Hot on the heels of the Samsung Galaxy S8 release, rumors about the next-generation Galaxy S9 are already hitting the surface.
The Galaxy S8 is currently considered among the hottest Android smartphones on the market, packing a slew of top-notch specs, advanced features, and a sleek design to complete the package.
Samsung is reportedly working on the Galaxy S9 already however, and the first details are now surfacing online. It's still in the early days for now as the Galaxy S9 launch is at least a year away and Samsung will release a high-end Galaxy Note 8 in the meantime, but here's what the rumor mill is churning about.
Samsung Galaxy S9 Early Rumors: Qualcomm Horsepower
Korean outlet The Investor released a new report citing sources speaking to the Aju Business Daily. According to the report, Samsung is teaming up with Qualcomm again for a new top-of-the-line processor to power the Galaxy S9.
The current Galaxy S8 flagship comes with either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or the Exynos 8895 processor, depending on region. Qualcomm and Samsung worked together on the Snapdragon 835, making the processor at Samsung's manufacturing facilities. The Snapdragon 835 boasts Samsung's 10-nanometer technology, which makes it 27 percent faster and 30 percent more energy-efficient compared to a 14-nm chip.
Galaxy S9 Specs: Snapdragon 845 In The Cards?
The new report now speculates that Samsung and Qualcomm are already working on the next-generation Snapdragon 845 processor. Either Samsung or Taiwanese company TMSC will manufacture the chip.
As Samsung worked closely with Qualcomm for the Snapdragon 835, the Galaxy S8 has a limited-time exclusivity on the chip. Sony and Xiaomi will release their own smartphones soon with the Snapdragon 835 under the hood, but the Galaxy S8 is the first one to pack the new chip and the only one to boast it for a while.
It remains to be seen whether things will be the same next year and the Galaxy S9 will have a limited-time exclusivity on the Snapdragon 845. Another period of exclusivity to a single device maker might not sit so well with Qualcomm's other partners, but the companies might find some common ground to appease everyone.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Processor
The Snapdragon 845 is still shrouded in mystery at this point, as details are extremely scarce. Earlier this year a rumor did indicate that a future Qualcomm chip dubbed 84x would make its debut during the last quarter of this year, but it remains unclear whether this chip will launch as the Snapdragon 840 or the Snapdragon 845. The chip will reportedly have eight cores.
It's still very early to anticipate anything about the next-generation Galaxy S9 or Snapdragon chip, so take this rumor with an even heftier grain of salt than usual.
For now, Samsung fans looking for a powerful flagship can either grab the new Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, or wait for the upcoming Galaxy Note 8 that should hit the scene later this year. The Galaxy S9 launch is still a year away and a lot could change in the meantime.
