The Samsung Galaxy S8 is shaping up as a beastly device by all accounts, based on the rumors and leaks that surfaced so far.
Samsung still has to wash away the Galaxy Note 7 disaster and a top-notch Galaxy S8 with high-end specs and features may well be the best start to regain consumer trust.
While nothing regarding the Galaxy S8 specs and features is official just yet, recent leaks have tried to paint a picture of what to expect, so here's a preliminary comparison between the upcoming flagship and the current Galaxy S7 / S7 edge.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy S7: Design
In terms of build materials, Samsung is expected to adopt the same glass sandwich of the Galaxy S7 / S7 edge. However, the biggest design difference expected is that the Galaxy S8 series will reportedly not have a flat-screen variant — all models will have curved-edge displays.
The next-generation Galaxy S8 smartphones are also expected to sport slimmer top and bottom bezels and ditch the physical home button, contributing to a dramatic increase in screen-to-body ratio compared with the Galaxy S7 series.
With no physical home button, the Galaxy S8 will likely have the fingerprint scanner either embedded into the display or rear-mounted. On the front, the smartphone is also expected to boast an iris scanner, borrowed from the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7. This would mark another notable difference compared with the Galaxy S7 series.
When it comes to the sides of the device, another big change will reportedly consist of a new hardware button on the left of the device, serving as a dedicated key for Bixby — Samsung's new virtual assistant.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy S7 Series: Display
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus smartphones are rumored to feature 5.8- and 6.2-inch dual-edge QHD Super AMOLED displays, as opposed to the 5.1- and 5.5-inch QHD Super AMOLED screens of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Moreover, the new generation could sport an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 instead of the 16:9 ratio of the current flagships. Otherwise, the resolution, auto brightness and color regime are expected to remain the same as on the Galaxy S7.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy S7 Series: Processor, RAM And Storage
The Samsung Galaxy S8 will most likely pack the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895 processors (based on region), which should deliver a significant boost in performance and battery life compared to last year's generation.
In the RAM department, Samsung will likely not go overboard and equip the Galaxy S8 with a whopping 8 GB of RAM, but 6 GB should nonetheless be in the cards and would mark a notable improvement compared with the 4 GB of RAM found on the Galaxy S7 series.
In terms of basic storage space, the Galaxy S8 is rumored to jump to 64 GB instead of the 32 GB base model of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. A microSD card slot for expandable memory should be on board as well, just like on the 2016 generation.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy S7 Series: Camera
The existing Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge already have impressive cameras with Dual Pixel focus systems, so Samsung may not make any significant changes in this department for the Galaxy S8.
That said, the next-generation flagship smartphone from Samsung will likely have the same 12-megapixel main camera with an f/1.7 aperture, possibly with some new features. Earlier rumors had indicated that the Galaxy S8 would feature a dual camera system, but subsequent reports revealed that Samsung ditched those plans.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs. Galaxy S7 Series: Price And Release
Lastly, pricing is another important aspect that will reportedly see a major change with the next-generation Samsung flagship. According to recent reports, the Galaxy S8 will be more expensive than any other Galaxy S series smartphone before it, priced at roughly 849 euros or $900. Moreover, the Galaxy S8 Plus will reportedly be $100 more expensive than the smaller Galaxy S8, which would put it at around $1,000.
When it comes to release date, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge made their debut on Feb. 21 and went on sale on March 11, but the Galaxy S8 is expected later. The new-generation flagship is rumored to debut on March 29 and hit stores in mid-April.
With no official information on the Galaxy S8, however, take all leaks and rumors with a grain of salt.
