Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs rumors: front camera to feature autofocus function?

It looks like Samsung is aware of the importance of a selfie-friendly smartphone since Galaxy S8 is now speculated to be released with a front camera that is equipped with an autofocus feature.

South Korean tech publication, ET News, broke the report saying that the information came from an industry source who said, "People are starting to take more selfies and number of demands for cameras that take selfies with higher qualities is increasing. It is heard that Samsung Electronics has decided to install front actuators for Galaxy S8 in order to differentiate its flagship Smartphone."

According to the same report, to make this happen, Samsung will incorporate an autofocus lens actuator into the front camera. With this device, the front camera will be able to take optimal focal shots regardless of where the photo subject is located, which is apparently impossible for the typical fixed-focus front sensors found in smartphones today.

ET News added that the type of autofocus lens actuators rumored to be used by Samsung on Galaxy S8 devices are Voice Coil Motor with a special encoder method that puts the coils to the sides of the actuator, which in effect will make the camera slimmer. This will make sure that Samsung will not sacrifice much of the front design of the smartphone.

The same report mentioned that Samsung declined to comment about the rumored autofocus-equipped front camera as one representative said, "We cannot discuss any information regarding new products that are not commercialized yet."

Autofocus in front cameras is not the only new feature to be expected from Samsung Galaxy S8. Earlier this month, Samsung revealed that it will debut its own artificial intelligence (AI) platform on Galaxy S8 with the help of the recently acquired VIV Labs — the minds behind Apple's own AI named Siri.

As reported by Korean Herald, Samsung vice chairman Lee Jae-yong said, "We will focus on how to provide more pleasure and convenience to users through VIV Labs' AI solution."

Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to be released sometime in the first half of 2017.