homeEntertainment

Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs rumors update: Curved smartphone may be released sooner

Emmanuelle Espiritu September 15, 2016 09:11 PM EST

A model poses for photographs with Samsung Electronics\' new smartphone Galaxy S7 during its launching ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, in this March 10, 2016 file photo. | Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

Samsung could launch its next generation flagship smartphones earlier than expected to help make up for the lost sales brought on by the faulty Galaxy Note 7.

Tech analysts believe that the Samsung Galaxy S8 may help quell the bad press surrounding the recently recalled phablets if the Korea-based company pushed its release to an earlier date. And it seems that Samsung may have caught on since BGR recently reported that the company has indeed begun testing the upcoming Galaxy S model.

Currently referred to within the company as Dream and Dream 2, the Galaxy S8 devices have reportedly been assigned the model numbers SM-G950 and SM-G955. And since the previous Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were assigned as SM-G930 and SM-G935 respectively, Galaxy S enthusiasts may note that Samsung has skipped the model number SM-G940. According to Sam Mobile, this was intentional since the number 4 has always been associated with bad luck in the Korean culture.

However, this does not necessarily mean that Samsung will launch two Galaxy S8 variants. According to GSMArena.com it is too early to tell for sure since the two prototype models are still going through the initial development. But if two Galaxy S8 models would indeed launch, the SM-G950 could feature a flat screen while the SM-G955 could come with a curled one, based on the model numbers on Samsung's previous handsets.

On the other hand, Trusted Reviews cited a report on Korea Herald claiming that Samsung has started stocking up on curved panels for both the 5.1-inch and the 5.5-inch variants, produced by the company's very own Samsung Display division. This could mean that both upcoming Galaxy S8 models may feature curved screens.

TechRadar previously cited a statement made by Samsung Mobile President Dong-jin Koh about the company's intention of making the curved edge display the default design for all their future Galaxy S smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is rumored for an early 2017 release. And since the past couple of years have seen new Samsung devices being launched a day before the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC), Samsung's up-and-coming flagship smartphone could be released on Feb. 26, right before the MWC 2017 kicks off on Feb. 27. It will presumably take two weeks before the smartphones ship on March 13.

These are all just speculations and Samsung has yet to release an official statement regarding the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Latest News

Sight & Sound’s ‘David’ showcases a king's sincere heart to pursue God

LANCASTER, Pa. — Four years in the making, the production “David” opened at Sight & Sound Theatres this year and explores the journey of an unassuming shepherd boy who became a king.

Presbyterian Church in America votes to leave National Association of Evangelicals

The Presbyterian Church in America has voted to leave the National Association of Evangelicals due to the ...

Secular intolerance of Christians' views is leading to self-censorship, report warns

Secular intolerance has a “chilling effect” on Christians who are having to practice “various forms of self-censorship” as they're finding it difficult to express their faith freely in society, according to a new report detailing accounts from four countries.

Over 50 killed in 'vile and satanic' attack at Nigerian church on Pentecost Sunday

Gunmen suspected to be Islamic Fulani herdsmen barged into a Catholic Church in southwestern Nigeria, opened fire and detonated explosives while the congregation was celebrating Mass on Pentecost Sunday, killing at least 50 worshipers, including women and children. It's feared that some Christians were also abducted after the attack.

Leah Sharibu held captive over 1,500 days in Nigeria, but family advocates haven't lost hope

For more than 1,500 days, Nigerian Christian teenager Leah Sharibu has been held captive by the Boko Haram terrorist group as Christians continue to be the target of attacks in the West African nation.