After countless leaks and teasers, Samsung has officially launched the new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phone at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona - with a little help from Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg.

The S7 Edge has a 5.5-inch (14cm) screen, while the S7 has a smaller 5.1-inch display, with both handsets boasting water resistant features that were missing on the S6 and S6 Edge.

As rumours suggested, the phones feature an 'always-on' display so users can see basic phone information, such as time, date and notifications, without having to wake it up and use up battery life.

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After countless leaks and teasers, Samsung has officially launched the new Galaxy S7 (right) and S7 Edge (left) phones, which have a 5.1 and 5.5-inch screen respectively. As rumours suggested, the phones feature an 'always-on' display so users can see notifications, without having to wake it up and use up battery life

Futuristic: Attendees use the new Samsung Gear 360, a 360-degree camera, during the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2016 event on the eve of this week's Mobile World Congress wireless show, in Barcelona

While the technology is new to Samsung handsets, the Nexus 6P and Motorola Moto X both use always-on ambient displays.

The ambient display works by only showing the pixels that are needed to display a particular notification at the top of the screen.

For instance, when a notification arrives, it appears in black and white on a small portion on the S7 and S7 Edge’s screen, meaning the phone doesn't have to use its battery's energy powering up all of its pixels.

'We know that people check their phones on average 85 times a day,' said Samsung’s Vice president of brand and product marketing, Europe, Rory O’Neill.

FACEBOOK'S MARK ZUCKERBERG ON VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY Presentation: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (left) and Samsung Mobile chief DJ Koh shake hands today in Barcelona Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg took to the stage at the conference to sing the praises of Samsung's Gear VR headset, which uses Facebook's Oculus Rift technology. He said Facebook is committed to VR technology for the long-term and it's 'the next platform. 'One day you’ll put on a headset and that will change the way you work and communicate.' He said he intends to film his daughter's first steps using virtual reality technology. Samsung's Galaxy 360 Camera can be used to record footage, processed by the new handsets that can be played on the Gear VR headset. 'I think about my baby daughter and the way I want to remember when she takes her first steps,' he said. 'When I took my first steps, my parents just took a pen and wrote the date down in a baby book...when my cousin, when her son took his first steps, she took a photo with a camera. My sister, when her son took his first steps, she took a video on her phone. 'But I want to capture the whole scene, so I hope we can take a 360 video. 'So that way, even if my parents and my family aren't there to experience it in person, they can feel like they're right there with us. VR is the next platform, where anyone can create and experience anything they want.' Zuckerberg said that since Gear VR launched in November 2015, the response has been incredibly strong. More than 200 games and apps are now available for the platform in the Oculus store, and people have already watched more than a million hours of video in Gear VR. The demand for more immersive videos is growing too. More than 20,000 360 videos have been uploaded to Facebook, with hundreds more added daily. Facebook is bringing its 'dynamic streaming technology for 360 to Gear VR, which increases video resolution in VR by four times, while reducing the bandwidth needed to view it - 'so videos in VR look clearer and play faster.' Zuckerberg said that since Gear VR (current headset pictured) launched in November 2015, the response has been incredibly strong. More than 200 games and apps are now available for the platform in the Oculus store, and people have already watched more than a million hours of video in Gear VR Zuckerberg revealed his firm has a team of hundreds working on the future of social interaction in VR, from how people can share today's VR videos, to how meetings could be held in VR in the future. 'Going back about 10 years, most of what we shared and experienced was text,' he said. 'And then it was photos. And now we're entering into a world where that's video. 'But pretty soon we're going to live in a world where everyone has the power to share and experience whole scenes as if you're right there in person. 'There are lots of other challenges that we need to solve to create great VR experiences. Facebook, with Oculus, are committed to this for the long term... 'VR is going to be the most social platform... Gear VR is by far the best mobile VR experience. 'And that's because it combines the best hardware, from Samsung, with the best software - from Facebook, with Oculus.' Advertisement

The flagship S7 Edge has a 5.5-inch (14cm) screen, while the S7 has a 5.1-inch display. They both have other features seen in previous Galaxy devices that users missed in the S6 and S6 Edge (pictured)

