Samsung's 'Galaxy S8+' may challenge Apple with 6.2-inch screen & iris scanner

AppleInsider · February 23, 2017 6:19PM

Samsung is reportedly developing a version of its upcoming "Galaxy S8" that will compete in some respects not just with Apple's iPhone 7 Plus, but also eye-scanning technology only expected in iPhones shipping later this year.

A depiction of the regular Galaxy S8 with a transparent case.

The "Galaxy S8+" will offer a 6.2-inch, Quad HD+ (3200-by-1800 pixel) AMOLED screen as well as an iris scanner, according to a specifications sheet obtained by well-known leak source Evan Blass. An iris scanner and/or 3D facial recognition have been rumored for this year's "iPhone 8," possibly as a supplement or outright replacement for Touch ID.

The "plus" designation suggests that Samsung is hewing closely to Apple's product marketing strategy. The latter has been selling "Plus" iPhones since 2014, equipped with bigger 5.5-inch displays and some other technical advantages, most recently a dual-lens camera.

The S8+ is further expected to offer 4 gigabytes of RAM, 64 gigabytes of storage, and a microSD slot, along with other features like a 12-megapixel "dual pixel" camera on the rear, and an 8-megapixel front shooter. As on past Samsung devices, the phone should support wireless charging -- something also rumored as coming to iPhones.

A minimum 64 gigabytes of storage would likewise fall in line with "iPhone 8" rumors. Apple however may stick to 3 gigabytes of RAM rather than 4, at least if the device is similar in that respect to a rumored "iPhone 7s Plus." A basic "iPhone 7s" may have just 2 gigabytes.

The core feature on the "iPhone 8" is likely to be an edge-to-edge, 5.8-inch OLED display, though the practical screen space may be just 5.15 inches. The remaining area could be dedicated to virtual buttons, doing away with a physical home button entirely.

It's not certain when an "S8+" or even the regular S8 will launch, but one rumor has put the S8's date as Apr. 21.

wood1208 · February 23, 2017 6:24PM

There certainly niche market for phones larger than 6" but for most you want something you can mange using daily without letting it fall on ground often. If I ever need very large phone than will buy ipad mini with phone capability built-in. In my opinion, sweet spot phone 5.1-5.2" usable screen with little top/bottom area and thin side bezels and iPhone 8/X might be the one.

eightzero · February 23, 2017 6:31PM

wood1208 said:

There certainly niche market for phones larger than 6" but for most you want something you can mange using daily without letting it fall on ground often. If I ever need very large phone than will buy ipad mini with phone capability built-in.

Concur. A cellular enabled version of the iPad mini has been available for some time. Should work with airpods for a facetime call if needed. IOW, this product (sans the iris scan stuff of dubious value) has been available for a few years. Way to innovate, Sammy.

mark fearing · February 23, 2017 6:37PM

I wonder if half the time their iris scanner will actually burn your retinas out... ; > Kidding...sort of. I'm not sure I want to hold a Samsung product up to 'scan' my eyes. I'm actually serious here. More invasive technologies do require greater trust in a product. I know iris scanning isn't microwaving ones eyes, but I do worry about a company whose phones were allowed into production while bursting into flames then they want you to hold a phone up and scan your eyes. Better than Sammy's last idea to use a an attached stylus as an anal probe for verification.

StrangeDays · February 23, 2017 6:46PM

or it may not.

seriously, whats up w/ the tech press meme of propping up iphone-killers? every quarter theres some "new challenger!". so far there hasnt been an iPhone killer, in ten years, so why dont we wait and see what is released (and doesnt explode) before rehashing this narrative?

suddenly newton · February 23, 2017 6:53PM

You mean I have to take my sunglasses off to unlock my phone?

foggyhill · February 23, 2017 7:01PM

Might as well do the Jaws theme while their at it .... "Iphone Killer" (sic).... ZZZZZ

Soli · February 23, 2017 7:08PM

No. Apple doesn't react to Samsung. Apple reacts to market and technological changes.

evilution · February 23, 2017 7:37PM

Samsung's 'Galaxy S8+' may challenge Apple

Yeah but it'll also be challenged itself as it's still running Android and that resolution won't be easy to drive.

steinm88299 · February 23, 2017 7:52PM

I really hope the iPhone 8/X does not have a 5.15 inch screen. That is a step backward imo.

512ke · February 23, 2017 7:52PM

Predict explosive sales

ireland · February 23, 2017 8:06PM

And then it explodes along with the Samsung brand. Karma

Nice branding, you shameful lot.

eightzero · February 23, 2017 10:43PM

512ke said:

Predict explosive sales

Dunno. It might bomb.

auxio · February 23, 2017 11:14PM

eightzero said:

512ke said:

Predict explosive sales

Dunno. It might bomb.

If so, they can have a fire sale

yojimbo007 · February 23, 2017 11:16PM

Dont they already have an iris scanner on the 7s ?

eightzero · February 23, 2017 11:25PM

auxio said:

eightzero said:

512ke said:

Predict explosive sales

Dunno. It might bomb.

If so, they can have a fire sale

profits would go up in smoke.

bluefire1 · February 24, 2017 12:25AM

Wonder why almost every new Samsung device reminds me of the pidgin-style saying "Money see, monkey do".

janeshepard · February 24, 2017 5:26AM

StrangeDays said:

or it may not.

seriously, whats up w/ the tech press meme of propping up iphone-killers? every quarter theres some "new challenger!". so far there hasnt been an iPhone killer, in ten years, so why dont we wait and see what is released (and doesnt explode) before rehashing this narrative?

The iPhone killer is the loch ness monster of tech writing. So many people want it to exist so badly that their lives revolve around an irrational belief. It's as powerful as religious conviction. Who knows, they might be neurologically the same...

bestkeptsecret · February 24, 2017 6:09AM

janeshepard said:

StrangeDays said:

or it may not.

seriously, whats up w/ the tech press meme of propping up iphone-killers? every quarter theres some "new challenger!". so far there hasnt been an iPhone killer, in ten years, so why dont we wait and see what is released (and doesnt explode) before rehashing this narrative?

The iPhone killer is the loch ness monster of tech writing. So many people want it to exist so badly that their lives revolve around an irrational belief. It's as powerful as religious conviction. Who knows, they might be neurologically the same...

Nicely put!

ike17055 · February 24, 2017 7:31AM

wood1208 said:

There certainly niche market for phones larger than 6" but for most you want something you can mange using daily without letting it fall on ground often. If I ever need very large phone than will buy ipad mini with phone capability built-in. In my opinion, sweet spot phone 5.1-5.2" usable screen with little top/bottom area and thin side bezels and iPhone 8/X might be the one.

My ipad mini is enabled for calls via talkatone, Skype and MagicJack apps. It is the best phone i have ever had since i am often accessing documents while on calls, and the big acreen makes it highly functional to call up the calendar, or email, or web based documents that are part of the conversation.

avon b7 · February 24, 2017 11:15AM

evilution said:

Samsung's 'Galaxy S8+' may challenge Apple

Yeah but it'll also be challenged itself as it's still running Android and that resolution won't be easy to drive.

As a user of both systems, what's the challenge of having Android as the OS?

Samsung's 'Galaxy S8+' may challenge Apple with 6.2-inch screen & iris scanner

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Samsung's 'Galaxy S8+' may challenge Apple

Samsung's 'Galaxy S8+' may challenge Apple