Galaxy S7 Specs, Release Date Rumors: New Samsung Handset May Have Pressure-Sensitive Display, Retina Scanner
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S7 may feature a retina scanner, a pressure-sensitive display, and a fast-charging port, among other innovative elements, CNET reports.
With the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge failing to lift Samsung out of its smartphone sales slump, the South Korean tech company is banking on the Galaxy S7, which may be released in 2016, to give its finances a boost. The company faces a double-headed dilemma: at the budget end, competition from Chinese brands Xiaomi and Huawei, and on the premium end, sales loss to Apple's iPhone. In November, it was reported that the company had replaced the chief of its flagging mobile unit, a sign that it is focusing its operations on software and services in a bid to breathe new life into its struggling smartphone business.
Now, a report from The Wall Street Journal says that Samsung's new phone will have a screen that can determine the strength of your touch and respond accordingly. "People familiar with the matter" also told WSJ that next year's phone may sport a camera that will take higher-quality photos in low-light conditions, a high-speed charging port, and a retina scanner. These new features are reportedly designed to win back customers for Samsung.
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The Journal's sources also said that, as with the Galaxy S6 line, the new Samsung flagship device will come in two versions: the S7 will have a flat display, while the S7 Edge will have a display that is curved on both the left and right edges.
The pressure-sensitive screen on the Galaxy S7 will be an answer to the 3D Touch feature in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. The high-speed charging port is expected to utilize a USB Type-C technology that would allow the device to reach a full charge in less than half an hour.
Meanwhile, the retina scanner is thought to be an added layer of security to the fingerprint reader. Samsung is reportedly eyeing putting retina scanners in some versions of its new phone to facilitate the purchasing of items via Samsung Pay.
The new Samsung smartphones are expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in February 2016. The WSJ reports that the phones may be released in the U.S. by mid-March.
