Pat PilcherIt’s a whirling, swirling, rumour filled world. PAT PILCHER reports on the gossip around Samsung’s supposed smartphone saviour.
THE GALAXY NOTE 7 might have been one of the highest profile tech-wrecks of 2016, but Samsung aren’t looking back. Rumours are already beginning to swirl as the usual Galaxy S launch date nears. Here’s what the rumour mill has to say so far about Samsung’s latest, yet-to-launch smartphone.
What Is It Called?
According to the rumour mill, it’ll be the Galaxy S8. According to the rumour mill, its launch will happen early this year. Coverage from the well regarded Korean ET News has spawned tonnes of rumours. Here’s the good oil.
Screen And Bezels
If the rumours are even half true, it’s a good bet that Samsung will launch two different versions of the S8. One may sport a 5.1-inch screen while the other should have a 5.5-inch display. Industry scuttlebutt has it that both models will have curved screens. The traditional flat-screen bezel design of the Galaxy S7 will no longer be available.
Even though consensus is that the S8 will have a curved display, ET News claim it’ll come with narrow bezels and be marketed as edgeless. This is most likely to refer to the fact that both its left and right sides will not need bezels, while its top and bottom will still need them.
Dual Cameras?
ET News also reckon that the S8 will follow Huawei and Apple by adding a dual camera setup to its rear. One image sensor is rumoured to be 16 megapixels and the other 8 megapixels. They didn’t disclose the purpose of this dual shooter configuration. It may be for depth of field effects. That said, it could be for 3D photography or a more powerful optical zoom as with the iPhone 7-Plus. There is also speculation that the S8 could support 360 photography.
Home Button
Samsung’s distinctive Panadol-shaped physical home button is also said to be gone. It is said to be getting replaced with a virtual on screen home button. This makes a lot of sense as doing so should free up valuable on-screen real estate.
CPU
As with the S6 and S7, speculation has it that the US version of the S8 will use a yet to launch Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 CPU. International models will use a Samsung in-house developed Exynos processor.
What Won’t Be there
Rumour is that Samsung will follow Apple and omit the 3.5mm headphone socket. Samsung’s move to aim instead for Bluetooth ear gear support is risky, given how polarising the move has proved for Apple.
What the rumour mongers say won’t change are key features that have proven successful so far. These are said to include a waterproof design and the distinctive curved shape of the S6/S7. Samsung will also continue with their emphasis on high end materials. Alloy and glass are the anticipated construction materials making up the S8.
When?
Sources say Samsung’s previous strategy of announcing Galaxy S gear at an event at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona won’t happen. Instead, Samsung are likely to release the Galaxy S8 earlier. All I can say is this – bring it on Sammy! PAT PILCHER