As rumours suggested, the phones feature an 'always-on' display so users can see basic phone information, such as time, date and notifications without having to wake it up and use up battery life. This image shows the S7 Edge's curved screen and slim profile

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S7 AND S7 EDGE Lee Bell tested the handsets for MailOnline. 'I was impressed with the design and found it noticeably more solid than past handsets. 'I also liked the S7 Edge’s user interface, which features an extended Edge panel app menu that doubles the number of apps compared with the S6 Edge. 'It is brought up with a left swipe of the right side of the screen 'The camera is super-fast at focusing on different objects in different lighting conditions thanks to the double lens design The S7 Edge’s user interface, features an extended Edge panel app menu (pictured) that doubles the number of apps compared with the S6 Edge. It is brought up with a left swipe of the right side of the screen 'Vibrancy on both screens is amazing, and photos appear very rich in colour. 'Balance levels are great, viewing angles are wide and text and icons are crisp. 'The Samsung Edge UI user interface is much cleaner than we’ve seen from Samsung phones in the past. 'I was impressed at how good a job Samsung has done in making it simpler to use and most of the additions are positive. 'The Edge S7 also doesn’t feel as big as other 5.5-inch smartphones I've used due to the ergonomics. 'Samsung said a proprietary 3D thermos-forming engineering process has been used to ensure the tight curve fits into a slimmer chassis, hence its smaller feel. 'Overall, both devices feel much more luxurious than previous models thanks to their updated design and simpler user interface. Advertisement

'For a large amount of people that’s usually to check the clock or the calendar so what we’ve done is built a series of configured time, or calendar, or "other" always on displays, which means the display will always be on on the device.'

He explained the S7's super-AMOLED can be controlled pixel-by-pixel.

'Because we used super-AMOLED we are much more power efficient in terms of how it will respect the battery,' he added.

A new feature that will excite more accident-prone users is the reintroduction of a water resistant finish.

On the inside, the S7 and S7 Edge (pictured) tout more powerful central and graphics processors than the S6 versions. Samsung wouldn’t confirm the make of these chips but said they’d be joined by 4GB of RAM, making them 'the most powerful processors in an ‘S range’ ever'

Both devices are waterproof up to a depth of 5ft (1.5 metres) for as long as 30 minutes, with an IP68 Ingress Protection rating alongside what Samsung says is 'a zero compromise on design.' The S7 is pictured

HOW 'ALWAYS ON' WORKS The concept of always-on is not new. It has already featured on the Nexus 6P and Motorola Moto X, which both use always-on ambient display in a bid to save battery life. Ambient displays work by only showing the pixels that are needed to display a particular notification at the top of the screen, for example. For instance, on Google's Nexus 6P smartphone, when a notification arrives, it appears in a black and white on a small portion on the screen. This means the phone doesn't have to use its battery's energy powering up all of its pixels. However, previous phones sporting ambient screens have only showed limited information on the screen. Advertisement

Both devices are waterproof up to a depth of 5ft (1.5 metres) for as long as 30 minutes, with an IP68 Ingress Protection rating alongside what Samsung says is 'a zero compromise on design'.

The waterproof feature was first introduced in the Galaxy S5 two years ago but disappeared when Samsung ushered in the Galaxy S6.

Samsung said it has brought back the feature due to user feedback, but unlike the S5 there is no removable cap where the charger slot is.

Instead, Samsung has made sure the devices’ metal bodies are fully water tight, locked within the design of the phone.

On the inside, the S7 and S7 Edge tout more powerful central and graphics processors than the S6 versions.

Samsung wouldn’t confirm the make of these chips but said they’d be joined by 4GB of RAM, making them 'the most powerful processors in an ‘S range’ ever'.

To keep them cool, the handsets have got internal air conditioning thanks to technology first used for cooling rockets.

As for storage, Samsung has extended its SIM tray to include an SD card slot to be used for expandable memory up to 200GB, meaning users can store hundreds or even thousands more photos, videos or music locally on the handset.

