Samsung has undeniably cemented its position as a global powerhouse in the smartphone arena. The Galaxy line, in particular, has been a driving force behind this success, consistently pushing the boundaries of mobile technology and design. But among the numerous models released over the years, some stand out as true game-changers, sparking revolutions and leaving an indelible mark on the industry. This article delves into the legacy of these titans, exploring top Samsung Galaxy smartphones that redefined the mobile experience.

Samsung Galaxy S (2010)

Before the Galaxy S, Samsung was a significant player in the mobile market, but not necessarily a dominant one in the burgeoning smartphone space. The original Galaxy S changed everything. Released in 2010, this device was a watershed moment for both Samsung and the Android ecosystem. It showcased the potential of Google‘s operating system with its vibrant Super AMOLED display, a feature that would become a hallmark of Galaxy devices.

The Galaxy S wasn’t just about a pretty screen, though. It packed a powerful processor, a capable camera, and a sleek design that felt premium compared to its contemporaries. It was a complete package that demonstrated Samsung’s commitment to innovation and quality. More importantly, it signaled the arrival of a serious contender to Apple‘s iPhone, which had largely dominated the smartphone conversation until then. The Galaxy S laid the foundation for Samsung’s rise to prominence and helped solidify Android as the leading mobile platform.

Samsung Galaxy Note (2011)

In 2011, Samsung dared to challenge conventional wisdom with the Galaxy Note. At a time when most smartphones hovered around the 4-inch display size, the Note sported a massive (for the time) 5.3-inch screen. This audacious move was initially met with skepticism, with many critics dismissing the Note as too large and unwieldy. However, Samsung’s gamble paid off handsomely.

The Note wasn’t just about size; it also introduced the S Pen, a stylus that offered a unique way to interact with the device. This combination of a large display and a stylus proved to be a hit with users, particularly those who valued productivity and creativity on the go. The Galaxy Note essentially created the “phablet” category, blurring the lines between smartphones and tablets. It spawned a wave of imitators and solidified Samsung’s reputation as a company willing to take risks and innovate.

Samsung Galaxy S3 (2012)

With the Galaxy S3, Samsung shifted its focus from raw specifications to user experience. While the S3 boasted impressive hardware, it was the software features that truly set it apart. Samsung introduced a suite of “smart” features designed to make the phone more intuitive and user-friendly.

Features like Smart Stay, which kept the screen on as long as the user was looking at it, and S Voice, Samsung’s answer to Siri, showcased the company’s ambition to create a phone that anticipated and catered to the user’s needs. The Galaxy S3 also marked a significant improvement in design, with a more rounded and organic aesthetic. It was a phone that felt both powerful and approachable, solidifying Samsung’s position as a leader in smartphone design and user experience.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (2015)

Samsung had experimented with curved displays before, but it was the Galaxy S6 Edge that truly brought the concept to the mainstream. The S6 Edge featured a revolutionary dual-curved display that wrapped around the sides of the phone, creating a visually stunning and immersive experience. This design wasn’t just about aesthetics; it also added functionality with features like Edge Lighting and information tickers.

The S6 Edge was a bold statement that showcased Samsung’s technological prowess and its willingness to push the boundaries of display technology. It was a phone that turned heads and sparked a new wave of innovation in smartphone displays. The curved edge display became a signature feature of subsequent Galaxy flagships, further cementing Samsung’s leadership in display technology.

Samsung Galaxy S8 (2017)

The Galaxy S8 was a major leap forward in smartphone design. Its “Infinity Display,” which stretched from edge to edge with minimal bezels, was a game-changer. It made the phone look sleek and modern, and it provided a more immersive viewing experience. The S8 also marked the debut of Bixby, Samsung’s AI assistant and it featured improved camera technology.

The S8’s design influenced the entire smartphone industry, with other manufacturers quickly adopting the bezel-less look. It solidified Samsung’s position as a leader in both design and technology, and it set a new standard for flagship smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (2020)

In recent years, Samsung has consistently pushed the boundaries of mobile photography with its Galaxy S series. The Galaxy S20 Ultra, in particular, was a landmark device in this regard. It boasted a groundbreaking camera system with a 108MP main sensor and a periscope zoom lens that offered an unprecedented 100x “Space Zoom.”

While the zoom capabilities were initially met with some skepticism, the S20 Ultra’s camera system was undeniably powerful and versatile. It set a new standard for smartphone photography, pushing other manufacturers to up their game. The S20 Ultra demonstrated Samsung’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge camera technology in its smartphones, a trend that continues to this day.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 (2021)

Samsung has been at the forefront of foldable phone technology, and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 was a significant step forward. It was more durable and refined than its predecessors, with improved hinge design and water resistance. The Fold 3 also featured an under-display camera on the inner folding screen, making for a more seamless viewing experience.

The Z Fold 3 signaled that foldable phones were becoming a viable option for consumers. It showed that Samsung was committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with smartphones, and it offered a glimpse into the future of mobile devices.

These are just a few of the Samsung Galaxy smartphones that have made a significant impact on the industry. Samsung’s commitment to innovation, design, and user experience has made them a leader in the smartphone market, and their Galaxy line continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with mobile technology.

If you’re unsure about the Snapdragon smartphone chipset lineup, check out our guide on Snapdragon processors for a detailed breakdown.

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Samsung launched the Galaxy S8 series back in 2017 and announced last year that it is ending security update support for the S8 models. However, Samsung has now released a firmware update with a few bug fixes for the Galaxy S8. This is coming more than five years after the release of the models and over one year after the models last received a software update. The new firmware update has the changelog G95*FXXUCDVG4 which relates to GPS stability improvement.

It is unclear whether the GPS stability issue is the only improvement available in the firmware. It has a download size of 420MB and there could be a few other minor fixes as well. It should be noted though that this is not an OS upgrade for the Galaxy S8. It is still running on Android 9 with the April 1, 2021 security patch. It is unclear why Samsung still extended software support to the Galaxy S8 but it is all the same, a pleasant surprise for owners of the device.

The same GPS issue could also apply to several older Samsung phones. The same firmware was sent to Galaxy J7 (from 2015) owners in Asia, while several others should also get a firmware update. These include the Galaxy S6, S7, and S9 from 2015, 2016, and 2018 respectively. All the stated models have already officially exited software support from Samsung. Samsung recently announced up to 5 years of support for its flagships from 2021 with up to 4 OS updates.

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(source)

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Samsung has over the years garnered a formidable reputation for itself as a brand that pushes regular software updates to its smartphones. The brand’s reputation for pushing regular updates is unblemished and that is once again proven with the cessation of updates for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ after four solid years of regular updates.

DroidLife noticed recently that Samsung has removed the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ from the list of models that are eligible for security updates. Other members of the Galaxy S8 series which include the Galaxy S8 Active and S8 Lite are still on the list, meaning their software support journey is yet to come to an end. We should point out that the duo was launched months after the flagship models emerged.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ were both launched in April 2017. That means the smartphones had received 4 years of regular software updates. This is pretty impressive as it sets Samsung apart from the pack. Just what the market leader wants. However, the Galaxy S8/S8+ didn’t receive the Android 10 update, having received two major Android updates of Android 8 and 9.

Although Google smartphones are usually the first to get a new Android version, the company doesn’t even provide software support for up to four years. So we doubt if anyone will feel bad about this. The tech giant has even been preparing the mind of users after it moved the Galaxy S8/S8+ to the category of models eligible for quarterly security updates since last year.

Going by this trend, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ which also receive quarterly security updates may likely end their journey around this time next year when they clock four years post-release. The Galaxy S10 which was released in 2019 is the oldest model still on the monthly security patch schedule but that may also end soon as the company seems to offer three years of monthly updates and one year of quarterly push before pulling the plug on software support for the flagship models.

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We recently reported about Windows 10 for ARM-based system was flashed on the Xiaomi Mi 6 smartphone. Now, just a day after that, the same operating system has now been successfully flashed on Samsung Galaxy S8.

