Samsung Galaxy S3 Release Date Approaches: 10 Million Pre-Orders Reached, Will It Outshine The IPhone 5?

Anticipation is running high for the Samsung Galaxy S3, and the numbers are beginning to show it. The Korea-based company's flagship smartphone reportedly has 10 million pre-orders for the device to date. This already doubles the amount of Galaxy Note units sold.

Industry insider Eldar Murtazin mentioned the number of global pre-ordered phones on Twitter during a back-and-forth with another user, according to the Christian Post's Tech and Biz section.

You said it's a niche device, but does that mean it really is? a user known as Jan Ole Suhr tweeted when referring to a different device. It surely looks [like a] niche device, but I think it isn't.

Murtazin responded, retweeting the following:

@Janole it is. In comparison with 10 mln pre-orders for sg3.

Murzatin was also the source behind the rumor that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will boast ceramic body, which was also revealed on Twitter.

SGS3 finalized and in production, he tweeted last month. Preorders from operators/retailers are really highest for all Galaxy line history (finally ceramic).

Rumors have pointed toward a release date for this spring, with some fluctuating between a April or May launch. In the last week of March, an image leaked depicting the smartphone with a date of May 22nd 2012 at 7 p.m. on its home screen.

This is the same date and time of a scheduled unspecified Samsung event, rumored to be the unveiling. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but Samsung has said to The Verge that the new smartphone will be revealed in the first half of 2012.

The successor to the Galaxy S2 smartphone will be unveiled in the first half of the year, closer to the commercial availability of the product...We cannot confirm the detailed information at the moment.

A spring launch could give sales a boost when competing with Apple's upcoming iPhone 5, which may be released this summer or in the fall. Smartphone junkies looking to upgrade before the next iPhone hits shelves may turn to Samsung's flagship product. The iPhone 5 is said to be currently in production, indicating that the launch isn't too far away, but the rumors shaping the Galaxy's release point to a more immediate availability.

The current Samsung Galaxy S2 sells for $329.99, while the iPhone 4S costs can fluctuate depending on the model and plan selected. The least expensive iPhone could cost $199, while the pricier edition with the most memory sells for $399. Although no pricing ranges have been announced for Apple's iPhone 5 or Samsung's Galaxy S3, checking out the costs of their predecessors could be a precursor.

It's unclear which smartphone will prevail in the mobile market, but with a solid 10 million untirs pre-ordered, the Galaxy S3 should do well for itself. But the upcoming iPhone will certainly establish itself as a force. According to BGR, figures indicate that a new LTE-equipped iPhone could drive 4G smartphone sales up to between 45 and 50 million units.