Samsung’s New Galaxy S7 Should Have a Huge Impact on the Phone Market
Samsung’s new Galaxy S7 mobile phone is now available. All reports indicate the device is Samsung’s best product to date to compete with Apple’s popular iPhone series.
The phone stands out in both appearance and feel. It has a shiny metal and glass backing that makes it stand out from competitors. The curved back and sides make it comfortable to hold. The rounded edges add to grip and appearance. Overall it is more contoured and attractive than last year’s Galaxy S6.
Inside the guts include either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or an Exynos 8890 Octa processor. Samsung says it will run more efficiently than the Galaxy S6.
Both the S7 and larger S7Edge come with 4GB of RAM. A 2.0 UFC feature quickens video storage. Phones are available with either 32 or 64 of GB.
Photos are said to be improved with the new phone. The 12-megapixel camera takes better photos than previous models. Though fewer pixels than the S6, images are said to appear crisper and brighter. A faster auto focus helps to grab clear shots of moving objects. A 5 pixel front camera is also part of the device.
Users should like a new display that is “always on”. It shows either the clock, a calendar or an image. It’s appropriate for checking the time, and battery levels without having to take the phone out of standby. You can also have dual settings, one for home and one for travel with time zone changes.
Battery life is always a challenge with mobile phones. Samsung may have a found a solution with the S7. Some tests indicate the new Galaxy can average 16 hours of battery life. This compares to just 10.5 hours with the iPhone 6S. The S7’s bigger brother, the S7 Edge, has an even larger battery.
Storage has been increased. Samsung has once again added a microSD card slot. This will enable you to watch a move offline and save your photos and videos to a card instead of the limited phone memory.
Samsung is heavily promoting the fact that the S7 is water resistant. Dropping it in a toilet, pool, or sink should, in theory, not impact its operation. This would be a nice feature if it holds true.
Samsung Pay is another benefit. It enables you to use the phone as a credit card at accepting merchants. As I have written before, it goes beyond the offerings of Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The phone also charges wirelessly. It can also be quick-charged from an included wired charger.
Overall the new Samsung S7 appears to be superior to the iPhone 6S in a number of categories. These include low-light camera shots, battery life, storage-the microSD card slot, and the easier to use Samsung Pay.
Size matters to many and the Samsung S7 boasts a 5.1 inch screen, about four inches taller than the iPhone 6S. Those who want to go bigger can opt for the larger Samsung S7 Edge with a 5.5 inch screen.
Pricing for the S7 may be an issue for some. Reviews show anywhere from $670 to $770 for the device. The larger S7 Edge may run as high as $990.
Samsung has set the table with a newer, larger more exciting mobile phone. The question now is will consumers be ready to step up to the plate.