The Samsung Galaxy S8 could be the smartphone to end all smartphones, if the numerous rumors surrounding the device are any indication. The Korean manufacturer is looking to redeem itself following the missteps that lead to the discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 and is also gearing up to compete against the iPhone 8, which is expected to have a complete design and hardware revamp. This could translate into major updates for the Galaxy S8.

Reports indicate Samsung will stuff the Galaxy S8 full of top specs and new software, from boosted RAM and internal storage capacities to artificial intelligence and force touch capabilities. Catch up on the latest about the Galaxy S8 with our recent rumor rundown.

High RAM And Internal Storage

Some of the most recent reports from TechTastic suggest the Galaxy S8 will feature 6GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. The Dutch blog suggests Samsung aims to compete directly with Apple, after the rival introduced a 256GB internal storage option on the iPhone 7 in September. Consumers can also get 32GB and 128GB options of the smartphone.

The Galaxy Note 7 launched in August with 64GB of internal storage as its primary storage option, retiring 32GB storage capacity. But Samsung has experimented wildly with storage capacities in recent years. The Galaxy S6 was available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB internal storage options after the iPhone 6 launched with a 128GB option. However, the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S7 are available in 32GB and 64GB options after Samsung found consumers skipped the premium storage tier due to its exorbitant price.

A 6GB RAM capacity seems more plausible for the Galaxy S8 now that Samsung and Qualcomm have announced their collaboration on the Snapdragon 835 chip. The chip is expected to support RAM capacities up to 6GB, among many high end specs. Samsung also announced plans to launch a Galaxy Note 7 model with 6GB of RAM before the device was discontinued.

Price Increases?

A Samsung Galaxy S8 with more power may equal more financial responsibility for consumers. Jaime Rivera from Pocketnow suggests a Galaxy S8 with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage would be more expensive for Samsung to produce, which would equate to a higher market price for the device. At this time, Samsung has not confirmed whether the Galaxy S8 will feature 256GB of internal storage. However, pundits suggest the capacity may be one of many available. Perhaps Samsung will return to offering two-to-three storage variants: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB perhaps? Or a 256GB option could be a limited-edition model available in select markets.

Artificial Intelligence Assistant

There has been a buzz about the Galaxy S8 featuring an AI assistant feature ever since Samsung tweeted in November about a software called Bixby that will be a feature on Project Dream or the Galaxy S8.

Prior to the social media announcement, Samsung acquired Viv Labs, the company that created Apple’s Siri. Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicated the Galaxy S8 will include a button dedicated to AI on its side and that the development of this feature could delay the market release of the Galaxy S8 until April. If true, an April release for the Galaxy S8 would be more on par with prior Galaxy S series releases, as the Galaxy S7 hit stores early, on March 11. The Galaxy S6 launched April 10, while the S5 launched April 11 and the S4 April 27.

Recently, Samsung R&D documents leaked, suggesting the AI assistant on the Galaxy S8 may come in male and female voice variants. The female version of the assistant may be called Kestra.

Display Upgrades

The Galaxy S8 is expected to have a 2K or Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) full screen OLED display, meaning the device’s screen should take up more space on its front panel than ever before. This could mean the Galaxy S8 would have extremely thin bezels on its screen or possibly no bezels at all. While the average smartphone has a visible screen ratio of about 80 percent, Samsung wants to push its devices to a screen ration of up to 99 percent, Park Won-sang, a principal engineer at Samsung Display told the Investor.

To accompany the wide-screen configuration, Samsung may do away with the home button on the Galaxy S8 in favor for an optical fingerprint sensor embedded underneath the display. Smartphones including the Xiaomi Mi 5s and the Le Max Pro include Qualcomm’s ultrasonic SenseID fingerprint scanning technology, which allows users to place their finger directly a device’s screen to authenticate a fingerprint. If true, Samsung would be one of the first global smartphone makers to employ the feature.

The Galaxy S8 may also include a Force Touch feature, which would allow users to apply different levels of pressure to the display for different functions. After the Galaxy S8, Samsung may spend the next two years deploying the feature onto its entire smartphone fleet, according to the Investor. There is no word on whether Samsung’s Force Touch technology would be proprietary or if it would be based on the Apps Shortcut feature coming to Android 7.1.1 Nougat. The Android feature is similar to Force Touch, but specifically for application icons. The Force Touch feature seen on Huawei devices or Apple’s 3D Touch for example, has a wider range of uses.

Rumors also suggest the Galaxy S8 may come in two phablet sizes, a 5.7-inch model and a 6.2-inch model. With many of the above mentioned features, including a no-bezel design and no home button, the Galaxy S8 could have a similar size to devices like the Galaxy S7 Edge and the Galaxy Note 7, while still featuring a larger screen. The Galaxy S7 Edge features a 5.5-inch display and the Galaxy Note 7 has a 5.7-inch display and are similar in size. The dual-edge design of the Galaxy Note 7 allowed Samsung to make the device narrower than the Galaxy Note 5.

The two devices may be called the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. Samsung may release both devices in phablet size to offset the lack of the Galaxy Note 7 on the market.

Wireless Charging Upgrades

Samsung may be looking to boost charging speeds for the Galaxy S8 with a three-coil wireless charging system. Charging pads using three coils tend to be larger and longer, allowing users to place an entire device on the pad. The larger surface area connection allows the device to charge faster. Samsung’s current charging pads are small and circular, indicating a single coil within the system.

New Accessories

Each Galaxy smartphone comes with its own collection of Samsung-branded cases, mostly made of plastic materials. However reports indicate Samsung may use Alcantara leather for some new Galaxy S8 cases. As Samsung’s cases are typically priced at a premium rate for accessories, consumers can expect to shell out a lot of cash for a leather case.

Testing In January

The Samsung Galaxy S8 may be ready for testing in January ahead of a possible April market launch. Investigations have suggested the rapid testing cycle for the Galaxy Note 7 caused engineers to overlook battery issues on the device, which ultimately deal to its permanent discontinuation. Consumers can surely expect Samsung will take more time testing the Galaxy S8 ahead of launch.

Other Rumors

Other potential features for the Galaxy S8 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, a dual-camera setup, dual-edge screens for both models, VR compatibility with Google Daydream, design upgrades, USB Type-C an iris scanner and a battery made by LG.

The smartphone may be announced at the Mobile World Congress conference in February.