Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus have been the subject of a near non-stop stream of leaks and rumors, and this latest one is said to show off a live Galaxy S8 Plus unit, providing a good look at the fingerprint sensor on the back. One of the bigger points of contention in recent entries in the Galaxy lineup has been the position of the fingerprint reader, with many arguing that it should be on the back, not beneath the home button. If this leak is for real, it seems that Samsung has finally taken that suggestion to heart; the fingerprint sensor, or at least what appears to be one, can be seen next to the camera, seemingly added to the heart rate sensor and flashlight array that have been mainstays of the series since the Galaxy S5.
Besides the fingerprint sensor, the leak shows off a black rim running the length of the device, rather than the usual chrome-colored or gold-colored metal rim, making the design a seamless slab of obsidian. It will be interesting to see the inevitable other color options in the wild and how they play on variations of the metal rim’s color; it’s still clearly visible in the picture showing off the back and side, but it’s been colored black to make the design a smooth, flowing affair. Even the plastic antenna lines have been darkened. The front bezels on this leaked unit are as slim as has been rumored. which results in a slim, low-profile phone with a massive screen.
The picture of the front shows off an array of sensors up top, seemingly confirming earlier reports of an iris scanner being included on this year’s Galaxy S flagship models. The physical home button is missing, as in earlier leaks, confirming yet again that Samsung has chosen to go with onscreen navigation buttons for this year’s flagships. The photos also show the thickness of the device, but the angle can be a bit deceptive; the lighting points out a subtle curve, which graces both sides. Taking that into account, this seems to be a device that is just a hair thinner than last year’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
