Samsung Galaxy S7 Leak: OEM Still On The Phone Race And Maybe With A Folding Screen; Or Changes Are Minimal

On Monday, iDigital Times reported a Samsung Galaxy S7 leak and it was about a patent application by its maker, suggesting that the original equipment manufacturer is working on a phone that can unfold its screen so it can become a tablet.

It means the South Korean Galaxy mobile device maker is still up for the smartphone race. An analyst from Creative Strategies Ben Bajarin predicted the Asian tech company is in the midst of "The Innovator's Dilemma" where an innovator runs out of new ideas.

In Samsung's case, it perhaps, cannot think of new ideas anymore to keep its products attractive or simply cannot stop its rivals from grabbing market share with affordable products.

It is too early to see if the prediction is true, but the patent application does not only gives a possible Samsung Galaxy S7 leak but also shows that the South Korean innovator is determined to stay in the competition for long.

The folding patent could mean the next Samsung smartphone will have the size of a usual phone but can be in a "folded state" and "open state," akin to a book. It can also look like a flap.

Meanwhile, recent reports from The Korea Times said that the South Korean tech titan is planning to make minimal changes to the next Galaxy S.

"As the S6 and S6 Edge represented progress, the S7 will have improvements both in picture quality, performance and other some new features. But because smartphones have already been commoditized, you don't need to spend more on a surface overhaul," it said.

Forbes noted that there were complaints about the impractical glass back on the Galaxy S6, which is sticky when the hands are warm, and slippy when cold; not to mention the ditching of expandable storage and removable battery, which have no signs of coming back.

According to The Korea Times, "The overall surface design for the S7 will be similar to S6 or Note 5 phablet, though it will be much more powerful, speedier and brighter thanks to the use of the latest processors, new DRAMs with expanded storage [4GB seems likely] and OLED displays."

Forbes likewise concluded that as per the recent Samsung Galaxy S7 leak, the flagship will likely be "very fast, very bright but very impractical addition to the Galaxy line."