Samsung Galaxy S8 rumour roundup: dual-camera and a 4K UHD bendable screen?

It’s mid-year, and that means we’re now into the back-end of the device conference scene. And with the solstice gone, news of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 replacement is slowly gaining momentum around the internet.

That’s right — the S7 is barely six-months old, and already people are talking about its replacement. But even really good devices are at the liberty of marketing, monetisation and the ever-growing need to remain relevant (as both a consumer and manufacturer).

Related: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review: meaningful evolution

So, what has the rumour mill got in store for us this time?

Below we take a look at some of the rumours surrounding the next Samsung flagship, which will likely be named the Samsung Galaxy S8. This piece will be updated as news, rumours and confirmations trundle through. So be sure to bookmark this page and check back often.

Will Samsung be bent into submission? — 22 June

Staying true to its Edge design in its premium flagship range, the Samsung Galaxy S8 could arrive with a dual-edge display by default. Essentially that means all Samsung Galaxy S models (regardless of screen size), will boast the dual edge. This will effectively kill Samsung’s flat flagship line.

It’s definitely likely that Samsung will continue using its telltale screen technology here, but culling its flat line could alienate those who prefer a traditional smartphone design layout.

More interestingly, some farfetched reports believe that Samsung could put its bendable screen technology to use (but, do note the date of this report, and prepare some salt)…

Samsung Galaxy S8 to sport three cameras (two at the back) — 21 June

Ah, the dual-camera rumour that has infected Apple’s iPhone has now made its way to Samsung. The idea of using two cameras has already been practiced by LG and Huawei in two very different ways.

It does seem excessive at first, especially since the single-lens Samsung Galaxy S7’s camera was one of the best we’ve ever used. Dual-camera setups allow manufacturers to shove more detail into a single image: two sensors equals double the information.

It’s not a stretch to imagine that this is the smartphone camera technology’s latest trend, a trend that Samsung could well adopt.

This hasn’t been confirmed just yet though, and for now, it’s just a report.

Samsung wants to give you an 8.3-million pixel smartphone screen — 21 June

According to the same report as above, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will also boast a 4K screen. It’s a resolution we don’t often see in devices, largely because we don’t need pixel densities that high on a smartphone. Still, that didn’t stop Sony from trying it.

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Samsung definitely has the technology though. It has previously unveiled smartphone-sized screens (around 5.5-inches) at trade shows this year.

But will the company sacrifice battery life for marginal screen improvements?