There were a number of rumours and leaks about the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, prior to the official release of the smartphones at the MWC 2016 in Barcelona, however they have now been officially revealed. Conflicting with many of the rumours, there will be no Samsung S7 Edge+ phone yet; a future launch for the smartphone is advertised for later this year. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge do incorporate features substantially from the previous year’s Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, such as the design and other features. However, they have restored aspects of older launches in the Galaxy range, and also introduced new improvements, creating two of the best smartphones ever seen.
Design:
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge do have a number of similar design features, however they have different sized display screens. The Samsung Galaxy S7 is similar to the previous Samsung Galaxy S6, with a 5.1 inch screen, while the key selling point of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge seems to be the substantial screen size of 5.5 inches.
(Picture taken from The Verge)
Samsung has also introduced a curved screen and curved rear design, different from the sharp edges and flat rear design of the Samsung Galaxy S6. This variation results in a sleeker, smoother design which is more comfortable and user-friendly. Both new smartphone launches feature high-quality designs, however the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has a more premium feel due to the increased screen size.
The camera button does not protrude as much as previous versions, in the new Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, it measures only 0.46mm. Both new releases are also waterproof and dustproof, observing the IP68 standard of being submerged in water for 30 minutes, with a depth of up to 1.5 metres. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge weighs 157g and is 7.7mm, whilst the Galaxy S7 is lighter at a weight of only 152g and is 7.9mm.
Screen/Display:
The screen size of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is one of the main differences between them. Samsung has become known to feature super AMOLED displays within their devices along with a Quad HD (2560 x 1440) screen resolution which is present in previous versions of the Galaxy range. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has a similar wrap-around display to the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
Camera:
Samsung is already known for having bright visuals and exceptional picture quality in their cameras, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge camera has been further improved from previous models in the range. The pixel quality has lessened from 16 megapixels to 12 megapixels, however the quality has increased as each pixel measures 1.4um in the new releases. The increase camera quality along with the use of dual pixel technology –which is used in DSLRs, allows users to take better saturated images, even in less brightness.
Specs/Hardware:
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge both have the same processor; the company has reverted back to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Octa-core SoC in the UK and the US. Samsung states that the Qualcomm processor used this year is 30% faster than the Exynos CPU used in last year’s smartphone launches, and the GPU is a substantial 64% faster.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge are both running with Android Marshmallow along with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, along with a number of new improvements. The key feature of the software of both smartphones is Samsung’s always-on display which has a proximity sensor, and automatically turns off when placed in a bag.
Storage:
As in older versions of the Samsung Galaxy range, users are able to increase storage size in the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, using a microSD card up to 200GB in size. The smartphones come in two storage options as usual: 32GB and 64GB.
Battery:
The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a 3,000 mAh battery, whilst the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has a larger 3,600 mAh battery due to the bigger 5.5 inch screen size. Samsung has stated that the larger battery in the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge enables the smartphone to play HD videos for a maximum of 13 hours without charging.
Security
Samsung have included ‘Samsung KNOX’ in the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge; it is a high-quality around-the-clock security feature for protection against hackers and malware. Samsung KNOX will have regular updates, and the KNOX Enabled App will allow users to isolate and encode any sensitive data that may be in the phone.
Accessories
An innovative line of accessories has been introduced along with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge; these include cases (an LED View Cover, Clear View Cover, S View Cover, Clear Cover, Flip Wallet etc.), power accessories (wireless charger, battery pack and backpack). Each accessory features a premium design, such as the LED View Cover which includes Led lights which animate to deliver notifications.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 has an RRP of £569 in the 32GB option, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has an RRP of £639 in the 32GB size. The well-chosen features of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge make it well worth the wait; the bigger screen and battery of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge understandably make this version the more premium option. The return of the waterproof and dustproof aspects, and the range of accessories are a huge part of what makes these two of the best smartphones, incorporating the best of every smartphone in the Galaxy range, along with observant new elements.
