Samsung Galaxy S7: UK release date, pre-orders and the best network deals

Everything you need to know about the upcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy S7

Samsung's president of mobile DJ Koh presents the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge at Mobile World Congress (David Ramos/Getty Images)

Now that the dust has settled on Mobile World Congress and the initial hype has died down, Samsung fans can begin anxiously waiting for the release of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, the company's new flagship smartphones.

In an impressive and slightly surreal unveiling event - in which Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance - the devices' specs were revealed to the world.

Fortunately for fans, it won't be long until they can get their hands on the S7.

Pre-orders and release date

The S7 and S7 Edge became available to pre-order immediately after the event on 21 February. You can put your name down for one on Samsung's website, or pre-order it from the mobile networks.

It currently comes in either black or gold, but more colours may be released during its lifetime.

Those who pre-order should get their phones on 8 March, according to Samsung. It'll go on sale in shops a few days later on 11 March.

Pre-ordering customers will also get a free Gear VR headset with the device, according to Samsung. However, since the S7 and S7 Edge seem to be breaking pre-order records around the world, the company might not be able to keep up with demand.

Price

If you're paying all at once, the S7 costs £569 on Samsung's website, and the S7 Edge costs £639.

It's also available to pre-order from a few different mobile networks, each offering the usual range of deals and contracts.

Mobile networks

In the UK, Vodafone, 3, EE, Carphone Warehouse, Virgin Mobile, O2 and GiffGaff will be offering contracts on the S7 and S7 Edge.

There's the usual array of offers from the mobile networks, each offering different monthly tariffs with different data allowances and upfront costs.

It can also pay to check out third-party retailers like MobilePhonesDirect, who often sell phones and major network contracts for much lower prices than you'd find on the high street. For example, on Mobiles.co.uk, you can get an S7 with 11GB of monthly data and unlimited calls and texts for £36 a month via Vodafone, with a £100 handset cost.

It pays to shop around when you're getting a new phone, so check out all the major networks and the lesser-known sites before ordering.