Galaxy S7 likely to get pressure-sensitive display and high-speed charging
The vendor is also considering a retina scanner for some versions of the new smartphone, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. In addition, there will also be a curved-screen Galaxy S7 Edge, following the pattern set with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.
Also expected: An improved camera for low-light photos that sits flush to the back of the phone, the Journal said.
Samsung officials couldn't be reached to confirm the report. Samsung also did not comment last week on predictions that the Galaxy S7 will have a faster Snapdragon 820 processor and will restore the storage expansion slot of the Galaxy S5. Earlier reports also indicated Samsung will lower the starting price up to 10% below the starting price of the Galaxy S6.
Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy S7 on the day before Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which falls on Feb. 21, with sales starting in mid-March. That would be a shorter time period for sales to begin post-announcement than in the past.
Of all the recent reports about the Galaxy S7's improvements, a faster Snapdragon 820 processor would be the most important, according to at least one analyst.
Fast charging and a pressure-sensitive display, in isolation, "aren't compelling enough to pull anyone over from an iPhone," said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, on Monday. "The processor improvement with Qualcomm Snapdragon could, however."
Apple added a pressure-sensitive display to the iPhone 6S earlier this year, allowing the phone to interpret the added force on a screen touch to create a different response.
The reported fast-charging port is a USB Type-C, allowing a full day's charge in under 30 minutes or faster. LG and Huawei have already offered such a feature in smartphones.
In comparison to Moorhead, Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel, argued that the pressure-sensitive display "could make it easier for users to switch brands."
She added that growth for both Apple and Samsung "is more and more dependent on capturing each other's users."