Smartphone buffs can look forward to the unveiling of some top-notch devices this year, which include the flagships from Samsung and Apple.
The Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8 are among the much-speculated and hotly anticipated smartphones of this year and are undoubtedly the blue-eyed boys of the rumor mill.
Here's a look at the expected specs of the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7 successors to help you decide which one suits your needs better.
Design
The iPhone 8 is expected to ditch the physical home button for the first time in the smartphone's history. This decision was taken by Apple as a way of reducing the bezels on the top and bottom of the screen. Therefore, the iPhone 8 may feature a lot less bezel than its predecessors. If reports are to be believed, then it may be true that the device would feature an all-glass design.
Samsung's flagship will likely sport a dual-curved edge display design along with a low bezel-to-screen ratio.
Both devices seem to focus on a sleeker design with more screen space and less bezel, which has become the norm for companies currently. It would be the first time that Apple would incorporate this kind of design in its smartphone.
Display
Leaked specs have revealed that the Galaxy S8 will feature a 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display. The bigger Galaxy S8+ is anticipated to sport a 6.2-inch screen size.
The iPhone 8, on the other hand will likely come in three variants, featuring 4.7-inch, 5-inch and 5.5 inch displays. However, more importantly, industry sources surmise that this may be the company's first-ever iPhone to feature a curved OLED screen.
The Galaxy S8 will easily edge out the iPhone 8's basic version, which is the one said to have a 4.7-inch screen. The 5.5-inch display will likely be on the iPhone 8 Plus, which suggests that the Galaxy S8+ has the upper hand on this parameter.
Processor
Apple will likely bolster the internals of the upcoming flagship with the brand-new and state-of-the-art 10-nanometer A11 SoC, which is said to be much faster and more efficient than the previous version of the processor.
The Galaxy S8 will reportedly house the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset in the U.S. models and the Exynos 8895 chipset in other variants. Both these processors also use the 10 nm technology, which is said to improve efficiency.
The chipsets on both the flagships seem to be of equal capacity, and one would need to use both devices to gauge which one of them performs better.
RAM And Storage
Fans were left disappointed when it was revealed through the leaked specs sheet that the Galaxy S8 will likely feature 4 GB of RAM and not 6 GB of RAM as was expected by many. The internal storage was suggested to be 64 GB and the device will probably support expandable memory through microSD card.
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 8 with 3 GB of RAM which is the most for any iPhone from the company. As for the memory capacity, the company is expected to launch two variants of the device — one with 64 GB and the other with 256 GB of internal storage. However, as is the case with all previous iPhones, this memory will not be expandable.
iPhones are not known for its RAM and memory which would indicate that users who would want a device with a larger storage capacity would perhaps go for the Samsung flagship.
Camera And Battery
The iPhone 8 is expected to come with a dual 3D lens, which Apple is said to be developing with the help of LG. If this rumor is true, then the next iPhone may be able to capture 3D images. The cameras will also likely boast facial recognition and iris scanning technology.
The battery of the device has also been overhauled to provide longer life. According to a report by KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, the flagship device may come with a 2,700 mAh battery.
The Galaxy S8, on the other hand, will come with a 12MP rear facing and an 8MP selfie snapper which will also house iris scanner functionality. The device will reportedly house a 3,000 mAh battery.
The 3D functionality is something which may interest fans and entice them to pick up the iPhone 8, while the higher battery and camera quality may encourage others to go with the Samsung flagship.
Other Features
The Samsung Galaxy S8 has received IP68 certification which means that the device will be water and dust resistant. The company is also said to be working on the new AI, dubbed Bixby, which would be housed in the Galaxy S8 to provide users a more efficient experience while using the device. The device may also support wireless charging.
Apple, on the other hand, will support wireless charging with the latest flagship. However, it is unknown whether the company would sell the wireless charging equipment separately or if it would include it in the box along with the phone. Rumors also suggested that Apple is working on ways to improve Siri's functionality to match the other AI assistants out in the markets. The iPhone 8 will likely be IP68 certified as well.
Latest rumors point to Samsung including facial recognition technology on the Galaxy S8, which may give the company an edge over Apple.
Price And Availability
The Galaxy S8 is expected to be priced at around $970 upon its launch. Samsung has revealed that it would launch the device in its "Unpacked Event" slated to be held on March 29 in New York City. More news on when to expect the device would also probably be disclosed during the event. The smartphone is expected to hit the shelves on April 28.
The Apple flagship is expected to be a little pricier and is rumored to carry a price tag of around $1,000. Although no announcement has been made regarding the date of its launch, the smartphone will likely debut in September as usual and hit the shelves soon after the unveiling.
Photo: Karlis Dambrans | Flickr
