Handsets

Sprint Galaxy S4 delayed at retail, buy it online instead

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If our full review of the Galaxy S4 is any indication, there should be a lot of eager tech enthusiasts asking for someone to take their money in exchange for the new device. For those hoping to get the phone on Sprint, don’t expect to waltz into a store on Saturday and have that feat accomplished. As the old saying goes, though, good things come to those who wait, so it should be worth the trouble in the long run.

Shortly after T-Mobile announced that its Samsung Galaxy S4 wouldn’t be launching as planned today, another major US carrier has had the unfortunate need to announce delays. This news will be a tad easier to swallow for those on the Now Network, however. The original Galaxy S4 release date of Saturday, April 27th for Sprint is still on, but you’ll only be able to get the device online and via telesales (1-800-SPRINT1). The in-store launch will have to wait until this sudden shipping crisis Samsung has experienced subsides.

That date is still sooner than T-Mobile users’ first crack at the device, a crack which won’t come until April 29th. Sprint wasn’t confident enough to set a concrete date for an in-store launch, but we’ll be probing our contacts to see if we can get a more specific time frame.

Of course, those on Verizon and AT&T didn’t have such early release dates pegged in the first place. Verizon only promised its device would begin shipping in May, and while AT&T’s in-store Galaxy S4 release date of April 27th hasn’t been touched yet, the online point-of-sale is still only promising a ship date of April 30th (at least for those who have pre-ordered). We’ll be seeing if Ma Bell feels any differently about that date this morning.

The commonality of the delays between T-Mobile and Sprint already confirmed our suspicion that this was Samsung’s fumble, but Sprint minced no words when it directly implicated the Korean manufacturer in the matter. Specifically, Sprint cited “unexpected inventory challenges from Samsung.” We can’t be sure if that means a shipping or logistics hiccup occurred or if Samsung’s a bit behind on its production schedule, but Sprint’s pointing the finger in their direction either way.

[via Sprint]

Quentyn Kennemer
The "Google Phone" sounded too awesome to pass up, so I bought a G1. The rest is history. And yes, I know my name isn't Wilson.

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13 Comments

  1. Not sure if I should order this.

    According to T Cook….the current crop of 5″ phones are substandard.

    Should I be waiting for the 5″ iphone…?

    http://allthingsd.com/20130424/apple-wont-build-a-lousy-five-inch-iphone-but-it-may-build-a-good-one/

    1. Tim Cook is just speaking to sell the iphone, cant take his word for it

    2. no? All iphones are the same thing.. just different sizes.. with an android you have a variety of choices..

  2. My brother just tried to order via Sprint online, but said that they had shut down online sales.

  3. Why does Sprint price their 16GB GS4 for $249.99, when everyone else INCLUDING Verizon has theirs for only $199.99??

  4. I don’t think all the people who pre ordered the s4 will be happy when they see a new s4 released with better build quality …dust/water proof in the next couple weeks that would really piss me off.

  5. i think im going with the htc one! it has a better build and need a new company to try out. been wth the tab 7 10 note 10.1 gs2 note and note 2 gets boring after a while

  6. I pre-ordered on AT&T Through Costco. Got this email today “We will be getting the Samsung Galaxy S4 for AT&T at some point this week. We will be processing orders for this device in the order that we have received them. Your order should ship out for you sometime at the beginning of next week and once it ships out you will receive a confirmation email with tracking information that will allow to track the progress of your shipment.”

    1. Hey mike. I am considering ordering my phone through costco. Do I need to be a Costco member to do so?

  7. Samsung exec announced a new s4 would be released soon with water/dust proof and more premium build quality anybody pre ordering the s4 before the announcement is gonna kick themselves. I know I would be pissed if I bought it and a couple weeks later a galaxy 4s or 4s pro or 4s+ or whatever their going to call it comes out.

  8. As usually… Verizon is 4 weeks behind everyone else. Even very small companies like T-Mobile.

  9. If I pre ordered mine already for sprint will I get mine on schedule? Or will I have to wait too?

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