Android ad ‘Monotune’ shows you exactly why variety is important

“Be together, not the same” – a slogan Google has been throwing around for a while, and just so happens to be a jab at Apple’s devices. But there is something about the phrase cute cartoons simply can’t capture. The Search Giant needed a little more to really bring out the message, and so ‘Monotune’, the latest Android video ad, came to be.

In ‘Monotune’, professional pianist Ji played the 3rd movement of Moonlight Sonata (which happens to be my favorite classical piece) on two pianos. But as you can expect, these pianos are not the same. One of them uses a single note… for every one of those 88 keys. All keys sound exactly the same.

Of course, there is a huge difference between playing Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement on the regular piano and this special monotune piano. It expresses the value of variety in a way that you can actually sense. It’s more than a message; it’s an action. But let’s stop my musical trip and focus on the ad.

See also: 10 reasons why Android is still better than iOS330

Just give it a watch and tell us what you think. Also, the musical buffs around us will be wondering just how the heck Google managed to tune all the keys in a piano to the exact same note. Well, it wasn’t easy.

Google had to hire a team of experts to physically customize a piano just for this video. Which happens to be a bit curious, because Android has always been all about customizing, right? Google simply couldn’t accept the “that’s not possible” answer. You can watch the “making of Monotune” video to learn all about it. And there’s an extended version in there too!

Enjoy the videos and hit the comments to let us know how you liked this ad. I must say I prefer it over the other commercials. It may not be as cute, but it definitely sends a clear message at least I can grasp better.

Top Android app creators

While developing for Android usually requires the use of specially made software and the knowledge of programming languages, some websites make creating apps fun, fast and easy. These apps are pretty customizable and offer some unique functionalities while ranging from free to around $100 a month. These are my top 5 picks.

Appy Pie

Price: FREE

This is a great site if you do not want to spend any money. Apps Pie offers a wide range of themes and offers quite a bit of customization within those themes. These apps are intended for businesses looking to give customers information about their business. That is the only option as far as what the app can do. Also on the site is the ability to make games with just a few clicks. There are 12 pre made games that you can choose to edit. The first step is to choose a name and enter a description as well as logo and splash screen art. The next page lets you customize every image in the game from preset ones or custom images. Using the ”Advance Feature” button allows for in-app purchases and custom sounds as well.

Since Appy Pie is free, there are some conditions that are applied. For example, you will not be able to remove the Appy Pie branding or ads in your app, which are present whether you like it or not, you can make money off the ads however. There are paid subscriptions to get rid of the ads and and add more customization options, however. Most importantly though, there is no way to distribute your app through your personal developer account, you must go through Appy Pie to get your app to the relevant app store. Being free, there is no reason to not give Appy Pie a try here.

Apps Geyser

Price: FREE

This is another free site that offers the ability to turn any website into an app, this could be a big plus if you need quick access to a certain site and want to add a little custom flare to it. For example, there is no Google Play Developer Console app, you could easily make one with Apps Geyser. Just like Appy Pie, Apps Geyser also offers a game maker. These games are a lot simpler and do not offer as much functionality or customizability. You can pick between 31 games ranging from a Flappy Bird clone to spin the bottle to arcade shooting. As far as altering the game, the only customization the images in the app itself, the icon and name and description of the app. Apps Geyser is geared towards a different target audience than Appy Pie, with more simple time waster games but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the best games are the simple addictive ones.

Just like Appy Pie there are conditions to be met. Apps Geyser works slightly different however, if your app has less than 100 installs no ads will be shown. Once 100 installs is hit, ads start showing up and you have the ability to add the ad network of your choice. The ad space in your app is split 50/50 with your ad network and Apps Geyser’s ads. This means that you make 100% of the ad revenue 50% of the time, the other 50% you make nothing. As with Appy Pie, you have to use Apps Geyser directly to get your app on the Google Play Store or app store of your choice. Apps Geyser can be tried here.

App Institute

Price: Starts at $8/month

This is the first paid app creator on the list at a starting price of $8/month. So what do you get for your hard earned $96 a year? A visual drag and drop interface with a wide range of customizable images and actions. The apps behave like Appy Pie but offer a lot more functionality and customization. Although if you want other platform support than just Android, you will need to step up to the premium monthly membership at $30/month. Being paid, there are no mandatory ads and your app can be distributed through your own developer account as a paid or free app. The user interface is also the best on this list so far and the customizability is endless, this is a good solution for bigger startups or businesses. All of the options are here.

Appery.io

Price: Starts at $30/month

This is another paid solution that starts at $30/month for the standard package. This site offer native Android, iOS and Windows Phone apps as well as HTML5 based and hybrid solutions that will work on any platform. What makes Appery.io special is all of the APIs and management features offered. The backend of the apps are pretty advanced and offer fantastic features for big businesses and startups alike. There are also a lot of apps that can be integrated into the app like GitHub.

Just like App Institute, no ads are required and you own the rights to the app you create and as such, you can publish through your personal developer account as a paid or free app. Appery.io has many great features, but it comes at a cost and unless you need such an app, it may not be wirth the price to you. Pricing can be found here.

