Samsung Announces Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge With Expandable Storage, Larger Battery

[shakerstevens]

If I could get iOS on the Samsung S7 it would be a no brainer

Apple make the best mobile operating system
But Samsung seem to have the best hardware specification wise and it looks better too. The Edge looks gorgeous but with the slim cases I use I know I'd probably break it! So the S7 would be better for me.

Wireless charging, a good battery, SD slot are all huge advantages and if Apple remove the headphone jack that will be another big advantage on the S7. But I am a little trapped in the Apple Ecosystem with having an Apple TV, MacBook Air and a small library of music/movies paid for on iTunes....

** this is just my opinion

 

[vertsix]

why would they want it? apple sure is not getting it going.
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I thought it would have a racing stripe.

You do realize the 6s launched not a while ago, right? I already some of the 3D Touch gestures a lot, like previewing links in Safari and accessing the multitasking tray.

We'll see what other awesome ways Apple adds to use 3D Touch on iOS 10.

 

[Jsameds]

Oh no. What a shame.

I use it a lot.

Same here. I use it every time I pick up my phone.

 

[jamezr]

I didn't even think about that. Maybe Samsung couldn't get 3D Touch working well enough for this generation. I know huauwei has a version of 3D Touch but it's very limited compared to apples version.

And the Apple version is very limited. Why? Because it is a feature most people don't use. I have it on my 6s+ and it is just a gimmick. Sometimes it works and other times it produces useless information. Like try Apple's own music app....3DT and it gives me an options that I don't need. I don't use Beats music yet 3DT gives me a beats music option that I will never use. Useless. Why not show me my playlists? Now that is usefull info. Same thing for the Weather app. #DT and nothing ...nada despite me having 4 locations saved that I frequently hike or go to. These are just 2 examples of Apple apps. So they can't say they are waiting for the developer. These are in house Apple apps.
So I am glad Samsung didn't use some sort of 3DT feature. I don't think it is ready for primetime.

 

[jamezr]

And the Apple version is very limited. Why? Because it is a feature most people don't use. I have it on my 6s+ and it is just a gimmick. Sometimes it works and other times it produces useless information. Like try Apple's own music app....3DT and it gives me an options that I don't need. I don't use Beats music yet 3DT gives me a beats music option that I will never use. Useless. Why not show me my playlists? Now that is usefull info. Same thing for the Weather app. #DT and nothing ...nada despite me having 4 locations saved that I frequently hike or go to. These are just 2 examples of Apple apps. So they can't say they are waiting for the developer. These are in house Apple apps.
So I am glad Samsung didn't use some sort of 3DT feature. I don't think it is ready for primetime.

 

[Jsameds]

And the Apple version is very limited. Why? Because it is a feature most people don't use. I have it on my 6s+ and it is just a gimmick. Sometimes it works and other times it produces useless information. Like try Apple's own music app....3DT and it gives me an options that I don't need. I don't use Beats music yet 3DT gives me a beats music option that I will never use. Useless. Why not show me my playlists? Now that is usefull info. Same thing for the Weather app. #DT and nothing ...nada despite me having 4 locations saved that I frequently hike or go to. These are just 2 examples of Apple apps. So they can't say they are waiting for the developer. These are in house Apple apps.
So I am glad Samsung didn't use some sort of 3DT feature. I don't think it is ready for primetime.

FYI iOS 9.3 has 3DT for Weather and a bunch of other stock apps too, including Settings which has a 3DT menu for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Battery. Very useful.

Also source for text in bold?

 

[jdiamond]

The S8 is rumored to have a 1-pixel camera which will let in 12 million times more light per pixel than the S7's camera (and 16 million times more light per pixel than the S6's camera), according to Samsung.

Uhhh.... it would be interesting to see that quote. Because incoming light = aperture and sensor size. A 16 million x improvement means a 4,000x increase in diameter. So if there current camera is a scant 1 mm across, their new camera is larger than my office.

But you said "per pixel", so it's quite possible they now only capture a single pixel, and then this makes perfect sense.

 

[Roadstar]

I don't find it convenient to drop a phone on a specific place to enable recharging. With the same amount of energie you plug your phone in that enables a much faster charging.

Plugging the phone in most often requires using both of your hands, dropping in on a charger works just fine with one. Same goes for picking up the phone before going somewhere else. There's also not a cable hanging loose or dropping somewhere after picking up your phone from a neatly prepared charging pad. For example for my "nightstand" (actually a shelf above my head) dealing with wires is highly inconvenient as the cable drops on my face unless I'm extra careful and the slower charging speed isn't an issue when the phone will be there for the night anyway.

 

[jamezr]

FYI iOS 9.3 has 3DT for Weather and a bunch of other stock apps too, including Settings which has a 3DT menu for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Battery. Very useful.

Also source for text in bold?

That is awesome.......but I don't have IOS 9.3 nor does anyone other than people on the beta program.
It is a gimmicky feature and not implemented very well. It's been out for 6 months and Apple us just now getting around to their own in house apps with an update that won't available for how much longer now?