With the success of getting it installed on the Snapdragon 835-powered smartphone, one of the main developers of the project, Evisio0n seems to have achieved an important milestone which will make way for the project to expand to other flagships.

EDITOR’S PICK: Honor 30 Pro+ Telephoto 30x zoom features teased by the company just hours before the phone’s official launch

However, do note that this Galaxy S8 tweak is still in early stage of development and some of the key features are not yet working, including touch, cameras, and some sensors. While it is running Windows 10 operating system, it’s practically not usable for smartphones at this point in time but some developers are exploring dual-boot options.

In one of the early demos related to this, Qualcomm had showcased the Windows 10 operating system running on a device powered by Snapdragon 820 SoC. The processor was packed in a Windows 10 notebook, which is impressive considering it was powered by a mobile chipset. This laptop could run games like World of Tanks, play 4K videos, run MS Office 2019 and all the essential functions.

UP NEXT: OPPO Ace2 5G launched with Snapdragon 865, 65W Wired & 40W Fast Wireless Charging

(Via)

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The Galaxy S8 may have gotten two successors but that has stopped Samsung from pushing regular updates to its 2017 flagship model. The Korean giant has just rolled out a fresh update for the global version of the Galaxy S8 with the model number SM-G950F).

The official changelog shows that the update brings improvement in the phone’s camera stability and a ‘security patch update’. The security patch isn’t strictly the March security patch as that has already been made available earlier this month, precisely on March 18. That makes this update the second one the company would be pushing to the Galaxy S8 with a space of two weeks. The OTA may take a while before reaching all users so if you are yet to receive the update on your S8, expect it to hit soon.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S8 Burgundy Red Color Variant Launched In India

Samsung Galaxy S8 was updated to Android 9.0 Pie only last month. That may explain the frequent updates. The update brings onboard the new, fully redesigned One UI custom overlay, making the S8 look and feel almost like an S10 in terms of the software. The Galaxy S8 launched with Android Nougat and last year, it got the Oreo update. This is the second major update for the model and likely the final. Samsung will now likely deliver only security patches for another year before resting the device from any form of updates.

(source, via)

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Samsung is yet to officially confirm the rollout of Android Pie for its 2017 Galaxy S8 flagship models as well as the Galaxy Note 8 but there are indications the tech giant will push Android Pie upgrade based on the new One UI soon. This much was revealed via the WiFi Alliance certification pages for the three handsets.

The screenshots grabbed from the WiFi Alliance website shows the handsets come with model numbers SM-G9500, SM-G9550 and SM-N9500. The model numbers are those of the Chinese variants of the Galaxy S8, S8+ and the Galaxy Note 8, respectively. The listing was supposed to show just the WiFI certification but alongside comes the discovery that the models that were tested are running Android 9.0 Pie OS.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition with Android 9.0 Pie appears on WiFi-Alliance

The Galaxy S8, S8+ and Galaxy Note 8 were launched running Android Nougat and later on Android Oreo update was pushed around Spring last year. Samsung is yet to disclose when Android Pie will hit the models but it may not be this year. An update is likely to happen sometime after January since the Galaxy S9-series and Note 9 will be getting Android Pie in January. As usual, new flagships usually take the front row seats when it comes to firmware updates.

(source)

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Samsung has launched its flagship smartphones under Galaxy S-series and Galaxy Note-series in India, which are the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9. With this, the company has now announced a price cut of whooping Rs. 12,000 for Galaxy S8+, bringing down the phone’s price to Rs. 39,990, roughly $568.

The Samsung Galaxy S8+ was first launched in India in April last year, for a price of Rs. 64,990 (approximately $922). Later, the phone received a price cut which brought down the phone’s pricing to Rs. 58,990. This was followed by another price cut, which made the phone available for Rs. 53,990.

With the latest price cut, the Galaxy S8+ now costs Rs. 39,990 in India. The phone is now available for purchase across retail stores in India with the new pricing. The new pricing should soon be effective for Samsung’s online shop as well as other online retailers.

To remind you of the phone’s specifications, the device comes with a 6.2-inch Quad HD display with 2960 x 1440 pixels screen resolution and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone is powered by the company’s own Exynos 8895 processor coupled with Mali-G71 MP20 GPU. It includes 4GB RAM with 64GB internal storage and 6GB RAM model comes with 128GB internal storage.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy A8 Star is official: 6.3-inch Super AMOLED, SD660, dual cam and 6GB RAM

On the camera front, there’s a 12-megapixel primary camera with f/1.7 aperture and a front camera with an 8-megapixel sensor with f/1.7 aperture. The smartphone is backed by a 3500mAh battery and runs on Android 8.0 Oreo operating system with Samsung Experience UI on top.

(Source)

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Samsung India has launched a new color variant of its last year’s Galaxy S8 in India. The company has introduced Burgundy Red color for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and says that it is a limited edition model. In India, the phone was already available in Maple Gold and Midnight Black colors as well as the Orchid Grey color.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Burgundy Red Limited Edition model will be available for Rs. 49,990 for the 64GB storage variant. The smartphone will go on sale in India from 13th April. Additionally, Samsung is offering cashback of Rs. 10,000 if buyers pay via Paytm at the retail stores.

Last month, the South Korean giant launched its latest flagship smartphone and the successor of the Galaxy S8 series — the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. Recently, the Galaxy S8 series received a price cut in the Indian market, bringing down the cost of Galaxy S8 64GB to Rs. 49,990. The Galaxy S8+ 64GB model is priced at Rs. 53,990, while the 128GB storage model costs Rs. 64,900.

To recall, the Samsung Galaxy S8 flaunts a 5.8-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display with screen resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels, dual-edge screen and 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The display is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 on top.

In the Indian market, the device is powered by the company’s own Exynos 8895 processor along with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. There’s a microSD card slot, allowing users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity to 256GB.

Read More: Samsung Completes 7nm Process Development 6 Months Early, May Be Used on Snapdragon 855

Coming to the camera department, the Galaxy S8 features a 12-megapixel ‘Dual Pixel’ rear cameras with optical image stabilization and a f/1.7 aperture. On the front, there’s an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with autofocus and an f/1.7 aperture. It has started receiving Android Oreo update. The handset is fuelled by a 3,000mAh battery which also supports wireless charging and fast charging.

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Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus have received a price cut in India after the company launched its successors — Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus.

The previous generation devices are now available at a reduced price through online stores as well as offline stores. The Galaxy S8 now costs Rs. 49,990 for 64GB storage model while the Galaxy S8 Plus for the same storage model is priced at Rs. 53,990.

The 128GB storage model of the Galaxy S8+ is now available for Rs 64,900. The Galaxy S8 has received about Rs 8,000 discount while the 64GB Galaxy S8 Plus has got discount of Rs 11,000. The costliest variant, i.e. Galaxy S8 Plus with 6GB RAM has been discounted by Rs 6,000.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus feature a 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch display respectively. The Super AMOLED QHD display comes with 1440 x 2960 pixels screen resolution and is certified by the UHD Alliance as Mobile HDR Premium.

The India variants are powered by the Samsung Exynos 8895 processor. The phones come with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage option, which is expandable up to 256GB using external microSD card. The 128GB variant of the Galaxy S8 Plus features 6GB RAM.

Both the smartphones come with a 12-megapixel rear camera with ‘Dual Pixel’ technology. The camera features include optical image stabilization and f/1.7 aperture. On the front side, there’s an 8-megapixel snapper with autofocus for taking selfies and video calling.

The smartphones are nearly identical in terms of specifications. The primary differences are battery capacity, dimensions, and screen size. Connectivity options on the device include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, USB Type-C, NFC, and GPS.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are powered by 3,000mAh and 3,500mAh battery respectively, along with support for wireless charging and fast-charging.

