We previously reported on rumours that Samsung would bring as many as five flagships to market in 2017, allegedly a Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 EDGE, a Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy Note 8 EDGE, and the folding flexible OLED Galaxy X, aka Project Valley. Naturally most of the attention in recent weeks has focused on that new folding form factor device, but now we're hearing a bit more about the revamp of the Galaxy S7 - next year's Galaxy S8.

Some new information has emerged on June 20 with sources inside China claiming the Galaxy S8 will feature a dual-camera sensor. This would mean the handset is keeping in trend with the likes of the Huawei P9 and LG G5, as well as rumours about the iPhone 7 Plus/Pro. According to the details the dual-camera sensor will be engineered by Samsung Motors aka SEMCO, so the firm will be producing its own imaging tech this time round. 

According to details sourced by the Korea Herald, Samsung's Galaxy S8 will feature a larger 5.5in display with a 4K resolution - allegedly this design feature has been picked specifically with VR in mind, implying that the handset may be being prepared to work with Google Daydream, a possible Google headset, and indeed Samsung's own Gear VR hardware. In addition, the new report also reiterates earlier claims that the display panel will have a UHD (4K) resolution designed for use with VR applications.

UBI Research claims the handset will sport a 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution. Normally we would wonder why something sharper than the Galaxy S7's QHD 5.1in setup would be necessary (at nearly 600ppi) as it's already nearly impossible to pick out pixels if you try, but that said, VR is in its infancy and perhaps there are gains when you're staring directly into a phone dangled inches from your eyeballs.

The current-gen Galaxy S7 edge has a 5.5in display, larger than the regular flagship, so it is interesting that the Galaxy S8 will be enlarged to this size (and also raises questions about the Galaxy S8 edge!), but with that said, there is a possiblity Samsung has figured out a way to enlarge the display without making the chassis much bigger, perhaps a true edge-to-edge display with no bezels and making used of Samsungs flexible OLED tech? This is all of course speculation at this stage.

Reports already inside June have stated that the Galaxy X flexible phone will be arriving at MWC in early 2017, likely around February or March as this is usually when the conference lands. The original reveal regarding the five alleged flagships also stated that the first part of the year would see the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 edge unwrapped at MWC just like the Galaxy S6 and S7 series. So we are expecting more info to emerge between now and a likely Samsung Unpacked event at the beginning of 2017!

If this rumour turns out to be true — particularly the Galaxy X stuff – then Samsung will have perhaps the largest arsenal of high-end Android phones on offer in early 2017. The company’s Note line will also feature later on in the year and that is always a big event.

This is definitely a gamble, especially since smartphone sales have dropped off recently, but the Galaxy X certainly sounds different enough to grab the attention and acclaim of early-adopters.

The Galaxy X is also a good move for the mobile space. Just like the LG G5 in 2016, a brand new “type” of phone is just the type of thing that will inspire growth in the space. Apple’s iPhone flatlined for the first time in 2016 and this is likely down to people simply holding onto their phones for longer. This is also likely why Apple is now switching to a three-year hardware update cycle.

A completely flexible phone is a different beast entirely though. No one will be able to offer anything similar for a least a year, providing Samsung has the necessary patents under its belt. The company has been working on this type of technology for a good few years; the launch in 2017 will show the world that Samsung is the innovative force in mobile by completely changing what we typically think about as a “phone”.

Executed well, the Galaxy X could well be a turning point for the mobile space, a place from where things will get very different, very quickly. I cannot wait to see what this phone is all about and, indeed, how Samsung’s competitors will react.