The Galaxy S6 completely changed the way we thought about phones made by Samsung when it came out last year. It’s glass back and metal sides really impressed all of us. This time its back with the same look and feel but with several improvements cramped inside of it, along with features that got ditched on the Galaxy S6. So here are few things about the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.
Design
Right off the bat, you can tell the Galaxy S7 is no different from its predecessor. Its looks just the same as the S6, with its glass and aluminum body and the classic home button on the bottom of the screen.
I’ve always been skeptical of camera humps on devices like the iPhone 6/6s and the S6. Well, this year, Samsung has really cut down the hump and has made the phone little less prone to getting wobbled when placed flat on a surface. Talking more about the back, the edges are slightly curved like in the Note 5 which makes holding or using the device much easier. The Galaxy S6 Edge used to be the same size as the Galaxy S6. But this year Samsung has changed things up a bit with the S7 having a 5.2 inch screen and the Edge having 5.5.
Other than that, there aren’t any notable changes. The micro-usb port, headphone jack, speakers and the buttons are just the way they were in the earlier model.
Spec Sheet
The Galaxy S6 was a beast of a smartphone and the S7 certainly does live up to its hype with really powerful specifications.
| Samsung Galaxy S7 | Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display 2560 x 1440 resolution |
5.5-inch Super AMOLED display 2560 x 1440 resolution |
| Processor | US: Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Most other regions: Samsung Exynos 8 Octa |
US: Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Most other regions: Samsung Exynos 8 Octa |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 32GB | 32GB |
| MicroSD | Yes, up to 200GB (Uses SIM 2 slot) | Yes, up to 200GB (Uses SIM 2 slot) |
| Dust and water resistance | IP68 rating | IP68 rating |
| Cameras | 12MP rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, 1.4-micron pixels, OIS 5MP front camera with f/1.7 aperture |
12MP rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, 1.4-micron pixels, OIS 5MP front camera with f/1.7 aperture |
| Battery | Non-removable 3000mAh battery | Non-removable 3600mAh battery |
| Fast charging | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless charging | Qi and PMA | Qi and PMA |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Dimensions | 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm, 152g | 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm, 157g |
Features
AMOLED screens have been around in Galaxy Series for quite a while now and we have seen some smart use of it like in flip covers and quick note taking in the Note 5. This time around, Samsung has come up with an always on display. You will be able to see the time, app shortcuts, weather, calender, notifications, and other information on the lock screen at all times.
The waterproofing on the Galaxy S5 was one of the best features it had. Unfortunately, it had to be compromised on the Galaxy S6 probably in order to get a more sleek and sexy design. This year, they have figured out a way to blend in both IP68 rating and the stealthy body of the Galaxy S6, hence the S7.
Software Details
We’ve come a long way with Samsung and its software has definitely evolved a lot. The ever so popular TouchWiz has made its way to all Samsung phones and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Even this year, the Galaxy S7 runs a heavily skinned version of the latest Android Marshmallow update. But that in no way means that the devices are gonna be slow. It’s a really powerful device and can handle the extra customization pretty well.
Now, talking about what’s actually been changed, there’s now a new way to use your homescreen. Contrary to the presence of an appdrawer in all previous generation of Galaxy devices, there is now the liberty to turn the app drawer off or on. This has been rumored to be implemented on Android N so well, Samsung is definitely moving along the right direction.
There are also some major changes with the edge functionality. It was previously limited to some app shortcuts but now can be used to access quick task shortcuts, favorite contacts, and few other buttons.
What’s next?
Now that the phone has been announced, we’re all pumped up for its launch and availability. It’s set to be priced quite fairly with similar pricing as of the Galaxy S6 last year. Stay tuned for any further updates.
Do you think Samsung made a smart move this year by only slightly refreshing its lineup? Or should they have worked on something more? Let us know in the comments below.
