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Samsung S7 rumours begin

Lauren Kate Rawlins
By Lauren Kate Rawlins, ITWeb digital and innovation contributor.
Johannesburg, 13 Oct 2015
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge edition could have only one curved side, compared to the two on the Samsung S6 Edge (pictured).
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge edition could have only one curved side, compared to the two on the Samsung S6 Edge (pictured).

The next smartphone in Samsung's Galaxy range could be announced sooner than expected, and the Internet is rife with rumours of what it could perform and look like.

Samsung traditionally announces its new Galaxy phones at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which happens in late February next year. However, it is rumoured the company could release the flagship phone up to a month before the congress. This is because Samsung launched the Samsung Note 5 and Edge Plus at a private event a month before the IFA consumer electronics conference in Berlin in September.

Last month, SamMobile, a blog known to have accurate exclusive information on all things Samsung, reported the Galaxy S7 has been codenamed "Project Lucky" within the electronics company. The name presumably comes from seven being known as a lucky number.

Digital Trends reports the S7 may be released in two separate sizes (5.2- and 5.8-inches), similar to Apple's iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. This would be the first time Samsung has released a Galaxy phone in more than one size. The Samsung S6 and S6 Edge were two separate models with the same screen size.

UberGizmo suggests the Galaxy S7 will be a curved phone by default (and not have separate designs for each model). However, it says the curve may only appear on one side of the phone.

The Samsung S7 is expected to have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor as opposed to the company's own Exynos processor. It is also predicted the new phone will have Samsung's own version of Apple's 3D Touch or Force Touch.

TechRadar says the new phone may have an added microSD card slot - something that was missing from the previous models. The report also states the new smartphone will sport a stronger glass, called 'Turtle Glass' and not Gorilla Glass.

According to knowyourmobile, the Galaxy S7 could be a flexible or foldable phone. Last month, it emerged Samsung had filed numerous patents for foldable devices.

"Filing patents points to something that may or may not come to market in many years' time," says Arthur Goldstuck, World Wide Worx MD.

"There have been many bendable, foldable and wearable devices from many companies over the last few years but none have come to market yet. Samsung has not patented the idea, but a specific technology. Patents at this point are just experimental and speculative."

Goldstuck said the design of Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge was one of the most significant shifts in the mobile market this year. "However, right now Samsung is just covering all bases with patents - but who knows; maybe they will surprise us in the near future."

When the Samsung S6 and S6 Edge entered South Africa in April, industry expectations were high, as it was the first time since the S3 that Samsung had completely overhauled the Galaxy design.

By the end of April, less than a month after launch, sales of the S6 and S6 Edge smartphones reached six million units globally, according to researcher Counterpoint.

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