According to recent reports from Korea, the Galaxy S7 will launch with two separate models early in 2016. Already it has been suggested that this premium smartphone from Samsung will be in the stores earlier than previous iterations of the Galaxy S range. Samsung is hoping to gain an edge over Apple, and attract some possible consumers of the iPhone 6S, by getting its next major smartphone offering to market as swiftly as possible.
Two separate screen sizes
However, it is now also being suggested in the Korean media that the Galaxy S7 will launch with two distinct screen sizes. This has never happened in previous iterations of what is considered to be the flagship range of the Korean consumer electronics giant, but it looks increasingly likely based on media murmurings that this will indeed come to fruition with this handset.
Early reports have hinted at a 5.2-inch device being accompanied by a 5.7-inch phablet. There have also been other reports that suggest that the two devices will differ significantly in terms of design. Possibly one of the two smartphones could feature a dual-edge display, while the other is more likely to be a flatscreen mobile.
But the latest reports suggest that the two differing screen diagonals are both reserved for versions of the Galaxy S7 featuring a flexible display. This would be a logical continuation of the policy that Samsung introduced with the Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S6 Edge+. However, unlike the previous devices, it is being suggested by the media in Korea that both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge versions will be launched simultaneously.
This suggests that Samsung will have devices to suit every particular taste when the Galaxy S7 is launched, with three possible screen choices for consumers. One would be a 5.2-inch flat panel, and another of the same size with a curved edge on one side of the display. The third device in the Galaxy S7 series will be based upon a flexible display of 5.7-inches in size, possibly featuring a dual-curve setup.
If this might seem like overkill to those who are not fans of this particular Android series, it is worth pointing out that Samsung has particularly built its reputation in recent years on screen technology. Not only has the Korean electronics behemoth been the largest seller of television sets since 2008, it has infused its mobile devices with some of the technology gleaned from this successful commercial escapade.
Galaxy S7 Specs
Aside from the three different versions of the Galaxy S7, numerous other interesting specifications have been linked with this forthcoming smartphone. There is a debate taking place regarding precisely what processor will feature in the Galaxy S7. But it seems increasingly likely that the Korean company will revert to the older process of launching Exynos-driven devices in East Asian marketplaces, while relying on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon in the West.
The Galaxy S7 has also been linked with outstanding camera technology, with 20-megapixels being explicitly mentioned in some quarters. It seems like 2016 will be a year in which the battle between smartphone cameras hots up considerably, with the iPhone series also expected to incorporate some outstanding camera technology.
Two more believable propositions for the Galaxy S7 are the inclusion of a Force Touch display and the introduction of USB Type-C. The first of these two innovations is particularly plausible considering that it would be an obvious way for Samsung to counter the 3D Touch functionality included in the iPhone series. USB Type-C is already present in the Apple MacBook range, and the innovators at Samsung would doubtless love to include it in the Galaxy S7.
Sources on the Chinese social network Weibo have particularly suggested that Samsung is considering ClearForce display technology in order to implement the pressure-sensitive activation that is already present in the iPhone series. This would be a veritable boon for fans of the Samsung offering, and could be particularly attractive considering that it potentially offers even more complex input controls than the existing Apple system. ClearForce display technology is particularly notable for variable speed scrolling and specific input that ensures that the technology is ideally suited to gaming.
The Galaxy S7 has also been linked with the Exynos 8890 Processor, which Samsung will backup with 4GB of RAM memory. This is particularly exciting for Android fans, as the Exynos 8890 already performs superbly in testing. Benchmarking suggests that the device may be capable of doubling the processing speed of the Exynos 7420 included in the Galaxy S6.
Samsung challenges
Samsung will need to deliver something outstanding when the Galaxy S7 is released, as recent years have not been hugely prolific for the corporation. It seems an extremely long time ago that Samsung was bullishly proclaiming that it would overtake Apple at the head of the mobile marketplace. Since then, despite a recent dip in fortunes, Apple has generally gone from strength to strength, while Samsung has recorded reduced profits in the last seven consecutive financial quarters.
There are dual pressures on Samsung’s market performance. On the one hand, Apple is cleaning up as the owner of the premium market, despite the fact that Samsung continues to rival the iPhone in terms of total units sold. Nonetheless, Apple has been significantly more profitable, and the fact that it manufactures only one iPhone series, compared to the multiple Galaxy devices now on the market, suggest that this is indeed the most popular smartphone in the world.
And on the other hand, Samsung’s market share is being challenged by affordable Android alternatives, particularly in its native East Asia. Samsung has always been able to rely on shifting large numbers of units in marketplaces such as Korea, but now finds that rivals are beginning to eat into his profits in this sphere as well.
This all adds up to a critical Galaxy S7 release, but the information that has emerged about the smartphone so far suggests that it will be an outstanding performer.
