Update:
The latest leaks point to a 4K screen, a mini projector, 6GB of
RAM, a 30MP camera, an enormous battery and a supercharged processor.
The S8
may also launch ahead of schedule and may ditch flat screens
altogether, with comments by Samsung executives suggesting that all
models will have curves, while sources claim the company has already
started ordering curved panels in two sizes.
The
Samsung Galaxy S7
was almost everything we hoped for, with improvements throughout
leading it to be one of the most powerful, stylish and all round
accomplished smartphones on the market.
But there's still room for improvement and it's low on
innovation, so we have a wish list for what we want to see from the
Samsung Galaxy S8. We'd also love to hear what you think, so let us know in the comments below and we'll furiously email them to Samsung.
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The
phone won't be launching for a long time yet, but that just means
Samsung should have time to implement some of our suggestions. Here's
hoping it listens.
We're also collecting all the rumors and news
about the phone, along with our own educated guesses, so read on for all
the latest on Samsung's upcoming flagship.
-
What we hope to see on the
Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge
and
Galaxy Note 6
Cut to the chase
-
What is it?
Samsung's next flagship smartphone
-
When is it out?
Early 2017
-
What will it cost?
Maybe around $850 (roughly £655/AU$1120)
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung Galaxy S8 release date
Hottest leaks:
- A late February announcement
- An earlier launch than usual
It's too early to get too specific about release dates, but
the Samsung Galaxy S8 is certain to launch in early 2017, since the
beginning of the year is typically when Samsung rolls out its new
flagships.
The last couple of years the brand has shown off the
phone the day before Mobile World Congress starts, with MWC 2017 set to
kick off on 27 February... meaning a Galaxy S8 release date of February
26.
In terms of when you'll be able to fondle it for the first time,
expect a two week wait - so March 13 is our best guess there. Though one
leak talks about an
April release date
, so the wait could be longer than usual.
That said, there's now some
analyst speculation
that Samsung might bring the release forward, in order to minimize the impact of having to recall the
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
. They don't suggest just how far forward the release would be
brought, but the S7 is very unlikely to arrive before the beginning of
2017.
TechRadar's take:
Talk of an early release appears to just be speculation, so for now a late February launch is our best guess.
-
We got bored of waiting so we spent some time creating our own video render - here's how the phone should look:
Samsung Galaxy S8 news and rumors
The trickle of
information on the Samsung Galaxy S8 is slowly growing into a stream,
though we're still waiting for strong rumors on what actual components
and design we might see - but we're able to take a very good guess.
We've
divided our thoughts up into sections below, but likely highlights
include a 4K screen, a Snapdragon 830 processor, 6GB of RAM and a
massively improved camera.
There's even a chance that the Samsung
Galaxy S8 will have an iris scanner or a foldable screen, though the
latter is somewhat less likely.
57727a32eaef76d524ec3edf
Samsung Galaxy S8 screen
Hottest leaks:
- No flat version
- A 4K display
- 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch sizes
Industry sources have reported
Samsung
may make two versions of the Galaxy S8 next year, but both will come with curved screens.
SamMobile
is reporting the models are codenamed Dream and Dream 2. One with a 5.1-inch screen and another with a 5.5-inch display.
Samsung is making a big push into VR with its
Gear VR
headset and one thing it really needs to make the most of that is sharp screens on its phones.
QHD, as we have on the Samsung Galaxy S7, is more than sharp
enough for using it as a phone, but it's not quite up to scratch for VR,
so it's likely Samsung will push the resolution up for the Samsung
Galaxy S8, perhaps as high as 4K.
Even without the lure of VR a sharper screen wouldn't be surprising,
as a couple of generations of Galaxy devices have now had QHD ones, so
Samsung is likely to want to push the resolution up further for the
Galaxy S8 - and show it's MUCH more sharp than the 720p
iPhone 7
.
Samsung 4K
In fact, the company has
already shown off
a 5.5-inch 2160 x 3840 screen, which comes in at a pin sharp 806
pixels per inch. There's no guarantee the Samsung Galaxy S8 will get
this screen, but it's clearly been designed for premium mobile devices
and phones don't get much more premium than the S8.
Not only has Samsung developed such a screen, but according to Chinese sources speaking to
WCCF Tech
, the company specifically plans to equip the Galaxy S8 with a UHD
display. They don't specify who the source is though, so take this with a
pinch of salt.
We've also heard
rumors from Weibo
that the Samsung Galaxy S8 could have a 5.2-inch 2160 x 4096 screen.
