There was almost nothing left to imagine after everything about Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge was leaked before its launch. But even after that, Samsung has managed to surprise fans in a number of ways as it finally pulled off the curtains from its Galaxy S7 flagship at its Unpacked event.
While both Galaxy S7 and S7 looks identical to their predecessors, Samsung has made significant improvements. 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and 5.5-inch S7 edge have some notable features. Both device include 4GB RAM and have water-resistant chassis. The microSD card slot has returned to provide expandable storage.
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge Technical Specifications
| OS | Android Marshmallow 6.0 with TouchWiz |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.1-inch/5.5-inch AMOLED 2560×1440 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 4-core SoC / Samsung 8-core Exynos 8890 SoC in international version |
| GPU | Adreno 530 GPU |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Camera | Primary: 12MP rear camera with OIS, Secondary: 5MP |
| Storage | 32GB, 64GB or 128GB |
| Connectivity | Dual Band 802.11b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS |
| Ports | Micro USB 2.0, Headphones |
| Dimensions | 143.4 x 70.5 x 7.9mm (7.7mm S7 edge) |
| Weight | 138 g |
| Battery | S7: 3000mAh / S7 edge: 3600mAh |
| What else? | Fingerprint reader, heart rate monitor, RGB notification LED, NFC, Samsung Pay, wireless charging, fast charging |
What’s Inside?
Both S7s feature 4GB RAM. As leaked earlier, Galaxy S7 has two processor variants. The US version will ship with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC, with a quad-core Kryo CPU and Adreno 530 GPU. The international version will feature Samsung’s octa-core Exynos 8890 SoC.
Samsung claims the processing to be 30 percent more powerful than Galaxy S6.
The Camera
Galaxy S7 features 12MP Dual Pixel camera. Pixel-wise, the camera is a downgrade from 16MP in S6 to 12MP in S7. By reducing the resolution but keeping the sensor the same size, Samsung says each pixel can be bigger, capturing more light. Samsung claims the new camera’s larger pixels let in 56 percent more light than before providing better low light images.
The Battery
Both models does not have removable batteries, but both models see a jump in capacity. Galaxy S7 features 3,000mAh battery (up from 2,550mAh in S6) and Galaxy S7 Edge features 3,600mAh battery (up from 2,600mAh in S6 Edge).
Both Galaxy devices support fast charging and wireless charging.
Expandable Storage
One of the most exciting feature of both Galaxy S7 models is the comeback of expandable storage. Android 6.0 allows merger of the SD card with the internal flash memory to create a large pool of storage. Taking advantage of this, Samsung’s decision to put microSD slot back will be welcomed by fan.
Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will provide 32, 64 and 128GB storage options depending on region and the memory can be expanded up to 200GB with microSD card.
Water and Dust Resistance
Samsung decided to remove the water and dust resistance capability from Galaxy S6. But with S7, water and dust resistance is back with IP68 rating. IP68 equates to “totally dust tight” allowing submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes at a time.
Color Options
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge will be available in four colors: Black Onyx, Gold Platinum, White Pearl and Silver Titanium.
Availability
Not keeping fans waiting for too long, Samsung has also announced that both models will be available soon from 11th March with pre-orders beginning from 23rd February.
Overall, Galaxy S7 and S7 edge may not be complete game-changers but offer some great improvements from their predecessors. Both devices prove it further that Samsung isn’t all about cheap, plastic phones.
