What is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge?
The curved screen is
Samsung’s new headline design trait, and it’s using it more and more
frequently. The S7 Edge is the best version of it yet, I haven’t spent
enough time with the Galaxy Note 7 just yet, and it makes for an iconic phone. It's more eye-catching than the regular Samsung Galaxy S7, too.
It
doesn’t just impress in the looks department though; this is an
all-round stunner. It has the best optics, crispest screen and even
Samsung’s software has taken a step back. The sloping display might make
it harder to hold for some, but it’s never become an issue for me.
It’s expensive, it’s always going to be, but you’re getting a lot of phone for your money.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – Design
Metal and glass build, curved display, IP68 water resistant, available in black or gold
Design hasn't always been Samsung's strong suit. Just two years ago, Samsung released the Galaxy S5.
The handset was the most powerful phone available at the time, but it
wasn’t a looker. Last year’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge signaled a much
needed change for Samsung, and the change is only more obvious with the
S7 Edge.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – Battery life
3,600 mAh battery, fast charging, Qi/PMA wireless charging
The
Galaxy S7 Edge packs a 3,600 mAh battery that's much larger than the
disappointing 2,600 mAh cell sat inside the Galaxy S6 Edge and it
performs so much better for it.
Battery life still isn't perfect though. The iPhone 6S Plus can go a few hours longer and the Moto X Force will last an extra half a day, but even if you’re a heavy user you shouldn’t have to reach for the charger until bedtime.
With
moderate to high daily use the S7 Edge tends to leave me with around
25-35% battery life at the end of the day. It drops much more suddenly
during intensive tasks – 30 minutes of Hitman Sniper took it down 15% –
but it has exceptional standby time. Leaving it unplugged overnight only
ate through 2% thanks to Android Marshmallow's excellent Doze feature.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, TouchWiz and Software
Game Launcher, Microsoft Office Suite, S-Health
Once
a thorn in the side of the Galaxy series, TouchWiz has slowly gotten
cleaner, smoother and better. With the Galaxy S7 Edge, the skin has
finally reached the point where it’s no longer a serious negative
against the phone.
Granted, it’s not as sleek as vanilla Android Marshmallow,
but it’s starting to come mightily close. There are fewer useless
bundled apps, fewer ‘bleeps’ and ‘blops’ and fewer childish icons. The
theming engine from the S6 is still around, so you can do a pretty good
job of making Android look just the way Google intended.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – Camera
12MP Dual Pixel sensor, f/1.7 aperture, LED flash, 5MP selfie sensor, OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation)
Megapixels no longer matter, there are more important factors in making a great mobile camera.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge actually has fewer megapixels (12-megapixels as opposed to 16) than the Galaxy S6,
but you wouldn’t think that looking at the results. While the actual
amount of pixels in the sensor is less, there’s a load of improvements
here.