Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date Rumors Suggest Major Camera, Battery And Display Upgrades

Silver Galaxy S7 Edge
Silver Galaxy S7 Edge Fionna Agomuoh

Rumors pertaining to the Galaxy S8 continue to trickle in as Samsung attempts to deal with residual backlash from the Galaxy Note 7 recall. A recent specs leak from the Chinese social media platform Weibo suggests the 2017 flagship will include a number of highly upgraded features, including a 5.2-inch 4K resolution display, a 30-megapixel rear camera, a 9-megapixel front camera, 64GB and 128GB internal storage options and a 4,200mAh battery. The leak also indicates the Galaxy S8 may feature an iris scanner, a fingerprint sensor, wireless charging and a built-in projector.

While it is still too early to confirm any details about the Galaxy S8, it’s never too early to decipher the plausibility of rumors associated with unreleased smartphones.

Camera

The Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7 both feature a 12-megapixel main camera, which is actually a pixel downgrade from older devices like the Galaxy Note 5, which has a 30-megapixel camera. In recent years, Samsung has switched from pumping its lenses with megapixels to refining the quality of its cameras with features such as larger apertures. While a 30-megapixel camera may sound tantalizing and near DSLR-quality, that may not be the case. Even with fewer megapixels, the Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7 are considered some of the top mobile cameras on the market.

Storage

The storage upgrades for the Galaxy S8 could be plausible, considering Samsung announced with the Galaxy Note 7, the 64GB of internal storage option as its new base standard. Especially after Apple introduced a 256GB iPhone 7 to its repertoire, Samsung may consider another storage boost.

The Galaxy S6 was available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB internal storage options, but the Galaxy Note 5 sold in 32GB and 64GB options after consumers found Samsung’s highest-end device too expensive.

Battery

A power heavy, 4,200mAh battery seems a little farfetched for the Galaxy S8, considering Samsung’s recent battery woes. The Galaxy S7, features a 3,600mAh battery, while the Galaxy Note 7 has a 3,500mAh cell. So far, the Galaxy S8 doesn’t appear to have any features that would require such an exorbitant battery.

Samsung typically saves such high-capacity batteries for its active line. The Galaxy S7 active , for example has a 4,000mAh battery. Perhaps the battery in this rumor pertains to the Galaxy S8 active.

Display

Rumors have long suggested the Galaxy S8 may feature a 4K display . The device is expected to be compatible with Google’s Daydream VR project , which would require a high-resolution display for virtual reality compatibility through the protocol.

Biometrics And Projector

After announcing an iris scanner on the Galaxy Note 7, the feature will likely be a given on the Galaxy S8. Similarly, fingerprint scanners have been a mainstay of every Galaxy flagship since the Galaxy S5. Wireless charging is also a given, as it has been a Galaxy feature since the S6. The one new feature is a projector, which has yet to be featured on a Galaxy smartphone, but is making its way through many other Android manufacturers, such as Lenovo .

Others

Other rumored features for the Galaxy S8 include 6GB RAM (possibly for Google Daydream), a dual-edge display and USB Type-C. Rumors also suggest there may be a slate-sized smartphone and a phablet announced by Samsung in early 2017.

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