Paul Briden 02/02/2017 - 5:14pm

We take a look at how two forthcoming TITANS of the smartphone space will stack up based on the latest leaks and rumours

By now you probably know the score; no, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6 are not out yet, they have not been officially announced, but due to the way the rumour mill operates we've already got a pretty good idea of what each device will be like in terms of specs and features.

The LG G6 will be launching at MWC 2017 in late February, while Samsung's Galaxy S8 will not be launching until late March. Plenty of the rumours and leaks have been consistent for a while now, and as the launches approach more and more repeated info is coming to the fore, much of it from very reliable and reputable sources which leads us to believe that certain snippets are not just likely, but probably spot-on accurate.

So with all that in mind, we thought it'd be fun to compare the overall picture of how each handset is shaping up.

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs LG G6: Rumoured & Leaked Specs

Samsung Galaxy S8 Rumoured & Leaked Specs

  • Display: 5.2in (Galaxy S8) & 6.2in (Galaxy S8 Plus) curved EDGE Super AMOLED, 18.5:9 Aspect Ratio, 4K Resolution

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (10nm) octa-core CPU OR Samsung Exynos 8995 (10nm) octa-core CPU - region dependent

  • GPU: Adreno 540 (Qualcomm Snapdragon) OR ARM Mali-G71 (Samsung Exynos) - region dependent

  • RAM:4GB OR 6GB - region dependent

  • Software: Android Nougat

  • Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Type-C USB, NFC, GPS, Fingerprint scanner,

  • Storage: 64GB OR 128GB - region dependent

  • MicroSD: Yes

  • Primary Camera: 12MP, f/1.7 aperture

  • Secondary Camera: 8MP with autofocus

  • Battery: 3,000mAh-3,250mAh (Galaxy S8), 3,500mAh-3,750mAh (Galaxy S8 Plus)

LG G6 Rumoured & Leaked Specs

  • Display: 5.7in LCD, QHD+ Resolution, 18:9 Aspect Ratio

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (14nm) quad-core CPU

  • GPU: Adreno 530

  • RAM:4GB

  • Software: Android Nougat

  • Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Type-C USB, NFC, GPS, Fingerprint scanner

  • Storage: unknown

  • MicroSD: Yes

  • Primary Camera: dual-sensor

  • Secondary Camera: unknown

  • Battery: unknown

Oddly enough, despite the fact that the LG G6 is coming to market first, and that LG is usually a bit more liberal with discussing its in-development devices and their features, we know more about the Samsung Galaxy S8 than we do about its rival.

In terms of crucial information, a key difference of course is that there will be two Galaxy S8 models; the 5.2in Galaxy S8 and the 6.2in Galaxy S8 Plus, both of which will feature curved EDGE displays, while there will only be one flat-screen 5.7in LG G6. In all cases it seems the respective firms are trying to cram as much screen into the front fascia of their phones as possible while keeping the bodyshell size more-or-less the same as the previous generations. This (as well as the increase in new wide-aspect 4K content) is also why both are adopting a much bigger 18:9 display aspect ratio.

On the subject of display resolution, the Galaxy S8 has been rumoured with a 4K setup since the beginning, and although there have been a few contradicting rumours since, there’s still enough out there suggesting that at least one of the two models will pack this high-end resolution. The LG G6 will use the firm’s brand new display tech recently announced, which is dubbed QHD+. We can still expect ultra-sharp, high quality visuals from this, but it’s quite plausible, even likely, that a 4K Samsung Galaxy S8 model, also using Super AMOLED rather than LCD, will have an advantage here.

On the processor front Samsung appears to have literally outmaneuvered LG here (as well as most other rivals on the market) by dominating the supply of the new-gen of Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 CPUs. Samsung actually produces these chips on Qualcomm’s behalf, but regardless of whether that has given it an advantageous bargaining chip or not, the firm has reportedly bought up all the CPUs it has produced so far for use inside its Galaxy S8 devices. What remains unclear is whether Samsung will follow its usual habit of producing one variant of each Galaxy S model (ie: Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus) for the Asian market using one processor, and another set using a different processor for the international market. Typically this has been a Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC for one market and one of its own Exynos chips for the other, though which chip is used for which market has varied. Some sources say Samsung will just use Qualcomm S835’s across the board this time, while other rumours say the firm is prepping its own Exynos 8995 processor so it can continue to split distribution based on region. However, either way it doesn’t really matter, Samsung makes the S835 on the 10nm FinFET semiconductor process and, if the Exynos 8995 rumours are accurate, its own CPU will also use this same architecture. In other words, as with last year’s Galaxy S7, both the Exynos and Snapdragon variants should offer more-or-less the same performance.

