Samsung openly admits 'positive reaction' to iPhone 6 Plus prompted early launch of Galaxy Note 4

The "difficult situation" brought on by record-breaking opening weekend sales of Apple's new, larger iPhones has prompted arch-rival Samsung to both speed up the release of its Galaxy Note 4 as well as slash the phablet's list price, a company official publicly said this week.

"The positive reaction from consumers to those two Apple devices prompted us to launch the Note 4 earlier than previously scheduled," a Samsung marketing executive said, according to the Korea Times. "Samsung will be aggressive in promoting the Note 4 as it's true that we are being challenged and pressured amid a difficult situation."

Samsung will now rush its Galaxy Note 4 into consumers' hands this Friday in South Korea and China. It will then debut in the U.S. on Oct. 17.

The company's moves will allow it to beat Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to market in those two countries. Apple has not yet announced launch dates for its next-generation handsets in South Korea and China.

The Galaxy Note 4 was first announced by Samsung early this month with an October launch window.

Apple sold some 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus units in the three days after they became available in a number of markets, including the U.S. and U.K., starting last Friday. The Cupertino company could have sold even more, CEO Tim Cook said, if not for manufacturing constraints.

"While our team managed the manufacturing ramp better than ever before, we could have sold many more iPhones with greater supply and we are working hard to fill orders as quickly as possible," Cook noted.

Samsung, in contrast, will reportedly ship 3.75 million Note 4 units for launch weekend at a reduced price of ₩957,000 ($920), a $100 discount from the launch price of the Galaxy Note 3.

"Samsung aims to ship 15 million Note 4s in the first 30 days after the product launches, which is very ambitious given the challenging situation," another Samsung official told the paper.