Samsung Galaxy S7: news and rumors
Update: Samsung has finally confirmed what we were all expecting. The Samsung Galaxy S7 launch will take place on February 21 at MWC 2016, with the firm sending out invites for its next Unpacked event.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge reinvigorated the flailing smartphone brand, giving it a new lease of life with a fresh design and some brand new features.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is going to have to do a lot of work to be able to repeat the trick – but there’s much more that can be improved on in the new phone, so there’s plenty of scope.
Every week we’ll bring you a round-up of the big Samsung Galaxy S7 rumors from the past seven days – check out the latest episode below.
to the chase
- What is it? The next flagship phone from Samsung’s Galaxy S line.
- When is it out? February 21 at Mobile World Congress
- What will it cost? Expect expensive – it’s bound to be one of the more costly phones to buy this year.
Samsung Galaxy S7 release date
We pretty much knew it already, but Samsung has now finally given us official confirmation of its next Unpacked event – and thus the Samsung Galaxy S7 launch.
The South Korean firm has sent out invites to its February 21 Unpacked event in Barcelona, joining in with the likes of LG and ZTE to kick off MWC 2016 in style.
As for when you’ll actually be able to get your hands on the Galaxy S7, that’s still up for debate. There are rumors suggesting it could go on pre-order on day of launch, with handsets arriving on doorsteps within the following two weeks. We can but hope.
Samsung Galaxy S7 design
Given that Samsung has only just overhauled its flagship design for the Galaxy S6 we’re not expecting massive changes in the Samsung Galaxy S7, with sadly only minor design tweaks likely.
The latest design Samsung Galaxy S7 rumors suggest you’ll hardly be able to see a difference between this new Android phone and the Galaxy S7 Edge. Alleged press renders back that up.
A source close to Samsung told The Korea Times, “As the S6 and S6 Edge represented progress, the S7 will have improvements both in picture quality, performance and other some new features. The key point is can consumers enjoy content with enhanced viewing quality and boosted processing speed.”
There may be a few tweaks to the look of both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, but it seems Samsung wants to keep a largely similar design language across the board. However, while the look is likely to be similar, it’s possible that the S7 will be IP67 certified dust and water resistant, just like the Galaxy S5.
One rumor has suggested Samsung will be dropping the Galaxy S7 Edge from its range and instead releasing a new phablet called the Galaxy S7 Edge+. It’s expected to feature a 5.7-inch display with a 2K resolution as well as being a generally bigger handset. However, according to a more recent rumor Samsung will offer both the Edge and the Edge+.
On top of that the Galaxy S7 may be built of a different type of metal. Sources claim the company is experimenting with a magnesium based alloy that will make the phone stronger whilst keeping it light and allow the heat out when the processor is working hard. This rumor has popped up again recently, so it could be accurate.
What we think: A slimline design made of metal and glass as per usual, with a non-removable battery to keep the design sleek. There might be a touch of the Galaxy Note’s refined rear, curving away from the screen, but ultimately, this could well be more ‘Galaxy S6S’ rather than Galaxy S7.
Samsung Galaxy S7 screen
A benchmark believed to be for the Samsung Galaxy S7 claims it has a 5.7-inch display, although that’s likely to be more for that larger, phablet version. It lists a 1440 x 2560 QHD one though rather than 4K that some had predicted.
That said, another spec leak suggests the Galaxy S7 will come with a 5.1-inch display and a pixel resolution of 1440 x 2560, which will probably be the ‘normal’ variant.
It looks like Samsung could adopt a similar feature to the iPhone 6S’ 3D Touch technology. A company called Synaptics has a technology called ClearForce that allows for different functionality depending on how hard you’re pressing on the screen.
The Wall Street Journal also spoke to “sources familiar with the matter” who claim the technology will debut on the Galaxy S7. There’s no word on a name for the technology yet, but it’s looking more and more likely that Samsung is preparing its own version of the screen tech for the next flagship phone.
A curved screen has again been mooted more than once – but a flexible display rather than just the standard curve, with Samsung said to be ordering a large amount of the tech from a Taiwanese manufacturer.
And it could have super-strong display technology called Turtle Glass from Samsung, set to replace Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.
What we think: A 5.1-inch and 5.7-inch screen for the two variants of Galaxy S7, probably with a 3D Touch-rivalling screen, with appear with QHD resolution – evolution, not revolution.
