{"id":52362,"date":"2016-02-22T02:45:07","date_gmt":"2016-02-22T02:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mobilefun.co.uk\/blog\/?p=52362"},"modified":"2016-02-22T04:10:36","modified_gmt":"2016-02-22T04:10:36","slug":"samsung-galaxy-s7-s7-edge-a-smartphone-refined","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mobilefun.co.uk\/blog\/2016\/02\/samsung-galaxy-s7-s7-edge-a-smartphone-refined\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung Galaxy S7 & S7 Edge: smartphones refined"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Last year, Samsung debuted their newly redesigned Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones. The phones sold well and were critically acclaimed, thanks to their metal unibody designs, powerful hardware and lighter software. Now Samsung are back with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, refined models that offer better cameras, bigger batteries and even waterproofing. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

A sleeker, more comfortable design<\/h2>\n

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The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge were massive departures from the S5, ditching cheap-feeling plastic for a sleek metal design. The S7 doesn\u2019t stray from that winning formula, with small tweaks that make the phone more comfortable and convenient. The camera doesn\u2019t bulge out of the back, the fingerprint scanner is flatter, and the slightly curvier edges make it easier to pick up and hold. The micro USB and headphone ports are sealed too, allowing for IP68 water and dust resistance. Whether you choose the 5.1-inch S7 or the larger 5.5-inch S7 Edge, you should be in for a treat: The Verge<\/em> say it\u2019s \u201ca stunning device to hold\u201d, and from here we\u2019re inclined to agree.<\/p>\n

More powerful hardware and added features<\/h2>\n

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The S7 and S7 Edge retain the 2560 x 1440 AMOLED screens of their predecessors, but beneath the glossy Gorilla Glass you\u2019ll find quite a few changes. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 820 octa-core processor, backed with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. This storage can be expanded with a Micro SD card, a welcome change from the Galaxy S6. The phone retains the wireless and fast charging of its predecessor, but the batteries are much larger this time around: 3,000mAh for the S7 (up from 2,550mAh) and 3,600mAh for the S7 Edge (up from 2,600mAh).<\/p>\n

An upgraded camera system<\/h2>\n

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The camera system on the S7 is an interesting upgrade from the S6. It actually uses a lower resolution 12-megapixel sensor than last year\u2019s 16-megapixel model, but its larger pixels make it better in low light. The lens is wider too, with an f\/1.7 aperture, which lets in 25% more light, and the sensor shape has changed from 16:9 to a more traditional 4:3 aspect ratio. Finally, the camera focuses three times faster than its predecessor, and launches faster than either the Nexus 6P or iPhone 6S Plus.<\/p>\n

Android 6.0 with a few new tricks<\/h2>\n

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The S7 comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Samsung\u2019s TouchWiz interface; like last year it\u2019s a fairly light experience. There are a few new Edge features, but the standout addition is the always-on display. The phone will permanently show the time, notifications, a calendar or a chosen image, unless the proximity sensor detects it\u2019s in a bag or pocket. This uses approximately 0.5% of the total battery life per hour, a fairly miniscule proportion given the utility it provides.<\/p>\n

Innovative cases and accessories<\/h2>\n

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The S7 and S7 Edge come with the usual assortment of cases and accessories, including some fantastic official models and a wide range of third-party choices. The most interesting Samsung accessory is probably the Gear 360 camera, a new option for recording video for VR headsets like Samsung\u2019s own Gear VR<\/a>. We\u2019ll be adding tons of accessories to our site in the days and weeks to come, so check out our selection via the buttons below:<\/p>\n