Rumors for Samsung’s upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S8, which could make or further break the company’s rather tarnished brand image have already started pouring in. And the trend started by Apple with the iPhone lineup – removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack – earlier this year, is now expected to be picked up and driven further by the Korean giant.
Samsung Galaxy S8 might be launched without the infamous headphone jack, reports SamMobile. This confirmation from a source aware of the development matches with previous rumors regarding the same. It will solely rely on the USB-C port to deliver audio output. Of course, as is the case with the iPhone 7, you could always use a USB-C to 3.5mm jack adapter – which Samsung might also include in the box – to connect your trusty wired headphones into the Galaxy S8.
The removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack from the phone gives the Korean giant leeway to further reduce the thickness of the device or pack in a bigger battery – which seemingly doesn’t explode due to naturally applied pressure. The minimal space for battery expansion on Galaxy Note 7 is now being cited as the primary reason for the repetitive fires and blasts. The company might also face some backlash over the removal of the jack but they’ll eventually get used to the updated digital technologies replacing the analog ones.
In addition to the headphone jack, Samsung is also looking to forego the home button on the Galaxy S8. The prominent button which used to sit at the center, below the screen might also not make an appearance on this flagship phone. It will instead rely on soft-key support on the touch screen – something common for most Android smartphones.
The home button is most likely getting booted as the Korean giant is planning to build larger phablet-sized Galaxy S8 models. Thus, it wants to fit the larger screen in the same smartphone while keeping the basic structure the same. It also plans to include its first-ever AI-powered AI assistant, Viv, on the Galaxy S8. The smartphone is expected to debut at MWC in Barcelona in February.