 

[kis]

I've already pre-ordered an S7 EDGE to replace my 6S Plus, but anyway, here's my reasoning:

The S7 EDGE:

Positive:

- looks better (to me - this is subjective, of course)
- is much lighter
- is thinner
- has a much better camera (from I've seen over on phonearena.com)
- has expandable storage
- is water proof

Neutral:

- comes with Touchwiz. Some people like it, some don't. I really don't - but optically it's very easy to get rid of. Samsung's theme engine allows you to change the menus to whatever look you like, then install any of them dozens of launchers etc. and the Touchwiz UI is gone.

- OS version: it comes with the latest Android version. Until January next year, this'll be up-to-date. But yeah, Samsung isn't the fastest to update as everything goes through the carriers first.

- Samsung phones used to be known for slowing down over time. This seems to have been fixed, though - the Galaxy S6 EDGE+ I had last year never slowed down a bit.

- Doesn't have 3D touch. This is, however, a feature that looks awesome on paper and I'm sure a lot of people use, but I simply don't. Neither on the phone nor on my two Apple laptops (ForceTouch).

Negative:

- Support is undeniably better from Apple if you buy unbranded phones. For Samsung, this'll depend on your carrier.


I've grown bored with iOS - and since I've been using GMail etc. for years, I'm not too tied in. I never sync my phones with iTunes anyway, so I don't really see the big issue. Don't use iMessage because I travel abroad a lot with my students and if they don't have a data plan, iMessage doesn't work.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Wireless charging: nope, you need to put the device on a plate or other device that provides it with power. Hardly wireless at all.

Waterproof: not really, just an half an hour.

OLED: true, Apple should work on this, they will, in 2018 on massive scale so I have heard.

Expandability: true but also a security risk. Very easy to remove the extra storage disk.

If I where Apple I would leave the copy practices to Samsung, they are master in this.

But if Apple did it it would be great.
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Right, some people find that extremely convenient you know, similarly to how people charge their Apple watches

And by the way, Apple is rumored to do this for iPhone in the near future

But it's special when Apple does it.
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Are you guys done with your infomercial?

You're late to the party.

 

[super michael]

I like Samsung phones but i hate android why because of this one reason:

In my country which is Gibraltar all the paid app are region restricted even many free apps like facebook, whatsapp, summoners wars etc are region restricted.

To make android worse even my credit card is restricted even when i am in England on Holiday.

The only way to download free app region restricted is by VPN or go to another country. Credit card is impossible since when i put my billing address it restricts me from buying.

That is my only beef with android, at least with Apple there is no region restriction from getting app and no problem using my credit card buying apps or using Itune.

 

[Taz Mangus]

It's actually:

S6: 2550mAh
S7: 3000mAh
iPhone 6s: 1715 mAh

But you can't really judge battery life by battery capacity.

The S6 had a worse battery life despite having a battery that's 40% bigger and I still don't think the S7 will beat the 6s' life despite being twice the size.

S6 getting screen on time of 3-4 hours:
http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s6-edge-battery-review-28-days-later-607273/

And there are multiple threads on here showing consistent screen on time on iPhone 6s of 7-8 hours and the 6s+ getting 10+ hours, here's one:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/hows-your-battery-life-looking-so-far.1921585/

And using low power mode gets me at least another hour with my 6S+. I suspect that the A10 will be even more efficient CPU which should help improve battery life.

 

[Shanghaichica]

FYI iOS 9.3 has 3DT for Weather and a bunch of other stock apps too, including Settings which has a 3DT menu for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Battery. Very useful.

Also source for text in bold?

Oh this is coming in 9.3. Things like this I will find 3DT useful for. In it's current iteration it's not that useful. However I think a lot is a case of actually using it. I think if I'd made the effort to use it more when I first got the phone it would be ingrained in my muscle memory but now I have to remember to use it. However the new features in 9.3 are definitely things that I would find useful and would use it.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I don't find it convenient to drop a phone on a specific place to enable recharging. With the same amount of energie you plug your phone in that enables a much faster charging.
And Apple is working on true wireless charging, an idea that it doesn't require your phone to put on a specific place but that it will be powered up when entering a specific area. If Apple would succeed in doing so then this is true innovation and a major breakthrough for charging devices in general.

But you find it convenient to plug it in at a specific place? And unplug it from the same place? And wasn't the Apple wireless charging article posted here talking about charging the phone from 3' away?

 

[Taz Mangus]

You're late to the party.

So you are having an infomercial party. How nice for you.

 

[AppleScruff1]

So you are having an infomercial party. How nice for you.

i learned something new about an Apple competitor. Imagine that.

 

[Truefan31]

That is awesome.......but I don't have IOS 9.3 nor does anyone other than people on the beta program.
It is a gimmicky feature and not implemented very well. It's been out for 6 months and Apple us just now getting around to their own in house apps with an update that won't available for how much longer now?

