Samsung fans hoping for an outstanding Galaxy S8 camera may be slightly disappointed, as recent reports have indicated that the next generation phablet may not feature the sort of revolutionary snapper that has been anticipated. We already are well aware that the Korean consumer electronics giant is beavering away on developing a 1/1.7inch type sensor to use in an upcoming smartphone, while Samsung will also reportedly have a f/1.4 lens in its possession in the foreseeable future.
These are both exciting prospects for fans of the Android-driven range, but it seems increasingly unlikely that either will actually be included in the Galaxy Note 6, and even the Galaxy S8 may miss out. Although there is still almost a year until the Galaxy S8 will be released, logistical and technical issues seem to suggest that it will be problematical for the corporation to deliver the camera advancements that many were hoping for.
Smartphone strategy
There is a tactical game to be played in the smartphone market over the next 18 months, with reports increasingly indicating that Apple will delay many of the revolutionary functions of its smartphone range for the iPhone 8. This smartphone would release in 2017, meaning that the iPhone 7S is ditched completely.
With this in mind, it is now deemed probable that Samsung will delay anything too ambitious for the Galaxy S9, likely to release in 2018. There will not be the same pressure on the Korean company to deliver an outstanding Galaxy S8, and it seems increasingly likely that the iPhone 7 will not be revolutionary, and will instead be considered a somewhat incremental upgrade.
This will be a shame for those anticipating the Galaxy S8, particularly as the Galaxy S range remains very much the flagship of Samsung. The Galaxy Note series has arguably delivered more impressive devices over the last couple of years, but the Galaxy S range is the mass-market winner that attracts the most consumers to the Korean hardware developer.
Galaxy S8 concept
Nonetheless, with anticipation heightened for the Galaxy S8 next year, concept images of this smartphone are already emerging. In the last few days, the latest Galaxy S8 render has been released, accompanied with some possible specifications for the device.
GizTimes published the images in question, and will be interesting to see to what extent Samsung adopts the predictions of this publication. The design of the Galaxy S8 concept in question suggests that Samsung will not make massive upgrades to this smartphone competitor. The metallic body is rather similar to the existing Galaxy S7, with attendant glass and a curved appearance in order to ensure that it is comfortable to handle.
The concept also suggests that Samsung will upgrade the dustproof and water-resistance of the Galaxy S8, ensuring that it meets IP69 certification standards. Wireless charging will be included in this flagship device, while Samsung will also significantly spruce up the TouchID system included in this mobile range. Finally, it is anticipated by the designer that Samsung will switch to a USB Type-C port in the next generation of the Galaxy S series.
Specs
The specs of the Galaxy S8 concept fit the suggestions regarding the camera capabilities of the smartphone. It is envisaged that this smartphone will include a 12-megapixel rear camera with f/1.7 aperture and 5-megapixel front-facing snapper. This could be viewed as something of a disappointment, as there will be little in the way of tangible improvement, at least in specifications, over the Galaxy S7 that was released earlier this year.
It is also interesting that Samsung seems to be moving away from its perennial approach of attempting to completely outrank Apple in terms of raw specifications. This had been a seemingly conscious strategy of the Korean manufacturer for some time, but it now seems that Samsung is more inclined to concentrate on the quality of its devices rather than delivering absolutely jaw-dropping specs and numbers.
Additionally, the concept designer believes that Samsung will increase the size of the display in the Galaxy S8, delivering a 5.2-inch super AMOLED display featuring an ‘always on’ mode. It is not made entirely clear whether Samsung will upgrade of the display of the Galaxy S8 to 4K resolution or stick with the existing quad HD, but the latter would seem to be considerably more likely based on recent reports.
No 4K
It appears that Samsung will not introduce 4K resolution for the Galaxy Note 6 when it launches later this year, and it is somewhat doubtful that the corporation would choose to deliver this technology in the more affordable Galaxy S series. The Galaxy Note range has been the testing ground for some of the more advanced technology that Samsung wishes to include in the Galaxy S range recently, and this process will probably continue when the corporation finally decides to gamble on 4K resolution.
Numerous reports have suggested that Samsung will significantly increase the battery in the Galaxy Note 6, and this will also seemingly be the case in the Galaxy S8, at least according to this concept. It is predicted that the standard Galaxy S smartphone will feature a 3,660 mAh battery while the Galaxy S8 Edge would have a larger 4,100 mAh battery to support its 5.7-inch display size. If Samsung is able to deliver these features, it will certainly stay well ahead of iPhone in the lifecycle of its flagship smartphone.
Performance upgrade
Samsung will also naturally make significant improvements in the performance of the Galaxy S8, and it is expected that the Korean corporation will continue its policy of releasing different models in differing geographical regions. This would mean that a Snapdragon 830 variant would launch in the United States and general Western marketplace, while an Exynos variant, based on Samsung’s proprietary technology could be released in East Asia and other locales.
Hopefully Samsung can still deliver a Galaxy S8 that wows consumers and continues the excellent performance of the Korean company in recent months. It was just reported that Samsung has overtaken the sales of Apple in the United States, and the Korean company can reflect that it finally seems to be moving in the right direction after a testing period in its existence.
