Samsung Galaxy
S7 and Galaxy S7 edge: Release date, specs and everything you need to know
After months of
speculation, Samsung has introduced the two latest flagship phones in its long
line of Galaxy handsets.
Much had been rumoured
and leaked about the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge devices in
the build up to the Korean company's Mobile World Congress 2016 press
conference, but they are now officially available to buy from multiple
retailers and networks, so you can discover their talents for yourself.
Beforehand though, we suggest you read on and familiarise yourself with the
devices in our handy guide.
Contrary to early
belief, there's no Samsung Galaxy S7 edge+ yet – with a possible launch for
that device touted for much later in the year – but with the extra-sized
5.5-inch screen on the S7 edge, perhaps it's not even needed.
So let's turn our
attention onto the two flagship handsets Samsung has now released. Here's
everything you need to know about the SGS7 and SGS7 edge.
POCKET-LINT
Samsung Galaxy S7 and SGS7 edge design
Although the two new
handsets share a couple of design cues and are clearly in the same family, this
year's models are differently sized. The Samsung Galaxy S7, like the SGS6, is a
5.1-inch phone, while the Galaxy S7 edge has had a jump to 5.5-inches.
The latter also seems to
feature the biggest differences in overall design on a year-to-year basis.
Samsung has got rid of the sharper edge and flat back of the Galaxy S6 edge,
replacing it with a curved rear that wraps around to meet the edges of the
curved screen.
The end result is a more
rounded phone that feels smoother and more comfortable in the hand.
Like last year's version,
the standard Galaxy S7 also has a rounded back – from the rear both the S7 and
edge look similar, if different sizes – but the front face is naturally flat.
Both phones feel nice in
the hand but the SGS7 edge is perhaps the more premium of the two in aesthetic
terms.
The camera module also
sticks out less on this year's phones, with a protrusion of just 0.46mm to make
them more flush. They are both also water and dust proof this time, adhering to
the IP68 standard that means they can each survive for up to 30 minutes
submerged in water as deep as 1.5 metres.
In dimensions and weight
terms, the Galaxy S7 is 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm and weighs 152g. The Galaxy S7
edge is 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm and weighs 157g.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and SGS7 edge display
As previously mentioned,
the Samsung Galaxy S7 has a 5.1-inch display, while the Galaxy S7 edge has a
5.5-inch screen. They are both Super AMOLED – like just about every Samsung
phone for many a year – and have the same resolution as previous models: 2560 x
1440 (Quad HD).
Like the previous Galaxy
S6 edge, the latest edge phone has a wrap-around display that curves on either
side.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and SGS7 edge hardware and specs
There are two different
processors being used by Samsung for different regions.
In various regions,
including UK and the rest of Europe, Samsung is using its own latest
processor, the Exynos 8 Octa. This is an octa-core (2.3GHz quad, 1.6GHz
quad) 64-bit, 14nm processor, with super fast LTE speeds.
Samsung claims
that the CPU is 30 per cent faster than the processor in the Galaxy S6 and
S6 edge, while the GPU is a whopping 64 per cent faster.
The other model, which
we understand to be heading elsewhere, including the US, sports a quad-core
64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. It also has a boosted GPU and a
faster X12 modem for LTE speeds of up to 600Mbps, much like the Exynos SoC.
READ: Samsung Galaxy S7: Benchmark claims Snapdragon 820 model could perform
better than UK's Exynos 8
The latter model will
feature Qualcomm's QuickCharge 2.0 technology (not QuickCharge 3.0, sadly) but
both have new, faster wired and wireless charging capabilities.
One interesting addition
to both phones is a tiny heatsink with water cooling that will keep the GPU
temperature down during particularly graphics intensive operations - such as
gaming.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and SGS7 storage
There are models with
32GB and 64GB storage options. Samsung has also reintroduced the ability to
increase storage by using a microSD card of up to 200GB in size.
It has done so without
changing the overall design too, as the SIM slot also doubles as a microSD card
slot this time around. The SIM card tray now has two housings – one for a nano
SIM, one for a microSD card.
