The next smartphone in the Samsung Galaxy flagship line, the Galaxy S7, will likely look almost exactly the same as the Galaxy S6. However, the new phone will improve over its predecessor with a new screen and a faster processor.

The Galaxy S7 is expected to respond to Apple's touch-sensitive screen, a feature that is called 3D Touch, with their own interactive screen called ClearForce, TechRadar reports.

Two Sizes, Screen Upgrades

There are two screen sizes likely coming for the Galaxy S7: a 5.1-inch display and a 5.7-inch phablet-style display. The resolution for both screens is expected to be 1,440 x 2,560 pixels, which is a 2K resolution.

If Samsung does incorporate ClearForce, the phone will react in different ways based on how hard the user taps the screen. Finally, the screen could be protected with Turtle Glass, which is said to be stronger than Gorilla Glass 3.

A Drop in Megapixels

Samsung is likely reducing the number of megapixels (MP) on the camera for the Galaxy S7. The Galaxy S7 could utilize a 12MP camera, which is a downgrade from the 16MP used in the Galaxy S6. The camera could still be better in the newer phone, however, since it would have much improved performance in low-light situations.

Two Different Chips

The Galaxy S7 could come with two different chipsets. Reports suggest some models of the smartphone will come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and some with Samsung's own Exynos processor. The Snapdragon version of the Galaxy S7 is expected to be almost as fast as the iPad Pro, according to rumored benchmark tests. The Exynos version is expected to be even faster, but may only be available in Asian markets.

Other Features

The charging port is likely to be designed for USB Type-C cables. This means faster charging and the ability to put the cables in any direction. The phone is also expected to have a fingerprint sensor and a microSD slot for expandable storage.

Release Date, Cost

The Galaxy S7 is expected to be announced at this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) at the end of February. It would then be available for purchase sometime in March at a price of at least $600.

Related