The Galaxy S8 will have a 4K display, analysts predict

The Galaxy S8 will be the first Samsung smartphone to feature a 4K display, according to UBI Research.

Analysts of the research firm noted that the 5.5-inch 4K display that Samsung exhibited at the Display Week conference last month is an ideal candidate for equipping the Samsung Galaxy S8. The phone is expected to launch in the early part of 2017.

“Considering various factors including the production yield rate for the next-generation display expected to improve in the coming months, the 5.5-inch AMOLED will be deployed in the next Galaxy smartphone, presumably, named the S8,” said an UBI Research official, via Korea Herald.

The panel in question uses Samsung’s well-known Super AMOLED technology and offers a 3840 x 2160 resolution, for a pixel density of 806 ppi.

Samsung appears to be following a pattern when it comes to the resolution of its flagship phones, generally incrementing it every two releases: VGA for Galaxy S and Galaxy S2, HD for Galaxy S3, Full HD for Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5, and Quad HD for Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7. With a 4K panel now in production, a new jump seems very likely.

Virtual reality has provided phone manufacturers an excuse to push the envelope of phone resolution even further. While 4K is arguably overkill for normal use, it’s essential for improving user experience on devices like the Gear VR.

Resolution isn’t the only area where Samsung is pushing the limits of display technology. The Korean giant’s display manufacturing arm is working on truly groundbreaking foldable displays that are expected to be commercialized in the first part of 2017. That means MWC 2017 could bring us the first 4K Samsung smartphone and the world’s first foldable smartphone.