14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung develops multiple lines of smartphones, ranging from low-end devices to premium phones that incorporate the latest specs and set trends in the market. But one interesting project is the Samsung W series of clamshell phones.
In the era of compact and thin smartphones, Samsung has found a market for clamshell phones, which were quite popular about a decade ago. It seems that some customers find the device's shape more appealing than that of rectangular unibody smartphones.
Samsung offers phones to a wide range of consumers and the W2017 has seen sufficient adoption for the Korean phone maker to launch a successor. The W2018 isn’t out yet, but the device has just received TENAA certification, signaling an imminent release.
Minor upgrade compared to last year’s W2017
As usual, specs and images are revealed in the TENAA listing showing a device quite similar to last year’s model, meaning that Samsung is relying on the W2018's design rather than its specs. The phone carries the model number SM-G9298 and features two 4.2-inch Full HD displays, together with a Snapdragon 821AB chipset, compared to last year’s Snapdragon 820 chip.
RAM and internal memory stayed the same at 4GB and 64GB of storage. The phone appears to come with a 2,300mAh battery, as Samsung didn’t increase the battery capacity on the new model despite its thick and bulky shape. It appears to measure 15.9mm in thickness and weighs 234grams, 26 grams more compared to the W2017.
The rear camera is a 12MP sensor which can record 1080p video, while the selfie snapper on the front is a 5MP camera. The previous W2017 had the capacity to record 4K 2160p videos, and we doubt the new model was downgraded.
In terms of Android version, the W2018 appears to run last year’s Android 6.0 Marshmallow, so Samsung didn’t take the time to update the mobile OS on the new phone. That being said, the W2017 arrived in November last year, and the new model could make its debut in the same month.
