Soon, you will have a glossy black Samsung Galaxy S7
Soon, you will have a glossy black Samsung Galaxy S7Samsung Mobile Press

Update: Samsung has confirmed to IBT India that they are hosting Galaxy S7 launch event in India on March, but declined to disclose details with regard to devices' price and specific release date.

Original story:

Samsung, during the Galaxy S7 series unveiling last month at MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2016, had announced it would release the flagship phone March 11 in select markets. Back then, there was no word on whether India was part of the company's phase 1 release plan. Now, a report has surfaced online saying Samsung has much bigger plans for India and has reportedly reserved a huge amount for marketing purposes.

The Economic Times citing smartphone industry executives as saying Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge would be launched March 8 in India, and be available in stores in the third week of March.

It has be learnt that Samsung will spend a whopping Rs 100 crore for the Galaxy S7 series' marketing in India, and plans to sell the devices at around Rs 45,000 to compete with Apple iPhone 6S series, which are also currently selling in this price range.

Arch-rival Apple, in its bid thwart competition, has reportedly pledged Rs 30-40 crore in advertisements and also promised partner distributors assistance in marketing and leeway in cutting iPhones' prices if the need arises.

Also read: Samsung reigns supreme in Indian cities; Apple fast catching up: IDC

Samsung India has not responded to queries from International Business Times, India.

Watch this space for more updates.

Key specifications of Galaxy S7 series and Apple iPhone 6S series:

Model Samsung Galaxy S7 Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Apple iPhone 6S Apple iPhone 6S Plus
Display 5.1-inch QHD (2560x1440p) super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 4 shield
  • Pixel density: 577 ppi (pixels per inch)
 5.5-inch QHD (2560x1440p) super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 4 shield
  • Pixel density: 534 ppi (pixels per inch)
 4.7-inch LED-backlit IPS screen with Retina HD (aka full HD) with 1334 x 750p resolution
  • Pixel density: 326 ppi (pixels per inch)
  • Add-ons:- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front
  • - Dual-domain pixels for wider viewing angles
 5.5- inch LED-backlit IPS screen with Retina HD (aka full HD) with 1920x1080p resolution
  • Pixel density: 401 ppi (pixels per inch)
  • Add-ons:- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front
  • - Dual-domain pixels for wider viewing angles
OS Android v6.0 Marshmallow Android v6.0 Marshmallow Apple iOS 9.0 Apple iOS 9.0
Processor Model 1: Samsung Exynos 8890 series Octa-core CPU [Indian market will get this model]Model 2: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU Model 1: Samsung Exynos 8890 series Octa-core CPU [Indian market will get this model]Model 2: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU 64-bit 3rd generation Apple A9( It is 70% and 90% faster in terms of CPU and GPU speeds compared to A8, seen in 2014 based iPhone 6 models) 64-bit 3rd generation Apple A9( It is 70% and 90% faster in terms of CPU and GPU speeds compared to A8, seen in 2014 based iPhone 6 models)
GPU
  • Model 1: Mali-T880 MP12
  • Model 2: Adreno 530
  • Model 1: Mali-T880 MP12
  • Model 2: Adreno 530
 PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics) PowerVR GT7600 (six-core graphics)
RAM 4GB 4GB 2GB 2GB
Storage 32GB/64GB (UFS v2.0), expandable up to 200GB 32GB/64GB (UFS v2.0), expandable up to 200GB 16GB/64GB/128GB 16GB/64GB/128GB
Camera
  • Main: dual-pixel 12MP camera with f/1.7 aperture, Smart OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)
  • Front: 5MP with F/1.7 aperture
  • Main: dual-pixel 12MP camera with f/1.7 aperture, Smart OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)
  • Front: 5MP with F/1.7 aperture
  • Main: 12.0-megapixel camera with 4K video recording
  • Front: 5.0-megapixel camera with Retina flash
  • Main: 12.0-megapixel camera with 4K video recording
  • Front: 5.0-megapixel camera with Retina flash
Battery 3000mAh with Fast Charging both on wired and wireless and
Wireless Charging compatible with WPC and PMA		 3600mAh with Fast Charging both on wired and wireless and
Wireless Charging compatible with WPC and PMA
  • Talk time:Up to 14 hours on 3G
  • Internet use: Up to 10 hours on 3G, up to 10 hours on LTE, up to 11 hours on Wi‑Fi
  • HD video playback: Up to 11 hours
  • Audio playback: Up to 50 hours
  • Standby time: Up to 10 days
  • (Lithium-ion based battery)
  • Talk time:Up to 24 hours on 3G
  • Internet use: Up to 12 hours on 3G, up to 12 hours on LTE, up to 12 hours on Wi‑Fi
  • HD video playback: Up to 14 hours
  • Audio playback: Up to 80 hours
  • Standby time: Up to 16 days

(Lithium-ion based battery)
Network 4G-LTE (Cat. 9: with up to 450/50 mbps download/upload speed) 4G-LTE (Cat. 9: with up to 450/50 mbps download/upload speed) 4G-LTE 4G-LTE
Add-ons 3D glass and metal fuse body, Always Display feature, finger-print sensor, IP68 water-proof certifications, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), MIMO,
Bluetooth v 4.2 LE, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (Near Field Communications), MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission)		 3D glass and metal fuse body, Always Display feature, finger-print sensor, IP68 water-proof certifications, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), MIMO,
Bluetooth v 4.2 LE, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (Near Field Communications), MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission)		 Finger-print sensor, 3D Touch display, Wi-Fi, NFC (Apple Pay only), Assisted GPS and GLONASS Finger-print sensor, 3D Touch display, Wi-Fi, NFC (Apple Pay only ), Assisted GPS and GLONASS
Dimensions 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm
Weight 152 g 157 g 143 g 192 g