Galaxy A8s to Sport In-display Camera, Samsung Teases During Galaxy A9s, A6s Launch Event

When smartphone OEMs started introducing thin bezel displays (18:9 aspect ratios) last year, Apple came up with the notch design on the iPhone X that led to a chain of reaction and a range of similar phones, some of it still being released. Apple's adoption of a cut-out in the display was a solution to a problem that all smartphone makers face today. If we make a bezel-less screen, where do we put all the front sensors including the camera? The notch was never the final answer, it was a transition, a necessary phase before the industry figures out a place to accommodate all the sensors. Fast forward to the present day, and .Samsung has made some advancements in the quest for the all-screen holy grail.

The Korean giant announced it's first ODM device in China namely the Galaxy A6s, and the quad-camera Galaxy A9s yesterday, October 24. The Galaxy A6s is an improved Galaxy A6+ with a Snapdragon 660 SoC while the Galaxy A9s is just a localized version of the Galaxy A9 (2018). But there was an unexpected surprise at the event. The company teased a very ambitious unannounced device called the Galaxy A8s. Sadly though, Samsung wasn't keen on revealing any key details of the project but it was related to a completely bezel-less display. The image showed on stage, as you can see below, depicts the same.

Will the Galaxy A8s come with a hole in the display?

If there is no bezel on the handset, where does the brand put all the front sensors including the camera? Well, one possibility is that it could be beneath the display. A famous Chinese leakster, Ice Universe, recently tweeted about a Samsung event where the company presented emerging cutting-edge mobile innovation in front of media. That presentation included camera-under-the-screen tech that Samsung has been working on.

Essentially, Samsung will likely drill a hole in the display either on the top left corner or right-hand corner to place the camera. While this still doesn't technically mean all-screen but it will result in an extremely high screen-to-body ratio eliminating bezels on all sides. However, the small hole will still be there substituting the notch. Another possible solution is to opt for a slider-camera mechanism very similar to the OPPO Find X. This is now being adopted by Xiaomi in the Mi Mix 3 which is due for launch today, October 25, as well as Honor on the Honor Magic 2.

Expected Launch Date of the Galaxy A8s

Up till now, Samsung has been the only OEM that has refrained from using a notch design on any of its devices, even trolling Apple savagely on many occasions, for the inclusion of it on the iPhone X. It is quite possible that Samsung has invented something completely different than what we assume it will present in near future since the company remained tight-lipped about the details. This new announcement also makes us quite optimistic about the prospects of the promising Galaxy S10 due early next year.

Samsung has made commitments to introduce cutting-edge innovation with the A-series this year and this all-screen design will be a part of that process. For now, a lot, including the launch date of the Galaxy A8s, remains unknown, but word are out that the handset will be announced early next year.