[EXCLUSIVE] Samsung's Galaxy S23 to be introduced in U.S. in February

A rendering of the Galaxy S23 series [SMARTPRIX]

Samsung Electronics will introduce its Galaxy S23 series in early February in the United States, according to a Samsung Electronics executive with knowledge of the matter.

“The S23 series will be shown during our own Unpacked event in the United States, which will be held in February,” the executive said.

The source declined to specify the city or the exact date, but local media outlets said that the showcase will take place in San Francisco in the first week of February.

Earlier reports said that the phone would be introduced at CES 2023 on Jan. 5 in Las Vegas.

Qualcomm CFO Akash Palkhiwala indicated in a conference call earlier this month that S23s will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipsets, which are manufactured by Taiwan's TSMC.

It will likely be priced higher than the S22 or S21 due to inflationary pressures, according to media reports.

The S23 will be released at a challenging time. Demand for smartphones is weak due to the slowing global economy and lockdowns in China.

Global smartphone sales decreased by 11 percent in October compared to the same period last year, according to Kim Rok-ho, an analyst at Hana Securities.

Sales of Samsung Electronics handsets fell 11 percent last month, but Apple sales rose 10 percent as the iPhone 14 proved popular.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]