Samsung tried hard to embed the fingerprint sensor into the Galaxy S8 display. The flagship device has ditched the physical home button to make room for an edge-to-edge OLED display. The Korean company was facing technical challenges integrating the feature into the display, which forced it to opt for a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. Samsung fans were hoping that the company would finally manage to embed it into the Galaxy Note 8. Unfortunately, they are going to be disappointed again.
Galaxy Note 8 In-display fingerprint sensor not ready
The Galaxy S8 is an impressive phone, but most users don’t like the rear fingerprint scanner. A Samsung official told Korean publication Naver that the in-display fingerprint sensor would not be ready in time for the Galaxy Note 8 launch. Such a technology would have allowed Note 8 users to verify their identity simply by placing their finger on the screen.
The unnamed Samsung official told Naver that the Galaxy Note 8 would have the same “bezel-light” Infinity display as the Galaxy S8. There won’t be room to place the fingerprint sensor on the front panel, unless it is integrated into the display. The executive added that Samsung “made every effort” to use the in-display fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy Note 8. But the company decided not to install it on the flagship phone due to “technical limitations such as security.”
Samsung keeps refining the technology
The Korean site noted that Samsung continues to develop and refine the in-display solution. We can expect it to debut with later phones, maybe with the Galaxy S9. It makes sense for Samsung to ditch the technology from Note 8 if it isn’t reliable enough. The rear panel may not be the perfect place for the fingerprint sensor, but it is secure and reliable. Samsung may move it from the side of the rear camera to below the camera setup on Note 8 to reduce the chances of people accidentally placing their fingers on the camera lens. The Samsung official did not specify where the fingerprint sensor would sit on the Galaxy Note 8
Recently leaked images suggest that the Galaxy Note 8 would not only retain the Galaxy S8’s Infinity display, but also have the same 18.5:9 aspect ratio. However, there will be minor improvements. Photos leaked by PoyocoTech and IceUniverse indicate that the Note 8 display would have narrower angles than the Galaxy S8. The Note 8 is said to feature a 6.3-inch display, only slightly larger than the S8 Plus’s 6.2-inch display.
Dual camera, stylus to differentiate Galaxy Note 8 from S8
The Galaxy Note 8 is also expected to feature a dual-camera system on the back. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed in April that Samsung was working on a dual camera setup that would debut with the Note 8. The analyst predicted that the Note 8’s dual camera would be much better than Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus dual camera. It could rival the 10th anniversary iPhone 8 in rear camera performance, said Kuo.
The analyst predicted at the time that the dual camera setup would include a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 13-megapixel telephoto lens. Leaked photos showed that the cameras will be arranged vertically rather than horizontally. The cameras would offer 3x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, and six-element lenses. The dual LED flash and heart rate sensor would sit below the dual camera system.
Except for the dual camera and S Pen stylus, the Galaxy Note 8 is expected to look almost identical to the Galaxy S8 Plus.
Note 8 to retain the headphone jack
The Note 8 is going to retain the 3.5mm headphone jack. The rumor mill claims that it will be tuned by Austrian firm AKG, which supplies earphones for the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. AKG is owned by Harman International, which Samsung is acquiring for $8 billion. AKG is also expected to supply earphones that will come bundled with the Galaxy Note 8.
The device would have the same Exynos 8895 and Snapdragon 835 chips that run the current Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Other features include Bixby AI assistant, a USB Type-C port, and 6GB RAM. The phablet is rumored to pack a 3200mAh battery. It would run Android Nougat 7.1.1 at the time of launch rather than Android O, though it may receive an Android O update later this year.
Galaxy Note 8 release date
Samsung traditionally refreshes the Galaxy Note line in late August or early September. Last year, it unveiled the Galaxy Note 7 in early August to beat the iPhone 7 to the market, and Samsung had to discontinue the device. Sources familiar with the matter told The Korea Herald that the phone would launch in late August. Galaxy Club has learned from its sources that the Note 8 unveiling would take place at the IFA event in Berlin, which will be held between September 1 and 6.
Samsung may hold a special event a day or two before the IFA show to unveil its flagship phablet. The Note 8 would give Samsung a chance to revive the Note line after the Note 7 debacle. IFA director Jens Heithecker has also indicated that the Note 8 could be unveiled at or around the IFA.