As for storage, Samsung has extended its SIM tray to include an SD card slot to be used for expandable memory up to 200GB, meaning users can store hundreds or even thousands more photos, videos or music locally on the handset

When it comes to the camera, Samsung claims both the S7 and S7 Edge smartphones are the first in the world to feature dual pixel sensors (rear-facing camera pictured)

WATERPROOF RATINGS EXPLAINED Both devices are waterproof up to a depth of 5ft (1.5 metres) for as long as 30 minutes, with an IP68 Ingress Protection rating. IP stands for Ingress Protection, created by the International Electrotechnical Commission. It is used to classify how much a coating provides protection. The rating is typically followed by two numbers - the first is the level of dust resistance, the second is water resistance. Dust resistance ranges from zero to six, and water resistance ranges from zero to nine. If an X is included, the device doesn't offer a classified rating for that substance. A rating of seven on the waterproof scale means: 'Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water (up to one metre).' Advertisement

When it comes to the camera, Samsung claims both the S7 and S7 Edge smartphones are the first in the world to feature dual pixel sensors.

The addition of an extra sensor means the phone’s camera can focus in on an object much quicker, 'the same way your eyes work together to focus quicker,' Mr O’Neill said.

There’s also a brighter lens and bigger pixels in the S7 and S7 Edge’s camera so that they let in more light to improve aperture and therefore work better in low light conditions.

The company said the handsets have the largest aperture of any smartphone camera, to let more light in, meaning it can be used to take great shots in low light.

'The pixels on this lens are bigger by 1.5 micrometers, so lets in 56 percent more light, making it work better in low lighting,' he added.

As part of the presentation, the company showed a comparison between the S7's camera and that of the iPhone 6S Plus, and the demo seemed to show Samsung's being faster, brighter and sharper.

Samsung also showed off a 'motion panorama' mode and optional clip-on fish eye and wide angle lenses for budding photographers.

The camera in the Galaxy S6 had a slightly protracted lens that stuck out of the back, but it is less noticeable in the new handset.

Samsung said it has shrunk this a little in the S7 and S7 Edge, making it more in line with the shell of the device.

Both of the new handsets have larger batteries than their predecessors.

The S7 now features a 3,000mAh and the S7 Edge a 3600mAh battery, which promises longer battery life.

Samsung said it has shrunk this a little in the S7 and S7 Edge, making it more in line with the shell of the device. The S7 now features a 3,000mAh and the S7 Edge a 3600mAh battery, which promises longer battery life

As part of the smartphone announcement, Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy 360, a camera that is capable of recording 360 degree films. It is shown here alongside an Edge handset and VR headset

SAMSUNG'S GEAR 360 CAMERA As part of the smartphone announcement, Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy 360, a camera that is capable of recording 360 degree films. In what Samsung is hoping will 'change how you create memories', the 360 cam can be controlled by a user’s phone and works by recording two 180 degree movies from each of two fish eye cameras, and stitching these together to create a 360 film. Advertisement

Samsung said the S7 Edge will be able to perform for 13 hours while playing non-stop video content - for example, a whole series of Game of Thrones.

The firm said those who pre-order the handsets in Europe will receive a free Gear VR headset.

Mark Zuckerberg took to the stage to talk about the phones, virtual reality and Facebook, saying his company is committed to VR for the long-term.

'Going back about 10 years, most of what we shared and experienced was text,' he said.

'And then it was photos. And now we're entering into a world where that's video.

'But pretty soon we're going to live in a world where everyone has the power to share and experience whole scenes as if you're right there in person.

'There are lots of other challenges that we need to solve to create great VR experiences. Facebook, with Oculus, are committed to this for the long term...

'VR is going to be the most social platform... Gear VR is by far the best mobile VR experience.

As part of the announcement, Samsung also the Galaxy 360, a camera that is capable of recording 360 degree films.

In what Samsung is hoping will 'change how you create memories', the 360 cam can be controlled by a user’s phone and works by recording two 180 degree movies from each of two fish eye cameras, and stitching these together to create a 360 film.

Zuckerberg said virtual reality films can be easily shared on Facebook and technology is being rolled out in the coming weeks to make the process easier.

The Gear VR is already on sale and the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge handsets will go on sale on 11 March, with pre-orders open in 'a matter of days'.

They will be available in onyx black, gold platinum, silver titanium and white pearl.

Those who pre-order them in the US and Europe will receive a free Gear VR headset.