From Galaxy S to S7, Resolution Increased by x10… Galaxy S8 Likely to be 4K UHD

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Since the first Galaxy S by Samsung Electronics in March 2010, 9 types of Galaxy S Series were launched. For the past 6 years, screen size increased by 1.5 inch and resolution improved by approximately 10 times.

According to the AMOLED Characteristics Analysis Report of Galaxy S Series recently published by UBI Research, the AMOLED panel of this series from Galaxy S to Galaxy S7 Edge increased in size from 4 inch to 5.5 inch. The resolution increased by 9.6 times from 480 x 800 WVGA to 1440 x 2560 QHD. The Galaxy S Series AMOLED progress suggests the Galaxy S8, expected to be released in 2017, will have screen size of mid-to-high 5 inch mark with the resolution of 4K UHD (800 ppi).

Since the 4 inch early model of Galaxy S in March 2010, the screen enlarged each year to 5.1 inch and 5.5 inch for S7 and S7 Edge respectively, over approximately 30% increased screen size compared to the early S model. Samsung Electronics had released 6 inch mark smartphone. However, in 2015, the 6 inch mark products disappeared and 5 inch mark screen size occupies 71% of the total smartphone products by Samsung Electronics.

During this period, Samsung Electronics released products with diverse resolutions from Galaxy S’ WVGA to S6 and S7’s QHD through S3’s HD and S4 and S5’s FHD. With the exception of S3’s HD, Galaxy S Series resolution is moving forward every 2 years at present. If this speed of development continues, the Galaxy S8, expected to be released in 2017, could be equipped with screen size of mid-to-high 5 inch mark and resolution of 4K UHD.

UBI Research explained that Samsung Display’s 5.5 inch UHD 4K 806 ppi AMOLED for VR device that was shown in the recent SID 2016 has the same brightness as S7. He added that considering production yield, the display is expected to be used for Galaxy S8 to be released next year.