Read More: Samsung’s Upcoming Flagship Smartphone Galaxy Note 9 Could Launch In July – Report

Last month, Samsung launched its latest flagship smartphones in the Indian market — Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, with a starting price of Rs. 57,900 (approximately $891). Recently, the South Korean giant also introduced the 128GB storage variants in India.

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The Always On mode has been improved once again. This mode is very useful on Samsung devices as it allows to check time, notifications, and other important info even when the display is turned off and the phone is on standby. And, obviously, it limits the energy consumption and the impact on the battery life. Samsung has just updated the Always On Display app by adding the support to GIFs.

Now, you can set animated GIFs to show up when you lock your phone and the display turns off. With this update, the Samsung AOD app jumps to the version 3.2.26.4. Once you have updated your app, you can set animated GIFs in the Always On mode by heading to the Gallery app. You just need to select the GIF that you want, tap on the overflow menu (…), then choose Set as Always On Display image.

RELATED: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (Snapdragon 845) Shows Up On Geekbench

The app will also give you the chance to trim the GIF in case it is too long. In order to minimize the impact on the battery life, the GIF will animate just once: right after you lock your phone by pressing the power key. Actually, the updated app with the new feature is compatible only with Galaxy S8 and S9 series (except S8 Active). You can download the APK by clicking here if you still haven’t received the update.

(Via)

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A new update is hitting European units of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. According to new reports from Germany, the update is coming via OTA and it brings the security patches for the month of March. The new firmware weighs about 465 MB and it is identified by the build number G955FXXU1CRC7. It is based on Android 8.0 Oreo as these devices have already been updated to the latest Android version.

Besides bringing the security patches for this month, the new update rolling out on Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus is also fixing five vulnerabilities found in Samsung Experience, the customized user interface from the Korean giant. At the moment, there are no other reports regarding this update, so we do not know if it is rolling out in other European countries as well. The update regards the Exynos variant of the handsets as it is the one launched in the European market.

Don’t worry if you own one of these devices and you still haven’t receive the update as it should spread to the whole Continent soon. To force the arrival of the update, you can head to the Settings and tap on Software updates. We suggest you download it through a Wi-Fi connection in order to save your data traffic. You can find the update firmware for Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ below (Odin is needed to install them manually).

(Via, Download (S8), Download (S8+))

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After Samsung’s Turkish website has confirmed the official update dates for the Samsung Galaxy S7 series, the Galaxy Note 8 and the A-Series (2017), Samsung Canada has added new devices to the Android Oreo update roadmap. The roadmap only refers to Canada, so if you are not from Canada the date of the update for your device may be different.

But given that, usually, updates get rolled out gradually in some weeks at max, these dates give us a clear idea of the time frame in which the devices will finally get Android Oreo. According to Samsung Canada, Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will officially be updated in the country on March 18. Ten days after, on March 28, it will be the turn of the Galaxy Note 8. On spring/summer 2018 the company will start rolling out the update on the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, Galaxy A5 (2017) and the flagship tablet Galaxy Tab S3 9.7-inch version.

Later in 2018, Samsung Galaxy XCover 4, Galaxy A8 (2018), Galaxy J3 Emerge, Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017), Galaxy Tab Active 2 and Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016) will get updated as well. For each of the listed devices, the update will come alongside a new version of the customized user interface by the Korean giant, which will be called Samsung Experience 9.0. It will bring new features and improvements, as well as important bug fixes and security fixes.

(via)

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The Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note8 all come with a pair of  wired AKG earphones. The earphones are tuned by Harman Kardon – an audio company acquired by Samsung in 2016. If you are not into wired earphones, you can get something better.

For a limited time, Samsung will ship any of the three phones with a pair of Gear IconX (2018) earbuds. However, you have to make your purchase (unlocked or select carriers) from the official Samsung US website or Shop Samsung app. It also runs from till March 1.

The Gear IconX (2018) is the second gen version from Samsung. They are completely wireless earbuds with a charging case just like Apple’s Airpods. It serves dual functions – you can use it as regular bluetooth earphones or as standalone earbuds as it has 4GB of built-in memory for songs.

It can also track your exercise and provide a live coach while you work out. It has support for other Samsung phones, Android phones, and even works with iOS devices though not all its features are available on iOS.

The IconX (2018) is priced at $199 in the US and comes in silver, black, and pink. For the promo, Samsung will ship the black variant with your purchase.

READ MORE: Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+ Android 8.0 Oreo Update Abruptly Halted

There is no confirmation as to if the AKG earbuds are still included in the box or if the IconX replaces it. Nevertheless, this is still a good deal.

This is not the first deal of its kind though. Back in January, Samsung shipped a free pair of AKG Bluetooth headphones worth $180 if you purchased any of the three phones including the Galaxy S8 Active.

(Source, Via)

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According to a Samsung official, the beta testing phase of Android Oreo for Samsung Galaxy S8 has been closed on February 9, and the global rollout of the stable update will be available in the upcoming days. The moment has almost arrived: the S8, together with its Plus version, should be the first Samsung devices to get updated to the latest version of the operating system. The update will come with Samsung Experience 9.0, a new version of the customized user interface by Samsung, which will contain several new features and improvements. According to a recent infographic surfaced online, Samsung Experience 9.0 will contain an improved keyboard with a customizable toolbar.

This toolbar will make it easy to open the clipboard, predictive text, voice input and one-handed mode, but it will also allow to quickly search among hundreds of old and new emojis, stickers, and animated GIFs. Everything the users will need to customize the toolbar is dragging the icons in the desired position. It will even be possible to customize the keyboard in a better way by choosing 4 high-contrast skins, and there will be many other options as well. The improvements in the upcoming update of the Samsung Galaxy S8 also tweak the Finder on the Apps screen, which will show intuitive cards on the search results page.

RELATED: Samsung Launches ISOCELL Dual: Better Dual Cameras For Non-Flagship Smartphones

The virtual assistant ‘Bixby’ will be improved as well with background music support, colors to match the weather, and much more information in a briefing screen. The new Color Lens feature will allow you to change the color of your Samsung Galaxy S8’s display if you find it difficult to read on a white display. There will be a new Samsung Cloud icon on the home screen, an improved Samsung Connect dashboard and much more. And obviously, do not forget the main improvements of Android Oreo, such as a longer battery life and better performance.

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Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is the rugged version of the S8 series, which is actually the best flagship phone to sport a rugged design. The device, running Android Oreo, has been certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance in two versions: one identified by the code SM-G892U and another with the code SM-G892A. The first is the version launched by the U.S. carrier T-Mobile, while the second one is the Sprint version. This certification makes us think that Samsung Galaxy S8 Active may be updated to Android Oreo even before the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Soon, Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be released as well: they will be showcased at MWC 2018 in an event that will be held on February 25 in Barcelona.

After these devices, the Galaxy S9 Active should be released as well. Some XML files found in a beta firmware of Android Oreo for the Galaxy Note 8 have confirmed the existence of the new rugged device, which is identified by the code name astarqlte. While the letter “A” may stand for active, the letter “Q” hints at the presence of a Qualcomm SoC. This means that it is the U.S. version as it is expected to have the Snapdragon 845, while the EU version of the S9 has a Samsung Exynos 9810.

(Via)

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Most people have had the experience or heard the story from someone who has fallen victim to sellers of cloned smartphones. They are almost in all major cities, on the busy street corner where they offer buyers the latest iPhone or Samsung at rock bottom prices. This offer sweeps some out of their feet and before they realize the phone isn’t real, the seller is gone. Well, AnTuTu has released as part of their annual smartphone data, a list of the top most cloned smartphones.

