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More Galaxy S7 leaks: Less bloatware, iPhone’s Live Photos and always-on screen

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 9:13PM EST
Galaxy S7 Bloatware Live Photos
Image: Samsung

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We’re just two days away from Samsung’s first major Unpacked event of the year, and it’s no secret that the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge will be the stars of the show. The two devices have appeared in countless leaks and we know pretty much everything there is to know about their designs and specs. But now a fresh report gives us even more details about the software that’ll run on these two Android 6.0 Marshmallow phones.

And yes, there’s at least one iPhone 6s feature coming to Galaxy S7 buyers.

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Talking to a single source it claims has experience with Samsung’s Galaxy S7 handset, Talk Android uncovered a slew of details about the upcoming handsets, especially the software side.

The site says that Samsung has really cut down on bloatware this time. We’ve heard this before for previous Galaxy S and Galaxy Note launches, but it finally looks like Samsung is getting the message. There’s a “lite” version of TouchWiz preloaded on top of Marshmallow that contains only a handful of Samsung apps, including a browser, file manager, music player, video player, gallery and voice recorder. The other Samsung apps a user might want to install will still be available, but from the Google Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy app store.

Samsung will only sell a 32GB version of the Galaxy S7 in the United States, the blog says, but that’s because the microSD slot is making a triumphant return so buyers will be able to handle their own memory needs.

Talk Android also says that it can confirm Samsung’s Live Photos competitor. First launched on the iPhone 6s in September 2015, the feature lets users record a short video with each photo, as long as it’s enabled. The feature requires 3D Touch on iPhone to activate, but there’s nothing to indicate that Samsung will have 3D Touch-like features on the Galaxy S7 in Talk Android’s report. Instead, you’ll just have to tap a little icon that will appear in the top right in the gallery while viewing Live Photos, and it will animate them.

Finally, the display will always be on, consuming just 5% of the battery every 10 hours. The screen will show a limited number of things, including a clock, a calendar with missed notifications and an image.

The two handsets are tipped to have 3,000 mAh and 3,500 mAh batteries, and will both support Doze, the battery-saving mode Google built into Android 6.0. Getting two-day battery life might not be too difficult, the site says, and wireless charging is still here to stay. When it comes to screen size, the Galaxy S7 will have a 5.1-inch display and the Galaxy S7 edge will have a 5.5-inch screen.

Both phones are going to be waterproof, and both will lack the USB Type-C port. In fact, the image above posted on Chinese site MyDrivers shows the micro USB port on the Galaxy S7, so we can likely consider that to be confirmed.

Finally, the phones will be available in black, gold and silver, and Best Buy might launch a promo to include a free wireless charger with the purchase of a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge.

Mind you, these are all unconfirmed details about Samsung’s upcoming flagships, but there’s not long to wait before Samsung finally reveals everything there is to know about them on Sunday — and BGR will be there live to cover all the action.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.