Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 7 phablet will have little hardware overhaul as the world's top smartphone vendor is focused on highlighting some software-related features. Edge screen, water resistance and iris scanning could be the three main points that Samsung plans to highlight at the company's unpacked event on Aug. 2 in New York, said officials, Thursday.

"Simply put, the Note 7 is an expanded version of the Galaxy S7 edge smartphone. The Note 7 will only be available with a curved screen in accordance with Samsung's latest strategy to promote mobile devices with breakthrough form factors," said a Samsung official.

The phone is expected to have a 5.8-inch screen and of course, a stylus for handwriting on it. The Note 7 will also be the first in the Note series to have the water-resistant feature. More importantly, users will be able to use the "S-Pen" even underwater, according to executives at Samsung's first-tier local component suppliers. The S-Pen will be embedded in the bottom of the device.

The new product will also be equipped with iris scanning recognition technology, although initial use of the software is expected to be limited given the scarcity of services using the eye-scanning technology.

It's unlikely that the Note 7 will have a dual-camera as the company's strategy is to cut manufacturing costs.

The Note 7 will support the Samsung Pay service.

The Note 7 is the successor to the Galaxy Note 5. Samsung has already confirmed that it will skip the name "Galaxy Note 6" in order to line up its next device with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge flagships.

Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note 5 for 890,000 Won in Korea and $699 in the United States without subsidy plans.

Samsung is expected to make its handset replacement program - Galaxy Club - available to the Note 7.

The Note 7 will be positioned to compete with Apple's soon-to-be-released iPhone 7.