As we look forward to 2020’s crop of smartphones, what can we expect from Samsung and the presumptively named Galaxy S11 flagship? A recent online benchmarking exercise suggests one answer lies in the screen.
The details come from Galaxy Club, who spotted the new device and its stretched screen in online benchmarking tools. Although not specifically called the Galaxy S11, the model number in the test (SM-G416U) matches the lineage of previous devices tested pre-launch:
Samsung has been using the SM-G4xx model code for years to disguise models in the Galaxy S series during various test processes. The first two numbers are replaced, but the last – and the letter – are not. The SM-G416U is therefore in fact the SM-G986U in disguise. Without knowing for sure, this could be the American 5G version of the Galaxy S11 Plus . Finally, the SM-N976 is the 5G version of the Note 10 Plus .
The browser benchmark tells us a number of features, including the aforementioned model number and that the device is running Android 10 (which you would expect for a 2020 flagship). The key information is the screen size.
Running at 384×854 pixels, that translates to an aspect ratio of 20:9.
This is taller and thinner than previous Galaxy S and Galaxy Note devices, but it is not unknown in Samsung’s line-up. The recent A70 and A80 handsets sport a 20:9 ratio screen. Bringing that screen size to the S class makes sense, and would help the handset stand out from the current 19:9 screened Note 10 and Galaxy S10.
It’s unlikely that this will be the only change to the screen. Samsung is reportedly working on an under-display camera for the selfie shooter, which would negate the need for a notch, punch out hole. That would offer a cleaner experience to the user, and a 20:9 ratio screen with minimal bezels will look impressive.
Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S11 in February next year, ahead of Mobile World Congress 2020, with a presumptive release date in early March.