Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, rumours, specs, news, price and everything you need to know

The smartphone future is coming - just not for a while.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 release date rumours are already coming through thick and fast, because the Galaxy S7 is a matter of months old and we're all impatient for something new. We know, it's ridiculous, but don't shoot, we're just the messenger, and c'mon, who doesn't like getting excited about what's next?

With the better part of eight months before the Galaxy S8 supersedes Sammy's latest pocket powerhouse as the firm's flagship phone, those holding out for the Samsung Galaxy S8 have a ridiculously long wait ahead. That doesn't mean a number of S8 features haven't already been teased though. Oh no. From a refreshed design to the possibility of a foldable display - really - the S8 rumours are rolling in.

Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S8 so far. If you're a big fan of Samsung's smartphone efforts, keep this page bookmarked - we'll continue to update it as and when new Galaxy S8 details emerge.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date: Let the long wait commence

Make sure your phone's fully charged and grab some snacks, the wait for the Samsung Galaxy S8 is going to be a long one. Obviously, with the S7 having only just entered the realms of reality, Samsung has yet to offer any indication as to when its next-gen flagship phone will drop.

That doesn't mean we don't have a good idea though. Ever since the Samsung Galaxy S2 landed way back in 2011, Samsung's flagship phones have been unveiled at - or in the weeks surrounding - the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona. So we'd suggesting keeping an eye on late February or early March 2017 if you're set on the S8.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Design: It's time for a change

Exactly what the Samsung Galaxy S8 will look like remains a mystery. What we do know, however, is that it probably won't look like the S7. Sure, with its glass-and-metal combo, Sammy has finally nailed the high-end design that eluded it for years, but with the current device lining up as a near-carbon copy of the 2015-released Samsung Galaxy S6, it's time for a change.

Much like Apple and its bi-annual iPhone redesigns, it looks like 2017 will be the year Sammy shakes things up on the design front. With the Korean giant having paved the way with dual-edge encompassing screens, tipsters have suggested this could become the company's standard form factor of choice moving forward. Given the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is one of the best phones we've ever seen, we'd be more than happy with this.

Sammy could have something else up its sleeve too. Something a whole lot more... flexible. Long known to be working on bendable panels, Samsung has already suggested it could have the first flexible phone on the market by 2016. The Samsung Galaxy S8, in all its flagship glory, could be a great platform for this new technology. Let the radical changes commence.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Specs: It's watching you...

OK, Samsung, where's this Iris scanner you've been promising us for years? Building on the existing fingerprint checker, this additional biometric measure is expected to land in the Samsung Galaxy S8 - potentially after a Note 6 debut. Samsung has been talking about it for years - filing patents and discussing it at dev meets - and now is the time to add the Lumia 950-rivalling feature.

The S8 won't just be looking back at you for the fun of seeing your glorious smile, though - it will map the individuality of your eye, letting you unlock the phone with a glance and make super secure payments that would keep even Ocean's 11 from nabbing your cash.

There will be the inevitable, though unnecessary, power boosts too. While you're unlikely to ever stretch the legs of the S7, the S8 will have even more power. Chipset improvements won't be just about pure grunt though. Suppliers have already started touting their 2017 wares, with Qualcomm debuting its X16 LTE smartphone modem.

Sound enough to put you to sleep? Well wake up and listen for a second, this is a big deal, and one that will provide your phone with internet speeds greater than those achieved by your home's fibre connection. We're talking download speeds of 1Gbps - when the infrastructure's in place, that is. Camera updates are still the big unknown, but with the S7 boasting one of the most impressive snappers we've ever seen, we'd be happy for this to be left largely alone.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Screen: Melting your eyes with 4K glory

After a couple of years offering stunning, 2560 x 1440 pixel QHD resolution panels, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will mark time for a change. Not a necessary one - QHD panels are still the bomb - but one enforced by the industry's need to be seen to be progressing. Enter the dawn of the 4K phone.

Sure, we don't need 4K displays on such small devices - the visual benefits are negligible unless we're talking VR then they're massive - but when's that ever stopped a tech giant, right? TheSony Xperia Z5 Premium has already paved the way for 4K phones, and 2016 is expected to see a number of new devices follow suit. Samsung has already confirmed it's working on such tech, with the Samsung Galaxy S8 widely tipped as a launch platform for eye-melting goodness.

Quality aside, Samsung recently confirmed that it is working on new screen tech, having patented a number of breakthroughs in 'always-on' displays. Found in the S7, expect this to be further developed next year, with more glanceable updates coming without the battery drain. It's even been suggested the S8 will run a foldable display - although we'd take these claims with a pinch of salt for now.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Camera: Duelling with dual lenses

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has the best camera on any smartphone currently available. That won't stop Sammy mixing things up with the Galaxy S8. That's according to latest reportsanyway, with insider tipsters claiming the handset will echo the upcoming iPhone 7 (and a number of existing device, Huawei P9 anyone?) in sporting a dual-lens camera set up.

Why? Well also the S7 is already a low-light specialist, adding a second lens would help the S8 better manage dingy lighting conditions. It would also let you switch between wide and standard angle snaps with aplomb and could even be used to offer a better mix of black and white and powerful colour images.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Price: We'd suggest you start saving now

With the Samsung Galaxy S8 release date at least a year away, there's plenty of time to start saving. You'll need that much time too, because the S8 isn't going to come cheap. Of course Samsung has yet to confirm this, but just look at its latest efforts and your wallet will get cold sweats at just the thought of what's to come - this is a flagship phone after all.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 currently sets you back a bank account-busting £569 SIM-free. That's a lot for a phone. Sadly, we wouldn't expect the S8 to come much, if any, cheaper. Sob...