Everything we know about Samsung's next iPhone challenger

The Wall Street Journal has just uncovered details about Samsung's next major smartphone, and the report backs up a lot of the rumors swirling around the so-called Galaxy S7 lately.

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Here's a look at everything we're expecting from Samsung's next flagship phone:

samsung logo galaxy s6
Tech Insider/Antonio Villas-Boas
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It won't look much different than the Galaxy S6.

galaxy s7 leaked CAD design
Twitter/@onleaks

The Wall Street Journal's report highlighted the cool new features the Galaxy S7 would have that the S6 didn't, but it also said that it wouldn't look or feel that much different.

Indeed, some graphic designs of the supposed Galaxy S7 leaked by the notorious @onleaks show what looks like a very similar phone to the Galaxy S6. 

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It'll have a new type of charging port.

oneplus 2 usb c port
USB-C on the OnePlus 2 Steve Kovach/Tech Insider

The leaked graphical design of the Galaxy S7 shows what looks like a regular microUSB charging port on the bottom of the phone, but the WSJ claims the S7 "will likely feature" USB-C, which will let users get a "full day's charge in under 30 minutes."

USB-C is a new standard that, if successful, will eventually replace microUSB. USB-C is thinner than microUSB and can also transfer data between devices much faster.

Some phones have already adopted USB-C like the OnePlus 2 and Google's new Nexus smartphones made by LG and Huawei.

 

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There will be two different models, one with curved edges.

Samsung Galaxy S 6 and galaxy s 6 edge
AP

The success of this year's curved-screen Galaxy S6 Edge was a surprise even to Samsung. The company couldn't make enough to fulfill demand.

So, not only is Samsung likely to bring the Edge back for the S7 line, it'll probably make sure to build enough so everyone can get their hands on one as soon as they're released.

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It'll have a pressure-sensitive display like the one on the iPhone 6S.

iphone 6s 3d touch camera app
The iPhone 6S' 3D Touch display can bring up shortcuts to app features when you press harder on the screen than normal. Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

The WSJ's report adds credibility to a rumor started by a post on Chinese social media network, Weibo, which claimed that the Galaxy S7 would have a pressure-sensitive display similar to Apple's 3D Touch display on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.

Huawei's Mate S is the only Android smartphone with a pressure-sensitive display, and Samsung surely doesn't want to be outdone in the Android market.

Pressure-sensitive displays can register how hard you press down on the screen, which opens up a new layer of control. On the new iPhones, for example, a harder press on an app icon opens up shortcuts to the app's features you use most often.

 

 

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There will be expandable storage.

samsung galaxy s iii micro sd card storage slot
The micro SD card slot in the Galaxy SIII. Steve Kovach, Business Insider

This one should be familiar to Samsung Galaxy fans. 

Samsung ditched the micro SD memory card slots in the Galaxy S6 and Note 5 smartphones, outraging its biggest fans. It meant users couldn't add their own micro SD cards to store more media, like photos, music, and videos without using up the built-in storage in their phones.

But the WSJ claims that the micro SD card slot might be making a come-back in the Galaxy S7, at least for the non-curved model of the Galaxy S7. 

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It'll have a better camera.

Samsung galaxy s6 edge+ camera
Steve Kovach/Tech Insider

The Galaxy S6 and Note 5 had excellent cameras, and the S7's is said to be even better. According to the WSJ, the S7's camera will be "optimized for low-light photography."

It also supposedly won't bulge out of the phone, like it does in the current Galaxy smartphones.

 

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It'll be able to scan your iris.

zte grand s3 eye iris scanner
The iris scanner in the ZTE Grand S3 scans your eyes to unlock. YouTube/WSJ

According to the WSJ, some models of the Galaxy S7 will be able to scan your eyes.

It's not exactly clear why, but a retina scanner could be used for unlocking your phone or making mobile payments. 

Chinese phone maker ZTE added a retina scanner to its Grand S3 smartphone in May this year, and it's used for unlocking the phone.

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It could be cheaper than the Galaxy S6.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Flickr/Kārlis Dambrāns

According to analyst Pan Jiutang via the Times of India, Samsung might sell the Galaxy s7 for 10% cheaper than the S6 at launch.

At launch, the S6 sold for around $650, which means the S7 could sell for $65 cheaper at around $580.

That's not bad considering the base iPhone 6S, which also has half the storage (16 GB) as the base model Galaxy S6, costs $650. Other premium flagship Android phones are also selling for under $500, which makes a limited case for shelling out more cash for a Samsung phone.

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It'll be released earlier in the year than the Galaxy S6 was.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 front
The Galaxy Note 5 at a Samsung event. Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

The WSJ and other scattered reports say Samsung will apparently announce the Galaxy S7 during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona towards the end of February, which is about the same time it announced the S6.

Unlike the S6, however, Samsung will reportedly release the Galaxy S7 in mid-March, which is a few weeks sooner than the S6's April release.

 

Samsung
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