Samsung fans are getting ready for 2017, because a new year means a new Galaxy S smartphone. If rumors are to be believed, the South Korean tech giant will have a new iteration in the lineup by February — the Samsung Galaxy S8 — with a much better front-facing camera.

The current Galaxy S7 has been praised for its magnificent rear camera, so fans are expecting nothing less for the upcoming Galaxy S8. But according to reports, the upcoming smartphone will also sport a new feature for its selfie camera — automatic focus.

Reports indicate that most smartphone cameras in the market use the pixel count as a basis of comparison. But with front-fancing snappers becoming more significant in today's culture, integrating an automatic focus actuator may prove to be a big edge over the competition. With the automatic focus feature, users will be able to take clearer photos. Shots from varying distances will also turn out better. 

But the camera isn't the only feature that's been getting a lot of attention. There is also some talk of the smartphone getting an edge-to-edge full-screen display, which means a physical home button will not be present anymore. Samsung is rumored to be working on an optical fingerprint sensor that can be incorporated directly within the display.

Speaking of displays, the upcoming Galaxy S8 is expected to have 4K resolution and a curved screen. Under the hood, the device will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830, with other regions getting an Exynos chip instead. 

As for its release date, it is widely believed that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will hit store shelves by April, which is two months after its rumored first unveiling at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain. 

However, since nothing has been officially confirmed so far, readers are advised to take this news with a grain of salt.