Samsung Galaxy S8 Rumors: Photo Leak Shows Headphone Jack Remains, Fingerprint Scanner Location

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S8 might be having a lower-profile launch, but a new leak shows many features will still remain the same on the smartphone. 9to5Google reports via HD Blog on potential case photos that highlight the smartphone’s layout.

The bottom of the case prototype features a wide bay for ports and speakers. For connectivity, the phone is expected to include a standard Type-C USB port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The back of the case also features two rounded rectangular openings set next to each other. While the larger bay will be used for the phone’s camera, the smaller bay likely confirms one of the more notable design choices for the Samsung Galaxy S8. The secondary space on the phone’s rear is expected to be used for the smartphone’s fingerprint scanner, similarly to smartphones like Google’s Pixel series.

Connectivity-wise, Samsung’s inclusion of a headphone jack on the Galaxy S8 falls in line with current smartphone trends. While Apple’s iPhone 7 is a high-profile outlier, upcoming smartphones like the S8 and LG’s G6 will still feature a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Generally, design benefits like waterproofing are a possibility on smartphones without headphone jacks, but the popularity of the 3.5 mm headphone standard has still made smartphones without the jack a tough sell to general users. The fingerprint scanner’s location right next to the camera is a similar gamble — Google isolates its fingerprint scanner on the Pixel — but it remains to be seen how ergonomic the interface will be.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 won’t be showcased at Mobile World Congress this year, but the flagship smartphone will be the first to feature the Snapdragon 835 processor. The S8 beats out other upcoming high-end smartphones like the LG G6 and HTC U Ultra, which won’t feature the Snapdragon 835. Samsung is expected to launch the phone in late March.