First Look: Samsung S7

The S7 has an IP68 waterproof unibody made from metal and 3D glass with curved edges, which provides much improved grip and handling over its predecessor, the S6. It has a  5.1-inch QHD Super AMOLED (577 ppi) display.

 

The newest feature here is the Always-On function, which maintains a dim display in standby mode with information such as missed calls, schedules and reminders.

 

The device comes in two processor variants, depending on which market you buy them in. One option is the Snapdragon 820 and the other will be the Exynos 8 Octa, both with 4GB RAM and 32/64GB storage options. Samsung also brings back the microSD slot, allowing memory expansion up to 200GB.

 

The S7 introduces the first dual-pixel camera on a smartphone, which is concentrated on providing a better picture in low-light conditions. Thanks to the technology, brighter lens with wider aperture and bigger pixels, the camera has a faster shutter speed and a more accurate autofocus even in low light.

 

Motion Panorama, similar to iPhone’s Live Photo, brings movement to traditional panoramic photos. We did try out the camera at Mobile World Congress and were impressed with its low-light imagery. 

 

The S7 comes with 4K video recording, which consumes battery pretty quick but is still an important feature considering the amount of 4K TVs out there now. Video — at 1080p — plays back smoothly as well. 

 

The S7 comes with a 3,000mAh battery, a decent upgrade from its predecessor. Liquid cooling has also been implemented in the system to prevent overheating during heavy usage. The device comes with Android Marshmallow. 

 

Another important point to shed light on are the S7’s gaming capabilities. Samsung has partnered with Epic Games to bring users the Vulcan API. It also introduced the Game Launcher, a new add-on for gamers that allows users to manage battery consumption and minimise notifications.

 

Based on the little we have used the device, the S7 has to be one of the comfiest phones we’ve ever held. In a competitive smartphone world where you can’t get a good device  without it being at least 5.5- 6 inches screen-wise, the S7 is a fantastic answer. 

 

It’s compact and powerful — an ideal combination.