Galaxy S7 parts specs appear: big 1/2.5" camera sensor size and a powerful speaker

posted by Daniel P. / Feb 19, 2016, 6:49 AM

There has been one unprecedented barrage of leaks and speculation around the most eagerly awaited phone of the season - Galaxy S7 - to the point that we are starting to wonder what else is left to know, and if Samsung cares at all about leaks any more, like it did in the past. We kid, the company probably does, but information about the upcoming S7 and its S7 Edge sidekick is pouring from the least expected places - perhaps that is why Samsung can't control the flood.

In today's episode of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge leaks, we are bringing you a somewhat funny confirmation of the full specs sheet, courtesy of one obscure Spanish bank - La Caixa - that has jumped the gun on its collaboration campaign with Samsung Pay, and an internal poster for its cooperation has leaked out. We immediately went to La Caixa's web site, and searched for Galaxy S7. Sure enough, a "https://portal.lacaixa.es/campaigns_es.html" link popped up, with an HTML blurb that has the "Galaxy S7" mentioned in the code, so the poster you see in the slideshow below is most likely real.

Granted, the specs sheet listed there uses our own Galaxy S7 infographic that we made for Phone Arena's rumor roundup video, but still the bank seems content to go with it, so the specs speculation that we've listed might turn out to be legit, after all. So far we've seen tangential evidence on everything that's mentioned here, save for the pressure-sensitive display, so this one might be out of the picture in the end.

Camera

How about that rumored brand new 12 MP camera module in the S7, though, anything novel about it? Well, we are glad you asked, as its specs have also leaked out, courtesy of the Zauba import database, where a bunch of parts for an SM-G930F handset have been listed. The G930F is none other than the international version of the Galaxy S7, so the listings definitely caught our interest.

Tucked among other interesting tidbits about the S7, like that it will have two speakers (one is most likely the earpiece) of 1.2W and the generous 1.5W strength, respectively, is a treasure trove of info about the 12 MP camera module. The unit is apparently with a 1/2.5" sensor size, which is big for a mobile phone, and at this resolution means that the individual pixels will be larger than the typical 1.12 micron ones that can be found in your average phone, thus able to collect more light, at least in theory. Quick calculations for a 1/2.5" sensor with 5.76mm width and 4.29 height, and 12 million light-collecting buckets on it, return a pixel size of at least 1.4 microns, depending on the space between the pixels. This is roughly the same size of the pixels in the iPhone 6 camera, but, of course, at a 50% higher 12 megapixels resolution.

In any case, going for a smaller resolution count than the previous Galaxy S6 edition, but bigger pixels, is a welcome change from the pointless megapixel race, and should help the Galaxy S7 perform pretty well in low-light scenarios. Given that the S6 already shoots nice pics in low-light, we can't wait to grab the first samples from the S7 for comparison. That moment shouldn't be far away, as we are armed and ready at the MWC expo, eager to relay everything we learn about Samsung's next best thing to you as quickly and thoroughly as humanly possible. Stay tuned.

Galaxy S7 specs and parts info

source: @Christian_90x (Twitter) via El Androide Libre (translated) & Zauba

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Display 5.1" 1440 x 2560 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 5 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, Quad-core, 2200 MHz

Storage 32 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3000 mAh(28h 3G talk time)

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61 Comments

1. TyrionLannister unregistered

1/2.5" is disappointingly low size. Even the nexus 6P has a bigger sensor at 1/2.3". Heck, even the 2013 Xperia Z1 has bigger sensor. And it is not 'much bigger than S6". S6 has a 1/2.6" sensor. This is just cheaping out on components or sacrificing optics just for smaller camera hump. Really shameful.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 6:50 AM 35

2. VVayne

Posts: 103; Member since: Oct 01, 2015

OTOH Smaller sensor means brighter aperture. Which means faster shutter speed, and less noise. Hope Samsung found the perfect values for these variables, when optimizing their camera software.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 6:55 AM 1

4. TyrionLannister unregistered

"Smaller sensor means brighter aperture". No, it doesn't. It only means the f-stop is lower, which isn't the real aperture size. Samsung will just make a f/1.7 sensor and market it as bright, while the real aperture won't be bigger than a regular S6. A smaller sensor is NEVER good, no matter how much you optimize software. You need the optics. Of course you can screw up on software, but Samsung's, LG's and Apple's software is already at the point of diminishing returns.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:00 AM 18

6. hung2900

Posts: 966; Member since: Mar 02, 2012

Sony has big mobile camera sensors for years. But the quality is so underwhelming.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:08 AM 12

8. TyrionLannister unregistered

Doesn't matter. At least they're not cheaping out on sensors. I don't care even if s7 obliterates every other smartphone camera. Because it still doesn't justify them sacrificing optics. Hardware is samsung's turf, if they don't go all out on that, they don't deserve any respect.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:13 AM 20

25. joevsyou

Posts: 1091; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

doesn't matter? LOL IF sony is offering better hardware but lackluster results then you really can't use them back up your claim

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 8:25 AM 4

32. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Joevsyou in fact he can use it to back is claim because bad hardware cant be solved. Bad software can!