Stencyl

Price: FREE

While not technically an app creator in the sense of the others on this list, Stencyl is very simple to use and offers unlimited customizability for games at no cost. Stencyl behaves like GameMaker: Studio that we reviewed earlier. There are many tutorials and starter apps that make developing games pretty easy. This does require a greater learning curve than the others, but it also isn’t in the realm of full blown Android development and coding. This is a great intermediate step before getting into something like Android Studio and can even be used to make advanced games. I highly recommend trying this option out for yourself. Since this is software that you actually download to your computer, it is free of any strings. You have the ability to upload the app under your personal account, with or without ads and they can be paid or free. Stencyl can be found here and be sure to read our GameMaker: Studio tutorial here to get the basics of the actionable and draggable development style.

Wrap Up

Creating apps doesn’t have to be hard, there are many websites that make it very easy and intuitive. Depending on what you are looking for you can dive in and create an amazing game for free or build a robust app for your business for a monthly fee. Regardless of your situation, there is an option that makes developing apps possible.

One Year Anniversary! | Podcast 052

Officially celebrating our One Year Anniversary of the FDP… sorry, I mean the Android Authority Podcast, join our full panel as we answer your questions and again reminisce our favorite moments of the last year worth of shows. Joshua Vergara leads the crew as Andrew Grush, Joe Hindy, Jonathan Feist and Nirave Gondhia take to your airwaves to talk tech, even when you asked us not to, and share more than a few laughs in our longest episode to date.

We can’t thank you enough, our faithful listeners, your questions and comments made this episode possible, and your continued support keeps us on the air. It is a pleasure serving you, we look forward to sharing with you the next 56 weeks.

The Android Authority Podcast – discussing topics in Android every single week.

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Recorded on February 12th, 2016 – Hosted and Produced by Joshua Vergara.

MWC 2016: everything confirmed, rumored and expected

Update: We’ve added new confirmed product launch details for several manufacturers below, added new rumors and additional OEM sections.

We’re now in the final countdown before the curtains are pulled back at MWC 2016. With less than a week to go, it’s about time we got everything organized for you: what’s confirmed to be there, what’s rumored to show up and what we’re expecting to see. Our list is broken down by manufacturer, so hit the shortcuts for your favorite OEM or scroll down to check out everything you can expect from MWC 2016.

What is MWC and when is it?

MWC stands for Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest mobile electronics trade show. MWC 2016 will be held between February 22 and 25 in Barcelona, Spain with press days on the weekend before. That’s when you can expect most of the MWC 2016 announcements to be made, with hands-on videos and articles coming soon after. So keep your eyes peeled for all the latest MWC 2016 news on February 20 and 21.

Samsung at MWC 2016

Confirmed: Samsung Galaxy S7 launch
When: February 21, 7 PM (10 AM PST, 1 PM EST)

Samsung has issued its press conference invites for the new Galaxy S7 series to be held on Sunday evening, February 21. While there is still debate as to whether there will be two or three Galaxy S7 variants presented, at the very least we know we’ll be seeing the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. It’s that tricky Galaxy S7 Edge+ we’re still not so sure about. We do know that all Galaxy S7 pre-orders come with a free Gear VR headset.

See also: Samsung Galaxy S7 rumor roundup: release date, price, specs, features72

Rumored: Samsung Gear 360 VR and two new Galaxy Tab S3 tablets

The biggest MWC 2016 rumors for Samsung are both related to the Galaxy S7. Namely, that the new range will feature an IP58 water-resistant rating and see the return of the microSD card to the Galaxy line. Considering Samsung has been having some troubles with its mobile division of late, bringing back two hugely popular features might just be enough to give them the edge over the LG G5. Samsung is also rumored to unveil a Gear 360 VR camera and we might also see new 8- and 9.7-inch Galaxy Tab S3 tablets.

LG at MWC 2016

Confirmed: LG G5 launch and LG X series launch
When: February 21, 2 PM (5 AM PST, 8 AM EST)

LG has also issued press conference invites for the LG G5 launch, which will happen on Sunday afternoon, February 21. The biggest news around the LG G5 is its modular design, which will allow users to use various hot-shoe accessories with the smartphone, including a variety of cameras, larger battery, physical keyboard and more. The LG G5 will have an Always On screen, much like the LG V10.

LG has also confirmed the new LG X line for MWC, which incorporates specialist flagship features in otherwise mid-range phones, and a new premium set of Tone Platinum headphones. The LG White Card and LG Pay system have been officially deferred until the second quarter of the year, after being rumored for an MWC unveiling.

See also: LG G5 rumor roundup: release date, specs, and features93

Rumored: LG 360 VR

You may recall previously we guessed that when LG’s invite for “LG G5 Day” mentioned “come meet new friends on the playground”, we guessed that the plural “friends” could mean the G5 and new mid-range phones. That guess has proven to be correct with the confirmation of the LG X line, but that doesn’t mean that LG might not still have a VR headset or a 360-degree VR camera as well. We’re betting on a new LG G5 VR headset as the launch partner for the G5.

