Samsung’s latest flagship phablet could come early this year as the South Korean company looks to counter the threat of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus due in September. A new report claims the Galaxy Note 5 will go on sale in July, three months earlier than expected.

Not too long ago, Samsung and other Android makers were happily welcoming iPhone switchers who were looking to rival devices for bigger and better displays. But last September, Apple launched the larger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and they’ve become its fastest-selling smartphones to date.

Now Apple’s competitors are worried again. Samsung should be particularly concerned given that it’s smartphone sales dropped last year due to poor performance of the Galaxy S5, and while its Galaxy S6 and S6 edge may have been well-received, newer iPhones are just four months away.

In an effort to lure consumers before the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus get here, then, Samsung is said to be planning an early launch for the Galaxy Note 5. Korean website WhoWired claims the device will be available for pre-order in June or July, ahead of a July launch.

Previous Galaxy Note devices have been announced at IFA in Berlin every September before going on sale in October. If Samsung does launch the Note 5 in July, then, last year’s Note 4 would only be obsolete just nine months after making its debut.

While we think that’s unlikely to happen, we wouldn’t be too surprised to see Samsung make a move like that. And long-time Galaxy Note fans would surely be delighted to get a new device early.

Recent rumors have suggested the Note 5 will have a new Exynos 7 processor like the S6 and S6 edge, as well as a much-improved rear-facing camera, and more RAM. It’s also likely to get a much more attractive design, similar to that of Samsung’s latest devices.

• SourceWhoWired
• ViaPhoneArena