Samsung Supplying iPhone X OLED Displays
Samsung has bagged a contract to make 60 million iPhone OLED displays. Pictured: A sales assistant uses her mobile phone next to the company logos of Apple and Samsung at a store in Hefei, Anhui province, China, Sept. 10, 2014. REUTERS

The Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8 are both hot in the rumor mills lately. Reports indicate the smartphones may be very similar in terms of design and specs. Both Samsung and Apple are known to borrow features from each other in the past, but never has there been such similarity in features between upcoming devices. Here’s a rundown of specs and features expected for both the Galaxy S8 and the iPhone 8.

USB-C

Samsung first introduced USB-C onto the Galaxy Note 7 in August 2016 and several leaks have indicated the Galaxy S8 will also feature a USB-C port. A new report from the Wall Street Journal now suggests the iPhone 8 may lose Apple’s proprietary Lightning port for USB-C. Opinions about the possible new component have been mixed, but the rumor has yet to be confirmed.

5.8-Inch Curved Display (OLED)

The dual-edge curved display has been Samsung’s signature look for several Galaxy S generations. Rumors suggest Samsung may release two Galaxy S8 models, one with a 5.8-inch display and another with a 6.2-inch display. However, these handsets are expected to be no larger than the Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy Note 7 respectively. Rumors suggest Apple may release up to three iPhone 8 models; one with a 5.8-inch display, and two others 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays, which are standard for Apple.

The iPhone 8 models are expected to have OLED displays instead of LCD panels. Apple may pair the new displays with larger battery capacities for better power management and battery life overall. Samsung is known for using AMOLED displays (a version of OLED) on its devices and is also known to have significantly higher battery capacities on its devices, compared to current iPhone models.

Wireless Charging

Samsung has included wireless charging on its devices since the Galaxy S6. More recent iterations like the Galaxy Note 7 have featured fast wireless charging. Reports expect wireless charging is an obvious feature for the Galaxy S8. However, it would be new feature for the iPhone 8 if rumors are true.

The iPhone 8 is expected to have a revamped glass design to allow for wireless charging support. Apple has also joined the Wireless Power Consortium, which has been seen as a good sign for a wireless charging feature on the iPhone 8. Samsung upgraded its device design from plastic to glass and metal on the Galaxy S6 to allow for wireless charging support.

Water Resistance

Samsung has included water resistance on its devices since the Galaxy S5 and now the most recent models features an IP68 water resistance rating, which allows for up to five-feet of submersion for up to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Apple recently introduced an IP67 water resistance rating on the iPhone 7, which allows for up to three-feet of submersion for up to 30 minutes. Rumors suggest Apple may bump the iPhone 8 up to an IP68 rating, while the Galaxy S8 is expected to continue with the same level of water resistance.

64GB Internal Storage

Both Apple and Samsung have been experimenting with internal storage capacity in recent years. Samsung introduced the 64GB Galaxy Note 7 as the new base model for its devices. Rumors suggest the Galaxy S8 will be available in 64GB and 128GB models. Apple introduced the 256GB iPhone 7 and offers 32GB, 128GB and 256GB models for the device. Rumors suggest Apple may now introduce a 64GB internal storage option for the iPhone 8 and may possibly get ride of its 32GB option.

Iris/Facial Recognition

The Galaxy Note 7 introduced an iris scanner to the mobile market before its ultimate demise. The Galaxy S8 is expected to maintain the feature, which can be used as an alternative biometrics and authentication function, instead of fingerprint scanning. Rumors suggest the iPhone 8 may include a facial recognition biometrics features in lieu of an iris scanner. However, such features often work in a similar fashion, having a front-facing sensor, which detects eyes or faces for security or authentication purposes. Rumors also suggest the facial recognition feature could replace Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

No Home Button

Rumors for both the Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8 suggest the devices may release without a physical home button. Several leaks indicate the Galaxy S8 may lose its home button all together, with its fingerprint scanner moved to the back panel. Rumors suggest the iPhone 8 may have its home button embedded within its display glass, with a new biometrics technology to replace its TouchID fingerprint scanner. The “function area” feature may be similar to the MacBook’s Touch Bar and may be used for several different tasks instead of just biometrics.

Bonus: “Plus” Name

Apple introduced the iPhone 6 Plus in 2014 as a new size option for the smartphone line and has released phablet sized “Plus” models alongside standard models ever since. The iPhone 8 is also expected to come in standard and Plus models (and possibly a third yet to be named model). Rumors have also suggested Samsung may name one of its Galaxy S8 models the Galaxy S8 Plus, instead of the “Edge” name it has used to denote the difference between flat and curved display models. Both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are expected to feature the dual-edge curved display, similar to previous edge models. However, Samsung indicated a change when it released the Galaxy Note 7 with a dual-edge curved display and no “Edge” in the device’s name. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are expected to release with different display sizes, but both devices are expected to be phablets.