Samsung Galaxy A5 Launch Delayed Again, Now Likely Mid-December: Report

Samsung will reportedly push back the China launch of the Galaxy A5 from November to December, as it seems to be having difficulties producing new metal-clad 'Galaxy A' lineup - problems we've heard about before in earlier reports.

According to a report by ETNews, a Samsung Electronics official on Tuesday said, "There have been delays in manufacturing process in the production. So we won't be able to launch the product based on initial launch date which was in November. We expect it to be launched in next month but nothing is certain at this point. There is no major problem in the manufacturing process."

The report also quoted an 'industry official' to say, "Setting a date for the launch has been put off since Samsung is approaching this venture very carefully. Following the initially scheduled date, which was sometime in this month, is now out of question. The launch is expected in China after the middle of next month."

Previously too, the company had reportedly delayed the launch of the new series due to low production yields for the full metal bodies, but then an insider had claimed that the product will still hit "select markets" including China in November.

The report had noted that "the casings did not meet the quality requirements Samsung was aiming for, and only around 50 percent of the yield came out right."

Notably, when Samsung had announced that the Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 will launch in China in November, it did not specify when it will launch the smartphones in the other "select markets".

Earlier this week, Samsung China listing revealed the pricing of Galaxy A5, which is CNY 2599 (approximately Rs. 26,000). Listing did not include an online purchase option, and instead guided users to retail stores.