Electronics company Samsung is set to make a comeback into the high-end smartphone arena with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S8 early this year.
After bad press last year with exploding batteries, the company needs to prove to customers it can still produce safe and high-quality devices. Samsung is counting on the Galaxy S8 to help revive smartphone momentum after scrapping the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7, which will hit its profit by $5.4 billion over three-quarters through the first quarter of 2017.
The S8 is expected to be released at Mobile World Congress, taking place at the end of next month in Barcelona. However, the company could decide to postpone the announcement or bring it forward.
All screen
An apparent leaked photograph of the Samsung S8 shows the smartphone to have very little space between the screen and the end of the phone. This minimised bezel could either mean the company will keep the 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes of previous models and make it a more compact device, or give users a larger display - the picture does not give any indication of size.
The photo also shows no home screen button at the bottom of the screen. It is rumoured the fingerprint sensor will be embedded into the screen.
The S8 will likely make use of Force Touch. Phone Arena reported an insider who claims the new devices (Galaxy S8 and S8 edge) will be the pioneering Samsung smartphone to arrive with this functionality, "with adoption across the maker's line-up expected to take place in one to two years' time".
Hey Viv?
Last year, it was reported the company will also launch its own artificially intelligent digital assistant for its devices at the S8 launch, making use of tech acquired from Viv Labs, a firm run by a co-creator of Apple's Siri voice assistant program.
Samsung plans to integrate the San Jose-based company's AI platform, Viv, into the Galaxy smartphones and expand voice-assistant services to home appliances and wearable technology devices.
Samsung did not comment on what types of services would be offered through the AI assistant. It said last year the AI assistant would allow customers to use third-party services seamlessly.
Say cheese!
The S8 is rumoured to feature the world's first autofocusing front-facing camera with 8MP. Korea's ETNews says this will "increase quality of 'selfie pictures'", and "deal with subjects that are located far away".
Until now, smartphone manufacturers have only used fixed-focus front-facing cameras because they are smaller and cheaper to install. However, social apps that make use of these cameras, such as Snapchat filters and Instagram stories, are rising in popularity. The device with the best quality front camera will be appealing to these users when they need to upgrade.
The S8 could also feature a dual-camera set-up at the back of the phone, following the iPhone 7 Plus and Huawei P9 releases last year.
Other rumours include: a 2K screen with an improved display for virtual reality, the exclusion of an audio jack, stereo speakers, and Qualcomm's latest chipset - the Snapdragon 835.
Share