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Is this the Samsung Galaxy S7 - First alleged CAD images leak
June 03, 2025
In all of 2015, perhaps no mobile device was as massively polarizing as the flagship which Samsung launched in March. TheGalaxy S6and its svelte sibling, theGalaxy S6 Edge, eschewed just about every Samsung-staple there was. Gone was the liberal use of polycarbonate plastic and aheavy-handed TouchWizuser interface.
Along with these changes however was the controversial decision to remove support for both microSD and a user-replaceable battery; two things thatcame together and caused a commotion. In the months that proceeded, Samsung only served to further alienate key constituents when it released theGalaxy Note 5andGalaxy S6 Edge+.
There has been much speculation about whatnext year’sflagship will bring: everything fromthe release datetothe designtothe specshave been rumored. Last weeka report out of Koreasuggested that the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge will have “little overhaul” and instead focus on internal hardware component updates.
Today we have whatmay bethe first CAD images of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge courtesy of case manufacturerIT Skins. Prepare for some surprises:
Let’s break each of these images down and dissect what wemaybe dealing with provided they are accurate.
Picture 1: the front
Based on the above render, four things can be gleaned:
Picture 2: the back
Based on the above render, we can observe the following:
Picture 3: the “complete”
Based on the above full-device render, we note the following:
Dimensions
Case manufacturer IT Skins has unfortunately taken down the link from which these renders originated. Thanks toGSM Arenahowever, who was first to report on this story, we have additional information involving the measurements of the device, which were apparently posted along with the renders.
There will be a standard sized Galaxy S7 measuring 143.37 x 70.8 x 6.94 mm. This is virtually the same as the Galaxy S6. There willalsobeanothermodel, the Galaxy S7 Plus, which measures in at 163.32 x 82.01 x 7.82 mm. The larger model is suggested to come with a 6-inch screen.
Analysis and Speculation
Now that the noteworthy news is out in the open, let’s analyze what maybe may be.
The Galaxy S7 Plus
Fone Arena
Perhaps the largest bombshell here is that which isn’t pictured at all, but which is…just large. Literally so. That Samsung would make a Galaxy S7 Plus in and of itself does not come as a surprise given the Galaxy S6 Edge+ which released in August. That the device may have a 6-inch display on the other hand, is somewhat surprising. The company has long demonstrated that it doesn’t wish to approach such sizes with its flagship smartphone offerings and thus 2016 could potentially be a big year indeed.
The idea of a 6-inch S7 also addresses one of the chief criticisms some raised about the Galaxy S6 Edge+, that it was released too late in the year. Many of these comments argued that the proper timing for such a large screen variant would have been a simultaneous release with the S6 itself, or else immediately following. By offering a large variant from the get-go, although there is no indication Samsung would actually do this, it would enable the major choice to be made from the start, instead of surprising customers with it next summer.
The Galaxy S7 Edge
None of the information leaked provided any details about theGalaxy S7 Edge, widely believed to be in development. Given the extreme similarity the Galaxy S7 renders have to the Galaxy S6 that released, it would be a logical conclusion to assume the Galaxy S7 Edge will thus closely resemble its predecessor as well.
The real question, perhaps, is with respect to the aforementioned S7 Plus: will there be two variants of the device made, or will Samsung forgo releasing an S7 Edge Plus?
No USB Type C
Perhaps the largest surprise here is the suggestion that next year’s flagship Galaxy willnotinclude USB Type-C. The format, which allows for faster data transfer speeds and an end to “one way only” plug insertion annoyances, has been adopted by several OEMs in China –OnePlus included– and even by Google’s own pair of 2015 Nexus devices, theHUAWEI Nexus 6Pand theLG Nexus 5X.
Many had speculated the Galaxy Note 5 would debut the format (given that the Note 3 had USB 3.0 first) however it now seems Samsung may be curiously forgoing the format for yet another year, at least as far as the “mainstream” flagship is concerned.
No microSD slot
The other major surprise is the lack of a microSD card slot. This issue in particular severely angered some Samsung-loyal and – along with the lack of a removable battery – arguably prompted some shift to LG’s G4. There are rumors suggestingthe S7 will have support for microSD, however at this stage it will clearly not be accomplished by a dedicated “door” on the phone.
These days however, especially with metal-framed phones, it has become standard to include the microSD with the SIM tray thus it’s important not to make any definitive conclusions yet.
An IR Port
If the renders are to be believed, Samsung will be including IR support on the Galaxy S7. Given the company’s decision to forgo it onnot onlythe Note 5 and S6 Edge+ butalsotheGalaxy Tab S2, it can be assumed there was a change of heart. It’s impossible to say if this is a result of companies like Peel’a appeals or else consumer feedback.
A rectangular Home Button
The home button has been a Samsung standard since the original Galaxy S, with just about every one of its smartphones including it, the Galaxy Active series and a few carrier-specific S1/S2 variants notwithstanding. Even the Galaxy S4, which had an elongated narrow button, still had relatively curved sides. This button however, is clearly rectangular. Why Samsung has made this decision is unclear.
The design
While some may be upset at the prospect of a “Galaxy S7s” the suggestion of a near-identical design to that of the Galaxy S6 is not surprising. Samsung’s smartphones have beenfacing tough competitionin recent times and the company hasmade a pledge to change, even going as far asreplacing J.K. Shinfrom his position as the head of Samsung Electronics. If cost-cutting is crucial, there is arguably little point in spending untold amounts of cash reserves to develop a new design when even the mainstream media and tech collective near-universally praised that which the S6 was.
It goes without saying, and should be explicitly reiterated, that the renders in this piece are in no way, shape, or form, official propaganda from Samsung. Likewise, the fact that the source, IT Skins, removed the content entirely suggests the entire leak might have been a mistake. (At the same time, it also could be a cleverly calculated tactic by any of the parties involved with this theoretical product). It should also be stated that the content described in this piece is speculative and therefore should not be taken as fact until confirmed by Samsung itself.
Perhaps, if there is anything thatcanactually be “confirmed” from this leak, it’s that the “drip season” for Samsung’s new phones has now started in earnest, and is likely to last until just before the device(s) are officially unveiled,whenever that may be.
With that said, we are eager to hear your thoughts on these first renders of the Galaxy S7, and the idea of a 6-inch Galaxy S7 Plus. Are you excited? Disappointed? Surprised? Saddened? Please take the surveys below and then drop down to the comments to let us know!
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