Sony at MWC 2016

Confirmed: Something
When: February 22, 8:30 AM (11:30 PM PST, 2:30 EST)

While we have no idea what Sony will be bringing to MWC 2016 we have received invites for a press conference on the Monday morning. This timing, and its location at the Sony booth rather than a big auditorium or venue, makes us think it won’t be anything too major, and certainly not the Xperia Z6 which we’re expecting to arrive at IFA 2016.

See also: Sony Xperia Z6 rumor roundup: release date, price, specs, features6

Rumored: Something else

On the rumor side of things, it could be something to do with Sony Playstation VR, a new wearable or a tablet. We’re not holding out hope for an Xperia Z5 Tablet (or Xperia Z6 Tablet, knowing Sony’s penchant for peculiar naming conventions), considering the rumors that Sony will ditch tablets this year.

If it does turn out to be a tablet it might just be Sony’s last, and if it’s the Sony Smartwatch 4 it had better be seriously good to compete with the best Android Wear smartwatches around right now. It could also be a successor to last year’s budget Xperia M4 Aqua or the recently leaked Xperia C6.

Xiaomi at MWC 2016

Confirmed: Xiaomi Mi 5 launch
When: February 24, 9 AM (12 AM PST, 3 AM EST)

Xiaomi is attending its first MWC and is holding a press conference to celebrate the Xiaomi Mi 5 launch on the Wednesday. Whether we’ll be able to get a good look at the Mi 5 before that time we’ll have to wait and see but we’re sure to see plenty of other Mi products that aren’t always so easy to get ahold of, as well as find some time to chat with Hugo Barra who will be in attendance.

Huawei at MWC 2016

Rumored: Huawei P9 launch
When: February 21, 2 PM (5 AM PST, 8 AM EST)

Huawei has pretty officially broken into the global consciousness now, with the Mate S, Nexus 6P and Mate 8 knocking pretty much everyone’s socks off. But Huawei has been putting out great phones for years, most notably in the P series.

Some rumors indicate a later Huawei P9 launch than MWC 2016, but we’ll be at the press conference just in case it arrives early. it’s just a shame that it’s at the exact same time as the LG G5 launch. One thing is for sure though, the Huawei invite states “a brand new device” will be unveiled…

HTC at MWC 2016

Rumored: HTC One M10 launch in March

HTC may not have anything major to announce at MWC 2016. No press conference has been announced and the rumor mill has HTC doing the HTC One M10 launch at a separate event in March. A separate event would obviously help avoid losing the spotlight to Samsung and LG in Barcelona, but the M10 has got to be one of the least-anticipated flagship phones following the abysmal HTC One M9 reception last year. Still, we’ll see the UA Health Box and HTC Vive Pre again.

Oppo

Confirmed: “Breakthrough” battery and camera tech
When: February 23, 10 AM (1 AM PST, 4 AM EST)

Oppo has promised to “wow the world” with its ”breakthrough tech” at MWC 2016. We can’t yet say what it will be exactly, but we do know it relates to battery tech and cameras. Stay tuned to Android Authority for more on Oppo at MWC 2016.

Rumored: Oppo Find 9 launch

Considering Oppo will need a product in which to put its breakthrough camera and battery tech, we’re betting the Oppo Find 9 launch will be the centerpiece of Oppo’s press event.

OnePlus at MWC 2016

Confirmed: Nothing

OnePlus will have a presence at MWC 2016 as well, but won’t be launching any major new products. OnePlus isn’t holding a press conference either, so OnePlus’ MWC presence will be more about providing visitors a chance to get hands-on with their devices, accessories and power banks.

BlackBerry at MWC 2016

Rumored: A new BlackBerry Android device

The BlackBerry Vienna, BlackBerry’s rumored second Android device, could make an appearance at MWC 2016 but without a press conference scheduled this is starting to seem unlikely. There might be some other Android-related announcements to come from the company in Barcelona that don’t relate to new devices, or BlackBerry might simply want to be visible at the world’s largest mobile trade show.

Motorola/Lenovo at MWC 2016

Rumored: Lenovo Vibe launch

With everything that has been happening with Motorola lately, it seems unlikely that there will be any new Moto devices unveiled at MWC 2016. Indeed, Lenovo’s CEO has already confirmed a new Moto device in July. But its parent company is rumored to have a new Vibe smartphone ready for unveiling in Barcelona so stay tuned for more on that. Knowing Lenovo, there might also be some new Yoga tablets.

ZTE at MWC 2016

Confirmed: 5G products and “new smartphones”
When: February 21, 3 PM (6 AM PST, 9 AM EST)

ZTE issued a press release confirming that new 5G products will be shown at MWC 2016, including Ultra-Dense Network and Multi-User Shared Network technologies. The press release also mentions “smartphones and mobile devices” with a specific mention of ZTE’s AXON series.

Alcatel at MWC 2016

Rumored: Alcatel OneTouch Idol 4, Idol 4s and Pop 4 series

Alcatel has been leaking all kinds of devices in the lead up to MWC 2016: the OneTouch Idol 4, OneTouch Idol 4s and three new Pop variants: Pop 4, Pop 4S and Pop 4 Plus. The new Idol 4 models will ship with a VR headset built into the actual packaging of the phone, much like Google Cardboard.

