A new tweet from one of the world’s most notorious leakers has given us a real clue regarding the number of Samsung Galaxy S9 models available. The flagship smartphone from Samsung should launch early next year, and the well-known Ice Universe has been commenting on the matter.
Three Samsung Galaxy S9 models coming
The tweeter believes that there will be three Galaxy S9 models released by Samsung, as the Korean corporation attempts to cover every base. This confirms previous rumors which have also suggested that Samsung is looking to extend its flagship series in 2018.
According to Ice Universe, two of the models released next year will be upgrades to the existing Galaxy S8, while a third will be branded as the Galaxy S9 Mini. Interestingly, this third unit will have a screen approximately four-inches in size, making it a rival to the existing Apple iPhone SE.
The leaker also suggested that there will be multiple new features included in the Samsung Galaxy S9 models. Top of the list of this functionality will be the usage of broad-band anti-reflection (BBAR) coating on the cameras of the Galaxy S9.
This feature has been primarily confined to digital SLR snappers, but Samsung is clearly looking to step up the quality of Galaxy S9 photography in 2018. The technology enables glare and reflection to be reduced, which leads to better quality images.
Apple response
With the Samsung Galaxy S9 models being extended to three in 2018, it will be interesting to see if Apple response by updating the iPhone SE. This is diminutive smartphone was first unveiled in March 2016, but has not been updated on an annual basis, as is the case with other Apple smartphone products.
Aside from the improved camera and increase product range, the Galaxy S9 will also benefit from a number of high-end components. For example, the smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, providing the Samsung flagship with an advantage over other Android handsets.
It is also believed that Samsung is working on a 3D front-facing scanner, which will provide extra security provisions to the Galaxy S9 models. It is believed that this technology will be able to identify users far more effectively than the 2D version that is currently utilized.
2018 will certainly be a busy year for Samsung if the three Galaxy S9 models come to fruition. The consumer electronics giant has already been linked with a foldable Galaxy S handset as well, meaning that we can see for different Samsung mobiles appearing in the relatively early months of 2018. This has led to speculation that the release date of the S9 may be pushed forward, even though the smartphone has previously been linked with its usual unveiling at the World Mobile Congress.
Ice Universe also believes that Samsung will equip all Galaxy S9 models with wireless AKG earphones. If this hints that the headphone jack could be removed from the device, in common with the Apple iPhone range, this isn’t the case according to the leaker. The Galaxy S9 will indeed feature a 3.5mm port according to Ice Universe, although the smart money would be on the days of this external aspect of the smartphone being numbered.
4K debut
Speculation is also rife that the Galaxy S9 could be the smartphone to introduce 4K resolution to the Galaxy series. Samsung has been perpetually linked with this zeitgeist screen resolution over the last few years, but has hitherto resisted any temptation to deliver a mobile capable of displaying 4K pixels.
However, it would be logical for the corporation to make this move at some point, not least because the Korean company has become intrinsically linked with quality display technology over the last few years. This pretty much began when Samsung became the biggest seller of television sets in the world back in 2008, and intensified when its curved screen technology became hugely popular.
But 4K resolution could instead be held back for the Galaxy Note series, as this range has been used to introduce some of the advanced technology that Samsung has included in its smartphone range recently. While the Galaxy S series is still considered to be the flagship of Samsung, it is usual for such technology to migrate to the Galaxy S range once it has already appeared in the Galaxy Note series. So instead it could be the Galaxy Note that debuts 4K technology.
Bixby updates
Another report on the Samsung Galaxy S9 suggests that the smartphone will feature a dedicated button for an advanced Bixby AI assistant. Samsung is lagging behind Apple’s Siri somewhat in this department, and reports from close to the Samsung supply chain have suggested that the Korean corporation has been working hard on improving Bixby for its 2018 devices.
Meanwhile, benchmark results for a Samsung smartphone have been leaked over the last couple of days, with the model number SM-G960F being revealed online. It is presumed that this device will turn out to be the Galaxy S9, and thus the details are of particular interest to Android fans.
Leaked benchmarking suggests that the handsets will be powered by the Exynos 9 Series 9810 processor in a certain territories. And the Galaxy S9 performed pretty well in benchmarking, scoring 2,680 on the single-core Geekbench 4 test and a 7,787 on the multi-core test. While it is unlikely that this particular device will ultimately be headed for the Western marketplace, it is probable that the Snapdragon version of the smartphone will perform extremely similarly.
Nonetheless, it is notable that the iPhone X outperformed the Galaxy S9 in the same test. The premium Apple smartphone acquired a single-core score of 4,197 and multi-core score of 10,051. So it will be interesting to see how the Samsung Galaxy S9 models perform when company gives them the green light.
