Samsung is just two days away from launching the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The Galaxy Unpacked 2017 event will be held in New York on March 29, and it will kick off at 11am EDT (9.30pm IST). The rumour mill has been working overtime lately, and there’s little that we don’t already know about the device.
The event is set to be live streamed on the Galaxy webpage, and Samsung has not announced any limitations on devices or browsers, so it should presumably work on most devices and browsers worldwide. We have compiled all the information on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ that we know so far, and here’s everything you need to know ahead of the launch.
Samsung Galaxy S8 price
According to the recent rumour mill, the Samsung Galaxy S8 price will start at EUR 799 (roughly Rs. 56,000), Galaxy S8+ at EUR 899 (roughly Rs. 63,300), new Gear VR will cost EUR 129 (roughly Rs. 9,000), new Gear 360 will be priced at EUR 229 (roughly Rs. 16,100), and an accessory that could provide a Continuum-like called DeX could be priced at EUR 150 (roughly Rs. 10,500).
However, a recent leak out of Italy claims that the Galaxy S8 will be even more expensive and will be sold at EUR 829 (roughly Rs. 58,500) while the bigger S8+ should be priced at EUR 929 (roughly Rs. 65,500). With these leaks, one thing is for sure, the Galaxy S8 will definitely be more expensive than the Galaxy S7 launched last year.
Samsung Galaxy S8 specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are expected to sport 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch Super AMOLED pressure sensitive displays respectively, with QHD+ display resolutions (2400×2960 pixels . Samsung Galaxy S8 is pegged to have a dual-edged curved display with almost negligible bezel and 18:9 aspect ratio; the display may be named ‘Infinity Display’.
The two smartphones will be powered by the latest Snapdragon 835 SoC, but some markets will get the home-grown Exynos 8895 chip as well. They will be paired with 4GB of RAM, though China and South Korea are said to get 6GB of RAM variants. The devices will run on Android 7.0 Nougat, and support dual-SIM slots. In the camera department, there is expected to be a 12-megapixel dual pixel rear camera, and an 8-megapixel front camera as well. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones will be IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, support an iris scanner, may sport some sort of facial recognition, and 3000mAh and 3500mAh batteries respectively.
Samsung Galaxy S8 design
As per recent render leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will ditch the Home Button and navigation buttons in the front, and sport a large display screen in the front. The fingerprint sensor is housed at the back right next to the camera sensor, and the logo is printed in the back centre. There is a dedicated Bixby button underneath the volume buttons on the left edge, which will be the first in-built AI assistant from Samsung. Bixby is expected to do a lot more that other competitive assistants, and even work exclusively with native apps like Camera and Messages. How this will help leverage them remains to be seen.
Samsung Galaxy S8 was leaked again today in hands-on images, courtesy AndroidMX. The images reiterate the same story, and also reveals onscreen navigation button, the Camera UI, and also a new shortcut that opens the camera app if you press the power button twice. A recent video leak from SlashLeaks also compares the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ with other phones like the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and the Honor 8 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy S8 release date
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are confirmed to launch on March 29, and pre-orders are expected to begin on April 10. This time, Samsung will not prioritise South Korea this time, and will launch the handset globally across markets almost at the same time. Pre-orders are set to begin on April 10, and the handset may go on sale on April 28. However, all of this is based on rumours, and Samsung will throw light on official release dates day after tomorrow.
Samsung Galaxy S8 variants
Unlike last year, there won’t be an Edge variant of the Galaxy S8. Instead, Samsung has decided to go the Apple route and make the Galaxy S8 available in two sizes, calling the larger size the Galaxy S8+. The only difference between the two is battery, and screen size (and probably a dual camera setup). The devices will be available in different storage options presumably, and that may vary depending on region. Both the smartphones will be launched in at least three colour variants as well – Orchid Grey, Black Sky, and Arctic Silver.
Samsung Galaxy S8 accessories
Samsung is expected to launch new earphones replacing the white rubber ones bundled in predecessors. The new earbuds are reportedly made by audio company AKG and will have a braided cable which means less tangling and less prone to attracting dust. The wired earphones have a volume remote control and microphone as well. Samsung is also expected to launch power banks alongside in Blue and Grey shades. The 5100mAh power banks are capable of quick charging, with a ceiling limit of 15W. The power bank carries the model number EB-PG950 and are priced at EUR 60 (roughly Rs. 4,200) each.
Separately, a Continuum-like device called DeX (short for desktop experience) is also rumoured to be launched, which is essentially a dock station that allows you to connect your Galaxy S8 to an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard, and use it on the big screen for improved productivity. The DeX station features two USB Type-A ports, one Ethernet port, one USB Type-C port, one HDMI port, and a built-in fan. The Ethernet port is rated for 100Mbps, while the USB Type-A ports use USB 2.0 speeds. It is reportedly priced at EUR 149 (roughly Rs. 10,500).
Source: gadgets