Samsung is also putting a lot of work into curved screens,
and a recent comment
from Samsung Mobile President Dong-jin Koh claimed: "Samsung has
considered that it would make the edge display the identity of the
Galaxy S smartphone lineup."
So that sounds like we might not actually get the
Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge
at all, and the Galaxy S8 will be a single curved variant only.
More recently we've heard
rumors
that Samsung has started sourcing curved display panels, but that it
will be making curved versions in both 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch sizes.
Apparently whether or not there's also a flat screen model will come
down to how many curved screens Samsung can source in time.
But the company might even go one further and give us a foldable phone, especially as prototypes and
patents
for such a device already exist. In fact,
it's rumored
that Samsung will launch a folding phone in 2017, but it's unlikely
to risk attaching the untested tech to its flagship - unless that's what
the new S8 Edge becomes.
The screen size could also change. While Samsung won't want to
encroach on its Galaxy Note phablet range the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 is one
of the smaller flagships around right now and significantly smaller than
even the 5.5-inch
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
which launched alongside it.
Given that Samsung recently showed off a 5.5-inch 4K display that could be the size the S8 comes in.
There's
also the Always On Display (AOD), a feature that debuted with the
Galaxy Note 7. This feature has been hugely improved on the new Note,
with more pictures added to the mix and a richer display hanging about
on the phone when it's turned off.
Always On Display
Future
updates to the AOD mean that it should become even richer for the
Galaxy S8, with third parties able to add their own widgets to the
screen.
Samsung recently added a music player onto this area, so it's highly
likely third parties like Spotify will be able to do the same thing by
February next year. Also, if you look at what's been offered on the
Galaxy Note 7
, with the icons pictured above, you'll realize there's more to come from the AOD from Samsung.
TechRadar's take:
Samsung only released a curved Note 7, so ditching flat versions of
its main flagship line is the logical next step. A 4K display isn't out
of the question, and 5.1 and 5.5-inch sizes make sense - any larger and
Samsung would be encroaching on its phablet line.
Samsung Galaxy S8 design
Hottest leaks:
- A similar but refined design
Samsung is on to something with the design of the
Galaxy S6
and now the Galaxy S7. Its melding of metal and glass has led to one
of the most attractive handsets around, so we don't expect huge changes
there.
Samsung Galaxy S8
On the other hand, people like to see changes, so at the very least
the design will probably be refined. Samsung slightly curved the back
edge of the Galaxy S7, so perhaps it will make the Galaxy S8 even more
curved, so it sits even more comfortably in the hand, like the
HTC One M9
. Or maybe it will focus on making the phone thinner.
And a completely new design is always possible, but if it does
have one it could take almost any form. Well, any form that's basically a
rectangle anyway.
TechRadar's take:
This is one thing we don't know much about yet, but we don't expect to see a huge change on the design front.
Samsung Galaxy S8 camera and battery
Hottest leaks:
- A dual-lens camera
- A 30MP rear camera
- An 8MP front-facing snapper
- A 4200mAh battery
Samsung is
said to be working on a new camera
, which will be between 18 and 24MP and have a wide f/1.4 aperture, where the Samsung Galaxy S7 has a narrower f/1.7 one.
That extra width could allow more light in and the jump in
megapixel count could allow for more detailed images, though while
Samsung is apparently working on this camera it hasn't been specifically
linked to the Galaxy S8 yet.
Another rumor, this time from Chinese sources speaking to
WCCF Tech
, points to a dual-lens camera. It's not clear what role the second
lens would play, but the sources claim it's being built by Samsung
Motors (Semco).
That rumor has
popped up again
, with a Weibo poster claiming that one lens will be 12MP, while the
other is 13MP and that lens-crafting duties will be split between
Samsung and Sony.
It's too early to say how accurate these rumors are, but with the
Huawei P9
,
LG G5
and possibly the
iPhone 7 Plus
packing dual cameras it's seemingly the latest trend, so wouldn't be surprising.
The front facing camera could also be in for a change, with the
same Weibo source claiming that the Galaxy S8 will have an 8MP camera
on the front, up from 5MP on the Galaxy S7.
On the other hand, another
Weibo poster
claims the S8 will have a 30MP rear camera with optical image
stabilization and a 9MP front-facing one, but we'd be surprised if
Samsung pushed the rear camera's megapixel count up that high.
Samsung has also built
a 'Smart Glow' feature
, which takes the form of a ring of LEDs around the rear camera,
which can flash in different colors for different types of notifications
and even light up when they detect your face, so you can more easily
take a selfie with the main camera.
Smart Glow
So
far the feature is only available on the Samsung Galaxy J2, but there's
a chance Samsung will use it in the Galaxy S8 as well.
