Samsung Galaxy S8 release date nears as "photos" quell fears

A set of photo-quality renders (not actual photos) appeared this week of the Galaxy S8 to further axe fears of a cut headphone jack. Apple tossed the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 along with a few Android devices before and since – it would seem that Samsung won't follow suit. Instead, with the assistance of the images published this week, we're able to get a look at what this forward-thinking yet conservative-tech-packed smartphone is going to look like.

The images in this article come from a skilled creator by the name of WaaNee – aka WoOS. They've been created – it would seem – to promote the maker's collection of wallpapers and themes. In the process of promoting these themes, WoOS has created some of the most realistic and final-looking renders of the Galaxy S8 we've seen so far.

The images are apparently based on specifications leaked over the past several weeks as well as leaked schematics. The schematics likely come through model-makers for accessories. These model-makers will access schematics for smartphones through official means, straight from Samsung, or illegal means – leaked from the manufacturer partners. One way or the other, they always seem to leak.

Samsung Galaxy S8• Display: 5.8in Super AMOLED, 1440 x 2650 (2K) Gorilla Glass• Operating System: Android 7.1 Nougat• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 / Samsung Exynos 10-nm• RAM: 4GB RAM• Back Camera: 16MP, f/1.7 optics, 4K video, dual-LED flash• Front-facing camera: 8MP wide-angle lens with f/1.7 optics• Battery: 3,000mAh• Internal Storage: 64GB, w/256GB microSD card slot• Other Features: Fingerprint scanner, Metal frame, Wireless charging, USB-C

The specifications below have been gathered over the past several weeks from a wide variety of leaks and insider tips. As such, we recommend taking the lot with a grain of salt. Until Samsung releases their official specs for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus (or Galaxy S8+, if you prefer), nothing is official.

Samsung Galaxy S8 (Plus)• Display: 6.2in Super AMOLED, 1440 x 2650 (2K) Gorilla Glass• Operating System: Android 7.1 Nougat• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 / Samsung Exynos 10-nm• RAM: 4GB RAM• Camera: 16MP, f/1.7 optics, 4K video, dual-LED flash• Front-facing camera: 8MP wide-angle lens with f/1.7 optics• Battery: 3,500mAh• Internal Storage: 64GB, w/256GB microSD card slot• Other Features: Fingerprint scanner, Metal frame, Wireless charging, USB-C

It's highly likely Samsung will reveal the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus in March of 2017. The release date for the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will almost certainly follow soon after the next major Samsung event. That is, unless we're counting the Samsung event at Mobile World Congress at the end of February – that'll be about something different, like a fancy tablet.