? We'll apparently find out next year when both phones are now confirmed to launch.

8:58 PM