Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge

Design, display and specs

Update: Samsung has officially halted sales of the Note 7 after multiple reports of some rather extreme battery malfunction. There’s also a global recall in effect, so those who have already purchased the new phone are asked to send it back.

Original article below

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is going to be oversimplified by many as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge with a slightly bigger screen size and a S-Pen stylus, but it’s a bit more than that.

There are a lot of subtle design changes that make it a business-friendly alternative to the South Korean company’s flagship handset at a slightly more expensive price.

Both are likely to remain the best phones in their class for the rest of 2016, with great cameras, processors and designs, but we’re here to help you decide between the two.

Watch our video review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge: design

Curves are in. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 takes cues from the Galaxy S7 Edge with a curved screen on the left and right sides, and they’re among the most stylish phones in 2016.

Sure, the glass-and-metal-fused design makes them delicate, but that’s the price of smartphone beauty. The Note 7 has the added advantage of working with a stylus for notes and sketches. We also like its less pronounced curve, reducing false touches.

The Note 7 dimensions are bigger (153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm) than the S7 Edge (150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm), yet its back of the new Note is curved (the back of the S7 Edge is flat) and easily palmable. Both still require two hands to operate with any sort of efficiency.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge: display

Samsung packs a lot of bright pixels into both the Note 7 and S7 Edge thanks to a Quad HD 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, and they’re memorizing to look at – even in sunlight.

They’re the best-looking screens among smartphones. This Super AMOLED display duo never sleeps, either, thanks to always-on displays that show the time and date.

Exclusive to the Galaxy Note 7 is Mobile HDR, which shows brighter colors and deeper blacks, according to Samsung. But more HDR content needs to come to this small cinema screen. The Note 7 also allows for easy off-screen memos; no need to open an app to jot something down.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Note 5: specs and performance

Samsung makes the fastest Android phones you can get right now, with performance that goes unrivaled thanks to the company’s own 64-bit Exynos chipset – in some parts of the world.

In the UK, this means The Note 7 has an Exynos 8890 octacore processor, while the US uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 quad-core chip. You’ll find the same 820 CPU in the LG G5, HTC 10, Moto Z and ZTE Axon 7.

While we’ve found Samsung’s own chip to be faster, the processor you get is really dependant on where you live in the world, and both are snappy and supported by 4GB of RAM.

Android, camera and storage

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge: Android and apps

You’re going to find the latest version of Android on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and be able to upgrade to the same exact Android Marshmallow update on the S7 Edge.

At least, both phone will support Google’s latest operating system until Android Nougat launches on new Nexus 2016 phones in a few weeks. Then you’ll have to wait for Samsung to update to the next version to have the latest and greatest.

No matter. You’re mostly dealing with Samsung’s TouchWiz operating system overlay here, which already has many Android Nougat features like multitasking. And you shouldn’t be frightened of TouchWiz any longer. Unlike the Galaxy S5 and Note 4 and before, it’s much cleaner and runs very smoothly.

There are a lot of junk apps made by Samsung and carriers you’ll never use, but both phones do support Samsung Pay, which is more widely accepted than the NFC-only Android Pay app.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge: camera

Side-by-side, you’re not going to notice any differences between the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7 Edge cameras. They’re exactly the same.

In either case, you’re getting Samsung’s top-performing 12MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture on back. It’s loaded with OIS and dual-pixel technology for faster autofocus in low light conditions.

On the front, each phone has a 5MP camera for selfies with the same f/1.7 aperture. There are a ton of modes for both front and back cameras, including software-stitched wide selfies.

The one almost-hidden new feature we like about the Note 7 camera app is the selfie flip function. Swiping up or down on the screen now flips the camera from front to back and vice versa. It’s much easier than trying to hunt and tap for the normal camera flip button.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge: storage

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge has 32GB of internal storage, twice as much as the entry-level 16GB iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. Well, the Note 7 has 64GB, four time as much as Apple’s starter model.

You won’t find multiple configurations for more money, though. Instead, both offer enough space to load up on your favorite apps and can be expanded via expandable storage.

There’s a microSD card slot, tucked into the nano SIM card tray, holds all of your photos, movies and music, just in case you run out of space or want to easily transfer content.

Biometric sensors, release date, price and verdict

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge: biometric sensors

Samsung’s takes security seriously with its enterprise-level Knox platform, and it also locks up your smartphone nice and tight with a fingerprint sensor home button.

While its oval-shaped fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, the company decided to add another way to unlock the Note 7: an iris scanner. Your eyes can unlock your phone, even when you hop out of the shower or pool. Pruny fingers are no longer a problem.

The new iris scanner can also secure certain folders and photos that you consider top secret. If it’s a big hit, expect this extra security method to come to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge next year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge: release date and price

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is here and now, while the Note 7 isn’t too far off. Pre-orders begin on August 3 and the phone is delivered to your doorstep on August 19 in the US. In the UK, it’ll be sold on September 2 with pre-orders beginning on August 16.

It’s going to be a little more expensive to upgrade to this S-Pen-focused smartphone, so even if you dig its new features, you’ll have to consider how much extra it’ll cost.

The S7 Edge costs $299 in the US on a two-year contract, or about $33 a month through carrier imposed monthly device payments. It’s SIM-free unlocked price is now $769. In the UK it costs £640 and in Australia it’s AU$1,249.

The Note 7 doesn’t include two-year contract pricing just yet (carriers are trying to do away with that), but the 24-month device plans are $36 a month through Verizon, $36.67 a month via AT&T and $32.50 a month with $69.99 down on T-Mobile. At full retail price, it’s $880 on AT&T, $864 at Verizon and $849 T-Mobile.

In the UK, it’s a flat £749. Very simple – very easy to figure out.

Looking for an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in the US? It took the S7 and S7 Edge four months to arrive unaltered by American carriers, and we fully expect the same here.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs S7 Edge: verdict

There’s very little reason to pass up the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 or S7 Edge. They have the best cameras, top-of-the-line specs and brilliant displays that few phones match.

The choice between the two comes down to two factors: how bigger are your hands and how big is your wallet. The Note 7 is a bit larger in either case. As more pricing details are released about the Note 7, we’ll update this comparison to see if Samsung can justify the cost.

Source: techradar.com

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