Samsung Galaxy S7 camera and battery
Samsung’s unveiled a new BRITECELL camera, which is designed to be both better in low light and smaller in size than the snapper on the Galaxy S6. It’s not been confirmed whether it’s heading for the S7, but it seems pretty likely.
On the other hand there are also reports of Samsung speaking to Sony to get a hold of the IMX300 sensor that is included in the Xperia Z5 series, which has impressed the South Korean brand.
A new rumor also suggests Samsung is looking to mimic Live Photos from the iPhone 6S. A software engineer within the company has claimed the feature will be called Vivid Photos and won’t include sound clips, so it’s easier to upload to your social media accounts, working much like a GIF.
A Samsung employee has leaked out information of the Galaxy S7 camera suggesting it will be a 12MP sensor with f/1.7 aperture to make the most of the lighting.
How many megapixels? It could be lower than the S6, with Samsung focusing on low-light performance to make a more useful sensor, rather than pointless sharpness. According to a tipster on Weibo, Samsung will drop the Galaxy S6’s 16MP camera down to a 12MP one on the Galaxy S7.
However, an AnTuTu benchmark showed a possible S7 as having a 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing one, so Samsung might well be experimenting with different options.
Battery size is more of a mystery, but as this rumor suggests it won’t be removable.
What we think: A lower MP camera would be a weird move from Samsung, so we think it’ll stay at 16MP to avoid the marketing backlash, but make sure it’s improved in terms of low light and speed. Battery size will be largely the same, but we’re praying Samsung solves the battery issues that can affect some S6 models.
Samsung Galaxy S7 OS and power
The Samsung Galaxy S7 will almost certainly launch with Android Marshmallow. In fact snaps of supposed internal Samsung documents appeared on social networking site Weibo, and appear to confirm the rumored Galaxy S7 codename ‘Jungfrau’ and the new Android OS coming at launch.
A new rumor coming out of China suggests Samsung will be adding liquid cooling to the Galaxy S7. It would act against the phone overheating and draining the battery, making sure things stay cooler and better-performing, with the possibility of higher-spec components.
Samsung’s Galaxy S7 is rumored to come in two different variants – one with an Exynos chipset and another with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. That Snapdragon 820 rumor has since been echoed by other sources and in a benchmark.
The latest benchmarks for the Snapdragon 820 toting Galaxy S7 suggest the phone will be a little less powerful than we had expected. The multi-core score came out as 4979 while previous Snapdragon 820 tests saw the chip reach the heights of 5369.
What we think: The Galaxy S7 will come with the Snapdragon 820 in Europe and US, with the higher power saved for Asia, where specs are far more important to sales – with Marshmallow on board both. The speed and battery life will increase as a result, and the S7 is going to be one fast little phone.
Samsung Galaxy S7 other features
A report out of South Korea suggests the Samsung Galaxy S7 might have serious audio skills, as it could use a chip from ESS Technology which features a 32-bit mobile audio DAC and has 129 dB signal to noise ratio… that means loud and clear sound, which is what we all want really.
It’s also been rumored that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will support USB Type-C, allowing it to charge faster and meaning you can plug the cable in either way round. We’d say this is one rumor that’s almost guaranteed to be true, as more and more phones are adding USB Type-C support and Samsung won’t want to be left behind.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is bound to have a fingerprint scanner, just like the Galaxy S6, while another rumor has suggested the Galaxy S7 may come with microSD support – something the Galaxy S6 didn’t offer – and it’ll apparently have support for cards of up to 128GB.
What we think: The Galaxy S7 could well come with a microSD slot, as Android Marshmallow can absorb them in and make them part of the internal OS. A fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C will be on board for better security and faster charging – and you won’t even need to worry which way your charger plugs in.
Samsung Galaxy S7 cost
There’s no word yet on what the Samsung Galaxy S7 will cost but we can tell you right now that it will be very expensive. While a price cut would be nice we’d be surprised if Samsung launched it for any less than it initially charged for the Galaxy S6. If we had to guess we’d say it could start at up to around £600 / $650 / AU$1,100.
Samsung Galaxy S7 renders and rivals
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is one of the most anticipated phones of 2016, and that means people are excited enough to put pen to paper and make their own ideas a reality.
We’ve collected up some of our favorite renders and put them together here, including one of our own.
Samsung Galaxy S7: The techradar concept
When it comes to the new Samsung Galaxy S7, we want to see Samsung departing from the standard, blocky smartphone design. What we want this time is something innovative, something that pushes the boundaries and takes into account all the awesome technology Samsung keeps promising.
