--- description: The Samsung Galaxy S8 may include a new AI-powered assistant, a design that excludes the home button and headphone jack, and other changes. title: Everything We Know About the Samsung Galaxy S8 So Far image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb4e7ec828a98d7e2/6988b1f80a4a22477f9cc452/gettyimages-486287648.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) ## Tech Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Everything We Know About the Samsung Galaxy S8 So Far  by [Lisa Eadicicco](/author/lisa-eadicicco/)  ## Lisa Eadicicco Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 13, 2023 3:02 PM CUTPublished: Dec 6, 2016 10:30 PM CUT  A visitor looks at display of Galaxy S6 Edge smartphones at the Samsung stand during a press day at the 2015 IFA consumer electronics and appliances trade fair on September 3, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. A visitor looks at display of Galaxy S6 Edge smartphones at the Samsung stand during a press day at the 2015 IFA consumer electronics and appliances trade fair on September 3, 2015 in Berlin, Germany.Sean Gallup—Getty Images  by [Lisa Eadicicco](/author/lisa-eadicicco/)  ## Lisa Eadicicco Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 13, 2023 3:02 PM CUTPublished: Dec 6, 2016 10:30 PM CUT Samsung is expected to unveil its first major smartphone since it recalled the Galaxy Note 7 as soon as March, according to the latest reports. The phone, which will presumably be called the Galaxy S8, is rumored to include a brand-new design, a smarter digital assistant, and a pressure sensitive screen, among other new additions. Tech pundits and investors will be eyeing this launch closely as Samsung looks to recover lost ground from the [Note 7 fiasco](http://time.com/4531372/samsung-note-7-recall-fires-overheating-why/ "undefined"). Here’s a look at what to expect based on the rumors and reports that have emerged so far. **Two models** Samsung’s next flagship will come in two different sizes, according to reports from [_The Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/24/samsung-galaxy-s8-smartphone-infinity-display-iris-scanner-insiders-say "undefined") and [VentureBeat](http://venturebeat.com/2017/01/26/this-is-the-samsung-galaxy-s8-launching-march-29/ "undefined"). One model will have a 5.8-inch display, says VentureBeat, while the other will have a 6.2-inch screen. Previous generations of Samsung’s Galaxy S phones have also launched in two variants, but the company usually offers one with a curved screen and another model with a standard display. If VentureBeat’s information proves to be correct, these phones will be significantly larger than the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which have 5.1 and 5.5-inch displays, respectively. **Spring launch** Samsung reportedly plans to introduce its new smartphones during an event in New York City on March 29, according to VentureBeat. Both phones are said to go on sale April 21. If true, it will mean Samsung will stray from its tradition of unveiling its new Galaxy smartphones during the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona, as it has done in years past. A previous report from [_The Wall Street Journal_](http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-tests-button-for-improved-ai-feature-on-galaxy-s8-phone-1478516959 "undefined")initially said Samsung’s launch may come as late as April. **New design with “infinity” display** One of the most distinguishing features that’s expected to debut on the S8 is a new edge-to-edge screen, which [_The Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/24/samsung-galaxy-s8-smartphone-infinity-display-iris-scanner-insiders-say "undefined") calls an “infinity” display. The screens on both phones will reportedly curve over the edge of the device on both sides, similar to the Galaxy S7 Edge, and will cover most of the front of the phone, according to the report. Since Samsung reportedly plans to dedicate most of the phone’s front to screen real estate, the forthcoming phones won’t include a physical home button. The fingerprint scanner will instead be placed on the back of the device, similar to that of the Google Pixel. The most recent reports from _The Guardian_ and VentureBeat also indicate that the Galaxy S8 will include a headphone jack in addition to a USB-C port. An earlier report from tech blog [Sam Mobile](https://www.sammobile.com/2016/12/06/exclusive-galaxy-s8-is-not-going-to-feature-a-3-5mm-headphone-jack/ "undefined") said the Galaxy S8 would not include a headphone jack, mirroring a similar move by Apple with the iPhone 7. **Iris scanner** Samsung first introduced an iris scanner on its troubled Note 7, and reports from _The Guardian_ and VentureBeat indicate it will reappear on the Galaxy S8\. The Note 7’s iris scanner made it possible to unlock the phone without typing in a password or touching its fingerprint scanner. **Improved virtual assistant** The Galaxy S8 is expected to come with an AI assistant that works with the phone’s camera to recognize objects, reports [_The Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/24/samsung-galaxy-s8-smartphone-infinity-display-iris-scanner-insiders-say "undefined"). Users may be able to use the camera to capture text and perform a web search based on that text, as [VentureBeat](http://venturebeat.com/2017/01/26/this-is-the-samsung-galaxy-s8-launching-march-29/ "undefined") cites as an example. Samsung may also be partnering with other companies to provide data for this virtual assistant. Reuters [previously reported](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-samsung-elec-smartphones-idUSKBN13101Q?il=0 "undefined") on Samsung’s plans to include a new virtual assistant in its next smartphone, adding that it intends to use technology from startup Viv Labs, which is acquired in October, in future Galaxy devices. The phone may also include a button along the side of the device for summoning the assistant, according to [_The_](http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-tests-button-for-improved-ai-feature-on-galaxy-s8-phone-1478516959 "undefined")[ _Wall Street Journal_](http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-tests-button-for-improved-ai-feature-on-galaxy-s8-phone-1478516959 "undefined")_._ Samsung may name the virtual aide Bixby, as [Sam Mobile](https://www.sammobile.com/2016/12/27/exclusive-samsung-use-bixby-voice-assistant-all-native-apps-galaxy-s8/ "undefined") reports. Apple, Amazon, and Google have also been working to enhance their own voice-activated assistants. Apple launched an update in September that enables iPhone owners to use apps like Uber and Venmo through Siri, making it possible to send cash or call a cab with one’s voice. Meanwhile, Amazon’s voice-controlled Alexa now works with more than 4,000 apps. **Camera upgrades** In addition to recognizing objects, the cameras on Samsung’s upcoming smartphones will reportedly include minor enhancements that improve image quality, low-light performance, and speed, as [_The Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/24/samsung-galaxy-s8-smartphone-infinity-display-iris-scanner-insiders-say "undefined") Notes. Specifically, the devices are said to include a 12-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel front camera, says [VentureBeat](http://venturebeat.com/2017/01/26/this-is-the-samsung-galaxy-s8-launching-march-29/ "undefined"). An earlier report from Korean news outlet [ETNews](http://english.etnews.com/20161129200001 "undefined") also indicates the front camera would come with an autofocus feature that makes it possible to capture subjects more clearly from a distance. This would likely result in higher-quality selfies, crucial as apps like Snapchat continue to grow in popularity. An [older report](http://english.etnews.com/20161007200002 "undefined") from the same website also suggests the S8 may get a dual-lens rear camera, although newer reports from other news outlets haven’t corroborated either claim. Apple recently added a dual-lens camera to the iPhone 7 Plus, which helps it achieve a clearer zoom and enable a “portrait mode” effect that makes subjects appear sharp against a blurred background. **Pressure-sensitive screen** The Galaxy S8 may include a screen that reacts differently depending on how hard a user presses it, according to [The Investor](http://www.theinvestor.co.kr/view.php?ud=20161114000789 "undefined") and [VentureBeat](http://venturebeat.com/2017/01/26/this-is-the-samsung-galaxy-s8-launching-march-29/ "undefined"). This may make it possible to zoom in on a photo or create app shortcuts by pressing harder on the screen, similar to the iPhone’s 3D Touch. The pressure-sensitive tech might only be present in the lower portion of the screen. [The](http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-adding-pressure-sensitive-display-high-speed-charging-port-to-galaxy-s7-1450083387 "undefined")[ _Wall Street Journal_](http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-adding-pressure-sensitive-display-high-speed-charging-port-to-galaxy-s7-1450083387 "undefined")reported last year that Samsung would add pressure-sensitive screen tech to the Galaxy S7, although Samsung has yet to release a phone with such a feature. **Desktop computer functionality** Samsung may release a new service and a dock accessory for the Galaxy S8 that enables it to function as an Android desktop computer, according to [_The Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/24/samsung-galaxy-s8-smartphone-infinity-display-iris-scanner-insiders-say "undefined"). Based on the report, it sounds like this feature would work similarly to [Microsoft’s Continuum](http://time.com/4121314/microsoft-continuum/ "undefined"), enabling the phone to connect to a keyboard, monitor, and other peripherals while acting as the brain of the computer setup. **Performance and storage** Smartphone shoppers can expect the Galaxy S8 to feel a bit faster than Samsung’s previous Galaxy S device. The new phones will be powered by processors based on Samsung’s new 10nm technology, according to [_The Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/24/samsung-galaxy-s8-smartphone-infinity-display-iris-scanner-insiders-say "undefined"), which [VentureBeat](http://venturebeat.com/2017/01/26/this-is-the-samsung-galaxy-s8-launching-march-29/ "undefined") says should make them perform 11% faster than the S7 with graphics processing that’s 23% quicker. This performance boost will be especially important as Samsung continues to push into virtual reality. The new phones are also said to start with 64GB of storage instead of 32GB and will reportedly support an extra 256GB of space. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4592308/samsung-galaxy-s8-specs-release-date-rumors/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4592308/samsung-galaxy-s8-specs-release-date-rumors/"},"headline":"Everything We Know About the Samsung Galaxy S8 So Far","datePublished":"2016-12-06T22:30:58.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T15:02:40.000Z","description":"It could be unveiled as soon as March","url":"https://time.com/4592308/samsung-galaxy-s8-specs-release-date-rumors/","keywords":["Tech","Samsung","Smartphones"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb4e7ec828a98d7e2/6988b1f80a4a22477f9cc452/gettyimages-486287648.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lisa Eadicicco","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/lisa-eadicicco/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb4e7ec828a98d7e2/6988b1f80a4a22477f9cc452/gettyimages-486287648.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"IFA 2015 Consumer Electronics And Appliances Trade Fair","caption":"IFA 2015 Consumer Electronics And Appliances Trade Fair","creditText":"Sean Gallup—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-tech/","name":"Tech"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4592308/samsung-galaxy-s8-specs-release-date-rumors/","name":"Everything We Know About the Samsung Galaxy S8 So Far"}}]}] ```