Why You Can Trust CNET Samsung Galaxy S5 on sale early, Gear 2 Neo and Fit too
Rogue retailers are defying the Samsung Galaxy S5's release date, while the Gear Fit and Gear 2 Neo are on sale in Europe.
It begins... After a South Korean phone network defied Samsung and started selling the Galaxy S5 early, rogue retailers in the US are risking the wrath of Samsung and following suit. Meanwhile, the Samsung Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit have hit shops in the UK.
The S5 is due out on 11 April, but South Korea's SK Telecom has flouted Samsung's official release date to dodge a government punishment preventing the network from signing up new customers in April. We were wondering if any other foolhardy retailers or carriers would risk Samsung's wrath by jumping the gun -- and at least five retailers reckon it's a chance worth taking, advertising unlocked S5 phones on Amazon to be delivered in one or two business days.
You'd have to be very keen indeed to be the first person on your block with an S5, as the rogue retailers asking around $825 (around £495, plus tax) for the privilege.
Meanwhile in the UK the S5 is available to play with in selected shops, or pre-order from various networks, although it won't actually land in your hands until the official release date.
In the meantime you can get your hands on -- or rather, wrists in -- the new Samsung Gear Fit fitness band and Gear 2 Neo smart watch. The wrist-worn smart devices are on sale from online shop Unlocked Mobiles right now for next day delivery, albeit in limited numbers.
Both the dual-core Gear 2 Neo smartwatch and the AMOLED screen-sporting Gear Fit come in black and cost £180.
More colours will be available around the time of the S5 launch.