As Samsung prepares to unveil and launch the flagship Galaxy S7 smartphone, the amount of information seeping out about this flagship handset is increasing. Leaks over the last couple of days have particularly highlighted some interesting information about the camera in the Galaxy S7, which will doubtless be an incredibly important part of the smartphone once it is released.
Galaxy S7 – New panelling mooted
Other aspects of the smartphone have become clear from the leaks as well. One recent report reputedly displays the front panel of the smaller Galaxy S7 release. It seems from this image that the Galaxy S7 panel will much more strongly resemble the Galaxy note device that was released last year than the Galaxy S6. Corners are noitceably less round in this image, ensuring that the Galaxy S7 will have a squarer visage.
It is also notable that the display is slightly larger than in the Galaxy S6, an eventuality which Is consistent with rumors linked with the Galaxy S7 in recent months.
Another leak from SamMobile seemingly indicates that Samsung will transfer its mobile payments service to several new devices. The Sam Mobile information indicates that numerous model numbers are linked with the mobile payment technology, beginning with SM-G93XX. It is likely that the G930X models are the smaller models, while the G9350 is the larger device. In addition, an image has been posted on the social sharing site Reddit featuring expected specifications for at least one of these new models.
The hardware specifications listed in this image suggest that the Galaxy S7 will include a 5.7-inch quad HD resolution display, featuring a 60 Hz refresh rate. 4GB of RAM memory will also be included, while a fingerprint sensor will be present on the front of the device. The Reddit leak also suggested that a Snapdragon 820 processor, two pressure sensors – enabling the Galaxy S7 to achieve similar functionality to the 3D Touch included in the iPhone 7 – and Micro USB will all be included in this handset. This suggests that Samsung will exclude the frequently anticipated USB Type-C technology.
Megapixel downgrade?
But the most notable spec visible in this image is the suggestion that the Galaxy S7 will have a 12.2-megapixel main camera included. The front-facing camera was also suggested to be 5-megapixels. This would certainly come as something of a surprise, as Samsung has typically crammed outstanding specifications into its mobile devices, and a 12.2-megapixel snapper would represent a downgrading from previous devices in the Galaxy S series.
However, Samsung has recently unveiled its new BRITECELL camera sensors, and it has been reported that the Korean corporation has been working internally on a smaller 12-megapixel sensor utilizing this new technology.
Initially, fans of mobile devices may see this decision as something of a retrograde step. Why would Samsung consider reducing the megapixel rating of the Galaxy S7, particularly considering the fact that the photographic capabilities of the Galaxy S6 were so acclaimed?
They answer is that the number of elements featured in a camera sensor is certainly not the only factor which has an influence over image quality. Larger elements in the sensor tend to receive more light, and consequently more information, increasing image quality. With size and space increasingly at a premium in modern smartphones, it is critical for sensible decisions to be made about balancing the size of sensors and their ability to capture vast amounts of pixels. It is conspicous that Apple has never felt under any pressure to match the megapixel rating of the Galaxy series with his own iPhone range.
It is also notable that the quality of materials included in a camera sensor also needs to be considered, with the focal length of the lens and the quality and quantity of post-processing taking place on captured information both playing a critical role in ultimate image quality.
BRITECELL benefits
Samsung believes that the BRITECELL technology that it has developed will give it a significant advantage over competitors. This new technology was launched at the recent Investors Forum, and offers increased sensitivity in low-light conditions, while retaining strong color reproduction. This could be particularly valuable for the Galaxy S7, as mobile phones have traditionally struggled to take good quality photographs in darker conditions.
In addition to these are obvious benefits, Samsung also claims that BRITECELL helps reduce module heights by nearly 20 percent, while also maintaining low light sensitivity at 1.12µm. The new sensor will also be assisted by Samsung’s proprietary Smart WDR technology, enabling the Galaxy S7 to produce a more detailed image via multi-exposure for improved spatial resolution. Phase Detection Auto Focus will also provide faster and more accurate autofocus for the Galaxy S7.
Although this may all be excellent news for the camera included in the Galaxy S7, and indeed Android fans, it does also pose some questions about the way that Samsung will operate going forward. As mentioned previously, the company has always prided itself on delivering smartphones with outstanding, market-leading specifications, and this will not be the case with the Galaxy S7, if indeed these rumors turn out to be correct.
This also potentially suggests that Samsung will be significantly blurring the lines between its regular and phablet-sized smartphones, and even its own product ranges. The larger Galaxy S7 is essentially identical to the Galaxy S6 Edge+, and with the frame also featuring a squarer appearance, there would also seem to be extremely little difference between the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series should this design be put into practice.
The rumors will make the launch date of the Galaxy S7 even more important, with Samsung needing to time the release appropriately in order to tap into the post-Christmas markets. It is thought that Samsung will be moving the release of the Galaxy S7 forward in order to garner some of the residual Christmas sales that Apple usually experiences in this period.
This could mean that the Galaxy S7 launches at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, ensuring that the unveiling of the device will take place in February. Increasingly, it seems that when this does occur that the Galaxy S7 will have quite a unique camera included.
