Apple iPhone 8 and Samsung's Galaxy S8 – the flagship smartphones slated for launch this year – may feature IP68 water and dust resistance. The IP68 certification is the highest rating awarded to devices which are capable of being submerged underwater for up to 30 minutes in 1.5 meters of water. Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge already offer IP68 certification while the iPhone 7 and the 7 Plus offered an IP67 rating.
"Apple's iPhone 8 will feature the IP68 rating protection as part of drastic upgrades marking the 10th anniversary of the iPhone this year," an industry source told The Investor on condition of anonymity.
Samsung refreshed its mid-range Galaxy A lineup with IP68 certification and LG is also planning to make its 2017 flagship, the G6, water resistant. Water and dust resistance may become one of the must-have feature smartphones this year.
"Samsung is considering water protection even for the cheapest J series phones as they are the best-selling Galaxy phones," a source told The Investor.
Apple iPhone 8 is also expected to come with thin bezels, along with a Samsung-sourced AMOLED display, stainless steel chassis and under-glass fingerprint scanner. 2017 marks 10th anniversary for the iPhone and Apple is likely to offer refreshed design and bumped up specifications.