Galaxy S8/iPhone 8

Samsung's Galaxy S8 could be mostly screen

A recent Korean report suggests that the front of the next Samsung Galaxy phone will be almost entirely dedicated to the display.

by Gordon Gottsegen

The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 could have a whole lot of display, at least according to a report published Monday.

The report in The Investor based in South Korea comes after the iMiD 2016 Display Exhibition that took place in Seoul last week. According to the report, Park Won-sang, an engineer for Samsung's display manufacturing unit, said that the front of next year's phone will be over 90 percent screen. The average display area ratio (which is the percentage of the front of the phone taken up by the screen) of current smartphones is around 80 percent, according to The Investor. If this rumor is true, it would mean that the S8 could feature even more screen than earlier versions of the device. It is unknown how Samsung's famous curved displays would count for this percentage.

But Samsung isn't planning on stopping at 90 percent. According to the same engineer, Samsung could aim for a device that is up to 99 percent screen. This reflects an ongoing trend to make smartphones mostly screen. Recently we got to see the Xiaomi Mi Mix, a phone that is almost entirely screen. Regardless of whether this Galaxy S8 rumor is true, it wouldn't be surprising to see more phones come out next year with higher display area ratios.

The Investor report also adds a few other speculations about what to expect from the upcoming Galaxy S phone. This includes an OLED display, and a bezel-less body. Although the Galaxy S8 has not yet been officially announced, these new rumors fall in line with previous rumors that suggest a full-screen display. Additionally, the existence of a full-screen display on the S8 corresponds with the idea that it would get rid of the home button and feature a fingerprint sensor under the display.

However, until Samsung unveils its next Galaxy S phone, these rumors should be taken with a grain of salt. Samsung did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.

The iPhone 8 could have wireless charging

Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn is reportedly testing wireless charging for the next iPhone.

by Gordon Gottsegen

The "iPhone 8" could have wireless charging.

While it has been previously reported that Apple will introduce wireless charging into its phones, Foxconn Technology Group, one of Apple's main manufacturing partners, is making wireless charging modules for the 2017 iPhone, Nikkei Asian Review reports.

Wireless charging has been around for a few years, and manufacturers such as Samsung have been quick to incorporate this technology into their phones. While only the Apple Watch uses it so far, previous reports indicate that Apple has been acquiring engineers from wireless charging companies and cite 2017 as the year we will see this technology.

2017 will be the 10th anniversary of the iPhone's release, and it seems like a good bet that Apple has big plans, possibly including wireless charging.

The Nikkei report also speculates that the iPhone 8 will come with a curved OLED display. While this has not been confirmed by Apple, Sharp President Tai Jeng-wu mentioned that the next iPhone would have an OLED screen during a speech last week.

While the Nikkei report states that Foxconn is already producing the wireless charging module for the next iPhone, this does not necessarily mean it will make it into the version of the phone that's released to the public. Nikkei's source states that the release of the technology will "depend on whether Foxconn can boost the yield rate to a satisfactory level later on." Put simply, the factory has to get better at making the units before they have a shot at making it into the final product.

Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment.