If the reports last month are anything to go on, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s latest flagship could arrive in just over a month at the Consumer Electronics Show. As the Galaxy S9 and S9+’s cameo appearance nears, plenty of additional reports about the upcoming devices are making the rounds.

Although the latest flagships will get iterative updates and look very much like their predecessors, reports suggest there will be some differences. Unlike previous Galaxy S standard and plus models that were identical apart from size, the S9+ will reportedly get an increase in RAM and a dual rear-facing camera.

Here’s a look at the other features that could make an appearance when the Samsung Galaxy launches next month:

Latest Galaxy S9 leaks

Powerful chips

This past weekend, Samsung announced it had commenced mass production of its latest system-on-chip products, which will use its second-generation 10nm FinFET process technology. According to the company, these chips will offer 10-percent higher performance or 15-percent lower power consumption, compared to the first generation.

While Samsung doesn’t specify which devices will get the updated chips, its blog post does state they will be “used in digital devices scheduled to launch early next year.”

The Samsung S devices traditionally launch in two chip options: Samsung’s in-house Exynos SoC and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoC. Previous reports have suggested that the upcoming Galaxy S9 and S9+ will have an exclusive deal of Qualcomm Technologies Inc.’s new Snapdragon 845 chips.

Camera with variable aperture

Although previous reports have suggested that we will see a dual rear-lens camera in the S9+, both models will reportedly get an increase in aperture.

The S9’s single lens will offer an aperture of f/1.5, which would be the widest aperture in a smartphone. The second lens on the S9+ would have an aperture of f/2.4, which would presumably allow the camera lens to adjust between f/1.5 and f/2.4 based on the lighting.

This may sound like a unique feature for a smartphone, but Samsung has actually already introduced a variable aperture in its W2018, announced last week. The W2018 flip phone, part of the high-end W series sold in China, sports a metal-and glass-body, dual display and a camera that can switch between an aperture of f/1.5 and f/2.4.

New color options

Leading up to the launch of the Galaxy S8 there was talk that the device would be available in a purple-color variant. It didn’t make an appearance in its predecessor, but leaks over the weekend suggest a purple/violet variant may be an option for the Galaxy S9.

A purple color option would be in addition to gold, black and blue options, similar to the variants available for the Note8.

DeX Pad

In addition to unveiling two new flagship smartphones, Samsung will also reportedly unveil a new DeX dock. The DeX dock, unveiled in March, transforms the smartphone into a virtual desktop.

The updated version, currently referred to as the DeX Pad will allow the Galaxy S9 or S9+ to lie flat, while the smartphone’s display can then be utilized as a touchpad or keyboard. This does away with the need to also carry a mouse and keyboard, like its predecessor.

Palm-reading technology

A recent patent publication hints at the fact that Samsung could be planning to incorporate palm-reading technology into a future device, whether it’s the S9 is unknown.

The patent describes technology that would scan a user’s palm to provide them hints if they forget their password. The technology could also be used to sign into the device, but Samsung will likely opt for deep-sensing technology similar to that used in Apple Inc.’s Face ID.

Image: Samsung Newsroom