Tech watchers predict that the Samsung Galaxy S8, the next model in the South Korean conglomerate's flagship smartphone line, will be unveiled sometime next month. But with just a few weeks to go, there's still very little known about the upcoming handset.
Reports have indicated that Samsung could launch three variants of the Samsung Galaxy S8. Apart from the regular Galaxy S8, there will also reportedly be a Galaxy S8 edge and a Galaxy S8 Plus. Aside from this, here are the top eight Galaxy S8 features fans are expecting.
Larger, almost bezel-less displays
Over the past year, reports have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have an all-screen, bezel-less display (the same thing rumored for the next iPhone), but Phone Arena says that this may not be the case. Instead, the outlet theorizes that all three Galaxy S8 variants will have both top and bottom bezels, though these will certainly be slimmer than the ones in previous models.
Two models, despite reports of no more flat displays
There has been a lot of talk over the possibility of Samsung fixing flat displays for all its upcoming smartphones and phablets. According to reports, streamlining the Galaxy line to just handsets with curved screens will help Samsung's flagship line stand out from the competition. However, Forbes recently suggested that the company will stick with both flat and curved displays for the Galaxy S8.
Fingerprint scanner buried in the display
According to Phone Arena, the Galaxy S8 could have Qualcomm's Sense ID fingerprint sensor embedded under its display. This fingerprint sensor can reportedly be placed practically anywhere and can scan fingerprints from underneath glass, plastic, and even metal.
Selfie camera with autofocus
The Galaxy S8 is expected to get a major camera update. The upcoming handset will reportedly have an 8-megapixel front-facing main shooter, a big improvement over the 5-megapixel camera in the Galaxy S7. The new camera may also feature autofocus, allowing Galaxy S8 owners to take clearer selfies from an arm's length.
S-Pen
The rumored Galaxy S8 Plus is expected to take the place of the disastrous Note 7. As such, the upcoming handset could feature support for Samsung's S-Pen stylus. It is unclear if the stylus will come with the Galaxy S8 Plus or will be sold separately as an accessory.
Snapdragon 835, 8GB of RAM, Exynos 8895
Samsung is expected to go all out with the Galaxy S8 in a bid to make consumers forget about the 2016 exploding Note 7 fiasco. As such, the Galaxy S8 models are rumored to sport an octa-core chipset with four Exynos M2 CPU cores and four Cortex A53 CPU cores. The handsets are also said to carry the Snapdragon 835 chipset and feature at least 8 GB of RAM.
Stereo speakers
Samsung recently acquired the auto and audio giant Harman, which may indicate that the Galaxy S8 phones will feature Harman Kardon stereo speakers.
Continuum-like feature
A recent "leaked" image from a supposed presentation at Samsung revealed that the company could be working on a Galaxy S8 functionality that will allow owners to use it as a desktop. Based on the image, the Galaxy S8 can be tethered to a monitor and wirelessly connected to a Bluetooth keyboard and a Bluetooth mouse, allowing users to switch between mobile and desktop experiences.
Release Date
Phone Arena suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S8 phones will be unveiled on Feb. 26. Samsung has not officially announced the launch date for its next handsets.
