Samsung Galaxy S7 rumor mania: Everything important we know about the specs, price and release date of Samsung's next top phone
Where there's a phone, there's a rumor, and the biggest one surrounding the unannounced Samsung Galaxy S7 is that the device will launch at next month's CES show in Las Vegas.
It's all conjecture at this point, along with the growing list of Galaxy S7 scuttlebutt that I've gathered up for you below. But here's the gist: the Galaxy S7 (and S7 Edge) isn't expected to change its design too much after last year's major overhaul, but it might include a microSD card slot again (yes!). The camera will add more low-light support, and Samsung looks like it's back in the thick of processors with Qualcomm again. Oh, and the phone might emerge as soon as January (and possibly at CES), according to one rumor.
This list of gossip and leaks is sure to grow, so keep checking back for all the latest!
Samsung could launch the Galaxy S7 in January
Rumored: October 20, 2015
A January announcement date is the most shocking rumor of the bunch, namely because it's so far outside of Samsung's usual device schedule. February or March (at or shortly after the MWC conference) is for the Galaxy S phone; fall is for the Galaxy Note series. And so it's gone since the dawning of both. That doesn't mean a January unveiling could never happen. HTC threw in a fall phone with the One A9that was outside its usual release cycle; these things are flexible. That said, this is one rumor that I think is less realistic than all the rest.
The S7 will cost less than the S6
Rumored: November 9, 2015
An analyst based in China suggested that Samsung could lower the price of its premier phone by 10 percent in order to stay more competitive with rival phones. Think of this as more of a prediction and less of a leak. Samsung's decline in marketshare and profits is real and the company has just appointed a new mobile leader -- something needs to change.
The S7 will have its own version of Apple's 3D Touch screen
Rumored: October 17, 2015
The rumor that the Galaxy S7 will have a pressure-sensitive screen like the 3D Touch display on the Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus makes more sense to me than a January launch. The hype over the 3D Touch feature, which surfaces secondary menu items when you press and hold the screen harder than usual, is one that makes 2015's new iPhones seem more tactile and interactive than any other phone.
It's true that the iPhone is alone with this type of pressure-sensitive display, but I have to admit, I don't love it. All that pressing gives you an express ticket to sore thumbs.
Samsung could bring back the microSD card slot
Rumored: November 23, 2015
The Galaxy S6 caught flak for losing its popular microSD storage slot (and removable battery) when Samsung switched from a plastic body to metal. This rumored return of the microSD tray is one that I genuinely hope comes true.
Low light camera shots will get a big boost
Rumored: November 19, 2015
This part is undisputed: Samsung used an investor conference in Korea to announce new camera technology, including a sensor, called Britecell, that's designed to make low-light camera shots look even better. The rumor -- an educated guess, really -- is that Samsung will use the new sensor in the Galaxy S7.
This part is undisputed: Samsung used an investor conference in Korea to announce new camera technology, including a sensor, called Britecell, that's designed to make low-light camera shots look even better. The rumor -- an educated guess, really -- is that Samsung will use the new sensor in the Galaxy S7.
Qualcomm is coming back
Rumored: November 19, 2015The Galaxy S6 didn't use a Qualcomm chip to power the phone, it used a homegrown Samsung Exynos processor. This made everyone gasp because here was Samsung snubbing long-term partner Qualcomm in a way that some thought could indicate the relationship was over (both sides insisted it wasn't). Seeing a return of some phone models with Qualcomm chips and some with Exynos chips gets the two tech giants back where they started. (Where you live determines the chip Samsung would use.)
It'll have a USB Type-C connector port
Rumored: October 12, 2015Like the Google Nexus 6P, OnePlus 2, Microsoft Lumia 950 and many other phones of 2016, the Galaxy S7 is rumored to have the reversible, USB Type-C port for plugging in your charger. (Read up on USB Type-C here.)
Check back for all the latest Galaxy S7 rumors!

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