According to a Bluetooth SIG document listed earlier on December 5th, the model number ‘SM-A530F’ which has been previously associated with the unreleased Samsung Galaxy A5 (2018) might actually belong to the larger model in the series, namely the Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018). This seems to lend weight to a previous report suggesting that Samsung might be restructuring the naming scheme of its Galaxy A series next year, and in turn, this could mean that the device previously referred to as the Galaxy A7 (2018) might become the Galaxy A8 Plus (2018).
The Bluetooth SIG document at hand doesn’t reveal any technical details surrounding the device but nonetheless, it undeniably links the model number SM-A530F with the Samsung Galaxy A8 moniker as seen in the screenshot below. Regardless, the SM-A530 model number has been spotted previously in a number of instances, most of which have revealed certain pieces of the hardware puzzle, including an Exynos 7785 system-on-chip paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board memory which will presumably be expandable via microSD. The device should also adopt an Infinity Display boasting an elongated aspect ratio, which means that the fingerprint sensor will likely be moved to the back panel. Previously, the SM-A530 model number was spotted in the listings of various regulatory agencies including the Wi-Fi Alliance, and furthermore, a couple of protective case manufacturers have apparently already created accessories for the upcoming device, with Olixar’s silicone cases already launching on pre-order terms in the UK ahead of the device’s official market introduction.
Assuming that the Samsung Galaxy A5 and A7 (2018) will become the Galaxy A8 and A8 Plus (2018), respectively, it remains to be seen what will happen to the smaller Samsung Galaxy A3 (2018). The aforementioned device didn’t see nearly as much exposure as the previous two models over the past several months so its existence remains questionable, but assuming that the A3 (2018) is real then it will possibly experience a name change just as well. Either way, the Korean OEM is expected to lift the veil off the upcoming series sometime within the next few months, possibly as early as January 2018 during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.