Apple and Samsung are the two biggest rivals in the smartphone industry. 2016 started well for Samsung thanks to the amazing Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, but then things went wrong with the Galaxy Note 7.
As for Apple, the year started a bit earlier than usual when the iPhone SE was launched back in March, but things have recently picked up with the release of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. With the two companies now done with their 2016 flagships, the attention is now turning to 2017 with Samsung set to release a Galaxy S8 and S8 Edge to compete with Apple’s iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
So, what do the rumors say about these two 2017 flagships? Here’s everything you need to know about the rumored Samsung Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8.
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung has vowed to come back with a bang during the first quarter of 2017 – a time when the Galaxy S8 and S8 Edge will be released. For starters, there could be a new design where the fingerprint scanner is optical and embedded into the screen, thus eliminating the front keys that have featured on all Samsung phones.
With the issues of the Galaxy Note 7 still fresh in every Samsung fan’s mind, the company is reportedly considering ditching Samsung SDI as the supplier of its Galaxy S8 batteries and instead turn to local competitor LG Chem. Even though strange, this move could help the company restore some form of trust among its loyal sheep.
Despite all the troubles, the Galaxy Note 7 had some positives, led by the iris scanner. It is possible that this feature will make it to the Galaxy S8. Some other reports further claim that Samsung could also move for a dual-lens camera similar to the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, LG V20, LG G5 and Huawei P9, among others.
Google recently came in with the Daydream VR platform alongside its own headset. This means that VR is here and it’s meant to stay. With basic requirements such as 4K display screens needed to get the best out of this technology, Samsung is set to make the shift with the Galaxy S8. In fact, the company already showcased a 5.5-inch 4K display earlier in the year, an indicator that it is ready.
Samsung also introduced its first 6GB RAM phone in the shape of Galaxy C9 Pro. Given the huge demands for VR, streaming, gaming and other resource-intensive tasks, don’t be surprised to see any of the two phones – Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8 Edge – come with this 6GB RAM module. There has been talk of a stylus-based Galaxy S8 Edge+ that could be a direct replacement for the Galaxy Note 7, but like many of the above statements, this is still a rumor.
Apple iPhone 8
Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are two amazing phones featuring cutting-edge performance specs, the latest software, amazing features and many other great aspects, however, it looks like a pro version of the 2014 iPhone 6. This is because it has a lot in common when it comes to design, but this will be changing come fall of 2017, with the iPhone 8 expected to ship with an all-glass design, but still, the frame will be made of aluminum.
Still, on the design changes, the Apple iPhone 8 could also come with a curved edge-to-edge OLED display, thus saying goodbye to the LCD panels it has trusted for years. Apple is also rumored to be working on its entry into AR, which CEO Tim Cook believes is much better and superior to VR. Whether this will be happening with the iPhone 8 or not is still hard to tell, but shipping the 2017 phone with support for VR won’t be a bad idea either.
Given its shift from metallic to all-glass designs, the iPhone 8 could also ship with support for wireless charging alongside much bigger batteries than the 1960mAh and 2900mAh units offered on the current iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, respectively.