Samsung Speeds Up The Galaxy S7 To Take On Apple

Samsung’s next flagship device could be hitting the market sooner than expected, according to reports which say the company is greatly accelerating its development process.

South Korean newspaper Electronic Times has claimed that Samsung is planning to bring forward the release of its next Galaxy S device, most probably the Galaxy S7, in order to combat the huge success recently seen in Apple’s latest iPhone launch, Reuters reported.

The last Galaxy S devices, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, were released back at Mobile World Congress in March, with a larger-screen successor, the S6 Edge +, back in August.

Galaxy S7?

In the past, Samsung has typically tried not to clash with Apple when it comes to cycles of its latest devices, preferring to announce new releases in the spring, with the latter doing so in the autumn.

However the immediate success of Apple’s iPhone 6S and 6S Plus devices, which sold 13 million units in just three days of being on sale, has evidently prompted a rethink from Samsung.

Its most recent set of financial results in July, the company warned that its quarterly earnings were likely to miss analysts’ expectations because its flagship Galaxy S6 smartphone failed to reignite the smartphone market.

This sales disappointment came after lacklustre sales of last year’s predecessor, the Galaxy S5.

The company has recently struggled with a slump in the mobile device market and competition from Chinese vendors, as well as Apple, with reports last month saying that Samsung is reportedly planning to cut as much as 10 percent of staff at its South Korean headquarters.

The report also said that Samsung is also cutting back on general expenses by 50 percent next year, in a pre-emptive move because of the ongoing slump in the smartphone market.

A Samsung spokeswoman said the firm does not comment on rumours or speculation, but the report will doubtlessly kick off rounds of suspicion as to what the expected Galaxy S7 will bring.

Last month, images leaked on to Chinese social media site Weibo appeared to show a new Samsung device which is able to fold in two to be carried around, with screens on both sides.

The device, which has apparently been in development for more than a year, is codenamed ‘Project Valley’.

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