Samsung had teased the Galaxy A8s a couple of months ago in China. The teaser suggested that this device would have an almost entirely bezel-less display. Samsung later revealed the Infinity-O display which punches out a camera hole in the actual display area for the front camera.
While the Galaxy S10 is expected to feature an Infinity-O display, it won't be the first device to ship with it. Samsung today announced the Galaxy A8s. It's the company's first device with a display that has a hole for the front camera.
Galaxy A8s goes official with Infinity-O display
The Galaxy A8s is not a flagship device by any stretch of the imagination but the specs are respectable. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor with 6GB of RAM and 8GB RAM options. It ships with 128GB of storage and has the same 24-megapixel + 5-megapixel + 10-megapixel triple camera system as the Galaxy A7.
The display is without a doubt the most unique aspect of this smartphone. The 6.4-inch Full HD+ 19.5:9 aspect ratio Infinity-O display has a cutout in the panel itself for the front camera. The 24-megapixel selfie shooter is placed in this hole in the top left corner of the display.
It may have looked quite small in the renders that surfaced so far but it's definitely noticeable. More so against light backgrounds which contrast against the black color of the camera lens. It should blend in nicely with the dark mode in One UI but this device actually ships with Android 8.1 Oreo, not Android 9 Pie.
The Galaxy A8s has the same DNA as some of Samsung's recent premium mid-range devices. It has a metal and glass build with rounded corners for a comfortable grip. The triple camera is placed vertically much like it is on the Galaxy A7. There's also a fingerprint sensor at the back.
Samsung has only announced the Galaxy A8s in China today where it will go on sale soon. It will be offered in blue, green, and silver colors. The price is yet to be announced. Samsung has not confirmed if the Galaxy A8s will be making its way to other markets.
