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We’re counting down the minutes until Samsung officially unveils the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. With the event kicking off at 11AM EST, here’s a deeper look at what we are expecting to see from today’s announcement.
All new design w/ Infinity Display
Although the glass body and metal frame will return, we’re anticipating an all-new design for both the S8 and S8 Plus. Gone is the home button, while the fingerprint sensor has been moved to the rear of the device, next to the rear camera sensor.
We’re also expecting to see what Samsung is calling the “Infinity Display”. This display is likely to feature a different aspect ratio than what we’ve seen from Samsung in the past. Previous rumors have claimed that the S8 will measure in at 5.8-inches, with the S8 Plus coming in at 6.2-inches, while both devices will feature an almost bezel-less display.
However, the increased display size likely won’t change the footprint much, but the new aspect ratio for both devices will be 18:9. This is a deviation from the traditional 16:9 that we’ve become accustomed to over the years.
Iris Scanning/Facial Recognition
The Galaxy Note 7 brought iris scanning capabilities to the masses, until the device met its unfortunate demise. However, Samsung is looking to bring this feature back, along with some extra protection methods. This iris scanner is said to be built into the front facing camera, allowing for higher accuracy and better recognition.
No More Edge
Technically, both the S8 and S8 Plus will feature “edge” displays, however, the S8 “Edge” won’t be a thing, as Samsung is opting to use the “Plus” moniker. regardless, this change will bring the coveted edge shortcut features to both devices, instead of leaving the base model out of the fun.
Specs
Over the last few months, we’ve seen plenty of rumors and leaks regarding what the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will have under the hood. So here’s a quick rundown of what’s expected:
Samsung Galaxy S8
- 5.8-inch Super AMOLED QHD+ Display
- 18:9 Aspect Ratio
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Processor (US Variant)
- Samsung Exynos 8895 Processor (Global Variant)
- 4GB of RAM
- 64GB of Expandable Storage via microSD (Up to 200GB)
- 8MP Front Camera
- Iris Scanning
- Facial Recognition
- 12MP Rear Camera
- 3,000mAh Battery
- USB Type-C Charging Port
- Android 7.1 Nougat w/ Samsung Touchwiz overlay
- Bixby Personal Assistant
- IP68 Water and Dust Resistant
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
- 6.2-inch Super AMOLED QHD+ display
- 18:9 aspect ratio
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Processor (US Variant)
- Samsung Exynos 8895 Processor (Global Variant)
- 4GB of RAM
- 64GB of Expandable Storage via microSD (Up to 200GB)
- 8MP Front Camera
- Iris Scanning
- Facial Recognition
- 12MP Rear Camera
- 3,500mAh Battery
- USB Type-C Charging Port
- Android 7.1 Nougat w/ Samsung Touchwiz overlay
- Bixby Personal Assistant
- IP68 Water and Dust Resistant
Bixby
One feature we’re likely to hear about ad nauseum today is Samsung’s new built-in personal assistant. With Android 7.1 expected to come with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, you’ll already have access to Google Assistant, however, Samsung’s looking to one-up Google.
Bixby is the confirmed name the new assistant, which can be activated using a new dedicated button on the side of both the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. This new technology will work with your device to help you get quick answers to questions you have, along with working with you to keep yourself organized.
Despite giving everyone a sneak peek of Bixby last week, Samsung has yet to share any more information regarding the capabilities. So you know we’ll be looking to see just how powerful this new personal assistant really is.
All-in-one hub
Along with all the various device leaks, some of the accessories expected to company the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus have seen the spotlight. Moving past the little stuff like the battery packs and such, the Samsung DeX system could very well steal the show today.
The DeX will allow you to dock your Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus and then use the device as a computer. We’ve seen this attempted before, however, Samsung is hoping this will provide a viable desktop solution for many of its users.
The dock itself includes a cooling fan, HDMI support up to 4K @ 30fps, 2x USB 2.0 ports, and a built-in power supply. The spec list also lists “Galaxy Desktop” so, this will likely be the actual interface you use with your Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus.
Colors & Pricing
We are also expecting to see an array of colors for these devices. Both devices are expected to be offered in 5 different color variants – Black Sky, Coral Blue, Arctic Silver, Orchid Gray, and Gold.
Everyone is expecting Samsung to hike up the price up a bit with these new devices. The Galaxy S8 is expected to come in at €799 (~$860), with the S8 Plus to be priced even higher at €899 (~$970). Finally, Samsung will likely be releasing these to the world on April 21st.
How to watch the event
For those of you who aren’t able to attend the event in person, Samsung is making it possible to watch the live stream. There are a few ways you can do so, starting with the Samsung Unpacked 2017 application. Simply download the app, and load it up a few minutes before 11AM to make sure you’re ready to go.
Samsung will also be hosting live streams on its own official news landing page, along with samsung.com/galaxy. Finally, you can also tune into the Samsung Electronics or Samsung Mobile Facebook pages to watch the live stream.
Oh, and as an added bonus, you can watch the event in 360 degrees through either the Unpacked 2017 app or from the Samsung Galaxy landing page.
Everything Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
If you want to follow EVERYTHING Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus not only today, but also in the future, we’ve got 2 great suggestions:
- Check out the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus Forums on AndroidForums.com
- Download EarlyBird – News for Android from the Play Store
Which S8 model will you buy?
Let us know if you’ll be picking up either the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus in the comments below.
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