A leaked image of the display panel of the Samsung Galaxy M20 shows that the handset will feature a waterdrop notch above its screen. This leak corroborates with previous rumors which claim that the Galaxy M20 will be the first smartphone from the South Korean tech giant that will include a display notch. The notch contains a small cutout that accommodates the front-facing camera and sensors, and the photograph also shows that the front panel of the device will have thin side and bottom bezels. Furthermore, the latest leak indicates that display of the Galaxy M20 will likely have rounded edges, which gives the device a more premium look over the Galaxy J and Galaxy On devices that it will reportedly replace.
Aside from leaking the display panel of the Galaxy M20, the report also provided details about the hardware features of the upcoming entry-level smartphone of Samsung Electronics. Rumors claim that the Galaxy M20 will sport an Exynos 7885 chipset, which contains an octa-core 64-bit CPU running at a maximum clock speed of 2.2GHz. The device will reportedly include 3GB of RAM, while previous reports state that the handset will be available in variants that contain either 32GB or 64GB of internal flash storage. The smartphone is expected to ship with a 6-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,340 by 1,080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The single front-facing camera will have a resolution of 5-megapixels, while the rear-facing camera will reportedly include a 16-megapixel sensor. According to the recent report, the device will also include a 3,300mAh non-removable battery. Previous reports also mention that the device will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo pre-installed, although Samsung’s proprietary skin will likely run on top of Google’s operating system.
The leak also claims that the Galaxy M20, along with the Galaxy M10, is already in production in the company’s manufacturing facilities in India, and it will likely be launched in January 2019. This device is expected to have a price tag of Rs. 17,990, which translates to around $253 at the current exchange rate.
Background: Samsung will reportedly launch the Galaxy M-series handsets as part of the tech giant’s efforts to streamline its device offerings and make it easier for consumers to differentiate its handsets. The Galaxy M devices will reportedly replace the Galaxy J series as the company’s entry-level smartphone lineup, while the Galaxy A devices will continue as the company’s mid-range product offering.
It is interesting to note that previous reports suggested that the Galaxy M handsets will sport an LCD display as a way to reduce the production costs of the devices, although the recent leak mentions that the Galaxy M20 will sport an OLED display. Aside from the Galaxy M20 and the Galaxy M10, the company will also reportedly launch the Galaxy M30 within the next few months. The three smartphones will have dual-SIM card slots and the devices will reportedly ship in two color variations, which are blue and dark grey.
Impact: The more premium design of the Galaxy M20 shows Samsung’s efforts to better compete in the entry-level and mid-range segments of the smartphone market by incorporating design elements commonly found in more expensive products. This design decision, along with the streamlined product offerings, should allow Samsung to regain the market share it lost to Chinese smartphone manufacturers Huawei and Xiaomi.