Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Most Conflicting Rumors

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 launch at Lincoln Center
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 launch at Lincoln Center Fionna Agomuoh

Rumors for the next Samsung flagship are in full swing and more seem to be popping up every day. There are many interesting specs rumored for the the upcoming Galaxy Note smartphone, including USB Type-C, water resistance and expandable storage. However, not all rumors are cut and dry. Many prospective features for the upcoming flagship conflict with other possible features. Here’s a rundown of some of the most conflicting rumored features for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 or Samsung Galaxy Note 6?

When news of the upcoming Samsung flagship first began to surface, pundits referred to it as the Galaxy Note 6 because the last phablet is called the Galaxy Note 5. However, now rumors suggest Samsung may bypass the Galaxy Note 6 moniker and call its next flagship the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung supposedly doesn’t want it’s next devices to viewed as less of an improvement than it’s current Galaxy S7 flagship due to the lower number sequence.

The Galaxy Note line has always been one generation behind the Galaxy S line because the original Galaxy S launched in 2010, while the original Galaxy Note launched in 2011. Samsung has always seen the two device series as non-competing and targeting different markets. Many of the features introduced on the Galaxy Note devices have ended up on the following Galaxy S device and vice versa.

Most recently, consumers saw features like 4GB of RAM on the Galaxy Note 5 before it was introduced on the Galaxy S7. The Galaxy Note 7 (or Note 6) is expected to include specs like water resistance and expandable storage , after they were reintroduced on the Galaxy S7.

At this time there is little evidence on the Galaxy Note 7 claim being true outside of initial ET News report. Several leaks of supposed Samsung marketing material with Galaxy Note 7 branding has recently surfaced; however, most are skeptical of their validity.


Iris Scanner Or Not?

Recent rumors suggest the Galaxy Note 7 may include an iris scanner as a new feature for biometric security and several clues have surfaced backing up the claim. Evidence of an iris scanner for the device has showed up in Samsung user agent profiles as well as in trademark listings. Samsung recently trademarked the terms “Samsung Iris” and “Samsung Eyeprint,” which propelled the idea of an iris scanner for the Galaxy Note 7 early on.

However, pundits note that Samsung recently released a device with an iris scanner. The Galaxy Tab Iris is a tablet Samsung created for government and businesses in India, which includes the biometric feature.

At this time it is not known whether Samsung’s development of iris scanning technology is strictly for enterprise purposes or whether the feature will make it on to more consumer based devices. Samsung has had a big enterprise push for more consumer based devices for several years. Many features have been introduced to Samsung devices to appeal to businesses, including fingerprint scanners and larger RAM.

4GB RAM or 6GB RAM?

Samsung introduced 4GB of RAM onto its smartphones in 2015 with the Galaxy Note 5, but rumors suggest the manufacturer will make another memory jump and include 6GB of RAM on the Galaxy Note 7. Reports claim Samsung is preparing its upcoming device for more VR intensive applications. Google announced at it’s recent Google I/O conference that Samsung is among the manufacturers releasing device in accordance with its Daydream virtual reality standard . This has led many pundits to believe upcoming smartphones will see major hardware upgrades. However, Google has not indicated exactly what Daydream specifications include.

Samsung began mass-producing 6GB RAM modules in September , which has propelled rumors that the Galaxy Note 6 would feature a RAM upgrade, but this does not automatically confirm the feature. Samsung developed 4GB RAM modules in 2013, but the feature did not make it on to smartphones until two years later.

However, there are a number of smartphones sporting 6GB of RAM already available. ZTE has a 6GB RAM model of its Axon 7 smartphone, but the variant is available only in China. The standard model offers 4GB of RAM. ZTE claims the smartphone is “Daydream Ready” but has not indicated which or if both models are compatible with Google’s VR standard.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 823?

In 2015, Samsung used the same Exynos 7420 processing chip in the Galaxy Note 5 that it did in the Galaxy S6. This makes it easy to assume that the Galaxy Note 7 may include the same chip as the Galaxy S7, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. However, rumors suggest the smartphone may instead feature a new chip , the Snapdragon 823.

The processor is rumored to launch later this month at Mobile World Congress Shanghai and to be featured in a new device by LeEco not long after; however, none of these rumors have been confirmed. Qualcomm has a rather erratic release schedule for its chips. The Snapdragon 820 released in November 2015 and was featured in handset beginning in early 2016. But chips like the Snapdragon 808 and Snapdragon 810 were announced in early 2014 but weren’t implemented into devices until mid-to-late 2015.

The next chips in Qualcomm’s high-end series are expected to be the Snapdragon 823, the Snapdragon 825 and the Snapdragon 830. It is possible some of these chips may be featured in devices during 2016 and some may be chips for devices in 2017 and beyond.

Even if the Snapdragon 823 is announced later this month, it may still be too late for implementation in the Galaxy Note 7, as the smartphone is scheduled for announcement and release in August.

Android N or Android 6.0 Marshmallow?

Google’s next OS, Android N, may launch during the summer but it is possible the Galaxy Note 7 may still ship with the current software, Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Not only do recent rumors suggest this, but it has been Samsung’s usual release pattern for some time. Typically, the next Galaxy Note device hits markets before a new Google software version. But rumors hint that Android N may be announced as early as July. Google has also indicated it will announce the name of Android N in coming weeks.

After Google showcased Android Daydream, pundits have wondered if future devices like the Galaxy Note 7 would need Andrid N to be compatible with the VR standard. However, ZTE’s “Daydream Ready” Axon 7 runs Android Marshmallow. Like the other conflicting rumors, all claims currently remain unconfirmed.

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