Samsung Galaxy S8 Zero Cost Price Tag Possible?

One of the latest Samsung Galaxy S8 rumors suggests that Note 7 owners may be able to get it with a zero cost (free) price tag. Also, the Galaxy S8, rumored for a February, 2017, release date, may be equipped with a battery supplied by a rival, according to the latest specs news.

Earlier reports last week noted that Samsung is reportedly mulling new compensation options for the ongoing Note 7 recall and exchange program, which could give them a discounted Samsung Galaxy S8 price. A post from Korea Herald noted the following.

“In a desperate move to pacify its displeased Galaxy Note 7 users, Samsung Electronics is considering cash discounts for their future purchase of the upcoming Galaxy S8 or the next Note phone next year, industry source said on Oct. 20.”

A group of displeased Note 7 consumers recently hinted at suing Samsung because of the limited compensation options provided to them when the company implemented the massive recall program for the 2016 phablet due to its faulty battery. For instance, in Korea, Samsung is only giving a complimentary voucher worth 30,000 won and a one-time 70,000 credit on the monthly bill for those who return their Galaxy Note 7.

If the possible cash discounts do not seem exciting enough, there’s a fresh report bearing even more good news for Note 7 owners. It looks like those who have already exchanged their phablet for a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge will have a chance to get a Galaxy S8 for free via a new program. They can trade their existing Samsung smartphone for the Galaxy S8 upon its release early next year, either for free or for a small amount, according to Sam Mobile. The Galaxy S8’s price for them will reportedly “depend upon if it’s the customer’s first or second exchange of the Galaxy Note 7,” the report noted. A Samsung official was quoted saying the following.

“The new compensation program is designed to make it easier for those who exchange their Galaxy Note 7 with existing Samsung smartphones, to shift into our next model coming in next year.”

For those curious about the Samsung Galaxy S8’s price, similar to the phone’s specs and release date, nothing is set in stone yet. However, the price estimation from Tech Radar noted that it could cost around $850.

Moreover, the latest news about Samsung Galaxy S8 revealed that its battery may be supplied by LG. After the Note 7 battery disaster, Samsung is reportedly looking into expanding its list of battery suppliers and is currently eyeing LG Chem as a possible new partner for the S8. Samsung SDI and China’s ATL are the current battery suppliers of the Galaxy phone maker.

“We are looking at diverse suppliers, including LG Chem,” according to a Samsung executive as quoted by Maeil Business Newspaper, a separate report from Korea Herald cited.

Further into the rumored specs of Samsung Galaxy S8, a standard 5.2-inch model and 5.5-inch “Plus” model could be released, with the latter speculated as the possible Note replacement since there were reports that the Galaxy Note series could end after the Note 7 debacle. A previous report from the Inquisitr also noted that the camera specs of these two purported variants might be different from each other. The regular Samsung Galaxy S8 will allegedly come with a single primary camera while the bigger variant might be equipped with a dual-camera setup. Samsung Galaxy S8 may also feature Viv, which is a next-gen AI assistant recently bought by the firm.

Specs news also mentions that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have a full bezel-less display with a curved screen. The 5.2-inch model may feature a Super AMOLED display with 2K resolution while the 5.5-inch variant could come with a 4K display. The 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor is expected to be the Galaxy S8’s chipset worldwide, although certain markets will get Samsung’s very own Exynos 8895.

Here’s a concept trailer from Techscinium:

As for its release, Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to take the spotlight on February 26 during the company’s Unpacked event, slated a day before the annual tech trade show, Mobile World Congress, kicks off.

The Inquisitr will continue to keep you in the loop for updates on the specs, pricing, and release date of Samsung Galaxy S8. Meanwhile, as we wait for Samsung’s official announcement, tech fans are advised to take all these details coming from the rumor mill with a grain of salt.

[Featured Image by Drew Angerer/Getty Images]