The next-generation Samsung Galaxy S7 could rock a dual camera setup, Snapdragon 820 processor and potentially 6GB of RAM, based on recent leaks.
With the latest Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ out of the bag, the rumor mill is increasingly focusing on the next Galaxy S7 flagship. An abundance of leaks have hit the surface lately, hinting at a true powerhouse with impressive specifications all around. Here's a rumor roundup to get an idea of what could be on the table.
Just a few days ago, news surfaced out of Korea revealing that Samsung will launch its Galaxy S7 in two variants with different screen sizes: one with a 5.2-inch display and another with a massive 5.8-inch panel. According to that report, at least one of those models will boast a 4K resolution. If that's true, the 5.8-inch variant would be the most suitable candidate, as a 4K resolution on a 5.2-inch display would be a bit of an overkill.
Sparking even more rumors, Samsung announced on Wednesday, Sept. 9, that it started mass-producing the industry's first 12Gb LPDDR4 mobile DRAM based on 20nm technology. This new 12Gb LPDDR4 chip (pictured above) is seen as a major milestone toward packing a whopping 6GB of RAM in future smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S7 could be the first smartphone to boast 6GB of RAM.
"The 12Gb LPDDR4 enables 3 gigabyte (GB) or 6GB of mobile DRAM in a single package using just two chips and four chips respectively, while being the only solution that can provide a 6GB LPDDR4 package," Samsung explained. "In next-generation flagship devices, 6GB of LPDDR4 mobile DRAM will allow consumers to enjoy seamless multitasking and maximum performance within the latest operating system (OS) environments. Also, based on the new 12Gb LPDDR4, the 6GB package can easily fit into the same space used for 3GB LPDDR4 packages currently available, therefore meeting the need for greater design compatibility and manufacturing productivity in advanced mobile devices."
Then, a couple of days ago, some other interesting tidbits of information surfaced online. First, GforGames pointed at a Weibo post that revealed an internal document from Samsung. Based on that document, it seems that the company is still trying to decide whether to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor for its next-generation Galaxy S7, or go for an in-house Exynos processor instead, like it did with the Galaxy S6. Samsung is reportedly conducting tests to determine which of the two options would be the most suitable.
At the same time, tech blogger Steve Hemmerstoffer uncovered an AnTuTu benchmark that listed a Samsung device codenamed "Lucky," widely believed to be the Galaxy S7, with several spec details. The AnTuTu benchmark lists the device with a 5.7-inch QHD display (2560 x 1440 pixels), a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front shooter, 64GB of storage and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop on the software side.
Could this be an early #Samsung’s #GalaxyS7 #AnTuTu Benchmark?… pic.twitter.com/WLhNX2LDgd
— Steve Hemmerstoffer (@stagueve) September 10, 2015
The benchmark doesn't really fall in line with other rumors in a number of aspects, but a device in testing is not necessarily the final version that will actually hit the market. For instance, although AnTuTu lists the device with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop at the time of testing, it will most likely run Android 6.0 Marshmallow by the time it's ready to launch. In terms of processor, Samsung could ultimately decide to launch two variants of its Galaxy S7, one with a Snapdragon 820 and the other with an Exynos 8890 chipset.
The latest rumor, meanwhile, surfaced out of Korea (via SamMobile), claiming that the Samsung Galaxy S7 would boast a large 5.7-inch display and a dual camera setup on its rear. HTC already tried a dual camera combo with its One M8 flagship for 2014, allowing for great depth of field. While it didn't really do wonders for HTC in terms of One M8 sales, Samsung could have a different approach or some idea for fine-tuning the dual camera setup concept for its Galaxy S7.
Based on other recent rumors, the Samsung Galaxy S7 should also boast Adreno 530 graphics, LPDDR4 RAM support, 4K at 60 fps, Cat. 10 LTE, faster UFS 2.0 flash storage and eMMC 5.1.
It's still too early to know anything for sure. It's all based solely on leaks and speculation at this point. The Samsung Galaxy S7 is not expected for another six months at least, and a lot could change in the meantime, so make sure to take all leaks and rumors with a grain of salt for now.
