It's never too early to report details about next-generation smartphones and while consumers are enjoying the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, the company is already planning features on next year's flagship Galaxy S8. It will reportedly boast a 5.5-inch 4K display, which has been designed with VR in mind.
Latest reports claim that Samsung plans on shipping 2017's Galaxy S8 with a larger 5.5-inch 4K UHD display, compared to its current flagship Galaxy S7's 5.1-inch Quad HD screen. The move to a high resolution display is reportedly due to the company's VR plans, in addition to Google's Android N Daydream VR support.
"Samsung Display showcased a 5.5 ultra-high definition 4K display with a pixel density of 806 ppi for virtual reality devices at the Society for Information Display, a display trade show, in California in March," said a representative of UBI Research.
"Considering various factors including the production yield rate for the next-generation display expected to improve in the coming months, the 5.5-inch AMOLED will be deployed in the next Galaxy smartphone, presumably, named the S8."
Virtual reality is widely viewed as the next must-have feature in the mobile world and all of the biggest tech companies are investing and developing their own flavor. Google recently showed off its next-generation version of Android N, which has Daydream VR support built in, and Samsung and HTC already offer their own VR headsets. Apple is also rumored to have a team working on an iOS-based VR platform.
Google has already confirmed that current flagship smartphones won't likely support Daydream but announced that select manufacturers like Samsung, HTC, LG, Asus, ZTE, and Xiaomi would release Android Daydream VR smartphones. It's safe to say haat after Google's own Nexus smartphones, Samsung's next-generation Galaxy S8 would be the perfect device to launch as a Daydream-supported smartphone, mainly due to its high profile and sales, in addition to top of the line specs.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 will likely follow Samsung's tradition of launching its latest flagship smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2017, which takes kicks off on February 27, 2017 in Barcelona. Samsung is also expected to unveil a second Galaxy S8 edge variant.
Are you looking forward to VR and think it's the next must-have feature in a smartphone and reason to wait for a next-generation Android flagship handset? Let us and our readers know in the comments below.
