Latest Samsung Galaxy S7 rumored features: water resistant, microSD slot

PC Tech January 5, 2016

1 minute read

In Picture: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: The Galaxy S7 will have the same 5.1-inch display as last year's S6, though the S7 Edge will have a larger 5.5-inch screen. Image Credit: TechnologyNewsExtra

Samsung may be bringing a few popular features back with its latest pair of flagships.

The Korean company’s upcoming Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will be water resistant and come with a microSD slot, according to a new report. Both features were missing from Samsung’s most recent flagships, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, though they were on the Galaxy S5, which debuted in 2014.

The microSD slot will support cards up to 200 GB and both devices will be water resistant at depths up to 1 meter, according to the report from VentureBeat’s Evan Blass.

Though these two features were also present in the Galaxy S5, the latest rumors suggest the new smartphones will have a similar design as last year’s Galaxy S6. The Galaxy S7 will have the same 5.1-inch display as last year’s S6, though the S7 Edge will have a larger 5.5-inch screen, which is in line with earlier reports that have surfaced about the upcoming handsets.

Both handsets will also sport bigger batteries, revamped cameras and a new processor, the report says. The batteries are being upgraded significantly, with the S7 moving from 2550 mAh to 3000 mAh and the S7 edge upgrading from 2600 mAh to 3600 mAh. (Notably, neither battery will be removable as were in older Galaxy devices, according to Blass.)

Meanwhile, the rear-facing cameras will reportedly have 12 MP sensors (the S6 and S6 Edge were equipped with 16 MP sensors) but have an f/1.7 lens aperture that will be “especially capable in low light situations.” The front-facing cameras will be the same as last year’s 5 MP shooters.[related-posts]

The latest rumors should come as welcome news for those that liked the design of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, which were widely praised for their design, but missed the functionality of expandable storage and water resistance. Though more and more manufacturers are doing away with microSD slots, it remains a popular feature among Android purists and power users who would rather not pay extra for more onboard storage.

Of course, these are all still rumors for now, though there will likely be more leaks in the coming weeks ahead of the handsets’ official launch. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are expected to be unveiled sometime in February before Mobile World Congress in March.

[Mashable]