The data was for 2017 and it contains among other things, a distribution chart of cloned smartphones according to the affected brand. AnTuTu claims that an estimated 17,424,726 mobile phones were shipped in 2017 and out that tall figure, cloned smartphone accounted for 2.64%. Of course, who would want to clone a relatively unknown brand? So, it is no surprise that Samsung emerged as the most clone brand last year with a cumulative total of 36.23%. Apart from being the world’s top smartphone maker, Samsung also happened to have released a couple of stunning models last year. But the most cloned model last year is revealed as the Galaxy S7 Edge Europe edition. The China version of the Galaxy S7 Edge emerges as the second most cloned phone. Other Samsung models that were cloned last year include the Galaxy W2016, Galaxy W2017, Galaxy S8+

Apple is also another brand that suffers from cloning, especially in markets like China where iPhones are in hot demand. Apple ranked second with 7.72% and quite interesting is the discovery that most of the iPhone clones are usually equipped with Android OS. The iPhone 7 Plus is the most faked iPhone last year, ranking among the top 10 most faked smartphones of 2017 as compiled by AnTuTu.

Read More: This Galaxy S9 & S9 Plus Concept Video Gives A Clearer Picture Of The Expected Design

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi also ranked as the third most cloned smartphone brand with 4.75%. This is closely followed by OPPO with 4.46% and Huawei with 3.40%.

(source)

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Various renders and leaked images have surfaced recently to reveal the design of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9 that will be arriving as a successor of the Galaxy S8. Leaked information has shown that the Galaxy S9’s appearance will be similar to its predecessor, albeit slight changes. However, fresh renders of the Galaxy S9 released by 91Mobiles and @OnLeaks reveals some interesting design changes that will be arriving on the phone.

The new renders of the S9 that are based on factory CAD images have been reportedly sourced from Samsung. The Galaxy S8 that was released earlier this year features 148.9 x 68.1 x 8mm and it houses a 5.8-inch S-AMOLED display. However, the fresh renders show that the Galaxy S9 would be measuring 147.6 x 68.7 x 8.4mm. This shows that the Galaxy S9 is slightly smaller and thicker than its predecessor. The video claims that it will be housing a 5.65-inch display. Like the S8, the display of the S9 are curved towards the right and left edges.

Galaxy S8 users do not like the placement of the fingerprint scanner as they end up touching the camera sensor while unlocking the phone. The renders of the S9 suggests that Samsung has heard the feedback of its fans as the fingerprint scanner appears to be repositioned below the rear camera.

Multiple rumors have claimed that the Galaxy S9 would be featuring dual rear cameras. However, its renders reveal that the dual camera feature will be exclusively available on the Galaxy S9+. The Power button is on the right side of the S9 whereas the Bixby button and volume rocker are on the left. The S9 will be also borrowing other features like 3.5mm audio jack, iris scanner, USB-C port, and IP68 rated chassis from the S8.

The Galaxy S9 driven by Snapdragon 845 chipset may arrive in the U.S. whereas the other markets may receive the Exynos chipset (could be Exynos 9810) variant. It may feature 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. It is expected to come loaded with Android 8.0 Oreo.

[envira-gallery id=”162180″]

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S9+ 360-Degree Renders Show Vertical Dual Rear Cameras, Smaller Screen

Some rumors have claimed that the Galaxy S9 and S9+ may be shown behind closed doors at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 in the next month. However, other rumors have claimed that the Galaxy S9 duo will be announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018, more specifically on Feb. 25 through the Galaxy Unpacked 2018 event.

(source 1, 2)

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From April this year, Microsoft started selling Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus smartphones in its brick-and-mortar stores. Now, the company has also started selling the devices through its online store.

The Microsoft Edition Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus comes pre-loaded with a range of productivity tools from Microsoft, including Cortana, MS Word, Excel, OneNote, and Outlook among others. It also comes with the new Microsoft Launcher which gives the ability to access calendar, documents, and recent activities in personalized feed.

The unlocked version of the Microsoft Edition Galaxy S8 costs $724.99, while its bigger variant — the Galaxy S8 Plus is priced at $824.99. The pricing is similar to the devices’ pricing on the Samsung’s official website. In addition, Microsoft is also offering carrier versions of the device from the likes of Verizon and AT&T.

Microsoft has already revealed that there will be a big discount on both devices as part of the company’s Black Friday deals. During Black Friday sale, both the smartphones will carry a discount of $150.

As a refresher, the Galaxy S8 features a 5.8-inch display while the Galaxy S8 Plus comes with a 6.2-inch display. The Super AMOLED display comes with a scree resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 18:5:9. Under the hood, both the devices are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 chipset which provides eight Kryo CPU cores clocked at up to 2.35GHz along with an Adreno 540 GPU and 4GB of RAM. Both the smartphones have 64GB of internal storage and supports microSD card of up to 256GB for expanding storage.

Read More: Microsoft Edge’s iOS and Android Version Arriving Soon, Preview Version Is Now Available

There is a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilisation (IOS), LED flash and a f/1.7 aperture, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with f/1.7 aperture and autofocus. While the Galaxy S8 is powered by a 3,000mAh battery, the S8 Plus packs a bigger 3,500mAh battery. Currently, the smartphones run Android Nougat OS but an upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo is already in the beta stage.

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VKWorld is prepping up to launch new smartphones during the upcoming holiday season. The three rumored smartphones from the company are VKWorld Mix, T2 Plus and S8. Several details of the VKWorld S8 have already surfaced.

The VKWorld S8 is expected to feature a full screen design that will be supporting an aspect ratio of 18:9. However, the exact size and resolution of its display are not known.

The company claims that the screen of the VKWorld S8 is different from the other clones of Samsung Galaxy S8 as it features very thin bezels. Its top bezel is of 3.2mm only which houses an earpiece, light sensor and proximity sensor. The left and right bezels are even slimmer as they measure only 1mm. It seems that VKWorld S8 would be probably sporting the thinnest bezel in smartphones.

None of the full screen smartphones that have released so far feature large-sized batteries. The VKWorld S8 could be the first full screen phone to arrive with a mammoth battery of 5,000mAh capacity. It is Li-Po battery built by Sony. Li-Po batteries are said to be safer and durable than Li-ion batteries.

With minimal use, the battery is expected to last for 3 days and with normal use, users will be able to use the handset for 2 days. The huge battery of the VKWorld S8 will be complemented by MediaTek’s PumpExpress fast charging feature. The handset will be carrying support for 12V/2A fast charging.

Read More: New low price record set on Full-Screen phones: Vkworld Mix is coming for $99!

As of this writing, there is no information available on the chipset that will be powering the smartphone. However, SoC of the S8 would be accompanied by 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.

The handset will be also sporting a premium design as it will be coming with 3D glass back. As it can be seen in the above, the VKWorld S8 would be arriving in four color choices such as red, silver/white, light blue and black. The rear side of the smartphone features dual cameras. However, the exact details of both the lenses are not available. The fingerprint scanner is placed on its rear side. The smartphone also features a USB-C port.

The Chinese firm will be holding VKWorld Carnival in October. It is expected to unleash the VKWorld S8 during the upcoming event. There is no information available on the pricing of the phone.

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There is no doubt as of this moment that Xiaomi will be launching the Mi Mix 2 this year with a similar high screen-to-body ratio as featured on the first-gen Mi Mix. The Chinese tech company also hinted that the Mi Mix 2 will be designed by Phillippe Starck who masterminded the Mi Mix’s design. But we still haven’t heard much about the Mi Mix 2 design until now.

A leaked Xiaomi document to developers has shared some light on the design of the Mi Mix 2. The document recognised the innovative design of the Mix 2 and even mentioned the popularisation of the design by Samsung. Mention was also made of the LG G6 which also used a similar full-screen. The document then went on to state as a leader in full-display mobile phone technology, Xiaomi will introduce in the near future more full-screen phones with a larger display and higher screen ratio. The purpose of the document seems to be the effect the new design will have on the mobile phone software and the write-up drew developers’ attention to two aspects; larger screen aspect ratio and a virtual navigation key.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix was released in October last year with a 6.4-inch display which accounted for 91.3% of the screen and a 17:9 aspect ratio. The MiMix 2 display may not really be larger in size but the screen-to-body ratio may likely be increased to 93%as well as the aspect ratio as indicated o the leaked document. The Mi Mix featured a virtual navigation key and also uses a Cantilever piezoelectric ceramic technology which replaces the traditional earpiece. On the Mix 2, Xiaomi is said to partner with AAC technologies who will develop a better new generation technology known as AAC actuator which would be used for the ear piece sound output. The AAC actuator is said to achieve a better screen sound especially at low frequency. It also works better with the 3GPP standard.