One thing to note about
microSD card storage on both the SGS7 and SGS7 edge is that Samsung has opted
not to implement adoptable storage as found on Android Marshmallow. This tech
enables an external card to act exactly like the internal storage, but it
cannot then be used to transfer files or data between devices manually - you
can't take it out of the phone, put it in a PC and back again without the files
you are transferring being wiped.
Samsung claims its
customers would rather have the option to use the card to copy files between
devices.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and SGS7 edge battery
The batteries in each of
the phones are slightly different, mainly as they each have to power
differently-sized displays.
The Samsung Galaxy S7
has a 3,000mAh battery, while the Galaxy S7 edge has a 3,600mAh battery.
Samsung told us that the
latter is capable of playing HD video for 13 hours straight.
One of the new features
that Samsung has introduced this year, an always-on display where
notifications, time, date or personalised screen are permanently shown on
screen even when the phone is off, does not impact the battery much. It uses
just 1 per cent of the battery power per hour.
Both batteries have fast
charging with wired and wireless options. It depends on which processor is used
as to which fast charging technology is implemented, but both feature similar
functions.
POCKET-LINT
Samsung Galaxy S7 and SGS7 edge camera
The camera is one area
that has been improved on significantly for this year’s models.
Although the amount of
megapixels to be found on the sensor has actually dipped – to 12-megapixels –
each pixel is larger this year (1.4um) so is capable to reading more light in
any given situation. An aperture of f1.7 has also been achieved.
This is especially
important for low light photography, with Samsung claiming that performance in
darker locations is far better than ever before. The adoption of dual pixel
technology, which is usually found on DSLRs and other dedicated camera sensors,
also means that the autofocus on each of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7
edge is much quicker than on previous phones – even in almost no light.
The new low light
abilities work for both stills and video.
There's optical image
stabilisation on the rear camera too.
The front-facing camera
on both devices uses a conventional 5-megapixel sensor, but also with an f1.7
aperture.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and SGS7 edge software
The latest user
experience, which is layered on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, is about as
bare bones as Samsung has presented in quite some time.
There are some of
Samsung’s own apps and services still available though, with the most prominent
being the new Game Launcher.
Gamers get their own hub
that not only gives them a place from which to launch Android titles, but they
can change options such as whether they would like to be disturbed by a phone
call during a gaming session.
There are also new
overlaid options available from within games too, including the ability to
record gameplay footage while using the front-facing camera to in-lay
picture-in-picture commentary of the player.
POCKET-LINT
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
users also get several new sidebar options that can be scrolled through to
access apps, contacts, tasks or news feeds more quickly and easily.
Samsung Pay - the
company' contactless payment system that has proved successful in the states -
will be coming to both handsets in the UK later this year. They each also use
Samsung Knox, the company's high level of security.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and SGS7 edge hot deals and where to get them
After an initial
pre-order period that ran from 21 February to 11 March, both phones are now
widely available from a large number of retailers and networks.
Those that pre-ordered
from Carphone Warehouse, Vodafone or EE by 7 March actually got their
handsets a little earlier than others, as those retailers/networks
started shipping from 8 March - three days earlier than some others - but
all retailers now have stock.
Direct prices from
Samsung start at £569 for the Samsung Galaxy S7, while the S7 edge will set you
back from £639.
Carphone Warehouse (UK)
CPW is offering the
Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge for an upfront cost of £79.99 and
£129.99 respectively. Contracts are available across the major networks from
just £36 per month for new and upgrading customers.
Vodafone (UK)
Vodafone customers can
order the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Samsung Galaxy S7 on a Vodafone Red 10GB
Bundle for £50 per month or £44 per month respectively. Both have an upfront
cost of £29 and include unlimited texts, unlimited minutes and 10GB of data.
Alternatively, customers
can order either device on a Vodafone Red Value 15GB Bundle at £55 per month
for the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge or £49 per month for the Samsung Galaxy S7.
Again, both have a £29 upfront cost and include unlimited texts, unlimited
minutes and 15GB of data, as well as a choice of free access to Netflix for 12
months or Sky Sports Mobile TV, Spotify Premium or a NOW TV Entertainment Pass
for 24 months.