So here’s how we think it should shake down: TechRadar’s Galaxy S7, complete with all the technology Samsung has talked about, with a few of our own flourishes thrown in…
The main difference is, again, the screen. If Samsung is going to make a success of the Gear VR, it needs a better screen, and leaping forward to 8K will make looking at the display a pin-sharp experience.
The other big thing we’re hoping to finally see is the iris scanning technology that will supersede the fingerprint scanners we’re seeing in more and more phones. With dual hi-res scanning cameras on the front, with enhanced apertures, simply turning the phone screen on will confirm your identity.
The edges of the super-sharp screen are now properly pushed to the side of the phone, with the notifications now showing properly either side – the S6 Edge has the curves as decoration, but now they’re actually going to be used.
And bass-rich speakers on the top and bottom will utilise Samsung’s omni-sound technology to make the phone a true media marvel – no more backwards-facing tinny sound here.
Of course, TouchWiz still remains… but hey, there’s only so much we can hope for…
Samsung Galaxy S7 renders
One of our best potential looks yet at the Galaxy S7 isn’t actually from the phone itself, but from a render built based on leaks. It largely matches previous rumors, with a design that looks a whole lot like the Samsung Galaxy S6, albeit with a slightly rounded glass back.
Are you a fan of the Galaxy S6 Edge design? This render takes it one step further and even makes the bottom of the phone curved. It comes from a YouTube channel called Curved and it’s a really interesting take and something Samsung may one day embrace.
Samsung Galaxy S7 rivals
In recent years HTC has been a significant rival to Samsung, launching similarly impressive phones at around the same time, so we’d expect the HTC One M10 could be a Samsung Galaxy S7 rival.
Very little is known about it yet but it’s sure to be stylish and likely to be very powerful.
Other than that there’s the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, which are likely to still be selling very well when the S7 launches, while the Sony Xperia Z6 or whatever Sony’s cooking up next could steal some attention away from Samsung too.
Samsung Galaxy S7: what we want to see
What we want to see
1. Better battery life
Our biggest gripe with the Galaxy S6 was the battery – we found with moderate usage you could get between 17 and 18 hours. That is the average day if you’re on a normal sleep pattern but do you really want to be walking that tight rope thinking if I watch a film my phone it’s not going to last the whole day?
Samsung need to do better than this with the Galaxy S7; even sacrificing a little of its new found design credentials to thicken up the handset and stick in a bigger cell would have been worth the extra life. Next time let’s hope it understands functionality takes precedence over design.
2. Bring us to the Edge
We loved the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – in fact we think everyone did – it just did something entirely different to the rest of the competition.
We want the same again, but maybe something completely off the bat. If the rumors of the flexible display handset turn out to be true we could end up seeing something similar to the S6 Edge come Q1 2016.
3. Another step into VR
When Samsung revealed the Galaxy S6 it also announced there would be a new Gear VR headsetdesigned to go alongside the new phone.
Next time around we want Samsung to keep focusing on VR but up its game even further for the Galaxy S7 – whether it be more sensors, more games or a new way of doing it altogether we just want more of a focus on VR.
Samsung is one of the few companies doing Virtual Reality right at the moment and there’s no better way to keep that going than innovating on an already good product.
4. A price drop
Samsung’s devices aren’t the cheapest on the market. One of our criticisms of the latest handset came at the price tag attached to the phone and it’d be nice to see it drop down a little as soon as possible. At the moment Samsung’s devices are even in a similar price bracket to Apple.
It may mean we lose a couple of the superfluous features on the phone but taking it down a little would be really nice. Come on Samsung, you can buck the trend and do it with the Galaxy S7.
5. Drop the fingerprint magnet
If you’ve got a white S6 you’re laughing, but if you’ve got one of the darker options you’re probably finding yourself wiping it with your t-shirt a lot thanks to all the fingerprints showing up on the rear.
The white option is the best for avoiding this but we shouldn’t expect our phones to be covered in grubby marks within a matter of minutes. Let’s sort it out ready for the Samsung Galaxy S7.
6. Something brand new
The S6 Edge really showed us something different and we want to see that same inspiration again from the South Korean company.
In the meantime we may not actually know what we want to see, but something to change up the phone market a little and give it a little kick up the bum it needs.
7. More robust design
Almost everybody agrees Samsung nailed the design of the Galaxy S6, but one big feature was missing. The Galaxy S5 had the addition of a water and dustproof design so when the Galaxy S6 was announced it was quite a shock the feature had been taken out.