In a similar vein, a couple of purported renders of a Xiaomi model believed to be the Mix 2 have appeared online showing the design is somehow similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8. The device looks a little smaller than the 6.4-inch display the Mi Mix featured, making the renders not so likely to be the Mix 2. It is still too early to start getting the renders of the concept flagship since it won’t be launched until most likely the fourth quarter.

Read Also: Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 Concept Render Shows 93% Screen to Body Ratio and Dual Rear Cameras

There are talks of the renders being those of the Redmi Pro 2 but then, that is a mid-ranger. Putting this kind of design on the Redmi Pro 2 will make its price way higher than usual. The renders are also said to likely to be those of the Mi 6 Plus which is expected to be launched soon. The leaker only mentioned that this wasn’t the Galaxy S8 but MIUI mysterious new machine. So, we can’t say which of the Xiaomi models would pack this design but it sure looks like some interesting things are ahead.

(source 1, 2)

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A Full-screen forum was held in the Shenzhen district of China’s Guangdong province on Thursday with the deliberations bothering squarely on full display technology, innovations, concepts and other new things that could change the way we use smartphones. The forum had in attendance individuals from all walk of life.

The Full-screen forum is a clear demonstration of the growing admiration for bezel-less displays in China. The Xiaomi Mi Mix was the first to break the barrier and launch a full-screen phone with up to 93% screen-to-body ratio. Thereafter South Korean giant Samsung caught the bug and released the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus with a bezel-less Infinity display having 84% screen-to-body ratio. Samsung seems to have leveraged on the wide receivership the Mi Mix but the Galaxy S8 is looking way more superior and successful than the Mi Mix.

The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are already demolishing previous sales records set by the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. That is perhaps why Lee Hyun Hong ShaneLee, Director of Samsung China Design Institute thinks Samsung shocked the entire Chinese smartphone manufacturers with the release of its latest flagship. In actual sense, the frenzy was already catching on before Samsung launched the Galaxy flagships. Xiaomi, not Samsung kickstarted the whole thing with the LG G6 coming out with a similar design even before Samsung’s flagships. But then, Samsung’s position as a global market leader is the best form of promotion the new smartphone design could get. The success of the Mi Mix and the monumental feats achieved by the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus so far will only make more manufacturers want to key into the design style.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Emperor Edition May Feature 8 GB RAM; Galaxy Note 9 May Have 12 GB RAM

Already, several Chinese manufacturers have different models in the works like the Doogee Mix, Maze Alpha, Bluboo S1, IDWell D10, Leagoo T-Mix, all with various degrees of full displays. There are indicators such as the huge turn out experienced during the Full-screen forum which points to the likelihood of next year being flooded with full-screen models. Before then, expect more models this year, like the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2. Huawei and Vivo are also expected to launch full-screen models this year.

(source)

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus has continued to dominate media discussions surrounding its powerful Snapdragon 835 chip, amazing design and marvellous hardware. The Galaxy S8 has a fragile build due to the near bezel-less large display and glass body it features.

The glass covering and near bezel-less display makes the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus easy to get damaged in the event of a fall. For such an expensive phone, that is a red signal because it means the Galaxy S8 and its sibling will be expensive to fix in the event they took a fall and got shattered. However, a recent report on US tech blog Motherboard has revealed that despite the fragile nature of the Samsung flagship, the device is relatively affordable to repair. The report also quoted several independent shops of saying that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus’ design allows for a relatively simple method of screen replacement

While we don’t hope to have to go to the repairer’s, we just can’t take away the possibility of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus sometimes slipping out of their owner’s hands. Standing at 5.8-inch for the S8 and 6.4-inch for the S8 Plus, the two Galaxy flagships are pretty large smartphones that are bound to take a fall someday. If peradventure that happens, you’ll have to dole out around $200 for a replacement screen. This amount is said to be $100 less than what the replacement screen of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge cost.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S8 China Release Date and Pricing

For a pair which retails for no less than $750, replacing a broken screen for $200 may still sound outrageous for some but it sure won’t be for anyone that can afford the flagship. Now, you may want to hold on carefully to your prized possession because the recent teardown of the smartphones revealed the internals are not going to be easy to repair.

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus went on sale in some markets yesterday. The new flagships cost more than the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge but those prices are justified. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus cost more to manufacture hence the reason for their high prices.

A report by IHS Markit has revealed the bill of materials of the 64GB Galaxy S8. It costs Samsung $307.50 to put together the 5.8-inch device. Of that amount, only $5.9 makes up manufacturing expenses. The rest is the cost of materials. That makes the Galaxy S8 $43.34 and $36.29 more expensive in terms of production than the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge respectively.

There is no breakdown of the cost of each individual component but the report says the 3000mAh battery costs $4.50 while the sum of the NAND flash memory and DRAM is $41.50.

You might wonder why Samsung is selling it for more than double the cost of production then. The cheapest price you can get the Galaxy S8 is $720 and that is a $412.50 difference.  To be fair to Samsung, they also have to bear the cost of shipping, marketing, and import taxes to destination countries. Retailers and carriers also get their cut and some is also set aside for research and development. There is also administrative costs which includes the salaries of executives and managers.

READ MORE: Samsung Ordered to Pay Huawei $11.6 million By Chinese Court Over Patent Case

The bottom line is Samsung does makes profit from the sales but not as much as what you get when you subtract the cost of production from selling price.

The Galaxy S8 Plus will cost a little bit more due to the fact that it uses a bigger display and has a larger battery.

(Source, via)

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Elephone is joining the fray of manufacturers with phones with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The other exciting part is that, the new device will also be taking on the Xiaomi Mi MIX with its bezel-less design.

LG kicked off the 18:9 aspect ratio with its LG G6‘ Full Vision Display. Samsung followed with the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ which both have an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. While all three phones have shaved off a large part of their bezels, they still can’t match that of this new device Elephone is working on.

It is important to note that this device is still a prototype, so there is no info on when it will launch and how much it will cost. There are also no specification details available.

One thing you’d notice from the images is that there doesn’t seem to be a front camera, not even on the lower bezel like in the Mi MIX. But if you take a look at the rear camera, it’s designed in such a way that it can be raised up.

READ MORE: Elephone P25 Renamed Elephone P8, More “8” Coming this Year!

The phone also doesn’t seem to have a fingerprint scanner on the back or up in front, so it’s likely that it’s embedded under the display.

Are you excited about this new device? Will you be picking one up if the specs and price are right?

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Samsung may have first mooted the idea of a 6GB RAM on its flagship on the Galaxy Note 7 but unfortunately, that did not happen before the Note 7 went down. But rumors started filtering in, even before the Galaxy S8 was released, that the China edition of the Galaxy S8 would have a 6GB RAM version and indeed the Galaxy S8 appeared on TENAA with 6GB of RAM. That was later rumored to be on the high-end version of the Galaxy S8+ which is also said to have 128GB storage.

Words out of South Korea has now come out to further lend some level of credibility to talks of a 6GB + 128GB version of the Galaxy S8+. According to etnews, the Samsung Galaxy S8+ will have a 6GB RAM version that would be exclusive to China and would retail for a staggering KRW 1,155,000 (~$1,030, 7099 Yuan).

