Samsung: There is no Microsoft Edition of the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8

Just a day after the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ were unveiled, it was revealed that Microsoft would be selling the two devices in its retail stores in the US with the Microsoft Edition tag. This was followed by the Galaxy Note 8 recently, which also became available for purchase from Microsoft’s store. A Microsoft Edition always felt unnecessary as Galaxy flagships come with some of the Redmond giant’s apps preloaded even on regular variants, and the company makes the rest of its apps available on Google Play. And, according to Samsung, there actually isn’t a Microsoft Edition per se.

Regular Galaxy S8/Note 8 served with tips on using Microsoft apps

So what are the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note 8 that are listed in Windows Phone maker’s catalog? Well, now that we look closely at the phone listings, they don’t actually come with apps like Microsoft Launcher and Cortana loaded out of the box, with the product description mentioning clearly that these apps have to be downloaded from the Play Store. As the original announcement had said, anyone who walks into the company’s brick and mortar stores and purchases either of these phones is then guided by a store employee on making the most of the Microsoft apps.

Here’s Samsung’s official statement:

Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note8 devices are available in the Microsoft online and retail stores with a unique Microsoft experience which ensures their customers, particularly small-to-midsize business owners and entrepreneurs, a best-in-class productivity experience. There is not a ‘Microsoft Edition’ brand of any Samsung Galaxy products.

So, um, we guess Samsung’s only making it clear that there is no such thing as a Microsoft Edition, even if Microsoft wants people to walk out of their stores (or checkout, for those who buy these online) with the intent of putting its apps to good use. What makes this rebuttal unique is that it comes a long time after the so-called Microsoft Edition Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ went on sale. Our guess would be that Samsung simply got busy with other things and was woken up when news of the Galaxy Note 8 Microsoft Edition started making the rounds.

In any case, point taken.