Rumors have suggested that the Galaxy S8 will ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack and go all-in on USB Type-C, and now a new report claims that another big change is in store for Samsung’s next Android flagship.
Samsung is planning to give the Galaxy S8 an “all-screen design” that includes losing the physical home button. That’s according to sources speaking to Bloomberg, who say that a virtual home button will be inside the glass in the lower section of the GS8’s display.
It’s also said that the Galaxy S8 will be available in sizes similar to the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, which feature 5.1-inch and 5.7-inch screens, respectively. Both Galaxy S8 models are expected to have curved, “wraparound” displays.
Today’s report suggests that the Galaxy S8 will include Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 835 processor in some markets, while others will get a Samsung-made Exynos processor. Finally, it’s said that Samsung is prepping an upgraded virtual assistant for the GS8, a claim that we’ve heard before.
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy smartphones are known for their physical home button, a feature that dates back all the way to the original Galaxy S. That’s why it’d be a big deal if the company abandoned the button on the Galaxy S8. Such a move would help give the device the “all-screen” look that today’s report hints at, though.
Samsung is said to be targeting a March release for the Galaxy S8, but that launch could be moved back to April for increased device testing following the Note 7 mess, says today’s report.