What Specs Will Samsung Release On Galaxy S9 Before Competitors?

Samsung’s 2018 flagship devices, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, could be the first to run the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip, according to a new report from tech informant Eldar Murtazin are true. If true, the 2018 smartphone release cycle could be similar to the 2017 cycle, where the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ where the first on the market to run the Snapdragon 835 chip.

Qualcomm collaborated with Samsung to produce the Snapdragon 835 with its 10nm FinFET technology, which earned the manufacturer primary rights to release the Galaxy S8 running the chip in April. This defined the scope of the 2017 product cycle as several manufacturers, including HTC, Lenovo, Asus, and Sony, chose to release premium devices later in the year when they would be able to use the Snapdragon 835 chip. LG released its LG G6 smartphone one month ahead of the Galaxy S8 models and was forced to use an older, albeit still premium Snapdragon chip in the device. Pundits suggest this may have caused LG G6 sales to suffer.

There is currently no word on whether Samsung and Qualcomm are working together to develop the Snapdragon 845. August reports indicated that Samsung may not rely on Qualcomm to supply chips for its upcoming devices. Early rumors suggested that Qualcomm was collaborating with LG for 845 so that the LG G7 could be the first device on the marker running the chip. These rumors have not been confirmed.

Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in the spring of 2018. Rumors that the devices could run the Snapdragon 845 chip have been circulating since May. Recent reports indicate the Samsung has already begun developing its custom software for the device and that it may feature a slow motion camera feature.

While rumors also suggest the Galaxy S9 could release as early as January, the device will likely follow a release cycle similar to the Galaxy S8, with a March announcement and April market availability.

Other feature rumors have suggested the Galaxy S9 will feature a rear-facing fingerprint sensor, a larger battery than the Galaxy S8 cell, a 4K display, a quad-camera set up and 7nm processors. No details about the device have been confirmed at this time.​