A new Samsung Galaxy phone is incoming. It offers a new, flat-screen design with a super-sized 6.3-inch screen, an overclocked processor, and a new dual camera system perhaps taken from the S9+.
The phone, model number SM-G8850, is an upgraded China-specific Samsung Galaxy S9, which was first spotted on China's Telecommunications Equipment Certification Center (TENAA) a few weeks back.
And while it had been reported that the new S9 would feature a new flat design, overclocked Exynos 9810 octa-core processor (2.8 GHz), and come installed with dual 12MP rear cameras (the regular S9 only has one), its size had remained unconfirmed, but assumed to be 5.8 inches.
Now, as reported by authoritative Samsung leakster Ice Universe on Twitter, its true size has been revealed, and it is larger than anyone expected.
Staff's mistakes, all parameters regarding it are wrong, it is 6.3 inches. https://t.co/b7wwUCzW0SApril 13, 2018
That's larger than the screen on the Galaxy S9+ and the same size as the screen on the Note 8. (The Note 9 is rumoured to be getting a 6.4-inch screen.)
Ice Universe has a long history of accurately calling Samsung product details, and this would mean that this new Galaxy smartphone will deliver what is essentially an S9 Plus on steroids – with a bigger, flat screen instead of a curved one, as well as a slightly faster CPU.
This upgraded Galaxy S9 arguably comes at the right time for Samsung, with the competition from Huawei's P20 and P20 Pro handsets, as well as the incoming 2018 iPhone X range of phones, needing to be addressed for it to remain competitive at the top end of the market.
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What this means for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 9 handset, which the Korean maker appears to have big confidence in, as well as next year's Galaxy S10 in China remains to be seen.
Lead image credit: SamMobile
Rob has been writing about computing, gaming, mobile, home entertainment technology, toys (specifically Lego and board games), smart home and more for over 15 years. As the editor of PC Gamer, and former Deputy Editor for T3.com, you can find Rob's work in magazines, bookazines and online, as well as on podcasts and videos, too. Outside of his work Rob is passionate about motorbikes, skiing/snowboarding and team sports, with football and cricket his two favourites.