That’s it for now, but we’l be adding more details as they arise and updating live as MWC 2016 news happens.

Huawei teases device with a stylus for MWC 2016 unveiling

There are already plenty of announcements to look forward to at this year’s MWC and Huawei has just stated that it will be added a new device into the mix. According to the teaser (above), we are most likely looking at a new product that comes equipped with a stylus.

The teaser was published to Huawei CEO Richard Yu’s Weibo account, containing the tag line “A new style of business” and a date for MWC. While a large smartphone accompanied by a stylus accessory might seem a likely candidate, the Mate 8 was only released a few months ago. Instead, this teaser could be related to the rumored Huawei MateBook.

Interestingly, the MateBook isn’t an Android device, instead it is said to be a business focused hybrid laptop powered by Windows 10. The device is expected to feature a 12.9-inch display and an Intel processor, making it quite different from the company’s usual products. The inclusion of a stylus suggests that the laptop will also work as a tablet, potentially putting it up against the likes of Microsoft’s Surface Pro series. An Android version of the MateBook has also previously been rumored, but seems less likely.

Read more: Huawei reportedly getting into the laptop business8

Huawei has become one of the fastest growing and largest smartphone brands across the globe, quickly catching up with Xiaomi in China last year. Perhaps the company is setting its sights on the PC market in search of an even bigger presence in the technology market. Either way, we should find out all about what Huawei has planned at MWC 2016 on February 21st.

Sony announces IMX318 image sensor with hybrid AF and image stabilization

Sony continues to lead the industry with its Exmor RS image sensors and the company has just announced its latest IMX318 CMOS sensor for smartphones. The new camera component boasts built-in hybrid autofocus, a staple of Sony’s latest high-end Exmor RS chips, and 3-axis electronic image stabilization.

The IMX318 is the direct successor to Sony’s IMX230 and is a 22.5 megapixel 1/2.6 size sensor, featuring a smaller 1.0μm pixel size. However, Sony says that these smaller pixels don’t affect the image quality, as its engineers have employed manufacturing technology that improves light utilization efficiency and have improved the overall circuit design to eliminate noise. Noise is typically the leading problem in tightly packed image sensors with small pixel sizes, due to circuit crosstalk and poorer light sensitivity.

Sony’s latest hybrid autofocus technology, which is based on a combination of image plane phase detection autofocus and contrast detection AF, allows for focusing times as fast as 0.03 seconds. For video enthusiasts out there, the IMX318 supports 4K capture at 30fps and features electronic image stabilization to reduce camera shake and lens distortion. The IMX318 is actually the first stacked CMOS image sensor to build these features directly into the signal processor.

Check out the videos below for a quick demonstration of what all this tech talk actually means for capturing better looking pictures and video.

Although Sony is still the biggest player in the smartphone CMOS image sensor market, the division recently reported a 12.6 percent year-on-year decline in profits. This was due to slowing Sony smartphone sales and falling demand from external customers. Perhaps the cutting edge features in the IMX318 will give Sony’s sensor business a needed boost this year.

The IMX318 is scheduled to begin shipping out to manufacturers in May 2016 and could appear in smartphones set for release in the latter half of the year.

Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge leaked and listed for sale online

Dubizzle

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge have just been leaked in full and listed for sale on a website for the equivalent of $1,140 and $1,225 respectively. Perhaps not surprisingly, this is far from official but the devices – complete with boxes – certainly look legit.

See also: Samsung Galaxy S7 rumor roundup: release date, price, specs, features72

Dubizzle

The two devices, along with the LG G5, were listed on a classifieds site in Dubai called Dubizzle with the claim they were “imported from US” with valid IMEIs. It’s impossible to tell if they are the real deal or not some elaborate scam, but they’re certainly compelling, complete with charger, microUSB cable (rather than USB Type-C), what looks to be an adapter (perhaps for Type-C) and a mystery box that might contain headphones or be anther charger.

Dubizzle

If you’re of the “blindly throw money at something exciting whether it’s true or not” character, then you can hit the link below to visit the site and throw some money at these phones. Something tells me they’re not going to be sticking around very long, and we sure hope whoever buys them helps us get to the bottom of this very peculiar leak.

What do you think, are these legit?

Exposed: Legitimate-looking LG G5 poses for pics

It is now less than a week until February 21st, The Day when Samsung will Unpack its latest products, LG will show something special, and even Huawei is now trying to get in on the action. All this before Monday the 22nd when Mobile World Congress actually begins! With such a short amount of time remaining, it’s only natural that product leaks have taken a major leap.

Courtesy of the classified section of Dubai’s Dubizzle (think Criagslist) comes what appears to be the LG G5 in the flesh…well actually in a box to be specific:

The seller apparently claims (1) the device was imported from the USA, (2) is brand new, and (3) has a valid IMEI number according to the page listing which can be found here. Noticeably missing is the physical retail packaging, however as the device – if real – is likely to be a review unit or promotional item that has been supplied sans the final box. It is also unknown if the accessories are included (perhaps under the phone) or missing.

