KGI analyst predicts Galaxy S8's full specs, says sales will be lower than predecessor

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo made a name for himself predicting all things Apple, but the from time to time he's offering his analytic expertise on other subjects. Recently, he issued a report for the company he's working for, KGI Securities, which concerns Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S8.

Before going into details, it's worth noting that Kuo's predictions are most of the time correct, even though they're not always 100 percent accurate. In the latest report, Kuo connects the dots between all the previous rumors regarding the Galaxy S8's specs and puts them in a larger perspective.

As most of you know by now, Samsung will launch two Galaxy S8 models, with 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch displays, which will feature WQHD+ (2960 x 2400 pixels) resolution. Neither variant will feature a flat panel, so the South Korean company will go full curved-edge this time.

According to Kuo, Samsung will sell the Qualcomm-powered Galaxy S8 in the United States, Japan, and China, whereas the Exynos-based version will be available in Europe and the rest of Asia.

Concerning the RAM inside, KGI's analyst says that while both Galaxy S8 and S8+ will pack 4GB RAM, in some countries like South Korea and China, Samsung will launch beefed up versions with 6GB RAM because “users in those two markets are particularly sensitive to DRAM specs.”



Moving on to the camera, Kuo “confirms” the Galaxy S8 will feature a single-lens 12-megapixel camera on the back, and a secondary 8-megapixel camera on the front. Samsung hasn't adopted two-camera setup due to cost and “immature dual-camera ISP design.”

On the bright side, thanks to the addition of an USB Type-C port, the Galaxy S8 will indeed provide users with a PC mode when placed in a dock.

Unlike previous reports that claim Samsung had to delay the launch of the Galaxy S8 for April 28, Kuo says the handset maker will make its flagship available for purchase on April 21. The Galaxy S8 will be available in at least seven colors at launch: gold, silver, bright black, matte black, blue, orchid, and pink.

As far as sales go, Kuo predicts shipments of 40 to 45 million during 2017, several million lower than the 52 million Galaxy S7 units shipped in 2016. The reason could be the fact that the Galaxy S8 will go on sale later than the predecessor, but also because the Galaxy S7 was Samsung's only flagship in 2017.