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Samsung Galaxy S5 U.S. Release Date: What We Know So Far

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The Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is confirmed for April 11th though exact release dates in the United States remain unclear. With time ticking away, it’s time to revisit the Galaxy S5 release for the United States, take a look at what we know and what we don’t know about one of the most important launches of the year.

At the end of February, Samsung took the stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain and introduced the Samsung Galaxy S5, its brand new Galaxy S smartphone that replaces the Galaxy S4 as the company’s flagship device and one that will join the Galaxy Note 3 in Samsung’s quest to topple the likes of the iPhone 5s.

As expected, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a powerful device, equipped with some brand new hardware in addition to new software. On the hardware side, the Galaxy S5 offers consumers a large full HD display, speedy current-gen processor, 16MP camera, water and dust resistant design, and a microSD card slot for expanded storage.

On the software side, the Galaxy S5 brings Android 4.4 KitKat in combination to some changes to TouchWiz including a new feature called “Ultra Power Saving Mode” which turns the display to black and white and will also turn off all unnecessary features in an effort to conserve battery life. The Galaxy S5 is shaping up to be a worthy successor to the Galaxy S4 though, at the moment, there isn’t much wind in its sails.

At MWC 2014, Samsung announced that it would be bringing the Galaxy S5 to shelves in April. Specifically, Samsung confirmed that it would be bringing the Galaxy S5 release to 150 countries on April 11th. Problem is, the company didn’t confirm all of those countries outright.

In the United States, many of the important Galaxy S5 release date details remaining missing in action. The Galaxy S5 release date itself still isn’t clear and some of the more important pieces of information remain shrouded in darkness. Here, we breakdown everything that we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy S5 release in the United States.

Samsung Galaxy S5 U.S. Release Date Breakdown

Samsung Galaxy S5

Here, we take a look at what we do know about the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date in the United States. Carriers haven’t said much since the Galaxy S5 announcement but we have seen a few details trickle out including the fact that Galaxy S5 owners will get more than $500 in software gifts from Samsung.

AT&T

AT&T is one of Samsung’s closest partners though it’s in the same boat as other U.S. carriers. It has been two weeks since the Galaxy S5 arrived and all we have are two pieces of information.

The carrier confirmed the Galaxy S5 for arrival and says that it will be “coming soon.” It did not say how soon it will be coming to shelves. Instead, it said that the “pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.” That’s as far as AT&T has gotten.

What we have seen though is a Galaxy S5, believed to be the AT&T Galaxy S5, pass through the FCC. The SM-G900A is expected to be the AT&T Galaxy S5 and it was spotted passing through the FCC’s clutches last Friday. The FCC is just one stop this device must make before it hits shelves but it’s an extremely important one.

This doesn’t mean a release date is close but it does mean that one is closer.

Sprint

Sprint customers are in the same boat. The Now Network hasn’t confirmed any specifics for the device though it does go a little bit further with the release date. According to Sprint, the Galaxy S5 release will come in April. Exactly when is a piece of information that remains behind closed doors.

Like the AT&T Galaxy S5, the Sprint Galaxy S5 appears to have passed through the FCC as well. Its model number is believed to be SM-G900P and that device rolled through the FCC last week on its way to shelves.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is on its way.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is on its way.

T-Mobile

Same deal here with the T-Mobile Galaxy S5. T-Mobile is boasting about all of the signups it has received since it announced the smartphone but it still hasn’t filled those hundreds of thousands of people in on the pertinent Galaxy S5 information.

What we do know is that the SM-G900T, believed to be the T-Mobile Galaxy S5, passed through the FCC last week, a sign that the carrier is moving closer to the ever important release date.

U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular told Gotta Be Mobile that it’s preparing the Galaxy S5 for release in April. However, that’s as far as the carrier has gotten as it still hasn’t released any detailed information about its release. We also haven’t seen the U.S. Cellular Galaxy S5 pass through the FCC.

