Samsung’s next-generation Galaxy S7 will get its grand unveiling in March, and its big selling point will be an iPhone-like pressure-sensitive display, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar with the company’s plans.
It’s thought the Galaxy S7 won’t be a massive departure from the Galaxy S6, and could well carry a very familiar design. However, Samsung is expected to deliver a number of internal changes that will make next year’s Galaxy well worth the upgrade fee.
One improvement will “likely” be USB-C connectivity, which has begun creeping into Android-powered devices this year, with fast-charging technology that will provide “a full day’s charge in under 30 minutes and in some cases significantly faster than that.”
Samsung is also expected to bring back the microSD card slot, the report claims, addressing one of the biggest complaints fans have had with this year’s Galaxy lineup — plus a new camera optimized for low-light performance. But these probably won’t be the main reasons to buy a Galaxy S7.
By far the biggest improvement, according to those sources, will be a pressure-sensitive touchscreen — just like the iPhone’s. This will allow Samsung to bake 3D Touch gestures into its own Android software, and will almost certainly persuade other handset makers to follow suit.
3D Touch is by far the best feature on iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, and that’s almost immediately clear as soon as you begin using it. I wrote about how much I appreciated it in my iPhone 6s review for Cult of Mac, and I’ve been hoping the technology would come to Android sooner rather than later.
Recent rumors have claimed that Samsung would copy 3D Touch, but they’re all the more believable when they’re coming from WSJ. And that’s incredibly exciting, whether you’re a Samsung fan or not — because if anyone can make 3D a success on Android, it’s the largest Android maker in the world.
