Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Release Date Problems Linger

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release date problems continue to linger in the United States where Galaxy Note 4 stock remains extremely uneven a week after the U.S. Galaxy Note 4 release.

Samsung’s all new Galaxy Note 4 is an impressive smartphone and one that comes loaded with high-powered specs including a 5.7-inch Quad HD display, a brand new 16MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization, a new S Pen stylus, Android 4.4.4 KitKat software that’s backed by TouchWiz, and a brand new design that comes with both plastic and metal materials.

The Galaxy Note 4 has replaced the Galaxy Note 3 in several regions this month including the United States where it landed on the nation’s five largest carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon Wireless. After a bit of a delay, all five carriers are stocking Samsung’s brand new flagship though companies are still having a tough time keeping the Galaxy Note 4 in stock.

Ahead of the Galaxy Note 4 release date, we saw several delays. Samsung UK pushed the Galaxy Note 4 release date back a week and Samsung Australia was forced to postpone the Galaxy Note 4 release date to a later date. And while the initial U.S. Galaxy Note 4 release date did not move off of October 17th, we’re seeing some U.S. Galaxy Note 4 problems linger in the days after that release date.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 stock in the United States is very uneven, even at official carriers where some models are in stock while others are currently unavailable to buyers. Hardest hit though are Samsung’s retail partners that currently present very unbalanced fronts in terms of Galaxy Note 4 stock. Here’s what we’ve discovered thus far.

Yesterday, Verizon finally released the Galaxy Note 4. Despite its arrival, the Verizon Galaxy Note 4 release date is still very troubled. Not only is the carrier still not offering the white Galaxy Note 4, Amazon is still not taking any orders for the white or black models and Best Buy is sold out of both models online. That Amazon isn’t taking orders on day one is pretty telling given that we can’t remember the last time it didn’t have stock available on release day.

We’ve heard that some physical Best Buy locations have the Verizon Galaxy Note 4 in stock though buyers will want to call ahead especially when looking for the white Galaxy Note 4 model.

Verizon Galaxy Note 4 release date was originally slated for last week but that the release date was postponed a week to October 23rd. Retailers were expecting stock last week but got word late that Verizon would not be releasing the phone. Verizon’s Note 4 quietly hit shelves yesterday.

Verizon’s Galaxy Note 4 release isn’t the only troubled release date in the U.S. Best Buy is currently sold out of the Sprint Galaxy Note 4 online, same with Costco. We’ve also heard that some Best Buy locations, including locations with Samsung Experience pop up shops, never got any AT&T or Sprint Galaxy Note 4 stock. Those, especially the Sprint model, appear to be in short supply.

These release problems are not unprecedented though they are a bit surprising given Samsung’s track record. While the Galaxy S3 release ran into some bumps in the road, the company, for the most part, has been able to keep its supply lines churning to keep up with demand. Last year’s Galaxy Note 3 was extremely easy to find and consumers had no trouble picking up a Galaxy S5 when it arrived in April.

It’s not clear how long these delays and shortages will last or if they will stretch into the holidays and Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the entire year. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is one of the best smartphones of the year and consumers across the United States will be comparing it to top options like the iPhone 6 Plus, LG G3, and more.