EE (UK)
EE told Pocket-lint that
both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge feature WiFi Calling with 4G
Calling when purchased directly from the provider. This will be enabled soon
now that they have been launched. If you don't get either from EE itself
though, the phones won't be able to support it. Customers who buy the new
phones from EE also receive three-months free unlimited Google Play Music
access.
As for price plans, the
32GB Galaxy S7 on EE is £49.99 up-front on a £44.49 a month, 24 month 4GEE
Extra plan. That comes with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 4GB of
mobile data a month.
The 32GB Galaxy S7 edge
is available for £29.99 up-front on a £49.99 a month, 24 month plan, with
unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 4GB of mobile data a month.
Existing EE customers
looking to upgrade to the same plans will receive 10GB of mobile data per month
for the same price.
O2 (UK)
O2 is stocking the two
new handsets as part of its O2 Now tariff. That means customers can upgrade
after 12 months for no extra cost. It's also offering a free pair of Jabra
Sport Pulse headphones worth £150 for every order received before 27 April.
There are a number of
price plans to choose from, with the Galaxy S7 edge available for as little as
£9.99 up-front. That's when taking out a plan for £51 a month, which includes
unlimited minutes, texts and 3GB of 4G data.
A Samsung Galaxy S7 can
also be bought for £29.99 up-front with a £46 a month plan, with unlimited
minutes, texts and 3GB of data.
Three (UK)
If you want to go
to Three, the UK carrier is offering the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge for
up-front costs from £29 and £49 respectively. Those are on prices plans from
£41 and £47 a month.
All-you-can-eat 4G data
packages are available for both phones, with the Galaxy S7 getting unlimited
data, minutes and texts for £56 a month with the phone at £29.
The Galaxy S7 edge's
all-you-can-eat package will cost £62 a month with an up-front cost of £49 for
the phone.
The Three deals include
the company's Feel at Home service where you can use your minutes, texts and
data in 18 countries around the world at no extra charge, including the US,
France, Italy, Spain and Australia.
Virgin Media (UK)
Virgin Media
is carrying both phones and what's more, they are both available on plans
with no up-front costs.
Virgin Media plans are
3G only at present, but if you are looking for a cheaper option than many
others, you can get either the gold or black Samsung Galaxy S7 from £34 a
month, which includes 250 minutes, 250MB of data and unlimited texts.
The same plan but with a
black Samsung Galaxy S7 edge costs £38 a month.
Other plans, with more
data or talktime are also available.
Tesco Mobile (UK)
Like Virgin Media, Tesco
Mobile has deals where you can get either phone on a 24-month contract with no
up-front cost.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is
available from £37.50 a month, with 2,000 minutes, 5,000 texts and 2GB of data.
The Galaxy S7 edge is available from £41 a month on the same plan.
Tesco's plans go all the
way up to £57 or £60.50 respectively, for 5,000 minutes, 5,000 texts and 20GB
of data.
AT&T (US)
The 32GB Galaxy S7 costs
$23.17 per month for 30 months via the Next 24 plan, while the 32GB Galaxy S7
edge starts at $26.50 per month for 39 months on the same plan.
Sprint (US)
The Galaxy S7 costs
$27.09 per month for 24 months, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge costs $31.25
per month over the same period. You can also get a second unit of the same
Galaxy you bought for half price (will be discounted as a service credit). The
carrier's Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA budget brands also offer both
phones.
T-Mobile (US)
The Galaxy S7 costs
$27.92 per month for 23 months and $27.83 on the 24th month, while the Galaxy
S7 edge costs $32.50 for 23 months and $32.39 on the 24th month. You can also
go for Jump On Demand and get them for $32.50 per month (S7) or $28 per month
(S7 edge). T-Mobile said the Galaxy S7's full retail price is $669.99, and that
the Galaxy S7 edge will set you back $779.99.
Verizon (US)
Verizon is offering the
Galaxy S7 for $28 per month for 24 months ($672 retail price), while the
Galaxy S7 edge costs $33 per month for 24 months ($792 retail price).
US Cellular (US)
US Cellular is doing the
24-month payment plan thing. It sells the Galaxy S7 for $28, while the Galaxy
S7 edge goes for $32.50. Alternatively, you could lock yourself into a two-year
agreement for $199 (S7) or $299 (S7 edge) upfront.
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