Samsung drops new hints about Galaxy S5, device could feature bezel-free display

Samsung has dropped a major hint about what consumers can expect from its Galaxy S5 smartphone, set to be unveiled during the 2014 GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 24.

The MWC is one of the most important trade events in the mobile industry, and is used both by handset manufacturers and carriers as an opportunity to show off new products and services.

Ahead of the show, Samsung has released a new image promoting its upcoming Unpacked 5 event, at which many analysts believe the company will unveil its new flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone.

The image features nine key areas the tech giant will focus on during its presentation, including “speed”, “outdoor”, “curiosity”, “fun”, “social”, “style”, “privacy”, “fitness”, and “life”.

The company has also released a cryptic statement hinting at what users can expect from the device.

“We understand that there is lots of speculation regarding what will be unpacked in Barcelona,” the company states.

“However, we at Samsung have to agree with what the 1922 Nobel Prize winning physicist Niels Bohr, who laid the groundwork for atomic structure and quantum theory, once said: ‘Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.’”

Aside from the event unveiling the new Galaxy S5, the South Korean tech giant will also host a session for app developers during the MWC on February 26.

As SmartCompany previously reported, the full name for Samsung’s event is “Samsung unpacked 2014 episode 1”, with the event take place at 8pm, an hour after the first day of the show.

The latest hints come after the company pointed out it had used its Unpacked events in the past to unveil new flagship products.

“At previous Samsung Unpacked events, we’ve shown you the ‘The Next Big Thing’.

“On March 2013, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S4, on September 2013, Galaxy Note 3 and Gear.”

Meanwhile, according to Korean press reports, Samsung could be looking at a bezel-free design for the Galaxy S5, in which the display runs right to the edge of the screen. 

According to an “industry source” quoted by The Korea Herald, aside from an edge-to-edge screen, the South Korean electronics giant has been working on screens with built-in finger-scanning technology.

“The finger-scanning technology will be available on the bottom left and right sides, and not the entire display.”

According to the source, the tech giant has also been working on a thinner display technology which includes improved touch sensitivity, which in turn will reduce a phone’s thickness.

“With the help of increased sensitivity on the panel, users will be able to swipe and tap on the screen with their gloves on.”