Verizon

Verizon confirmed the Galaxy S5 for arrival though it too has been light on the details. We know that a SM-G900V passed through the FCC on its way to the United States and that device is expected to be the Verizon Galaxy S5 model.

This doesn’t guarantee a swift Galaxy S5 release on Verizon’s network but it does make it possible. Last year, Verizon pushed out the Galaxy S4 about a month after its rivals did.

Other Carriers

Boost Mobile, MetroPCS and Virgin Mobile USA all confirmed the Galaxy S5 for release but none of them have provided specific dates. MetroPCS says that the device will be coming in April and the other two say that it will arrive sometime in the second quarter. Q2 is comprised of April, May and June.

Carriers like Cricket and C Spire are under fire from customers on social media but they continue to remain tight-lipped about possible Galaxy S5 releases.

What We Don’t Know

Samsung and its carrier partners were on a roll on day one. Sign up pages emerged, April was confirmed for several Galaxy S5 release dates and we had a feeling we would see some more information creep to the surface in the days after. Unfortunately, we’re about a month away from the Galaxy S5’s arrival and there are still plenty of Galaxy S5 mysteries, mysteries that probably eating at customers interested in the device.

Galaxy S5 U.S. Release Dates

A fire could cause some Galaxy S5 release issues.

A fire could cause some Galaxy S5 release issues.

While Galaxy S5 release dates remain missing, we do know that the Galaxy S5 will be released inside the month of April. And with Samsung putting great focus on the United States, consumers should expect at least a few of these carriers to be among the first to offer the Galaxy S5.

Typically, carriers offer a pre-order for the device about a month away from its release so we wouldn’t be surprised if carriers put the Galaxy S5 up for sale in the United States soon. We’ve already seen some carriers start taking pre-orders outside of the U.S.

As we’ve noted, there is a slight chance that a fire at one of Samsung’s suppliers could impact the release of the Galaxy S5. Samsung is reportedly sourcing the parts from other manufacturers in an effort to prevent delays but there it’s possible that the fire, which apparently caused a billion dollars in damages, could affect the release in the United States and elsewhere.

Galaxy S5 U.S. Pricing

We still haven’t seen any official Galaxy S5 pricing emerge for the United States. Indeed, we’ve seen the small print for Galaxy S5 contests point to a possible $650-$700 off-contract price but that still hasn’t been set in stone by any of the carriers set to offer the Galaxy S5.

Pricing will arrive if and when pre-orders emerge which means that the information could be just a couple of days out. It’s difficult to host a pre-order without an official price tag.

Galaxy S5 U.S. Storage Options & Colors

The Galaxy S5 features a Micro SD card slot.

The Galaxy S5 features a Micro SD card slot.

Samsung Galaxy S5 color and storage options remain missing in the United States. We know that Samsung plans to release four Galaxy S5 colors including black, white, blue, and gold but we still don’t know if every single American carrier will offer these four colors. In the past, we’ve seen exclusives and we’ve also seen some colors arrive much later than the initial release. This mystery should start to clear up once a Galaxy S5 pre-order arrives.

Rumors pointed to 64GB and 128GB Galaxy S5 models but those rumors didn’t pan out. Instead, Samsung will be releasing 16GB and 32GB Galaxy S5 models that rely on the microSD card slot for expanded storage. Problem is, we don’t know which carriers will carrying 16GB, 32GB or both.

Once again, this has the potential become a huge mess for prospective Galaxy S5 shoppers as carriers could opt to carry one or the other but not both.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. [email protected]

    03/10/2014 at 4:07 pm

    your picture shows a micro SIM but calls it a micro SD card slot.

  2. jacob

    03/10/2014 at 5:54 pm

    The micro sim slot is below the micro sd slot. The sd slot is there just empty

  3. NISHITH K SATHWARA

    01/28/2015 at 9:52 am

    Samsung Galaxy grand quattro i8552 KitKat or lollipop update
    Plz notify me…….

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