The seller is apparently asking AED 2,500, which is roughly $680, for the device. Curiously this is not much more than the final real-deal might sell for so if this is an authentic product, it would be potentially a good deal, especially given the promise of having it before anyone else does.

The phone does look to be real, and includes a rear fingerprint sensor, the dual-camera arrangement, and the power and volume buttons re-mapped to the sides of the device where they were before the LG G2 put the business in back. The phone also looks to be made of metal, and may even have a removable bottom portion (note the segmented area) that could potentially allow users to change the battery or add components if the rumors of a so-called “modular” Magic Slot port hold true.

As the screen is not powered on, the presence of a second screen “ticker display” like that seen in the LG V10 and rumored to be present on the G5 can not be confirmed or denied. Likewise it is not possible to see the touted “Always On” display that is supposed to be included as well.

Curiously around the same time as this classified ad appeared on Dubizzle, so too did a separate one for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, both of which are significantly more expensive than this LG G5 offering.

Adding to the intrigue, the Galaxy S7 has also appeared on Dubizzle…

Dubizzle

LG G5 (rumored) spec summary

In recent weeks, details about the LG G5’s specs have become much more of an unknown “known” quantity. Thanks to a Venture Beat post from legendary leaker Evan Blass (@evleaks), the phone is supposed to have a 5.3-inch LCD display, which would make it slightly smaller than the 5.5-inch screen of the G4. The phone is said to have the same “ticker” display secondary screen that was made famous in the V10 and have a resolution of 160 X 1040 pixels.

The LG G5 will be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 820 processor, the same chip that will power the Galaxy S7 (some variants). The silicon is based on a smaller, more efficient process and features Qualcomm’s customized Kryo CPU cores and a high octane GPU, thus it is expected to be quite powerful, though hopefully not as “hot” as last year’s chip. The Snapdragon 820 will be paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and customers will be pleased to know that, despite having a metal body, a microSD card slot will be present.

As today’s leak seemingly confirms, the G5 will allegedly use a dual camera arrangement on the rear of the device, taking inspiration from the dual front cameras present on the V10. With dual cameras you can compose very wide shots as well as other potential software magic.

The battery is supposedly going to be smaller than last year’s model: just 2,800mAh as opposed to the G4’s 3,000mAh. The device is expected to have Quick Charge support, wireless charging support, and via the Magic Slot, a replaceable battery:

Other noteworthy features rumored include an IR blaster mounted at the top, a USB Type C port, and a speaker mounted on the bottom of the phone. A high resolution audio chip is likely to be present.

Like the Galaxy S7, the LG G5 will support advanced uplink carrier aggregation technology currently being deployed by SK Telecom in South Korea. This will allow users in markets that support this technology to enjoy better connectivity for applications like video calling thanks to the presence of increased upload speeds.

Wrap Up

With this latest – and possibly greatest – leak comes an almost sure-fire guarantee that the various leaked images contained in the spec part of this story do indeed match up. Of course nothing is truly official until LG itself makes it so come Sunday, so to be on the safe side make sure the salt shaker is sufficiently iodized.

With that said, we want to hear your thoughts! Do these new leaked images look legitimate? Is the seller asking too little for the potential privlidge of being the first in the world to own the phone? Leave us yout thoughts in the comments section below!

 

Sony UK: Marshmallow heading to Xperia phones from March 7th

Xperia handset owners have been patiently waiting for Android 6.0 Marshmallow to make its way to their smartphones and it looks like the wait could soon be over for some customers. The Sony Xperia GB Twitter feed has broken its update silence, hinting that Marshmallow could start arriving by March 7th 2016.

The tweet also reveals that the update is scheduled for the Xperia Z5 series, the Z4 Tablet and the Z3+. Sony has a habit of releasing big batch updates for its device, so it’s possible that a few more handsets may be included by the time we reach March. Sony has previously promised to bring Marshmallow to a wide range of its devices.

@FalseNugget it’s set to roll out from March 7th for Xperia Z5 series, Z4 Tablet and Z3+ – we will share confirmed timings when its ready

— Sony Xperia GB (@sonyxperiagb) February 15, 2016

Although Sony hasn’t been providing much in the way of information about its Marshmallow update plans, the company has been working away on its Concept for Android software. Sony also recently announced a Marshmallow beta program for the Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, and Xperia Z3 Compact in Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, suggesting that its next official Android update is nearing the final stages of development.

The March 7th release date is still a little while away, so it is probably best to take this revelation as a rough guide rather than a guaranteed deadline. Still, at least we know that the update is nearing. Just sit tight.

Samsung Galaxy S7 rumor roundup: release date, price, specs, features

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is the most anticipated smartphone of early 2016. The Galaxy S7’s specs, price, and release date will be the subject of heavy speculation ahead of its official unveiling on February 21.

If you’re excited about Samsung’s next flagship release, we’re here to bring you all the credible info on the Galaxy S7 in one neat package.