I understand u don't find it useful and it's subjective for everyone but 3D Touch works pretty well to me. I mainly use it for peek n pop and it's been nice. And at least you know Apple will update it relatively soon, something you cannot say Samsung would be as quick with.

But honestly I think 3dt is a nice step toward something else, like Touch ID was to ap. And there may be more to apples goal ultimately.

I now wonder if Samsung did indeed leave it out due to them not being able to get it ready in time based on the need for both hardware and software modifications. I do expect them to do it as soon as next iteration though.

 

[dragje]

I've already pre-ordered an S7 EDGE to replace my 6S Plus, but anyway, here's my reasoning:

The S7 EDGE:

Positive:

- looks better (to me - this is subjective, of course)
- is much lighter
- is thinner
- has a much better camera (from I've seen over on phonearena.com)
- has expandable storage
- is water proof

Looking better is subjective indeed. I don't like the design. First of, the regular Galaxy looks like an iPhone but that aside I think that the "edge" is nothing more then a gimmick. It doesn;t really add something of use. On top of that I don't like to see pictures going over the edge.

Meh, water proof until certain degree. Apple is also building, according to rumors, on a "waterproof" device. It's nice for use in a bathroom for example but the true advantage is that it resist water damage, like rain etc. And the fact you can make nice holiday snaps within a pool, things like that. But it's not really waterproof, after half an hour you'll get issues.

I find "lighter" a disadvantage, also with the iPhone itself which I find to be to light. Same with thinner, why everything needs to be thinner all the time? I understand that nobody wants to walk around with a brick in there hands but some weight is nice...

Better camera, could be, but for clients I need to make professional foto's, and both the iPhone and the Samsung doesn't impress me one bit when it comes to professional photography simply because the quality of both smartphones are nothing compared to real DSLR quality devices..

Expandable storage is in my opinion a security risk, easy to dismantle from the phone and I don't have any issues with 124gig of data. I'm not even able to fill it. I don't watch movies on a mobile device, I prefer a big screen that truly gathers your attention.

 

[samcraig]

Waterproof: not really, just an half an hour.

Expandability: true but also a security risk. Very easy to remove the extra storage disk.

Your waterproof comment is hysterical to me. Really? So you can put a phone underwater for a half hour but you don't consider that 'really" waterproof? Planning on swimming with your phone for more than 30 min? The purpose is in case you drop it in a toilet, a pool, a puddle, use it in the rain. It's not meant to go scuba diving with.

If someone is going to remove the SIM tray and your SD card, it's just as easy and faster to steal your whole phone. Security risk? Pal - you're reaching here.

 

[alexforget82]

A little bit overpriced in Canada in my opinion.

S7 at 899$
S7 Edge at 999$

 

[maxsix]

Apple made theirs bigger, and it paid off in huge sales stolen from their competitors.

Actually after nearly three years of Beautiful Spacious Displays on Android phones... Apple could no longer hang back profit taking, by not spending money to make the iPhone a modern sized handset.

When Apple caved into public demand their users were starved for a contemporary iPhone with a larger display. That pent up demand was proven by huge record breaking sales. Finally Apple catches up with their competitors.

Even though they continue to follow Samsung's lead, there's hope that at some point in the future Apple may get serious, do their best work and return to being a leader. It's not too late for Apple to get moving again.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Your waterproof comment is hysterical to me. Really? So you can put a phone underwater for a half hour but you don't consider that 'really" waterproof? Planning on swimming with your phone for more than 30 min? The purpose is in case you drop it in a toilet, a pool, a puddle, use it in the rain. It's not meant to go scuba diving with.

If someone is going to remove the SIM tray and your SD card, it's just as easy and faster to steal your whole phone. Security risk? Pal - you're reaching here.

Gotta love those Apple glasses!

 

[MrNomNoms]

Although it is good to see Samsung has provided a strong update at the same time you're still dealing with their half-assed update schedule where the end users are shafted even if they're in countries where the carriers don't hold up the updates - In New Zealand for example Samsung has a fast track with a turn around by carriers of no more than a week for major updates and auto-approval for critical security updates etc. but alas you still have the massive lead times. This is the one reason if I was ever going to jump onboard the Android train I would be getting a Nexus 6P rather than a Samsung or HTC device.

 

[pat500000]

I can't tell if you're joking or not, so I'm answering... A lower f number in aperture is actually better. It means more light is getting through. An f stop of 4 would be far (FAR) worse than 1.7

As for the pixel count... The sensor is a fixed size. Larger pixels can collect more light and reduce noise in low light. Larger pixels means you can't fit as many pixels on the sensor. Samsung is sacrificing pixel count for better low light performance. That sacrifice payed huge dividends on the recent Nexus phones whose cameras perform amazingly well. The average person truly doesn't need more than 5-8MP. Going from 16 to 12 is thus not seen as a big deal.

Add in OIS and the much faster focus times and that camera is going to be a killer.

Ok that makes sense. Actually my mistake... But as I was looking at websites about lens higher f gives more depth due to smaller opening of lens which gives better background.