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Samsung's next Galaxy phone may be hiding in plain sight

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Update: I added a screenshot from a separate video, also released by Samsung, showing a similar device.

Samsung recently released a video found by Forbes that features a previously unseen, unreleased smartphone, which has some glaring similarities to rumors about the Galaxy S8.

Now, it's unlikely that Samsung would knowingly release a video featuring the Galaxy S8 before its release, but Samsung is no stranger to accidental leaks. Last year, Samsung let slip a few details about the Galaxy S7 on its own website.

The video shows a smartphone, pictured below, with narrow borders on the top, bottom, and sides — details that match rumors about the Galaxy S8. And the pictured smartphone is missing a physical home button, which lines up nicely with the rumors that the Galaxy S8's home button will be embedded into the display, making it essentially invisible. 

galaxy s8 potential leak
YouTube/Samsung Display
samsung potential leaked galasy s8
YouTube/Samsung Displays

However, it's not clear from the screenshots above if the phone's edges are curved. In fact, it doesn't look like it has curved edges at all. That missing feature alone could dispel the notion that the video is, indeed, showing the Galaxy S8. If the current rumors are correct, Samsung will only offer the S8 with curved edges, like the Galaxy S7 Edge, and not with a flat screen. It wouldn't be surprising if Samsung offered a curved-only Galaxy S8 considering the success it's had with the Galaxy S6 Edge and S7 Edge.

In all likelihood, the smartphone in question is simply a smartphone template or concept with a decidedly Samsung-y style, and it's being used purely to showcase Samsung's AMOLED display technology. Samsung has been using AMOLED displays, which offer better color, contrast, and brightness than the iPhone's LCD screens, for several years.

Still, the phone in the video isn't far off from concepts of what the Galaxy S8 might look like based off rumors, which also show narrow bezels on the top and bottom, and virtually non-existent borders on the sides.

galaxy s8 concept
iPhone-Crash/YouTube

Either way, nothing is certain until Samsung unveils its new smartphone, which Samsung is expected to launch at February’s Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona.

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Antonio Villas-Boas was a consumer tech expert with over a decade of experience testing and reviewing smartphones, tablets, computers, smartwatches, and phone carriers.ExperienceAntonio joined the Business Insider team in 2015 as a tech reporter on the news desk and moved to the service journalism team in 2020. During his time as Business Insider’s senior tech reporter, Antonio developed industry-leading battery-life tests for smartphones and tablets, and covered and reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of products from major brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus since as far back as Samsung’s Galaxy S6, the original Apple Watch, and the very first Google Pixel. This decade-plus of experience has given him tremendous insights into what consumer tech truly stands the test of time and what will be irrelevant in just a few years' time (RIP The Pebble).Antonio is also an experienced deal hunter, surfacing the best discounts on phones, laptops, and smartwatches for readers during sale events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Previously, Antonio was a consumer-electronics analyst at PCMag and ran his own blog. Why you can trust AntonioAntonio approaches all his reviews not only as a tech expert but as a consumer himself. He reads every word of fine print in the phone carrier plans he reviews, and is deeply skeptical of deals that promise you the latest iPhone model for free. (Spoiler: it might be “free,” but you could be stuck with it for three years.)He largely recommends less expensive and small-scale fixes to upgrade your existing tech before considering buying the latest and flashiest in new tech. Antonio believes his role as the go-to “tech guy” for his family and friends extends to his readers as well; he only recommends products that have stood up to the testing process.Scripps News, NewsNation, Fox 5 DC, NBC LX, and Rich DeMuro’s “Rich On Tech” radio show have requested his commentary and expertise. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
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EducationAntonio graduated from Colgate University in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in history.Outside of workBesides testing tech products, Antonio is also a full time dad to two young kids. His ideal day would be spent on a lake in the Adirondacks.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test tech and electronics.