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus Hands On: Beautiful Infinity Display Experience

Furthermore, the report claims the Galaxy S8+ (6GB+128GB ) will come in Midnight Black and there will be a free Samsung DeX dock worth KRW 160,000 (~$140) with each pre-order. This is different from the free Gear VR headset with a controller and a set of games which is being offered with the International version. We must point out, though, that nothing is certain at this point until Samsung officially confirms it. But Samsung would be meaning to compete favorably with other Chinese OEMs who seem to be shifting to 6GB RAM onboard their smartphones.

(source)

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Finally, the latest and greatest Samsung galaxy flagships are here, the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus. Both phones follow a familiar Samsung’s design language but they now have truly bezel-less displays that just look gorgeous.

In fact, the Galaxy S8 is narrower and just feels so much smaller in the hand in comparison to the last year’s Galaxy S7 edge even though it has a larger 5.8” display. The S8+ has a 6.2” display but it also has one of the best screen to body ratios out there.

You can check out my Galaxy S8 hands on review video below:

Both phones are 8mm thick and they sport pretty small batteries. The S8 has a 3000mAh unit whereas the S8+ sports a 3500mAh power bank.

As far as the specs go, the S8 and S8+ will use either Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 chipsets, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which is also expandable via the MicroSD card slot. There are rumors about the 6GB model but there is no official info about that.

The 2k resolution AMOLED panels look really sharp and vibrant. They also use the 18:9 aspect ratio and HDR video support, which seems like a trending feature in 2017.

Some people may be disappointed but finally, the physcial home button is gone. There is still a button underneath the on-screen keys, which gives you a nice haptic feedback. You will also be able to switch the recent apps and the back buttons.

A new 8MP auto-focus selfie camera is said to be better than ever. I took a few selfies in low-light and they do look pretty good but more on the image quality in my full review later.

There was no space for the fingerprint scanner on the front, so Samsung put it on the back… in the most awkward position you can ever imagine. It will take time to get used to it and you may smudge your camera lens from time to time but at least the scanner is accurate. Also, it finally unlocks the phone straight from the standby mode.

The reason why the fingerprint scanner placement is questionable is that you have new face recognition and iris scanner features, which seem to work pretty well but they are slower to use since you need to wake your phone up first.

As most of the Samsung phones, the S8 is a huge fingerprint magnet and it looked gross even though I kept cleaning it all the time. I won’t be getting a black model, where all those smudges are visible, that’s for sure.

Same as the last year’s flagship, the S8 sports the IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, so you will be able to wash those smudges out.

We have the same 12MP camera on the back but it now has better software optimizations. I took a few camera samples in low-light and they do look really good but again, more on the image quality in my full review.

We have a usual set of buttons, a headset jack and a dedicated button for a new Samsung’s voice assistant that is called Bixby. It is basically Samsung’s version of the google assistant. So far it looks promising but this is a feature that I will be testing in detail later on.

I spent just an hour with the new Galaxies but I absolutely love the new Grace UX. It looks cleaner and most importantly, it is really fast even though there are lots of features and customization options. We will see how it performs after installing a lot of apps on the phone. The new Samsung Dex will allow you to transform your Galaxy phone into a desktop computer to boost your productivity by optimizing the apps and the home screen for a large display. However, the Dex dock will be sold separately.

Samsung also announced a new Gear 360 camera that will be easy to use and it will let you live stream 360 videos easily.

Both new Galaxies will be available in a variety of colors and the release information currently puts pre-orders at March 30, with the phones making it into your hands by April 21.

Most carriers in the US will be offering the Galaxy S8 for $750 and the Galaxy S8 Plus for $850. The prices in Europe will be 800 EUR for the Galaxy S8 and the 900 EUR for the S8+.

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After much speculations, rumours and leaks, South Korean tech giant Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S8 along with the Galaxy S8 Plus in a ceremony today. The Samsung Galaxy S8 launch is the biggest event the tech giant is hosting since the Galaxy Note 7 saga so, the event was a highly anticipated one.  As you already know, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus were billed to be the first smartphones to pack Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 chipset and indeed they were launched with the powerful flagship chip. But whether you’ll get to buy the Snapdragon 835-powered version of the S8 or S8 Plus will depend on where you live.

Design & Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy S8 features a design which isn’t entirely different from its predecessors but it comes with an unusually high screen-to-body ratio. A large display ensured the traditional home button which sits at the front of the screen under the display was absent. Instead, the Galaxy S8 features a virtual home button. The bezels are thin and the display is a curved one.

On the specifications, the Galaxy S8 sports a 5.8-ich Super AMOLED display with a resolution of  2960 x 1440 pixels and 570ppi. The processor is an octa-core Snapdragon 835 chipset clocked at 2.35GHz on some version while there is another version powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 8895 chip also clocked at 2.35GHz. The United States will get the Snapdragon 835-powered version while other international countries would get the Exynos 8895-powered version. China is said to also get the Qualcomm-powered version but there is no official word on that yet. Both versions are backed by 4GB of RAM while there is 64GB of storage onboard which is expandable via a microSD slot.

Camera, Battery

On the camera aspect, the Galaxy S8 packs a 12MP rear camera with a f/1.7 aperture, OIS and LED flash and at the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera with a f/1.7 aperture and autofocus. We are yet to see camera samples of theGalaxy S8’s camera but we believe it would be a very powerful setup. Keeping the lights on is a generous 3000mAh battery which should do a good job in that regard.

Connectivity, Other Features

Other features include a USB Type-C port, NFC and MST for Samsung Pay, IP68 water and dust resistance and yes, it still packs a 3.5mm headphone jack. There is also a wireless charging support as well as Cat. 16 LTE. Others include Bluetooth 5.0 which is capable of streaming to two devices at the same time and Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac. The Galaxy S8 isn’t too wide despite its large size, packing a dimension of 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm and it weighs just 155g. The device runs on Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box and also comes with Samsung’s new Bixby Assistant which is launched by pressing a dedicated physical button located on the side of the phone.

Pricing & Availability

As for the pricing, Samsung left that out unfortunately but the Galaxy S8 is expected to start at around $750. Both the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will be up for pre-order as from tomorrow, March 30 while they will be officially released in the US on April 21. Each pre-order qualifies you to get a free Gear VR headset with a controller and a set of games. The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will be available in black, gray, and silver in the US while Gold and blue are the options on the international edition.

	SAMSUNG GALAXY S8	Galaxy S8 Plus
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT	148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0 mm, 155 grams	159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm, 173g grams
DISPLAY	5.8-inch 2960 x 1440p (570 ppi) OLED	6.2-inch 2960 x 1440p (529 ppi) OLED
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 @ 2.3 / Exynos 9 @ 2.3	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 @ 2.3 / Exynos 9 @ 2.3
MEMORY	4GB + 64GB MicroSD: Yes	4GB + 64GB MicroSD: Yes
CAMERA	12MP f/1.7 OIS 8MP f/1.7 Front Camera	12MP f/1.7 OIS 8MP f/1.7 Front Camera
BATTERY	3000mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging	3500mAh Fast Charging Wireless Charging
OS	Android 7 Nougat	Android 7 Nougat
SPECIAL FEATURES	IP68 Certification	IP68 Certification
COLORS	Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold.	Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold.
PRICE	$750 (Expected)	>$750 (Expected)

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This is said to be as a result of the slow production rate of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset which debuts on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. The Snapdragon 835 is manufactured on a smaller but more efficient 10nm wafer which is slower than on the 14nm or higher processes. Accordingto industry sources familiar with Samsung’s operations in South Korea, even the Exynos 8895 faces similar shortage issues since it uses a similar 10nm FinFet technology process.

Must Read: Samsung Confirms Selling of Refurbished Galaxy Note 7 Units

This production snag may result in both versions coming out short of the expected number of units that would at least meet some of the demands for the smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 plus are expected to launch with some topnotch features, including an iris scanner, Samsung’s AI assistant named Bixby, a large display with high screen-to-body ratio and virtual control buttons. We don’t know how true this latest information is because earlier reports had hinted that the SD 835 chip’s production wasn’t experiencing any shortage and that Samsung even plans to sell up to 60 million units of the Galaxy S8 globally.

(via)

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It is getting clearer by the day that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the S8 Plus would be dropping soon. There is an exponential increase in the rate at which leaked images of the device are popping up recently which is usually an indication of an impending launch.

The latest leaked images of the Galaxy S8 have surfaced in China’s Weibo, giving us a clear view of not only the outward appearance but also of the on-screen specs sheet. The device comes with the model number SM-G9500 said to be the China edition. That assertion is, however, discredited by the presence of Google services as seen on the display. Google Play services are not pre-installed on phones heading to China.

The design is very consistent with those we had seen earlier on, including the high screen-to-body ratio and 18:9 aspect ratio. The device clear uses virtual on-screen buttons located at the bottom edge as the home button and any other navigation purpose. The working screen also shows the presence of NFC which means it supports NFC payment and other forms of fingerprint payment.

Related: Samsung Galaxy S8 China Edition To Feature 6GB RAM Says Analyst

Don’t forget the China edition of the Galaxy S8 would be equipped with a Snapdragon 835 processor backed by 6GB of RAM. In addition, there are rumors the flagship device would come with facial recognition feature for added security while the price is likely to break the 6,000 Yuan mark.

The flagship Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus would be unveiled on March 29 but it is not known when the device would arrive China.

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Samsung is sure heading for the galaxies with the rate at which new features about the Galaxy S8 surfaces. The tech giant looks intent to even overshoot the skies with the avalanche of stunning features that are already tipped to come onboard the flagship device.

The Galaxy S8 is now rumored to come with a pressure sensitive display similar to the 3D Touch technology which Apple feature on the iPhone 6S and subsequent models. According to reports carried in the Korean media, Samsung has developed an advanced pressure-sensitive display which it was claimed to have showcased to a select number of partners during MWC, 2017.  The media source also disclosed that the Korean giant would feature the technology is a small form on the Galaxy S8. The pressure-sensitive technology is said to be only on the navigational home key part of the Galaxy S8.

Recall the Galaxy S8 would feature a high screen-to-body ratio with on-screen navigation pane at the bottom of the display. The full utilization of the technology would be on the Galaxy Note 8 tipped to launch later this year. This would ordinarily have elicited excitement but rather it elicits confusion because the known function of the pressure-sensitive technology which is to act as a pop-up menu, is already available on Google’s latest Android Nougat OS. Perhaps there are other innovative functions that just bringing up apps shortcuts at the tap of the home screen.

Facts (Rumors) Check

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is earlier rumored as coming with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor which has been shown in leaked renders, sitting at the side of the rear LED flash. The device is also expected with a facial recognition technology as well as the traditional iris scanner. We also expect on the software end, the Samsung Bixby Assistant which is an AI performing similar functions like the Apple Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa. The button to activate the Bixby AI sits under the volume rocker. Also, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will likely feature the Edge UX as the pull tab for the interface was noticed on the right corner of the curved display as seen in a recently leaked real live render. The Edge UX is a customizable quick app launcher on which favorite and frequently used apps like contact app, and others could be added.

Related: Samsung Galaxy S8 Clones Seen in China Ahead of Original Release

Perhaps the most anticipated feature is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor that would feature on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. This would be backed by 4GB of RAM, with the Galaxy S8 China Edition said to have a higher 6GB RAM version. The storage versions would likely be 64GB and 128GB. The Samsung Galaxy S8 would sport a large 5.8-inch display while the Galaxy S8 Plus is expected with a 6.2-inch display. Both flagships are expected to be officially announced at the Galaxy Unpacked event billed to hold on March 29.

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Qualcomm has announced via its Weibo page that it will unveil the Snapdragon 835 at an event in Beijing on the 22nd of March. The event is expected to be the Asian debut of the new mobile chip. We have also learnt that Qualcomm will have a working prototype of the chip on display.

The Snapdragon 835 is built using the 10nm node process and features eight custom Kryo 280 cores and a Hexagon 690 DSP. Four of these cores are clocked at 2.45GHz and the remaining four are clocked at 1.9GHz. The new chipset also has an integrated Adreno 540 GPU.

Qualcomm says the new chip features a new X16 LTE modem that offers up to 1 gigabit download speeds, the first for a mobile processor. The Snapdragon 835 is 50% smaller but has improved power consumption by 60%. It also features Quick Charge 4.0 which has an improved efficiency of 30% over Quick Charge 3.0.

READ MORE: Qualcomm Unveils New 802.11ax Standard WiFi Chips

The Snapdragon 835 will be present in the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, and the Xiaomi Mi 6. Samsung has already announced that it will launch its new flagship on the 29th of March in new York.

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South Korean tabloid Korea Economic Daily has carried a report that the Samsung Galaxy S8 would come with an additional bio-metric feature which would work alongside the iris scanners which the Galaxy series were known to feature. According to the report, the new feature would be a facial recognition feature which is said to unlock he phone in less than 0.01 seconds.

This latest news is coming amidst talks of Apple’s own iPhone 8 packing a similar face scanner. The feature is said to be undergoing testing with the tech giant alleged to have commenced testing of the prototypes. If it turns out to be true, it brings the number of Samsung’s biometric features expected on the Galaxy S8 to three. There is the traditional rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, as well as the iris scanner and then the latest, which is the facial recognition. The report cited a Samsung official as stating that the additional biometric feature was prompted due to the limitations of the iris scanner which is slow.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S8 Clones Seen in China Ahead of Original Release

The Galaxy S8 is expected to be unveiled later this month while the sales would commence in April. A report had earlier emanated from Korea that Samsung is planning to make  up to 60 million units of the device available when sales commences. We expect it to come in very pricey but then, you don’t need to sell a kidney to get one, clones of the Galaxy S8 are already coming out from China. They sure would have very affordable price tags an similar looks with the original but e can’t vouch for their features, though.

(via)

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There are unconfirmed reports from South Korea that Samsung has started mass producing the Galaxy S8 units in its factory in Vietnam as it hopes to sell more than 10 million units of the smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is Samsung’s next big thing which it hopes to use to get over the loss accrued from the discontinuation and recall of the Galaxy Note 7. The company is ensuring it dots its Is and crosses its Ts in order to deliver a phenomenal smartphone which would take the market by storm.

The report on South Korea’s Naver Publication says Samsung intends to produce 4.7 million Galaxy S8 series smartphones in March and another 7.8 million units in April. This combines for a total of 12.5 million units which would be available in the first month of availability of the Galaxy S8. Reason being that Samsung aims to put it up for sales immediately after the March 29th announcement event.

Related: Samsung Galaxy S8 Leaked Press Render Analyzed: All there is to Know

The Samsung Galaxy S8 comes in two variants, one having a 5.8-inch display and another known as Galaxy S8+ with a larger 6.2-inch display. Both versions will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 chipset. Even though Samsung is intent on aggressively marketing the next-gen flagship, it hasn’t officially revealed the figures it hoped to produce or when sales would commence. This latest report could just be mere speculations but then, you never can tell, it may just be accurate. The Galaxy S8 would drop on March 29.

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Just a while ago, we got what is likely the first real press render of the Samsung Galaxy S8. We have seen leaked casings, concept images, and so on of the Galaxy S8 but none quite looks as real as this one leaked by popular tipster Evan Bass. For one, Evan Bass, who tweets from the handle @evleaks, has got a high level of credibility in leaks such as these. The leaked images of the LG G6 and several others from his end in the past were accurate.

We’ll do a brief analysis of the Galaxy S8 render in other to verify some of the features the device packs. You might have taken note of the numerous apertures, on-screen features and buttons revealed on the leaked press render without knowing what they really are.

