Samsung will reportedly preempt the Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus with an earlier Galaxy Note 6/7 release date, hoping to stay on top of its chief rival. But the real iPhone killer could be the first 2017 flagship from the South Korean tech giant that will be known as Galaxy S8 and packed with 4K AMOLED screen plus virtual reality or VR features.
In a recent report, The Korea Herald said that Samsung is nearly certain to boost its 2017 smartphone flagship display with an AMOLED panel that boasts of 4K screen resolution. "Samsung Display showcased a 5.5 ultra-high definition 4K display with a pixel density of 806 ppi," the Korean publication quoted a UBI Research analyst as saying.
The same report further claimed that the new display technology will unpack with the Samsung Galaxy S8. "The 5.5-inch AMOLED will be deployed in the next Galaxy smartphone, presumably, named the S8."
The move is seen not only to upend the 2016 iPhones from Apple but also to ensure that the S8 is steps ahead of the iPhone 7S or iPhone 8 that will see action in 2017. Rumors persist that OLED will be introduced to the iPhone supply chain next year but 4K resolution included on the plan is a remote possibility.
And to increase even more the advantage that the Galaxy S8 is seen to enjoy over the 2017 iPhones, Samsung will reportedly lace its flagship with VR functionality. "The 4K display is considered important especially in the VR sector as major smartphone firms and VR gadget makers need to provide better VR experience for users than now," The Korea Herald reported.
Although Apple has voiced out its commitment to support VR features for its products and services, it remains unclear if the iPhone 7 or the iPhone 7S/8 will soon offer similar functionalities, which gives Samsung a significant edge.
As mentioned, the Galaxy Note 6 or Note 7 will come out ahead of schedule, likely by first week of August, for Samsung to gain the upper hand before the iPhone 7 hits the market in September. And the same could happen with the Galaxy S8 if only to sustain the momentum that supposedly the device will have against the iPhone 6S sequel.
The earliest release date for the Samsung Galaxy S8 is between February and March 2017 or around the same time that the Galaxy S7 was made available this year.