Samsung's next Galaxy phone may have a 4K screen designed for VR

VR is the only reason you'd need a phone with a 4K screen.
 By 
Raymond Wong
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

A smartphone with 4K display sounds like overkill for daily use, but for use with VR, it would mean sharper virtual worlds with fewer visible pixels. Where do we sign up?

Samsung showed off a new 5.5-inch 4K resolution smartphone designed for VR at the Display Week conference in San Francisco reports UploadVR. The "high resolution for VR" screen has a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 with an 806 ppi.

Samsung's current flagship phones -- the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge -- only have Quad HD resolution (2,560 x 1,440). 


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Last year, Sony launched the Xperia Z5 Premium, the world's first smartphone with a 4K display. It has the same resolution and pixel density as Samsung's special VR display.

It's possible Samsung could introduce the 4K display on its next Galaxy smartphone.

Though just a prototype, it's possible Samsung could introduce the 4K display on its next Galaxy smartphone. After all, Samsung is one of several companies that will have Daydream VR-ready smartphones by the end of the year, according to Google at this year's I/O developer conference.

Will Samsung introduce the new rumored Galaxy Note 7? (Samsung's said to be thinking about skipping the "6" and going right to "7" to maintain branding consistency with the S7/S7 Edge.) this year Or will we have to wait until the Galaxy S8? 

Per UploadVR's report, the display was "pretty gorgeous, bright with excellent contrast and color," but ran at low frame rate.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Daydream-ready smartphones are required to have high refresh rates to mitigate latency, which can result in motion sickness.

A 4K phone display made for VR wasn't the only display the company showed off. A "Bio Blue" display which supposedly emits less blue light could in theory make your eyes less strained and possibly easier for you to fall asleep.

A prototype "lightfield display" was also shown off. When viewed from different angles, you can see different levels of depth. Think of sort of like the ill-fated Fire Phone's 3D "Dynamic Perspective" feature.

If you, like me, love high-res screens, get excited!

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.


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Raymond Wong

Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.

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