Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge Unpacked at MWC 2016

And so, Samsung’s worst kept secret has finally been unwrapped, or “unpacked” if you prefer, over at Mobile World Congress 2016 in Barcelona. It probably won’t surprise too many people that all the rumors are true and just about everything we expected to see in the new Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge has held up. It’s slick. It’s shiny. And it’s your new Galaxy.

The basic design hasn’t changed all that much from the S6, but you will find several notable upgrades where they really matter. We get the IP68 rating for waterproof protection again, for example, and the hybrid SIM card slot can either handle a microSD card up to 200GB or a second SIM card, depending on the market. That addresses two of the biggest complaints from the previous generation.

Running our way through the spec sheet, we find a 12MP “dual pixel” camera on the back for improved autofocus and low light performance, up to an octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Both phones have Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, though the 5.5-inch screen on the S7 edge is slightly bigger than the 5.1-inch display on its edge-free cousin. Fast charging, including the same dual wireless support as before, is in place for the 3000mAh battery on the S7 and the 3600mAh battery on the S7 edge.

Whereas the also newly announced LG G5 really differentiates itself from its predecessor with the unique modular accessories, the newest generation of Galaxy seems to be more of an evolution of what we saw last year. Both the LG G5 and the Galaxy S7 boast an “always on” display function, which may ultimately prove either beneficial or detrimental to battery life. We’ll have to wait and see.

As far as the Canadian launch is concerned, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge should both launch on March 11 through major carriers, as well as through retailers and the Samsung Experience Stores near you. They’ll start taking pre-orders starting tomorrow and people who pre-order will get the Gear VR (about $110 value) for free. Pricing for the new flagships will likely be comparable to the launch prices we saw for the S6 and S6 edge.

The photo gallery and press release are embedded below for your further perusal.

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Samsung Unveils Next Generation Smartphones at the Core of its Connected Galaxy Experience

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge couple sleek design with powerful performance including advanced camera features, water resistance, and external memory

BARCELONA – February 21, 2016 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd today announced the newest additions to the Galaxy family of products, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Created for today’s consumer lifestyle, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge lead the industry with a refined design, more advanced camera, streamlined software functionality and unparalleled connectivity to a galaxy of products, services, and experiences.

“We believe in a world that is brighter, sharper, more convenient, and more fun. We strive to deliver on that vision with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge by marrying elegant design with functionality and providing a seamless mobile experience,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “We empower consumers with technology to help them get more out of life and will continue to push the frontier of what’s possible.”

Advanced Camera: High Quality Images No Matter the Time of Day or Location

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge introduce the first Dual Pixel camera on a smartphone, delivering brighter and sharper images, even in low light. Thanks to the revolutionary Dual Pixel technology, brighter lens with wider aperture, and bigger pixel, the camera has a faster shutter speed and a more accurate autofocus even in low-light conditions. Motion Panorama, a new camera mode, brings movement to traditional panoramic photos, giving the user a completely immersive visual experience.

Refined Design and Function

The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 edge are constructed with 3D glass and metal – all in a sleek design with durability and ergonomic curves for a comfortable grip. From work to play, the device’s new Always-On Display, gives users a simplified, zero touch experience where they don’t need to worry about missing a call or important notification.

Without compromising design, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge both have increased utility with IP68 water and dust resistance. Edge UX, the advanced edge experience available on Galaxy S7 edge, provides convenience and increased efficiency by creating easy shortcuts to users’ most loved functions such as email, selfie mode, panorama mode or third party applications.

Enhanced Performance: From Charging to Gaming

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge deliver fast wired and wireless charging technology. Additionally, the hybrid SIM card tray allows users to insert a microSD card for up to 200GB of additional storage and in some select countries, the tray can be used with a dual SIM card.

Samsung also made significant hardware and software updates to optimize gaming performance on Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. The powerful processer and bigger battery capacity ensure longer playing time, and the internal cooling system keeps the device from overheating. Game Launcher, a new add-on for gamers, allows users to manage battery consumption and minimize notifications. Additionally, users can record their gaming experience or share their screen to play with others. Paired with Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Vulkan API gives users the ability to play high-performance graphic games with lower battery consumption.

The Galaxy Experience

Samsung continues to push the boundaries of hardware, software and services to create devices that are designed to improve how consumers connect, share, organize and get more out of life. The company is redefining what is possible, beyond the limits of today’s technology, by introducing a constellation of seamless mobile experiences.

Whether it’s the seamless connection between Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge and the new Gear S2 Classic to monitor fitness, or connecting with Gear VR to “travel” the world – Samsung redefines what’s possible for the mobile experience and beyond.

Beyond the phone, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge users can also get the best mobile payment service with Samsung Pay; it’s secure, easy-to-use and accepted almost anywhere. Protected by Samsung KNOX, fingerprint scanning and advanced tokenization, Samsung Pay works with NFC (Near Field Communication), MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) and Barcode technology, making mobile payments available to more merchants and consumers than ever before.

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will be available starting mid-March 2016.

For more product information, please visit http://www.samsungmobilepress.com, news.samsung.com/galaxy or www.samsung.com/galaxy.
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