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Samsung has already released a teaser hinting at the launch of the acclaimed Galaxy S8 flagship on March 29 in its self-styled “Galaxy Unpacked” event. The Galaxy S8 was expected to be unveiled at MWC 2017 but that did not happen, instead, the company released a new Galaxy Tab S3 Tab to the disappointment of journalists and fans alike.

Ahead of the March 29 launch event, the Galaxy S8 press render has leaked once again, courtesy of popular Twitter tipster @evleaks. The press render is that of a device with a clean, classic design and top-notch finishing. We must say, indeed, the Galaxy S8 was worth waiting for even though we only get to see the view from the front.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 press render further affirm the design features the Samsung flagship is said to come with, such as an all-screen curved display and all-glass body both at the front and rear. The Galaxy S8 is also going to be tall even though it features a 5.8-inch display. The device is said to use an 18:9 aspect ratio which would help for better display of images. The render also shows the clear absence of a physical home button up front as well as a lack of design bezels.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S8+ Specs Sheet Reveals All Its Features

Samsung is also expected to unveil a Galaxy S8+ variant with a larger 6.2-inch display but having the same design and aspect ratio as the Galaxy S8. Obviously, we don’t expect both flagships to come cheap but we still don’t know their likely press tag. March 29 is just at the corner, so we’ll wait to find out about that when the device goes official.

(source)

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A fresh set of real live images of Samsung‘s next generation Galaxy S8 flagship have surfaced online giving us a close view of the truly beautiful design Samsung has got in store for us. The Samsung Galaxy S8 has all along been rumored as not featuring a front home button and capacitive buttons below the screen. The Galaxy S8 was instead revealed as using on-screen navigation buttons.

These new set of leaked images are a bit blurry, perhaps to mask watermarks on them thus hiding the real source. One of the images, however, contain a working Galaxy S8 showing the display and a single back button on the bottom right corner of the screen.

That should be just one of the dynamic onscreen buttons, as others may appear depending on the command that needs to be undertaken. We won’t have to wait long to see the complete details of what Samsung has got in store, though. The Galaxy S8 would likely be unveiled at MWC 2017 commencing later this February.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S8 Real Image Leaks, See How it Compares with Xiaomi Mi Mix

There are other images and you can check them out from down below, some showing the near bezel-less display on the device which seems to sport a protective screen guard.

(source)

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It gradually getting beyond doubt now that Xiaomi Mi 6 flagship would feature the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset. The device is said to be the first Chinese brand that would feature the latest Qualcomm flagship chip. The device is also rumored as launching next month but that has only heightened our confusion as a recent rumor tips that Samsung would reserve the first batch of SD 835 chip for its Galaxy S8 flagship, thus leaving no room for any other brand to use the latest chip early on.

However, a recent rumor hints that the Xiaomi mi 6 may use a clocked down version of the Snapdragon 835 chip in order not to be delayed by Samsung’s use of the full clocked version of the SD 835. Apart from the Xiaomi Mi 6 and Samsung Galaxy S8, the LG G6 is also rumored as coming with a Snapdragon 835 chipset and is already billed for release n February 26. But because of the shortage of the SD 835, the G6 is even now rumored as packing a Snapdragon 821 chip instead.

Read Also: More Xiaomi Mi 6 Specifications & Release Details Surface

If infusing a clocked down SD 835 CPU ends up being the case, the Mi 6 would not be the first Xiaomi smartphone with a clocked down flagship chip. The Mi 5 was released with a clocked-down Snapdragon 820 chip and that didn’t in anyway hamper the success of the Mi 5.

(source)

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus battery capacity is the subject of one of the latest report emerging from South Korea. According to the report, Samsung has decided to infuse a 3,250mAh battery inside the Galaxy S8 and a 3,750mAh battery inside the S8 Plus.

This revelation is in contrast to the 3,000mAh and 3,500mAh battery capacities tipster Evan Blass had hinted would feature on the Galaxy S8 and its Plus variant respectively. This new leak, however, places both batteries at almost the same capacity with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge which came in at 3,000mAh  and 3,600mAh . This is despite the curved AMOLED display and larger screen sizes at 5.8 inches and 6.2 inches respectively. Perhaps, the device would come with a better power management considering that there would be a Snapdragon 835 chipset inside.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S8 Real Image Leaks, See How it Compares with Xiaomi Mi Mix

Also, the batteries are said to have similar dimensions but the source hints at the possibility of the battery capacity getting altered at the long run in order to bring in some increase. But that may not likely happen since the company would want to tread the path of caution, ala Samsung Note 7. The Galaxy S8 is expected to be launched on March 29 while it may go on sale in mid-April.

(source)

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Nott quite long ago, popular tipster Evan Blass leaked what is purported to be the real renders of the expected Samsung Galaxy S8 flagship. Evan Blass’ leak was perhaps the real shot we are getting on the Galaxy S8 ever since the device started resonating in the media. One again, another set of renders which are very similar to the one leaked by @evleaks have surfaced.

The latest leaked renders were shared by concept designer Benjamin Geskin who seems to have taken the leaked photo of the Galaxy S8 shared by Evan Blass and turned it into a set of sleek renders. The features highlighted on the render include the Infinity Display, Bixby button and then the elliptical-shaped rear fingerprint sensor.

Since it is based on Evan Blass’ leaked images, this one seems to be more accurate with a far better clarity of details. The dual curved edge display comes out very clear. The Bixby button is also seated at the right and it is rumored to be used to activate Samsung’s AI technology- Bixby. The rear camera and LED flash at the rear is also very conspicuous.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S8 Rumors: Official Launch Date in the U.S., Europe is March 29?

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to pop on March 29 according to the tipster but before then, here are the few details we know so far. The Galaxy S8 would feature a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution. We expect the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset onboard as well as between 4GB and 6GB of RAM which is accompanied by 64GB o expandable storage. It is likely that a USB Type-C port would be featured along with the traditional 3.5mm audio jack. The Galaxy S8 is also expected to feature an IP68 certification rating for dust and water resistance. There is also rumored to be a Galaxy S8 Plus in the works which come with a larger 6.2-inch display and a dual rear camera.

(source)

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This is the real live render of the Samsung Galaxy S8 capturing both the front and the back view and it is coming as a huge surprise. The Galaxy S8 project has been a closely guarded secret in Samsung’s circle and it has been a well-kept one until now. The Galaxy S8 real live photos come courtesy of popular tipster on Twitter Evan Bass.

The photo shows quite explicitly that the Galaxy S8 would feature an all screen curved display as well as an all-glass body both at the front and rear. The rear also gets a curved edge design and curiously, there is an elliptical fingerprint scanner at the right side of the rear camera. The camera takes a more reduced bumped and you also get the regular dual-tone LED flash on the left side of the camera. Up front, the usual physical home button is visibly absent as the device features an all-screen design in which the display takes a large chunk of the screen. There aren’t any design bezels on the display instead, the screen curves at the sides to meet the rear curved glass.

What readily comes to mind on sighting the leaked Galaxy S8 images is Xiaomi’s Mi Mix concept device with almost similar bezel-less, entire screen design. We cannot tell from the image, neither is it indicated if this is the S8 or the larger S8 Plus but both devices are not wider than the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, meaning the Mi Mix would be wider than the duo. The rear camera on the Mi Mix also doesn’t have any bump and has a round-shaped fingerprint sensor at the rear unlike the elliptical one mounted on the Galaxy S8.

This is the Samsung Galaxy S8, launching March 29 https://t.co/lQZ0K0q2MA pic.twitter.com/dlusRMX4YH

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 26, 2017

Related Post: Real image of Samsung Galaxy S8 Leaks: Tough Competition for Xiaomi Mi MIX

Years back, we would have thought this was just a concept that might never be commercialized but Evan Bass also tipped that the Galaxy S8 would be launched on March 29. An earlier leak tipped the flagship as coming in April. Which ever is correct, we know the Galaxy S8 launch is right at the corner, coming with a top notch design as well as a fiery specs lineup marshaled by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 chipset.

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