Galaxy Tab S8 could be delayed by new COVID-19 cases
Samsung has, until now, has done quite well though and despite two main global events that have affected life and industry for the past two years. While the technology industry continues to struggle with a shortage of ongoing semiconductor supply, the situation with Covid-19 Coronavirus has been a little reduced by the vaccine. However, it was not completely disappearing, and a new incident that was rather unfortunate in Samsung HQ had just proven that to be a case and can affect at least one upcoming product line.
A former Samsung employee revealed that around 11 employees at Samsung headquarters in Suwon, South Korea had tested the positive virus. While the cases seem to be limited to the R5 tower, that the facility itself accommodates 10,000 of 36,000 people that Samsung Digital City can accommodate. Of course, Samsung must take immediate action, which can affect several launch schedules in the coming months.
According to Letsgodigital, Samsung cuts the number of people who can come to office up to 30%. The rest must work, just like they did last year at the peak of a pandemic. However, these steps seem to be valid for the next six weeks, which means this reduced labor will last until the end of the year. This, in turn, will definitely have an impact on Samsung operations, but the company will also try to minimize side effects.
For example, it certainly cannot take resources from the upcoming Galaxy S22 series and may not be able to delay further Galaxy S21 FE. Strangely, the Galaxy Tab A8 2022 was reportedly still on track, most likely because it was too late to stop it at this time. The entry-level tablet is scheduled to start the production next month.
The victim, it seems, will be the S8 Series Galaxy Tab, even though even the report was not entirely sure of it. It will not be canceled, thoughts, but can be postponed until the date is far later. Like any product launch, missing target windows will affect everyone’s income for certain quarters, including Samsung suppliers and retail partners.
Delays will definitely paint Samsung tablets in less positive light, especially because there are no Galaxy Tab devices launched this year. There have been some interests and even excitement about the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with a large 14.6-inch screen, competing with a Windows power-powered tablet PC and laptop. We will still see this device in the end, but also still have to be seen if they will lose the window of the opportunity to make a good first impression on the market.