Importantly, either variant will probably outclass the LG G6 by a noticeable degree - Samsung’s hogging of the S835 is allegedly why LG and others can’t get hold of the chip for their own devices. The reports have indicated LG has settled on a previous-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 CPU on the older 14nm FinFET architecture for the LG G6. While this is still a decent chip, it has half as many cores on an older and larger semiconductor design; the newer chips will likely offer faster performance, better battery efficiency and produce less heat. Qualcomm’s line on the S835 is that, compared to earlier-gen tech, the chip is 20% faster and 25% more battery efficient.

When it comes to RAM, there’s been plenty of early hubris on most major flagship rumours, getting all excited about the prospect of 6GB and even 8GB of RAM, but by this late stage most of it seems to have boiled down to something a bit more middle-of-the-road. The Galaxy S8 was heavily rumoured to pack 6GB RAM but the most recent rumours indicate that most models will pack 4GB alongside 64GB of onboard storage. However, it appears Samsung will go the route of the short-lived Galaxy Note 7 in providing a 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant exclusively to the South Korean and Chinese markets. The LG G6 remains something of a mystery here, but with a Snapdragon 821 chip we can reasonably expect a minimum of 4GB RAM, but more than that does seem somewhat unlikely.

Lastly on the internal hardware spec side of things; the battery. So far regarding the LG G6 the only info we have is an early rumour that the phone would retain a removable battery design. However, since then some rumours have strongly suggested this is NOT the case, and it will have a sealed battery cell.

For the Galaxy S8 series, all the indicators suggest a sealed design. The specifics of the battery ratings vary, on the Galaxy S8 we’ve seen a range from 3,000mAh up to about 3,250mAh, while on the larger Galaxy S8 Plus it’s a range between 3,500mAh and 3,750mAh, so expect figures somewhere within these ballparks.

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs LG G6: Rumoured & Leaked Design

Most of the Galaxy S8 leaks corroborate together to confirm an overall design quite similar to the Galaxy S7 EDGE. A sealed metal and glass unibody is again the order of the day with a broadly similar design language and curved EDGE displays on both Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus models; the flat screen is being abandoned completely. Reportedly the curved edges push further around towards the back of the phones to give a truly edge-less appearance, but at the same time the curvature is slightly less pronounced than the Galaxy S7 EDGE, allegedly in order to reduce inadvertent touch input.


Contrary to earlier rumours the Galaxy S8 will apparently retain the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is good news. The physical Home key is gone, however, presumably in favour of on-screen controls, while the fingerprint scanner has been moved round the back, sitting adjacent to the camera sensor. There is also a new dedicated key on the side of the phone for the Bixby AI assistant and we can fully expect the Galaxy S8 series to retain its waterproofing certification from the last generation.


While LG has dabbled in the past with various “alternative” designs (stuff like leather back panels) the leaks surrounding the LG G6 would suggest it’s conforming a little more to the trends in being possibly the most metallic LG flagship to date. It’s looking quite similar to the LG G5 in terms of shape and overall design, but much sleeker and shinier, and without the modular aspect. It also has an extremely large display with the thinnest of bezels around the outside.


Reportedly it will have a 3.5mm headphone jack, although unlike the Galaxy S8 we haven’t seen images or schematics to prove that. Likewise it is also rumoured to have waterproofing, which would be another first for LG’s flagship brand. The LG G6 is also expected to retain the rear-mounted control combo, incorporating a power key, volume rocker, and fingerprint scanner into one design, as it has done for several generations - that said, recent leaked images of a prototype did not show this. Both the Samsung Galaxy S8 series and LG G6 should use Type-C USB ports.


Samsung Galaxy S8 vs LG G6: Rumoured & Leaked Features

A key feature of the Samsung Galaxy S8 series will be the debut of Samsung’s much-rumoured Bixby AI assistant, based on its acquisition of Viv Labs and its own AI development projects. Allegedly this will be pretty damn advanced, far outpacing rivals such as Siri. LG, on the other hand, is rumoured to be falling back on Google’s own Google Assistant AI as seen on the Google Pixel, although it’s understood that it won’t be as extensively featured as aboard Google’s own hardware.

While the Galaxy S8 series, specifically the Galaxy S8 Plus, was originally rumoured with one of those fancy dual-camera sensors that are currently all the rage, most recent rumours suggest we’re looking at something more basic, more-or-less a repeat of the Galaxy S7’s 12MP Sony camera sensor but with a tweaked software package. Still, that’s a plenty capable camera, make no mistake. The front-facing secondary will reportedly be the first to feature built-in autofocus, however. The camera will also integrate with Bixby allowing you to do things like point the camera at a product and then buy it online via Samsung Pay.

LG, on the other hand, has apparently stuck a dual-sensor in the LG G6’s back panel, although sadly at this stage we know absolutely nothing regarding the specs and capabilities!