Keep it tuned, as this post will be updated often in the weeks leading up to the Galaxy S7 release.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review
• Samsung Galaxy S6 review: the change we’ve been waiting for

×

Version history

• Update – February 16. Added several leaked images and press renders, as well as official confirmation of some features.
• Update – February 2. Added the official info on the February 21 unpacked event, leaked renders, and more.
• Update – January 21. Added new details on waterproofing rumors, some changes in screen size, and a few other tweaks. 
• Update – December 29. Added info on improved software optimization and the alleged existence of two different screen sizes.
• Update – December 14. Added info from the recent WSJ report on the Galaxy S7.
• Update – December 11. Added a new video allegedly showing a CAD-based rendering of the Galaxy S7 Plus.
• Initial release – December 9. Everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S7.

Before we start

Every bit of Galaxy S7 info is hot commodity, and it’s easy to see why. While Samsung’s days of massive growth may be over, the Galaxy S series remains the best selling and most representative Android smartphone. Millions of people see Android through Samsung’s lens, making the Galaxy S7 a hugely influential device.

The massive interest in the Galaxy S7 means that every last detail of the Galaxy S7 release date or specs will be sought out, extracted, analyzed, interpreted, hashed, and rehashed by dozens of publications, some more credible than others. Almost inevitably, some false information will make its way to the public.

While we do our best to avoid the questionable stuff, please keep in mind that, lacking confirmation from Samsung, we’re dealing with rumors and speculation.

Background

Samsung’s rise to the top of the mobile industry has followed closely the ascent of the Galaxy S series. From the original Galaxy S, to the road opening S2, to the breakout S3 and the record-setting S4, the series turned Samsung into a behemoth. But, with clout and profits, came arrogance, and the weak performance of Galaxy S5 was proof that the market punishes companies that think they’re too big to fail.

Samsung tried hard to make up the lost ground with the Galaxy S6, a phone that finally brought “premium” materials to the series, coupled with top features and a toned-down software experience. But it was the Galaxy S6 Edge that really caught our eye. The dual curves of the phone gave Samsung a way to set itself apart from the dozens of nimble, aggressive competitors.

Popular as the Edge turned out to be, the market has moved on, and Samsung had to hurry the Galaxy Note 5 out to shore up another mediocre sales year. It’s telling that Samsung din not trumpet any sales milestone for its flagships this year.

And that brings us to the Galaxy S7. The stakes are even bigger for Samsung this time around, because the Galaxy S7 probably won’t have the benefit of a brand new design. More worrying for Samsung, a formidable opponent rose to prominence this year. Huawei is dominating China and making itself known in the West, making Samsung’s situation even more complicated.

Of course, Samsung isn’t just giving up without a fight. The conglomerate recently changed the head of its Mobile division. Outgoing JK Shin was replaced by Dong-jin Ko, who didn’t mince words in his first statement: “next year will be tough.”

Galaxy S7 release date

Let’s play the “guess the release date” game. Looking at the past generations of the Galaxy S series, the S4, S5, and S6 were announced between late February and mid-March. The Galaxy S4 had its standalone launch event in New York, while the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S6 were revealed on the sidelines of MWC Barcelona.

Judging on history alone, one could bet that Samsung will introduce the Galaxy S7 right before MWC, which in 2016 will be held on February 22 to 25. In that case, Sunday, February 21 looks like a good guess for the Galaxy S7 launch.

It was rumored that Samsung may choose to release the Galaxy S7 earlier than usual, just like it did with the Galaxy Note 5, which arrived three weeks ahead its regular schedule. At the time, reports suggested Samsung released the Note 5 early because it wanted to avoid the fierce fall competition and to make up for the less than stellar sales of the Galaxy S6. It looks like that won’t happen with the S7.

Twitter “leaker” @ricciolo1 claims that “nothing has changed” and that MWC Barcelona remain the time and place where Samsung will reveal the Galaxy S7. According to sources cited by WSJ, the Galaxy S7 will become available in the US in mid-March. The report says the device is “expected” to launch on the sidelines of MWC 2016. This is a very credible report, though the wording leaves some room for interpretation when it comes to the date of the launch event. Several reports that came out of Korea point to a MWC release for the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge.

The rumors were officially confirmed on February 1, when Samsung sent out invites for its pre-MWC Samsung Unpacked event in Barcelona. The event, which will see the release of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will take place on Sunday, February 21 (same day as the LG G5 launch) from 7PM.

As for the actual release date of the device, @evleaks hinted that the Galaxy S7 may become available in the United States on March 11. The same release date was mentioned in a Naver report published the next day. It looks like the Galaxy S7 will be released in Europe on March 11 as well.

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Galaxy S7 price and availability

According to rumors out of China, the Galaxy S7 may be 10% cheaper than the Galaxy S6 at launch. The caveat is we’ve heard similar rumors in the past, and at the end of the day Samsung’s flagships remained as expensive as always.

Unless Samsung decides to sacrifice profits for market share, we expect the Galaxy S7 to be priced in the typical $600-$700 (unlocked) price range.

As for availability, there’s a small possibility that Samsung will withhold the Galaxy S7 from some markets, like it did with the Note 5 in Europe. But that’s just speculation and unlikely to happen.

As mentioned above, the Galaxy S7 will ship from March 11 in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Pre-orders are rumored to start right after the launch event, with a free Gear VR thrown in to early customers.

