The Samsung Galaxy S8 won’t be announced for several months but rumors circulating for the smartphone already paint an interesting picture. Following the recall that took the Galaxy Note 7 off the market for three weeks, many assume Samsung could have trouble marketing the Galaxy S8. However, reports indicate most Galaxy Note 7 owners have exchanged their handsets for a new Galaxy Note 7, as opposed to a different smartphone or a refund.
Even so, many rumored specs for the Galaxy S8 appear to be super premium, in comparison to what Samsung has introduced on its devices lately. Will the manufacturer release a hardware heavy smartphone to appease consumers? Check out the rundown of currently rumored Samsung Galaxy S8.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is rumored to feature a 4K (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) display. Reports indicate this feature may hint toward compatibility with Google’s Daydream virtual reality protocol, which is expected to require high-end specs to minimize VR latency.
Like the Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, the Galaxy S8 is expected to feature a dual-edge curved display. Rumors suggest Samsung may release two smartphones with curved displays, one 5.2-inch slate device and another 5.5-inch phablet, similar to the S7 Edge.
Reports following the Note 7 launch indicated Samsung may make the dual-edge display the signature look for its flagship line.
Design
In addition to a possible dual-edge design, the Galaxy S8 may feature a Gorilla Glass 5 covering and four color options: blue, black, gold and white, according to a recent specs leak. Samsung introduced the Blue Coral color option with the Galaxy Note 7, which proved popular with consumers.
So far there have been no leaks or renders of the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Specifications
Rumors suggest a Samsung Exynos 8895 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 chip for the Galaxy S8. The Exynos 8895 is expected to feature a major GPU upgrade, while the Snapdragon 830 is expected to support more powerful RAM and high-definition video capabilities.
The device may also include 6GB of RAM (another Google Daydream-friendly feature), as well as 64GB and 128GB internal storage options with MicroSD support.
A recent leak suggests a 4,200mAh wireless and rapid charging battery for the Galaxy S8. However, this claim seems implausible considering the Galaxy S7 features a 3,000mAh battery and the Galaxy S7 Edge a 3,600mAh cell.
The Galaxy S8 will likely also feature USB Type-C, much like the Galaxy Note 7; as well as 4G LTE and Bluetooth 5.0.
Camera
There have been several camera rumors for the Galaxy S8. The most recent suggested a massive 30-megapixel rear lens and 9-megapixel front lens. This seems unlikely, considering Samsung has been reducing the size of its camera lenses in recent years.
Another rumor suggests the Galaxy S8 may have a dual-lens camera setup -- similar to the iPhone 7 Plus -- with one 12-megapixel lens and one 13-megapixel lens. This rumor also suggests an 8-megapixel front camera. If true, the Galaxy S8 camera would be similar to the Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7, which both feature 12-megapixel lenses.
New Features
The Galaxy S8 may feature an iris scanner, following the introduction of the feature on the Galaxy Note 7. Rumors also suggest a mini projector feature, which would allow users to project images and videos from the device onto a flat surface.
Price
Rumors suggest the Galaxy S8 may sell for approximately $850, which would be an overall price hike from the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. Those devices sold for around $650 and $750 respectively. If true, the Galaxy S8 would be the same price as the Galaxy Note 7, making this rumor questionable.
Release Date
Some rumors predict an early launch for the Galaxy S8; however, other suggest the handset may be announced in February, much like the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S5. Trusted Reviews notes that every launch of a Galaxy S smartphone has been earlier than the previous device. The Galaxy S7 launched on March 11, 2016. The Mobile World Congress conference (where the Galaxy S8 is expected to be announced) takes place from Feb. 27 to March 2. It is possible the Galaxy S8 will launch shortly after.
