What might be the first big leak for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6, also known by its development codename "Project Zero," just hit the Internet, and the rumor mill is in full swing. If the images aren't a hoax, Samsung's GS6 flagship thought to have a release date in early in 2015 could feature a full aluminum unibody.

The image leak, well before Samsung's expected unveiling between mid-January and mid-February 2015, could hint that the Korean smartphone maker is finally conforming to the industry's expectation of what a premium flagship device should feel like.

The three total pictures -- showing a row of stamped aluminum chasses, the edge of one of the stamps with a microUSB port hole drilled in, and a single stand-alone unibody case with tiny rounded corners similar to the 2014 Galaxy Alpha -- come from a French news site called NoWhereElse, whose reputation was vouched for by PhoneArena.

The site has "an excellent track record with Apple and Samsung rumors," according to PhoneArena, which republished the images here.

There are some earlier signs that could point to the authenticity of these pictures, the most important being the leak from weeks ago that Samsung is going back to the drawing board for their newest Galaxy S device -- the so-called "Project Zero" development codename -- after a disappointing run with the plastic Samsung Galaxy S5 in 2014.

But beyond that, there's not much else to go on, including in the photos themselves, which are not shown to any scale and nonspecific enough to be just about any smartphone's aluminum unibody. So a grain of salt is of course healthy to take with this rumor.

Another rumor has been circulating that the supposed "Edge" variant of the Samsung Galaxy S6 might actually be a "double Edge" variant. That's right, according to IDH Technology analyst Jerry Kang (via Tech Radar), Samsung is thought to release a device with a Samsung Galaxy Note Edge-type curved screen but 100 percent moreso.

"The Galaxy S6 to be released next year will feature a 'dual-edge' screen which is curved on the right and left sides," said Kang, who also claimed the dual-edge design was the original design for the 2014 Galaxy Note Edge -- only to be eventually simplified down to one edge.

While Kang isn't just some random Samsung fanboy with a dream of a screen spilling over on both sides of the device -- he's been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, among others, for his Samsung expertise -- this is a wild enough rumor that it begs for confirmation.

Anyone out there have another few pre-production photos they want to leak?

Stay tuned, as the unveiling date, release date and other vital information are likely to continue to flow through the cracks of Samsung's operation, likely only accelerating as we get into the new year.

Related