See also: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ review79

Samsung Galaxy S7 specs

With the Galaxy S6, Samsung made some divisive decisions: most controversially, the microSD and removable battery were sacrificed on the altar of design. Will Samsung do an about face with the S7? Should we expect other controversial choices?

Display

Prediction: ~5.1-inch SAMOLED Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels), Gorilla Glass 4 OR 5.5-inch SAMOLED Quad HD

The latest rumors indicate that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will stick with the same 5.1-inch screen of its predecessor, though early rumors suggested that the size might bump to 5.2-inches. The rumor mill stands behind the claim that the Galaxy S7 Edge model will change screen size however. If the reports are correct, the Edge will have the same QHD resolution as the standard model, but will offer a larger 5.5-inch screen.

We don’t think Samsung will come up with a 4K display, like Sony – sort of – did with the Xperia Z5. It’s simply too soon, and the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, at least for now.

Processor & RAM

Prediction: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (USA, China); Samsung Exynos 8890 (Europe, Asia); 4GB RAM.

This section is also fairly predictable. Several reports suggest that Samsung will once again use a mix of Qualcomm and Exynos chips. According to Electronic Times, Samsung plans to use the Snapdragon 820 in the US and China, and the in-house Exynos 8890 in other markets. Either choice should provide great performance, despite alarmist rumors about overheating issues.

Given that the Note 5 has 4GB of RAM, Samsung will probably use the same amount on the Galaxy S6, though it’s possible it will stick with 3GB, which is still very good.

Storage

Prediction: 32/64GB, microSD for Galaxy S7 only.

The Galaxy S6 came with a pricey 128GB version, but Samsung dropped the option for the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. It’s possible that the 128GB model was a sales failure, and Samsung considered that not enough people want that much storage. If that’s the case, it’s likely that the Galaxy S7 will be offered in 32GB and 64GB  models only.

There’s a rumor from a Chinese leaker (with a few good reports under their belt) that Samsung has “listened to the customers’ voice” and decided to bring back the microSD card slot to the Galaxy S7. There’s no technical reason why Samsung couldn’t do that, and indeed that seems like a good way to win (back) some customers. But would Samsung change its mind so easily?

According to the WSJ, Samsung will bring back the microSD slot, but only on the regular Galaxy S7. Presumably, the curved design of the Galaxy S7 Edge doesn’t allow for a slot.

Cameras

Prediction: 12MP ISOCELL shooter, 5MP front cam

The WSJ reports that the Galaxy S7 camera will bring big improvements in low-light photography. The camera will be flush with the body of the device, according to the same source.

Two distinct rumors about the main camera on the Galaxy S7 surfaced in early November. The first one claims that Samsung is going to source the sensor from Sony, the undisputed leader of the sensor industry. Samsung is reportedly interested in the Sony IMX300, the 25MP sensor used in the Xperia Z5. According to the second rumor, Samsung is going to use an in-house ISOCELL sensor of just 12MP, but with larger pixels, for improved low-light sensitivity. The most recent rumors seem to speak up in favor of a switch back to ISOCELL technology for their latest flagship.

So, which rumor is correct? We tend towards the one pegging the Sony IMX300 sensor, but we’ll definitely need more supporting evidence in this area. One Korean source said the camera experience is where we should look for real improvements in the Galaxy S7, so signs are promising.

Battery

Prediction: 3000 or 3600mAh 

The Galaxy S6 has a decent, but not great 2,550-mAh battery, and in real life, screen on time is typically unimpressive. Is Samsung going to be doing something about it? Sure sounds like it. The latest rumor indicates that the Galaxy S7 will offer a 3000 mAh non-removable battery, with the S7 Edge jumping up to a 3600mAh battery. The larger battery in the S7 Edge makes sense, considering the screen (and therefore body) is said to be bigger as well.

The 3600 mAh battery of the Galaxy S7 Edge was confirmed in this FCC listing.

Fast charging and wireless charging will also most definitely be making a comeback. According to sources talking to WSJ, the Galaxy S7 will be able to get to a full day’s charge in just 30 minutes, or faster in some conditions.

See also: Wireless charging technology: what you need to know27

Connectivity

Prediction: LTE Cat. 12

All versions of the Galaxy S7 are expected to support LTE Cat 12 download speeds, which means that, in ideal conditions, download speeds can reach 600Mbps. In real life, you probably won’t be able to get anywhere near these theoretical high speeds.

Galaxy S7 features

Samsung took software in a much improved direction starting with the Galaxy S6, but recent rumors suggest that this is only the beginning. Reportedly Samsung is working with Google engineers to optimize TouchWiz to levels that will “rival iOS”. While that’s a pretty lofty claim, the idea of an even faster, smoother TouchWiz is certainly an appealing one. As for what else we can expect?

Samsung Pay and the fingerprint sensor will make a return, probably in improved forms. In terms of new stuff, one Chinese source claims that Samsung will integrate Synaptics’ ClearForce technology, a force-sensing solution. If that’s accurate, Samsung may be taking another page from Apple’s book – 3D Touch. Synaptics announced that ClearForce will be arriving in smartphones in early 2016, but for now, we are taking this report with a big grain of salt. Incidentally or not, Samsung has a patent on a force sensing implementation.

