The latest Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone is set to be faster than any existing Apple iPhone, according to new reports found online.
Rumormongers are claiming that the S7 will boast a chip that benchmarks faster than Apple’s A9 SoC, but so far engineers at Samsung have struggled to keep the unit cool.
Price drop and improved chip for Samsung Galaxy S7
It is thought that the new handset will be less expensive than the existing S6, a bold move from Samsung in the tightly-fought flagship smartphone market. The rumor states that despite the inclusion of the Qualcomm 820 chip that will be clocked at an incredibly high speed, Samsung will freeze prices.
Dubai-based blogger Zoheb Ansari writes about the rumor, which came out of China. Ansari claims that the Samsung Galaxy S7 scored over 2400 in single-core tests with the Snapdragon 820 chip. The Chinese leaker apparently has a decent reputation, and reports that a high-frequency Snapdragon 820 will be used in the Galaxy S7. It is thought that the chip might be exclusive to Samsung.
The report claims that the chip benchmarked 2456 in single-core performance and 5423 in multi-core tests. While the Apple A9 performed similarly well in single-core tests, the Snapdragon was much better in multi-core tests. It is thought that maker Qualcomm will start distributing the new chip in January 2016, but it might be included on every S7. There is a chance that buyers in some markets will receive models that feature an Exynos 8890 chip.
Cooling fast processor a concern for Samsung engineers
Indian blogger Ashish Yadav says that the scores are from the Multi-Core Geekbench test. Another Chinese leaker agrees on the name of the test, and has written a Weibo post in which he claims that the new Snapdragon 820 chip will be optimized for better power consumption and thermal management. A heat pipe will reportedly be added to the phone due to the fact that the chip will run at a higher frequency than normal.
While the source of the leak remains unverified it is wise to take the rumors with a pinch of salt. However perhaps more trustworthy is the notion that the Samsung Galaxy S7 is set to launch on 21 February 2016 and will feature the Snapdragon 820.
Samsung’s in-house Exynos 7420 is not a bad chip, but it is thought that the company will improve performance by reverting to Qualcomm. This could be a reaction to Apple’s A9 chip, which currently sits top of the performance charts.
Korean firm aims to refine smartphone for fight with iPhone
In other news the S7 may feature a magnesium alloy body that will be more durable than the 6013 aluminum used on the S6. Sina Beigi writes that Samsung is prioritizing improvements to hardware rather than a major design overhaul.
The company may end up using different chips in different markets, with the Snapdragon 820 used in China and the U.S., while the rest of the world gets the Exynos 8890. Samsung also looks set to include an SD card slot on the S7 after its removal in the S6 caused controversy.
Rumors are swirling that the S7 will be announced at the Mobile World Congress before launching in Q1 2016, and could cost 10% less than the S6. It is thought that a price reduction will drive sales of the S7, just after Samsung reported profit growth for the first time in four quarters.
Flagship smartphone market increasingly crowded with decent handsets
The iPhone is Samsung’s main competitor in the flagship smartphone market, but it is crowded with other options. The OnePlus 2 and Honor 7 both manage to offer great specifications without breaking the bank, and that could be another factor in Samsung’s reported decision to drop the price of the S7.
Regarding the cooling issue with the new chip, a Samsung engineer took to Weibo to explain the reasoning behind the use of a passive cooling system. He says that the system must stay cool in order to perform at its optimum level, so Samsung is especially concerned about operating temperatures.
The S6 represented a massive redesign over its predecessor, and now Samsung needs to refine that design and improve the hardware in order to give the S7 the best chance of coming away with the flagship smartphone crowd. Nothing has been confirmed as yet, but Samsung did recently send out invites to a press event on January 5.
Fans should mark that date in their diary so that they don’t miss out on the hottest Android smartphone that will hit the market in early 2016.