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 8:48 AM 3

30. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

For a rare time i agree with Tyrion.. Crappy camera software can be solved by using another camera app. Crappy hardware cant be solved beside changing the phone!

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 8:46 AM 3

56. DoggyDangerous

Posts: 1028; Member since: Aug 28, 2015

Your point is valid and no one can disagree with you on this

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 11:19 AM 1

35. zeeBomb

Posts: 2318; Member since: Aug 14, 2014

I have a feeling that if this is true, the s7 and edge will have a similar camera setup on the international version like the s6 but more mp. Who knows if the exynos ver is a completely different phone!

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 9:39 AM 0

29. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Hung. thats because of software only. Try any sony phone with another app like stock google one or camera fv-5 then you will see what they can really do.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 8:45 AM 0

10. Macready

Posts: 1824; Member since: Dec 08, 2014

Of course the real aperture will be larger than in the S6. Had the F stop been the same, it would be larger because the sensor is a hair larger. But the lower F stop actually adds to that difference..

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:16 AM 0

20. VVayne

Posts: 103; Member since: Oct 01, 2015

It does. Because the pixels on the sensor are bigger. But yeah, we'll see. Thanks for sharing your opinion.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:49 AM 1

21. TyrionLannister unregistered

Pixels are bigger, yes. But there are less of them.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:59 AM 1

36. j2001m

Posts: 3061; Member since: Apr 28, 2014

Tyrian the thing you missing is Samsung as I think removed the green sub-pixels that make the pixels smaller to start with, so pa did not think of that when they was working out the pixel size, that and I also think it takes in the image at 24mp and then. Makes the 12mp image

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 9:43 AM 0

46. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

the sensor is 12 mp so its cant take a 24 mp sorry.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 11:01 AM 0

58. DoggyDangerous

Posts: 1028; Member since: Aug 28, 2015

Any source of 24mp? No one can do pixel binning better than Nokia. I dont think samsung has developed such a software. It took 5 years for nokia to perfect the pixel binning technique. No one else want to invest in software development of such technique.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 11:25 AM 0

11. mixedfish

Posts: 1560; Member since: Nov 17, 2013

It's the same size, except the Samsung uses 16:9 sensors where as other manufacturers use traditional 4:3. Personally I think 16:9 photos is dumb, but hey people enjoy 16:9 pictures on 16:9 screens lol

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:20 AM 0

15. yoosufmuneer

Posts: 1518; Member since: Feb 14, 2015

I think that 4:3 photos are dumb

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:31 AM 18

17. TyrionLannister unregistered

Do you have a 4:3 screen? The only 4:3 screen I have is iPad. All other screens including my phone, laptop, desktop or TV are 16:9. I prefer widescreen photos as they fit the screen perfectly. 3:2 is fine too, but 4:3 is a bit too square. And NO, a 1/2.5" 16:9 sensor makes it even smaller than a 1/2.5" 4:3 sensor. So it's even worse.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:33 AM 21

45. talon95

Posts: 1000; Member since: Jul 31, 2012

True, 11% less pixels are being used to form the 16:9 image, but the quality of that image is exactly the same. It's just being cropped in height and increased in width. So it's just preference based on the screen you view it on or your printing paper.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 11:00 AM 0

48. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

In fact some sensor are 4:3 and some 16:9 There is also a difference in quality when you use the full size of the sensor vs using 11% less its small but there.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 11:02 AM 0

12. Doctorluv unregistered

Yes "TyionLannister", but which phone take the better picture?

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:26 AM 1

14. TyrionLannister unregistered

Obviously S7 will take better pictures. BRITECELL enough will make a 3 dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio. Then again, it's not that the camera would be crap which I'm bashing about. I'm upset as Samsung is not giving it all they've got. Then again, it's a good news as I won't be jealous of the S7 users.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 7:30 AM 16

23. pmsap

Posts: 105; Member since: May 26, 2015

My interest in LG G5 just increased considerably.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 8:22 AM 2

26. DRS1977

Posts: 679; Member since: May 27, 2015

You will be jealous, because S7 users will be taking the best pictures again. You sound like a lame spec fanboy, grow up seriously.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 8:35 AM 4

28. TyrionLannister unregistered

"You sound like a lame spec fanboy, grow up seriously." Who are you to judge me? Besides, I want the best hardware in the phone I'm paying 700$, and a 1/2.5" sensor won't cut it. They can put at least 1/2.3" but they are cheaping out. I hate companies who compromise on hardware. I guess I'll root for just Apple now.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 8:44 AM 7

51. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

the Camera on apple iphone 6S and 6S + is nothing special so i dont see the point to root for them.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 11:06 AM 7

61. DareDevil01

Posts: 65; Member since: Jan 15, 2012

"I guess I'll root for just Apple now." What? Apple has a smaller sensor and their night shots are worse...

posted on Feb 24, 2016, 2:46 AM 0

50. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

I am still not convinced the S6 took the best pictures all around. Tested the S6 , LG G4 , moto x play and even the new nexus and when used correctly they are all almost as good as each others. S6 has the most detail but only slightly. G4 has better color reproduction and contrast but slightly. moto x play is good all around but slower to focus. and the new nexus are great but a bit less detail.

posted on Feb 19, 2016, 11:05 AM 2

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