Apple is planning a major hardware and software overhaul with its iPhone launch next year as the company will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. However, if reports are believed to be true, Samsung might just beat them to it.
The South Korean tech giant is reportedly planning an all-screen display with their next Galaxy S8 handset launch. “Samsung Electronics Co. will create an all-screen front for the Galaxy S8 smartphones coming out next year and scrap the physical home button, people with direct knowledge of the matter said,” reported Bloomberg. “The bezel-less displays will provide more viewing real estate while a virtual home button will be buried in the glass in the lower section, the people said, asking not to be identified because the details haven’t been released. The new phones will only come with wraparound displays using organic light-emitting diode technology, the people said,” the report further added.
At the same time, several rumours regarding Apple’s speculated move have suggested that next year’s iPhone could come with a new display technology that allows Apple AAPL 0.98 per cent completely cover the face of the handset with glass. The display will reportedly stretch from one end of the device to the other and will come equipped with a Home Button integrated into the glass.
“Samsung is targeting a March release of the S8, that could be delayed until April, the people said. Samsung is adopting tougher testing procedures in the wake of the Note 7 debacle that could push back the launch by about a month, one of the people said,” the Bloomberg report added. “Since the phones have a record of burning up, it needs time for these phones to be verified as safe. How safe the phones turn out to be is more important than any hardware innovation,” said Greg Roh, an analyst at HMC Investment Securities Co. “It will take about a month or two for people to actually start opening their pockets,” he said. While Samsung is expected to announce its new handset by April, Apple will not be unveiling any new devices before September.
Neither Samsung nor Apple has confirmed their plans for any future handsets.