The only
battery rumor
so far suggests the Galaxy S8 will have a huge 4200mAh juice pack
with support for both wireless and fast charging. We're not convinced
Samsung will squeeze a battery that big in, but hopefully the company
won't reverse the good work it's done on the S7, which has better life
than the S6 before it.
The Galaxy S7 has a 3000mAh juice pack and with any luck the
battery in the S8 will be even larger, or at least more efficient. It
might need to be if Samsung pushes the screen resolution up.
TechRadar's take:
Dual-lens cameras seem to be the next big thing, so we wouldn't be
surprised if Samsung gets on board. Don't count on seeing a 30MP snapper
or a 4200mAh battery though, we'd expect the camera will stay at the
sweet spot of around 12MP, while the battery will likely be big, but not
that big.
Samsung Galaxy S8 OS and power
Hottest leaks:
- A 3GHz Exynos 8895 processor in some regions
- A 3.2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 830 chip in the US
- 6GB of RAM
The Snapdragon 830 isn't official yet, but it has been rumored
and is the likely name for the next major flagship smartphone chip from
Qualcomm. It's likely to be faster, smaller and more efficient than the
Snapdragon 820 - or at least those are all areas Qualcomm will probably
try and improve.
In fact,
a leak
suggests the Galaxy S8 could have a 3.2GHz octa-core Snapdragon processor, which certainly sounds fast.
That said, Samsung also makes its own Exynos chips and with the
Galaxy S7 some regions got those and others got the Snapdragon 820, so
the same is likely to happen with the Galaxy S8.
More specifically, the US will probably get a Snapdragon chip, while
most of the rest of the world will likely get an Exynos one.
Rumors suggest
it will be the Exynos 8895, which is apparently clocked at up to
3GHz (up from 2.3GHz on the Exynos 8890 in the S7), and is supposedly
also optimized for low power usage, as well as improving image
processing performance by over 70%.
We've also heard rumors from
SamMobile
that not only is Samsung working on new mobile processors, but that
it's in talks with both Nvidia and AMD to build the GPUs (in place of
ARM, which currently builds them).
With Nvidia behind some of the most powerful processors around
and AMD's architecture at the heart of the PS4 Pro, a move to either of
these companies could give flagship Exynos chips a performance boost.
That
extra power will really come in handy if Samsung plans to put a 4K
screen on the Galaxy S8 or use it for high-end VR content - our betting
is that both Samsung's and Qualcomm's chips will be heavily focused
around making VR the best experience it can possibly be, which will be a
boon for Gear VR wearers.
As for RAM,
early rumors
point to 6GB, and with the mid-range Samsung Galaxy C9
also rumored
to have 6GB of RAM that's probably the least we can expect.
TechRadar's take:
Samsung is sure to dial up the power in the Galaxy S8, but will
probably stick a Snapdragon 830 chip in the US version, with an Exynos
processor available elsewhere. RAM is sure to be at least 4GB, but it's
likely that Samsung will up it to 6GB.
Samsung Galaxy S8 other features
Hottest leaks:
- An iris scanner
- USB Type-C
- Smart Glow
- A mini projector
We could also see an iris scanner on the phone, as the company has
stuck one on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and the feature has since been
rumored
for the Galaxy S8, but its inclusion isn't guaranteed, as it doesn't
really add a lot beyond a 'hyper' level of security that some people
would need on the Note 7, given it's part enterprise device.
Samsung Galaxy S8
But
another source
has also suggested we'll see an iris scanner, along, oddly, with a
mini projector, 64GB and 128GB storage capacities and a microSD card
slot.
Samsung's 'Smart Glow' feature - so far only available on the Galaxy J2, has
popped up again
, with additional functions such as heart rate readings and the
ability to light up in different colors to represent different weather
conditions apparently likely to be added to later versions of it.
Other than those features, a reversible USB Type-C connector is
likely now it's appeared in the Galaxy Note 7, and Samsung is likely to
continue offering the features its flagships are known for, like a
fingerprint scanner, an always-on screen (with enhancements), a microSD
card slot and a waterproof body.
TechRadar's take:
We wouldn't count on seeing Smart Glow in the S8, given that the
Note 7 didn't have it despite the feature already being available on a
lower end handset. A mini projector also sounds like a long shot, but an
iris scanner is likely and USB-C is all but guaranteed.
Samsung Galaxy S8 price
Hottest leaks:
- More expensive than the Galaxy S7
The only price rumors so far claim an $850 (roughly £655/AU$1120) SIM-free price for the Samsung Galaxy S8.
