Samsung Galaxy S7 features
The Samsung Galaxy S7 will come with a pressure-sensitive screen, similar to the 3D Touch display used in Apple’s iPhone 6s, The Wall Street Journal claims. Citing unnamed sources “familiar with the matter”, the WSJ has namedropped a series of features for the follow up to the Galaxy S6. As well as a pressure-sensitive screen this includes a fast charging USB-C port and expandable storage.
The report claims the Galaxy S7 will follow its predecessor in having normal and “Edge” variants, with the potential for the non-Edge variant to have expandable storage. There have previously been rumours that the S7 could be getting a microSD slot (more on that in the Battery section). The article also states that “some versions” of the S7 could be getting a retina scanner, although this has not been corroborated by other reports.
This isn’t the first time a 3D Touch-style screen has been touted for the Galaxy S7, with a Chinese leak in October claiming that Samsung had been eyeing up Synaptics’ new ClearForce technology, which uses a similar force-sensitive technique.
Synaptics announced its ClearForce technology on 6 October. In a press release at the time, the company said that its technology would provide manufacturers with “new dimensions in user interfaces such as speed scrolling, zoom, gaming, and text or photo editing by applying variable force with a finger or stylus”. The press release also said that Synaptics was already “working closely” with manufacturers to deliver force-enabled smartphones to ship in early 2016. This certainly puts it in the expected window for the Samsung Galaxy S7, which is thought to be unveiled around February 2016.
Trawling through Samsung patents brings up some other interesting new capabilities that may or may not find their way into the Galaxy S7. The first of these is a patent for a holographic display, first uncovered by Patently Mobile. More down to earth is the rumour that the Galaxy S7 will come with a USB Type-C port, as seen in Apple’s 2015 MacBook. Not only is USB Type-C reversible – meaning you don’t need to work out which way round to stick in your cable – it can funnel 4K video, data and power all through the same strip. Basically, you’ll be able to charge your phone and transfer data at the same time with just one cable. Fewer cables, fewer problems.
Phone accessory retailer, Mobile Fun, has posted a number of Galaxy S7 cases from manufacturer Olixar. The renders show a phone that looks and (presumably) smells a lot like the Galaxy S6, with one or two notable exceptions – the front camera is now on the top right corner and the home button is a slim rectangle.
These renders seem relatively similar to those recently obtained by GSMArena, although those also showed a larger version of the S7. You know those tiny shampoo bottles you buy for travelling that make you feel like a giant? Well, imagine the opposite of that, with a phone. That’s what the Samsung Galaxy S7 is going to be like if some recently leaked renders are anything to go by.
GSMArena claims Samsung is handing out to phone case designers. One of these measures 143.37 x 70.8 x 6.94mm, which is pretty much the same as the Galaxy S6. The other, however, is a sizeable 163.32 x 82.01 x 7.82mm.Okay, so it’s not obscenely massive. (It's a tad smaller than the giant Nokia Lumia 1520 and it's only slightly bigger than the 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm iPhone 6s Plus). It is however bigger than the Galaxy Note 5, which measures 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6mm, and more than a slice larger than the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, which comes in at 154.4 x75.8 x 6.9mm. Overall it suggests that Samsung is planning on releasing a version of its next phone with a 6in screen.
On the basis of the rendered images it doesn’t seem like this larger model belongs to the Edge variety. Aside from the size, the renders look very similar to the S6, except for a rectangular home button and a side-placed SIM slot.
Citing unnamed sources, The Korea Times has previously reported that the Galaxy S7 will have “little change” to its overall design. Instead, the focus will be on changes to performance and picture quality.
It looks like the Samsung Galaxy S7 is going to follow the pattern of its predecessor, the Galaxy S6, and launch with two models. According to SamMobile, these two variants are being referred to internally as SM-G930 and SM-G935. An educated guess would suggest that the former will be a regular S7 while the latter will be a S7 Edge with a curved screen.
Interestingly, each of the two phones, allegedly known as “Hero” and “Hero2” as part of “Project Lucky”, will get a different processor. One of these will be a Exynos 8890 and one will be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. We can’t confirm any of this, but it certainly chimes with a various rumours we’ve heard about Samsung testing variants of its handset with those two chips.
