Just when you thought the Galaxy S8 reports had reached their peak, Samsung goes and adds more fuel to the already raging fire that is S8 speculation.
Last month a report from Korea’s ETNews suggested the S8 could come with a new autofocus feature on the front-facing camera.
And now it seems that report has been backed up, as Samsung has filed a trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office for the term ‘Smart AF’ (via SamMobile).
Related: Galaxy S8 – Everything we know
According to the description that accompanies the filing, the new features concerns “mobile phones; smartphones; tablet computers; auto-focus photographic cameras for mobile phones, smartphones.”
Autofocus on front-facing cameras is rare, and if this latest development is any indication, it seems Samsung is looking for new ways to set itself apart from the competition.
Other companies, such as OnePlus, have turned their attention to the front-facing shooter, with the recent OnePlus 3T, featuring a 16-megapixel front camera.
But, if the latest report and trademark filing are any indication of Samsung’s plans, the company would be the first to introduce autofocus to the selfie-shooter on a major flagship handset.
Related: CES 2017
Of course, the South Korean firm is yet to confirm any specific details about the upcoming Galaxy S8, which it is expected to debut at MWC 2017 in February.
Other leaks this week have suggested the phone will arrive with dual speakers and stereo sound, as well as no headphone jack or home button.
None of this has been confirmed, however, and at this point it’s unclear just what the company has in-store for the S8 beyond a new AI assistant which is expected to feature on the phone following Samsung’s acquisition of AI developer Viv Labs.
We’re expecting to hear a lot more about the S8 in the coming weeks so stay tuned.
WATCH: Galaxy S8: Everything We Know So Far
Let us know what you think of the latest S8 developments in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.