This comes from a
Weibo post
with no evidence to back it up, so we'd take it with a pinch of
salt, but if true the Galaxy S8 would be slightly more expensive in most
regions than the £569/AU$1149 (around $750) launch price of the Galaxy
S7.
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE !!
While we wait to hear more about what Samsung's actually planning to
put in the Galaxy S8 we have a sizeable wish list of things we hope it
will feature. From a sharper screen to stereo speakers and genuine
surprises, here's what we want to see.
1. More built-in storage
Samsung
pleased many with the reintroduction of a microSD card slot in the
Galaxy S7, but with just 32GB of built in storage, a substantial chunk
of which was used by the OS, it was much needed.
Hopefully the
Samsung Galaxy S8 will keep the card slot but add more built in storage.
If Apple offers phones with 128GB built in Samsung can too. That way
buyers will have more storage to play with, without having to fall back
on the usually slower speeds of microSD cards.
2. Fewer fingerprints
Galaxy S7
The
Samsung Galaxy S7 is a triumph of design and looks absolutely stunning,
or at least it does until you start using it, at which point it very
quickly starts picking up fingerprints.
So we really hope the
Samsung Galaxy S8 avoids that. The design doesn't need to radically
change, but some sort of fingerprint-repellent coating would do wonders.
3. Longer battery life
The
Galaxy S7's battery life was a significant improvement on the S6's, but
it's still a phone that you'll typically be charging nightly.
That's
one of the few areas where it's no better than much cheaper handsets
and ideally we want a phone that can comfortably last at least two days.
Hopefully the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be that phone.
4. A lower price
Galaxy S7
As a premium handset the Samsung Galaxy S7 goes a long way to
justifying its premium price. But when you consider that many high-end
Chinese phones and even fairly big name handsets like the
OnePlus 2
launched for far cheaper, it's hard not to wish it was a little more affordable.
It's unlikely that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have a bargain
price tag, but even knocking the price down to around £500 (US$600,
AU$1000) would be a big help.
5. Dual front-facing speakers
The
Samsung Galaxy S7 can pump out a reasonable amount of sound, but it's
just got one speaker and its position on the bottom edge both means the
audio isn't directed towards you when holding the phone and that the
speaker can easily be covered by stray fingers.
It would be great
if the Samsung Galaxy S8 took a leaf from HTC's book and had dual
front-facing speakers, as that would fix all those problems, while
adding meatier sound into the mix.
6. A better front-facing camera
Galaxy S7
The 12MP rear snapper on the Samsung Galaxy S7 is seriously high quality, but the front-facing camera feels a bit neglected.
It's
just 5MP and there's no flash for it, leaving it lagging behind rivals.
Hopefully then the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have a higher megapixel count
on its selfie snapper, along with a flash and maybe even optical image
stabilization.
7. A sharper screen
Galaxy S7
QHD is plenty sharp enough we hear you saying, but hear us out. Yes,
the QHD screen on the Samsung Galaxy S7 is impeccably sharp for general
use. But Samsung has jumped on the VR bandwagon with the
Gear VR
and for that some extra pixels could be beneficial.
The Gear VR is one of the cheapest ways to get a semi-decent VR
experience, but it could go from semi-decent to very good indeed if the
Samsung Galaxy S8 packed a 4K display, which there's every chance it
will, as Samsung has shown off a 4K mobile screen.
8. Toned-down TouchWiz
TouchWiz
isn't as bad as it once was, but it's still present and still includes
an annoying amount of bloat. We doubt we'll ever see stock Android on a Samsung flagship, but the closer the company gets the better.
So
we'd love to see the S8 have a further toned-down version of TouchWiz,
with more of a Material Design look and fewer pre-installed apps.
9. USB Type-C
Galaxy S7
Slightly
surprisingly the Samsung Galaxy S7 doesn't use USB Type-C. It's not a
huge loss, as the phone still supports fast charging, but it does mean
you can only plug the cable in one way round.
That's a minor
annoyance, but it's one that some phones have done away with and we hope
the Samsung Galaxy S8 follows suit. Given that the Galaxy Note 7 has
USB Type-C it's very likely that the S8 will too.
10. Something new
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a fantastic handset, but it mostly improves on the
Samsung Galaxy S6
while bringing back features from the
Samsung Galaxy S5
, like the waterproof body and microSD card slot. There's not much
that's genuinely new here and certainly no massive new features.
Samsung's polished the Galaxy S7 to within an inch of its life,
so for the Galaxy S8 to stand out it needs a feature to shout about.
Perhaps an iris scanner, or a projector, or maybe something so new it's
not even been thought up yet.
CES is held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada
Credit:
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