The S7 could also feature a surprisingly sturdy design. Korean site Kbench reports that Samsung has filed a trademark for a new Turtle Glass cover, which is expected to one-up the Gorilla Glass currently protecting Samsung handsets. It has also been reported by several unnamed insider sources that Samsung is planning to release the Galaxy S7 with a magnesium alloy unibody design. If true, the magnesium alloy would help prevent the new Galaxy from being bent, and would make the handset lighter than the aluminium-clad S6. Magnesium will also make it easier for heat to escape from the phone body, preventing overheating.
For a more out-there prediction of the S7, a team at 3DFuture has created a series of 3D renders for the Galaxy S7 Edge, based on actual Samsung design patents. The first thing you’ll notice about the concept images is the way the display extends around the top and bottom of the device rather than the sides. This gives it a somewhat pointy appearance, with a trapezoidal body and two sharp edges. As they'e only based on patents, there isn't firm evidence that the Galaxy S7 will definitely take this design route. Still, they're pretty to look at.
The report claims the Galaxy S7 will follow its predecessor in having normal and “Edge” variants, with the potential for the non-Edge variant to have expandable storage. There have previously been rumours that the S7 could be getting a microSD slot (more on that in the Battery section). The article also states that “some versions” of the S7 could be getting a retina scanner, although this has not been corroborated by other reports.
This isn’t the first time a 3D Touch-style screen has been touted for the Galaxy S7, with a Chinese leak in October claiming that Samsung had been eyeing up Synaptics’ new ClearForce technology, which uses a similar force-sensitive technique.
Synaptics announced its ClearForce technology on 6 October. In a press release at the time, the company said that its technology would provide manufacturers with “new dimensions in user interfaces such as speed scrolling, zoom, gaming, and text or photo editing by applying variable force with a finger or stylus”. The press release also said that Synaptics was already “working closely” with manufacturers to deliver force-enabled smartphones to ship in early 2016. This certainly puts it in the expected window for the Samsung Galaxy S7, which is thought to be unveiled around February 2016.
Samsung Galaxy S7 design
Recent signs have pointed to the Samsung Galaxy S7 having very little in the way of design changes from the Galaxy S6. Those hints have been given a sizeable dose of credence with a batch of case renders that suggest the S7 will indeed continue the aesthetic direction of its predecessor.Phone accessory retailer, Mobile Fun, has posted a number of Galaxy S7 cases from manufacturer Olixar. The renders show a phone that looks and (presumably) smells a lot like the Galaxy S6, with one or two notable exceptions – the front camera is now on the top right corner and the home button is a slim rectangle.
GSMArena claims Samsung is handing out to phone case designers. One of these measures 143.37 x 70.8 x 6.94mm, which is pretty much the same as the Galaxy S6. The other, however, is a sizeable 163.32 x 82.01 x 7.82mm.Okay, so it’s not obscenely massive. (It's a tad smaller than the giant Nokia Lumia 1520 and it's only slightly bigger than the 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm iPhone 6s Plus). It is however bigger than the Galaxy Note 5, which measures 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6mm, and more than a slice larger than the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, which comes in at 154.4 x75.8 x 6.9mm. Overall it suggests that Samsung is planning on releasing a version of its next phone with a 6in screen.
On the basis of the rendered images it doesn’t seem like this larger model belongs to the Edge variety. Aside from the size, the renders look very similar to the S6, except for a rectangular home button and a side-placed SIM slot.
Interestingly, each of the two phones, allegedly known as “Hero” and “Hero2” as part of “Project Lucky”, will get a different processor. One of these will be a Exynos 8890 and one will be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. We can’t confirm any of this, but it certainly chimes with a various rumours we’ve heard about Samsung testing variants of its handset with those two chips.
The S7 could also feature a surprisingly sturdy design. Korean site Kbench reports that Samsung has filed a trademark for a new Turtle Glass cover, which is expected to one-up the Gorilla Glass currently protecting Samsung handsets. It has also been reported by several unnamed insider sources that Samsung is planning to release the Galaxy S7 with a magnesium alloy unibody design. If true, the magnesium alloy would help prevent the new Galaxy from being bent, and would make the handset lighter than the aluminium-clad S6. Magnesium will also make it easier for heat to escape from the phone body, preventing overheating.
For a more out-there prediction of the S7, a team at 3DFuture has created a series of 3D renders for the Galaxy S7 Edge, based on actual Samsung design patents. The first thing you’ll notice about the concept images is the way the display extends around the top and bottom of the device rather than the sides. This gives it a somewhat pointy appearance, with a trapezoidal body and two sharp edges. As they'e only based on patents, there isn't firm evidence that the Galaxy S7 will definitely take this design route. Still, they're pretty to look at.
