Samsung and Google are gearing up to face off against each other once again in the battle for Android smartphone supremacy. Samsung is expected to launch its Galaxy S8 in March and Google is rumored to be working on the next-gen Pixel 2.
Rumors of the alleged specs and features of the two yet-to-be-announced handsets have been swirling online, offering a peek into what one can expect. Here's a look at the rumored features of the two smartphones to help you ascertain, which one is worth waiting for.
Display
The Galaxy S8 may offer a 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display. The Google Pixel 2, on the other hand, is rumored to come with a 5-inch QHD screen. Based on these rumors, it seems Samsung may have the edge thanks to its bigger screen.
Processor And RAM
The Galaxy S8 may deploy an octa-core Snapdragon 835 CPU, combined with an Adreno 540 (U.S. version) or an octa-core Exynos 8895 processor with an ARM Mali-G71 GPU (for all other regions). The smartphone is expected to boast 4 GB of RAM.
The Google Pixel 2 is also rumored to house the Snapdragon 835 processor and 4 GB of RAM. However, reports have suggested that the company is testing two CPU options for the smartphone. One is the Snapdragon 835 and the other is an Intel one.
Storage
The Samsung Galaxy S8 may come in two storage options i.e. 64 GB and 128 GB.
The current-gen Google Pixel is available in 32 GB and 128 GB variants, and it is likely that Google will bump up the base variant to 64 GB for the Pixel 2. It is unlikely that both the devices will offer an expandable memory option.
Camera
The Galaxy S8 will reportedly have a 12-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel secondary camera. The Pixel 2 is expected to improve on its predecessor, but details of the next-gen version's camera capabilities are not known at this juncture.
Battery
The Galaxy S8 will reportedly house a 3,000 mAh to 3,250 mAh battery. Google Pixel 2 is expected to come with an enhanced battery, which will look to reduce battery drain. The smartphone may offer Quick Charge 4.0 support.
Operating System
The Samsung Galaxy S8 will likely come preloaded with Android 7.0 Nougat. The Google Pixel 2, on the other hand, could be the first smartphone to be run on the next-gen Android O operating system.
Additional Features
The Galaxy S8 is expected to have a fingerprint scanner, a USB-Type C port, 4G LTE connectivity, and a plethora of other features. It is also rumored to house Samsung's very own virtual assistant Bixby. The device may also benefit from face recognition and iris scanners.
The Google Pixel 2 will reportedly have Daydream 2, which is Google's VR platform. The phone may also have water- and dust-proof capabilities.
Price
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is rumored to be priced at $859, a significant hike from the Galaxy S7. The Google Pixel 2, on the other hand, is likely to start at $649. Both expected prices are for the base models of the devices.
Since little is known about the Google Pixel 2, consumers may be drawn to the Galaxy S8 as its March 29 debut nears. An advantage the Pixel 2 may have over the Galaxy S8 is that it will be equipped with the latest Google OS on release. On the other hand, consumers would have to wait till the second half of the year to lay their hands on the device,
The Galaxy S8, by comparison, will go on sale in April and with exciting features such as an iris scanner in tow, it could be worth buying upon release.
