Samsung Galaxy S7 Could Challenge iPhone 6s And 6s Plus In January

It was predicted that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S7 would be released earlier in the new year than usual. Now, many sites, including International Business Times, are predicting a possible January release.

“The Samsung Galaxy S7 is expected to release in the first quarter of the next year. Although the South Korean tech giant has been releasing its Galaxy S series smartphones in month of March or April, early speculations suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will be released in January this time.”

SamMobile adds to the speculation and even lists some of the Galaxy S7’s possible specs.

“The Galaxy S7 is expected to be powered by three different processors based on market, and feature a display with Apple’s 3D Touch-like technology. It will also have a USB Type-C port, and possibly a dual-camera setup with a new 20-megapixel primary sensor.”

“As if to silence the doubters, Samsung has not one, but two flagships on offer — the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge — and they’re surrounded by questions. Can they restore Samsung to its former glory? Has the company figured out how to build a truly interesting smartphone again?”

USA Today gave the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge an almost perfect review.

“Let’s cut to the chase: Samsung nailed it with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge,” writes author Edward C. Baig.

Baig praised the design of both phones, especially the Galaxy S6 Edge. He said the display on the S6 Edge is eye-popping and noted that there were a lot of functions you could use on the “Edge” screen. Like other critics, Baig liked how the new Galaxy S6 phones weren’t full of gimmicks, but real and genuine surprises.

Unfortunately, both phones didn’t restore Samsung to the brand’s former glory. Within a month of their release, reports of poor sales went viral. Exact sales figures haven’t been released, but they are a far cry from Samsung’s Galaxy S3 and even the Galaxy S4. Even the release of the much-loved Galaxy Note 5 hasn’t done the trick.

Perhaps one of the problems Samsung is facing is that they are trying to make their phones too similar to the iPhone and taking unique Samsung features, such as a microSD card slot and battery, away. Many have even make jokes about Samsung turning into Apple on Twitter.

@CNET and yet their latest phone the Samsung Galaxy s6 looks like an iPhone 6 and they include earphones that looks like apple's EarPods

— Jacobo Perez? (@jake2194) June 6, 2015

It’s not known yet if the Samsung Galaxy S7 will work with the first commercial version of the Gear VR, Samsung’ s mobile virtual reality headset. The new headset, which is built by Oculus, uses Samsung’s phones and their screens to provide an immersive experience. The first commercial version of the Gear VR will be available by Thanksgiving. Samsung first released a developer’s version of the Gear VR in late 2014 for the Galaxy Note 4.

Samsung desperately needs a hit and it looks like the Galaxy S7 could be the device that turns things around for the Korean company. Are you excited about the Samsung Galaxy S7? Let us know in the comments section.

[Feature photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images]