The Samsung Galaxy S8 should come with a headphone jack, but a new patent filing throws plenty of doubt as to whether it will feature on future models.
First spotted here, the South Korean company has filed a trademark application for U Flex in the European Union, and the accompanying documentation hints at device with a Bluetooth focus.
The exact wording states the U Flex branding will be used for “Earphones; Bluetooth earset; Wireless earset for mobile phones, smartphones and tablet computers”.
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It seems likely the headphones will be one of the first to fully support Bluetooth 5.0. The new standard offers increases in range, speed and reliability when compared to previous standards.
Samsung’s Galaxy S8, set to debut later this month, is rumoured to be one of the first smartphones to embrace Bluetooth 5.0, and so it would be no surprise if Samsung released a pair of AirPod-esque earphones too.
That very rumour was widely reported a couple of months ago, but fortunately most leaks we’ve seen suggests the Galaxy S8 will not go the way of the iPhone 7 and ship without a headphone jack.
That doesn’t completely rule out the presence of a pair of wireless earbuds, mind. And it would be great to see Samsung give us the best of both worlds on its flagship.
We haven’t got long to wait to find out what Samsung is planning, as the company plans to reveal the Galaxy S8 at its Unpacked event in New York City on March 29.
Watch: Everything we know about the Galaxy S8
Do you want to see the headphone jack disappear altogether? Let us know in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
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.