Fingers crossed Samsung will see fit to return it to the Galaxy S7, but this time in a much nicer design.
8. Slight camera tweaks
It’s no secret we loved the Galaxy S6’s camera, but there are a few little issues with it we’d loved to see be improved on the next handset.
Slow motion video can look a little sketchy on the handset so we’d love to see some improvements there to see it compete with the glory of the iPhone 6’s slow-mo mode.
It’d also be nice to get a few more downloadable camera modes thrown in on top as well – we love the fact they’re not clogging up the device with useless modes but there’s not enough of them right now to justify the store Samsung has created.
9. Even more power
Not that the Galaxy S6 wasn’t powerful enough, but in a year we’re going to have a bunch of new processors doing the rounds and we want to see the biggest and best in the Samsung Galaxy S7.
Whether it be an in house created Exynos processor or a jump back to Qualcomm, we don’t mind, we just want the best the company can find. Is that too much to ask?
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I certainly agree about swapping batteries over being a pain, especially now there are much better options, like the pack you mention. What I do like about a removable battery is the ability to pull it out as a last resort if the phone crashes (not happened to me yet with my Note 4 though) and the ability to replace the battery should it run out of charging cycles or have a fault.
I also don't fill my SD card to capacity, what with cloud services and constant wifi access, but I like to have the freedom to install as many apps, download as many movies and store as much music as I like.
However, the proof is in the pudding; I've not opened the back of my Note 4 for months and haven't run out of space once. I still like to have the flexibility though.
As for the 'premium' materials, well, the back of the Note 4 is absolutely perfect. I'll definitely miss it when I upgrade. Still, like you say, these are all things we'll probably have to get used to.
yes samsung
I bought an LG V10 in place of the Note 5; haven't really missed the S-Pen. No micro SD card slot, No Deal.
The thing is, the added choice costs you nothing in the end. If you don't care for it, you don't need to utilize it, but you might as well advocate having it just on principle, or in case you change your mind and decide to try it.
Great notes, have a note edge, I use at least 3 battery changes, I use for work, photos of my project, lots of texting with images, tons of emails, on my spare time get some laugh watching video on Facebook, Facebook sucks most battery life. I cannot see a built in battery, on site no charger or on flight and watching my videos, I can't see not able to swap battery, less cumbersome than a charger r umbilical cord that I have to hold to use, or rubber band both together, that is what my colleague does with his iPhone, his battery dies in 3-4 hours on same use as mine. Agree with many that Samsung was really going ground with better technology, swappable battery and sad card. Now they are becoming apple and forgot who they are, I'm looking to upgrade, my note edge has loaded up with so much app that I can't delete and constant searching the internet that uses up my GB from my phone data that I reach my limit without knowing it, I think that phone companies are in cahoots with manufactures. Any suggestions of phones independent from phone companies with no built in apps? Strong battery, fantastic camera and video, fast processor external sad card…… Thanks
I am going to have to agree with ikorn. just because you have not had it happen to you does not mean it can't happen, none the less. you know there are people that have played Russian roulette with a revolver and never got shot. until you have seen a battery meltdown first hand you will never know the horror of having a hole the size of a golf ball melt into the side of your leg be for you even knew what just happen. sill you more than likely won't change your mind, that's cool though. see this man's story of his battery melting from coins in his pocket. https://www.youtube.com/watch?…
I LOVE SAMSUNG
For me, waterproofing is key, which is why I skipped S6. I never opened the case of my S5 to replace the battery .. so, I will not miss that feature much. I would take fast charging in its place. I use wireless charging most of the time on my S5, anyway. Expandable memory is useful but it comes with its own issues. A phone with 128GB of internal storage is better than one with 32GB internal + a 128GB external card. I hope they offer a 128GB variant that does not break the bank. One other thing I did not like about the S6 is the slipper back. I can hold the S5 in one hand very comfortably – the back offers decent grip. I found the S6 to be very slippery, thereby making a case necessary. I hope the S7 comes with some kind of coating on the back that makes it grippy. If not, I will put on a film for extra grip. I do not like using a case.
It's my opinion that the GS5 is still the best Samsung phone ever made. I won't buy another Galaxy until the removable battery, waterproofing, and SD slot are back.
And just because it has happened, doesn't mean it will happen again.
