Samsung set to change the world with new smartphone tech
The infinity display on the Galaxy Note 8 was a game-changer and now Samsung is set to shake things up again. Photo: Instagram
Samsung looks set to unveil what could be a mind-blowing new smartphone with the keenly anticipated announcement next month of the Galaxy S9.
Rumours and speculation indicate that the annual update to the company’s flagship smartphone will feature an upgraded processor chip, dual-camera system, and a revolutionary new bendable AMOLED display.
If correct, the new Samsung Galaxy S9 may prove the biggest innovation in smartphone technology since Apple revealed the first-ever multi-touch technology smartphone in 2007.
A transformer screen
Bendable screen technology has been anticipated for quite some time, since Samsung showed off a prototype foldable AMOLED display in 2011, dubbed the Galaxy X.
A number of launch dates have been thrown about since then, but recent comments from Samsung officials indicate this year is the year.
A complex sandwich of five different display materials and sensing technology, the foldable AMOLED display is able to bend and flex, and would herald the arrival of the holy grail of smartphone tech: the unbreakable touchscreen.
No longer will panic set in when you sit down and suddenly remember you slid your smartphone into your rear pocket.
A display that can be twisted and bent would also yield all manner of opportunities for game developers: like holding your handset as a steering wheel and twisting slightly as you speed around the corner of a race track.
Mind you, if you do manage to break it, a replacement screen will likely come with a hefty pricetag.
The new face of technology
An improved facial ID scanner is coming to the Galaxy S9, bringing the smartphone in line with Apple’s iPhone X.
While the retina scanner of the S8 could be fooled with a high-resolution photo, the new, more advanced facial scanning system creates a 3D map of the user’s face, which is then employed for security and authentication purposes.
Big chip, big advantage
With the arrival of 4K video came the need to develop more powerful processor chips to handle the processing of huge video files.
To up the ante in the 4K video stakes, it is believed the Galaxy S9 will pack Samsung’s own Exynos processor chip, which will give the smartphone the ability to record 4K video at 120fps (frames per second) – as opposed to 60fps on the standard Qualcomm chip.
This will give users the ability to not only record super-smooth video at normal speed, but also slow down the action of a normal video without losing quality. Great news for sports fans and action adventure enthusiasts!
Plus one camera
With the arrival of the Galaxy S9, Samsung is introducing a dual-camera system; bringing the company in line with many of its competitors.
However, it’s believed the dual camera will only be available on the Galaxy S9+ model – the larger of the two Galaxy smartphones to be released.
This may be a non-issue for some, but with a dual camera comes enhanced features, such as: the ability to switch between super-wide and telephoto lenses to suit the scene; or creative photo options, like iPhone’s Portrait mode, which creates a composite of two separate images.
A dual camera in only one model may also affect availability. Apple faced product shortages and delivery delays with both iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus, when consumers opted to order the two-camera model instead of the smaller, single-camera iPhone.
Samsung may find they face the same issue if indeed the Galaxy S9+ is the only model to feature a dual camera.
The new Samsung Galaxy S9 will be unveiled in late February, at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain.
What features would you like in the next Samsung Galaxy S smartphone? Let us know in the comments below.
