Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge pics leak again ahead of 21 February launch

Another week, another Samsung Galaxy S7 leak. As the big launch event on 21 February draws closer, it looks like Samsung will have less and less to surprise us with, as now 'in-the-wild' photos of the S7 and S7 Edge have emerged.

We already know what the new phones are going to look like, thanks to press renders leaked earlier in the year, but now we can see the phones for real. The first takeaway is that, aesthetically, very little has changed since the Galaxy S6 arrived in 2015.

The only obvious updates are that a 'bump' housing the rear camera has been slimmed down, and the dark blue colour of the S6 appears to be black on the S7. Also, if you look more closely, you can see how the rear curves inward at the edges, like on the Samsung Note 5, which should hopefully make the phone easier to hold than the slab-sided S6. The images were uploaded to Weibo, the Chinese alternative to Twitter.

A Vietnam-based source who leaked the photos, published by SamMobile, says Samsung is using magnesium for the S7's metal chassis instead of aluminium, as was used by the S6. The source also says battery charging has been improved for the new model, with charge going from zero to 80% in 30 minutes. A larger battery than the S6's is also expected.

Yet again, the inclusion of a microSD card slot and waterproofing is mentioned. These have both come up several times recently, so we are now inclined to believe the claims are true, much to the relief of Samsung fans who were angered at both being removed when the S5 was replaced by the S6.

Samsung will officially announce the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge at its Unpacked press event in Barcelona on 21 February, just hours after LG reveals its own new flagship, the G5. A day later, Mobile World Congress (MWC), one of the largest smartphone and technology shows in the world, opens its doors in the same city. IBTimes UK will be at the LG and Samsung events, plus MWC to bring you the latest news and hands-on reviews.