I typically place my new phone in a shell-type holster which does two things; makes the phone sturdier by virtue of the rear cladding (which is minimal and makes the device easier to grip) and shuts-off the 'offensive' look of the exposed back of my phone to my sight and to prying eyes. The front of my phone is what I pay attention to for the most part.
Fixed it.
lol, ok
There's no need to be rude.
There are pros and cons of removable batteries, you're right about the safety aspect but if you avoid the cheap Chinese ones a spare battery is safe in your pocket under reasonable circumstances.
Non removable batteries do seem to perform better than removable ones and personally I'm happy carrying a small battery bank when I'm going to be away from a wall charger for a period of time, but you'd have to be willfully ignorant to not see why some people prefer being able to swap them out on the go.
I had a S6 64Gb for a day & a 1/2 and sent it back as the battery life was horrendous with me only getting around 10 hours of what I would call moderate use. This isn't me bashing Samsung as all the manufacturers seem to have this obsession with making their "smartphones" thinner and thinner, sacrificing the battery, just to be "stylish" and in return turning the "smartphone" into a not so smart-phone.
I'd much rather have something slightly heavier and thicker(would help with grip too) that I can actually use without having to worry about it not lasting me all day. I can see even when graphene batteries become mainstream, manufacturers will just use at as an excuse to make their phones even smaller and lighter, rather than using it to increase the battery size and the devices usage time.
I know, this article is painful to read. They literally said "Eh, they did a phablet last time, so we doubt they would again this time" like are you SERIOUS?! You really think there will NOT be a new Note phone?! I can't fathom the stupidity.
It's so they can say Samsung copied Apple
do you realize the stupidity of your comment? "just because it has happened, doesn't mean it will happen" you just said it has happened, if it "HAS" happened that means it will happen, because it did happen, that was a retarded post.
I shared your concerns not so long ago, but it seems like something you'll have to get used to.
In reality it's not that bad, I had a 32GB Note 4 with a 64GB SD card full of music & photographs, now I have a 32GB Nexus 6p.
For roughly the same money my new contract has a much more generous data allowance & now that 3G and 4G seems to be virtually everywhere (I don't live in a city either) keeping a small library of music locally and streaming the rest causes minimal fuss.
Same goes with photographs.
I'm not even using half the storage on the phone and really don't feel like I'm making any sacrifices.
Anker do compact battery banks that charge almost as quickly as a wall charger so it's not that bad & actually just plugging it in is in many ways better than switching off the phone, removing the case, removing the back, reassembling it and powering it on.
I do think that the trend for 'premium' (aka fragile and slippery) materials is a bit self defeating though because what they mean is that you need to cover them up with a case.
The Moto X Force might not be the prettiest of phones but it still looks better naked than an iPhone or an S6 does with a £5 case :/
No removable battery, No FM radio, No way
The V10 is a work of art. If I was looking to upgrade, that's exactly what I'd be getting, no question. Samsung have jumped the shark.
Don't give a …. about SD Card or waterproof. Removable battery however is a must.. I have a Note 4… yet to require a SD Card.. i use Spotify offline to listen to music.. pics and videos are saved on photos cloud. I have 12GB still free on my 32GB N4… I didn't get N5 because I reckon they will include Removable Battery in N6… I always carry a extra battery comes in handy when you have a longer day than usual… I work on a desk so more often than note my phone battery is full when I leave.. only takes 1 hour to go for 0 to 100%
I've used removable batteries for around 4 years now in my Galaxy phones. Never had one explode on me. Never ruined a pair of pants. I have experienced one problem though. When my friends see me pull out my spare battery, I have to put up with the usual "oohs" and "I wish my phone could do that".
And you think it's somehow more convenient to carry a charger and an extra cord than it is to carry a spare battery? I have a portable charger as well, but keeping a spare battery around is much easier.
Also, what's your answer to those people who are a year into a phone, and the phone just isn't holding a charge like it used to? Their contract/upgrade isn't due, and they just don't want to buy a new phone. My reply is that I haven't had that problem in a looooong, long time.
And where are all these exploding battery people? I've never met or even heard a story about one.
The entire point would be to push Gear VR, which is a future crucial technology more likely than not
LG v10 – awesome phone, great camera. Gave up on S series after the 3, and switched to Note 2,3, and 4. For those that say removable batteries are so dangerous, I wonder what you have in your dSLR camera, laptop, high end flashlights, etc. I know all of mine have removable batteries…and if I recall correctly, non-removable batteries have also exploded.