On December 14, WSJ reported that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will indeed feature a pressure sensing display. The publication did not specify whether this technology is supplied by Synaptics or other vendor. Another feature that could be made available on some versions of the phone is retina scanning. This feature analyzes the pattern of the blood vessels in the retina, which is unique to every person. The report suggests this retina scanning feature could be similar with the feature found on some ZTE devices called Eyeprint ID. This uses the front camera to scan the retina. To be clear, this feature is not set in stone, and Samsung may choose not to include it.

Another ace in Samsung’s sleeve may be the use of a “super-high performance, 32-Bit Stereo DAC targeted at audiophile-grade mobile applications” from ESS Technology. This chip should provide extended sound range with minimal distortion.

Finally, Samsung will adopt a USB Type C connector for the S7, part of the industry’s general trend towards the new standard.

Galaxy S7 design

After years of criticism, Samsung finally abandoned plastic in favor of metal and glass for the Galaxy S6, to generally enthusiastic response. There’s no doubt that the S6 is the nicest Galaxy S yet, but how will Samsung top that?

We don’t expect any major changes in terms of appearance. Samsung will probably tweak what is already a refined and minimalist design, without departing too much from the Galaxy S6 template. Our hunch is supported by a recent report from the Korea Times, citing a source with knowledge of the matter that had this to say about the Galaxy S7:

“As the S6 and S6 Edge represented progress, the S7 will have improvements both in picture quality, performance and some other new features. But because smartphones have already been commoditized, you don’t need to spend more on a surface overhaul…The key point is can consumers enjoy content with enhanced viewing quality and boosted processing speed.”

Assuming there will be any visual changes to speak of, Samsung will probably just redraw accents like the camera and the home button, and perhaps offer some new finishes. At least one rumor claims that Samsung will seal things up a bite tighter though, allowing for waterproofing with the latest flagship. This rumor was then confirmed when Samsung Indonesia published a teaser page that mentioned waterproofing as one of the key features of the Galaxy S7.

On December 10, @Onleaks released a video showing renders based on alleged CAD schematics of the Galaxy S7 Plus, a 6-inch version of the S7. The French leaker claims that his report was fully independent from the one from GSMArena.com. If that’s the case, there’s an increased chance that the design seen in these leaks is legit, though we’ll need further confirmation.

On December 14, WSJ reported that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge won’t bring “major departures” and the changes will be “less striking” compared to last year.

Finally, @evleaks put out several credible images alleged to be press renders of the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge.

The images show a design that resembles the Galaxy S6/Edge closely.

Two color options are visible, gold for the Galaxy S7 Edge and “all-black” for the Galaxy S7.

A series of hands-on images of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge leaked over the past days. Here’s a selection:

 

Galaxy S7 Edge

2015 has been the year of the Edge. After an experimental phase with the Note Edge, Samsung went all in with the Galaxy S6 Edge, and people loved it. The company underestimated demand for the curved smartphone, which reportedly made up half of the total Galaxy S6 sales, compared to the 20% that Samsung had predicted internally. Samsung eventually ramped up production and took the concept further with the 5.7-inch Galaxy S6 Edge+.

Rumors suggest the Galaxy S7 will have a 5.1-inch display, while the Edge will offer a larger 5.5-inch screen. There was also some brief talk about a Galaxy S7 Plus coming in at 6 inches, but it looks like that device was cancelled or that it never existed.

At this stage, it’s hard to say which rumor will prove correct, though our own sources seem to point to two versions only. It’s also worth noting that the WSJ backs the idea of there being both a regular and Edge Galaxy S7, though no word on screen sizes.

Bits and pieces

• Rumored code numbers:
  • Verizon (SM-G930V, SM-G935V)
  • Sprint (SM-G930P, SM-G935P)
  • US Cellular (SM-G930R4, SM-G935R4)
  • AT&T (SM-G930A, SM-G935A)
  • T-Mobile (SM-G930T, SM-G935T)
  • International unlocked (SM-G930F, SM-G935F)
  • China (SM-G9300, SM-G9350)
  • Canada (SM-G930W8, SM-G935W8)
  • Korea (SM-G930 S/K/L, SM-G935 S/K/L)
• Code name: Project Lucky
• Rumored accessories: Glitter Cover, S View Cover, Clear Cover, Keyboard Cover
• Along the Galaxy S7, Samsung will announce an upgrade program, that will allow customers to swap devices every year, in exchange of a monthly fee.
• Following on the Iron Man edition of the Galaxy S6, Samsung is rumored to be preparing a special edition of the Galaxy S7 featuring a Batman vs Superman theme.
• Check out the Galaxy S7 wallpapers!

Wrap up

There you have it – our best guesses of the release date, specs, and features of the Galaxy S7. Nothing is official just yet, and as always, conflicting reports and rumors will surface between now and Samsung’s big launch event next year.

One thing is clear. The Galaxy S7 will be a turning point for Samsung and for the mobile industry.

• Best Android phones (December 2015)
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates roundup – December 4, 2015

Sound off

What do you hope to see on the Galaxy S7? And what do you think about our predictions?