Samsung Galaxy S7 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy S7 was released in 2016 and quickly became one of the most popular smartphones on the market. Although it has been discontinued, it still maintains a loyal following due to its impressive specs and features.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy S7 was released in 2016, but its design and build quality still hold up against newer smartphones on the market. The phone's sleek and elegant appearance is achieved with a combination of glass and aluminum materials. The Gorilla Glass 4 front and back panels provide a premium feel and also offer durability and resistance against scratches and cracks. The aluminum frame adds to the phone's sturdiness and overall build quality.

The phone's dimensions are 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, making it comfortable to hold and easy to use with one hand. Its weight of 152g is also well balanced, making the phone feel solid without being too heavy. One of the standout features of the Galaxy S7's design is its IP68 rating, which means it is dust and water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. This feature makes the phone ideal for those who want a device that can withstand the elements.

The phone's ergonomics are well thought out and contribute to its overall user experience. The power button is located on the right-hand side of the phone, with the volume buttons on the left-hand side. The fingerprint sensor is located on the home button on the front of the phone, making it easy to unlock the device with just a touch. The curved edges of the phone also add to its comfort by making it easier to hold.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S7's design and build quality are impressive, with attention to detail paid to both aesthetics and functionality. Its combination of durability, water-resistance, and premium materials make it a reliable and stylish choice for anyone in the market for a smartphone.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S7 boasts a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels and a density of 577 pixels per inch. The screen-to-body ratio is around 72%, which is quite impressive. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, making it scratch-resistant and durable.

The colors on the Samsung Galaxy S7's display are vivid and accurate, thanks to the Super AMOLED technology used. The contrast is excellent, and the blacks are deep, which makes the screen ideal for watching movies and playing games. The display is also bright enough to be seen outdoors, even on sunny days.

The Samsung Galaxy S7's display is also equipped with an Always-On feature that shows the time, date, and notifications even when the phone is locked. This feature is helpful as it reduces the need to unlock the phone to check for notifications, ultimately saving battery life.

The touchscreen of the Samsung Galaxy S7 is highly responsive and sensitive. It registers even the slightest touch, making it effortless to navigate through the phone. The display also has a feature that allows users to adjust the screen's color balance and saturation to their liking.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S7's display is one of the best displays on the market. It is sharp, bright, and highly responsive, making it an excellent device for multimedia consumption and everyday use.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S7 boasts impressive performance capabilities, thanks to its powerful Exynos 8890 Octa chipset and 4GB of RAM. Users can expect smooth multitasking and seamless app usage, with no lag or stuttering. The device's gaming capabilities are also noteworthy, as it can handle even the most demanding games without any issues.

In terms of benchmarks, the Galaxy S7 scored well on various tests, including Basemark OS II 2.0 and Basemark X. Real-world usage also confirms the phone's performance prowess, with users praising its speed and responsiveness.

The phone's storage options are also worth mentioning, with both 32GB and 64GB internal storage options available. Additionally, the inclusion of a microSDXC slot allows for expandable storage, providing even more space for apps, media, and files.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S7 delivers excellent performance, making it a great option for power users and gamers alike.

Software and User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) out of the box, but it is upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo) with the TouchWiz UI. The user interface is sleek and user-friendly, making it easy for users to navigate through the device. Samsung has also included a number of customization options, allowing users to personalize their device to their liking.

The pre-installed apps and bloatware on the Galaxy S7 are minimal, which is a plus for users who prefer to have more control over the apps they use. The user interface is also designed to be user-friendly, with easy access to frequently used settings and features.

One of the standout features of the Galaxy S7 is Samsung Pay, which is Visa and MasterCard certified. This mobile payment system allows users to make secure payments with their device, adding an extra layer of convenience for users.

Updates and software support are also noteworthy on the Galaxy S7. Samsung has been known to provide regular updates to their devices, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and security patches.

Overall, the software and user interface on the Galaxy S7 are well-designed and offer a great user experience. Samsung has included a number of customization options and useful features, making it a great choice for users who value user-friendliness and convenience.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S7 boasts a 12-megapixel rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.55” sensor size, and dual pixel phase detection autofocus. The camera comes with optical image stabilization, which is a great feature for capturing steady shots. The camera is also capable of recording 4K videos at 30 frames per second and 1080p videos at 60 frames per second. The camera app is user-friendly and offers a variety of shooting modes, including pro mode, panoramic mode, selective focus, and slow-motion mode. The front camera is 5 megapixels and has an f/1.7 aperture as well, making it ideal for taking selfies in low light.

The camera performs exceptionally well in low light conditions, thanks to the wider aperture and larger sensor size. The autofocus is quick and accurate, resulting in sharp and detailed images. The camera also has excellent color reproduction and dynamic range, producing images with vibrant and true-to-life colors. The selective focus mode is particularly impressive, allowing users to blur the background or foreground of an image to create a professional-looking bokeh effect.

The only drawback of the camera is that it lacks a wide-angle lens, which some users may find limiting. However, this is a minor issue, and the overall performance of the camera more than makes up for it. In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S7 has an excellent camera that is capable of producing stunning images and videos in a variety of lighting conditions. It is a great choice for photography enthusiasts looking for a high-quality camera in a smartphone.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with a myriad of connectivity and networking features. The phone supports all major cellular network bands and is compatible with both 3G and 4G LTE networks. It also features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, which allows for fast network connectivity and seamless streaming of high-definition content. The phone also has Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE, and aptX capabilities, which enable the phone to connect to other devices and accessories with ease.

NFC technology is also present in the Galaxy S7, which enables the phone to support wireless payments through services such as Samsung Pay. GPS, GLONASS, and BDS are all available for precise location tracking, and the phone also has a variety of sensors including a fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, and heart rate monitor.

The Galaxy S7 does not have an FM radio, but it does have a microUSB 2.0 port and OTG support, which enables the phone to connect to other devices such as external hard drives and USB drives. Overall, the phone has a wide range of connectivity and networking options that make it a versatile and convenient device for users who are constantly on the go.

Additional Features

The Samsung Galaxy S7 boasts of several additional features that make it an attractive phone to own. Firstly, it comes with an IP68 rating which means that it is water and dust resistant. This feature is particularly useful for people who are constantly exposed to harsh environmental conditions or who enjoy taking their phone with them when they go swimming.

Secondly, the Samsung Galaxy S7 provides expandable storage options. The phone has a microSDXC slot which supports up to 1TB of additional storage. This feature is particularly useful for people who love taking pictures or recording videos and require more storage space.

Thirdly, the audio quality of the Samsung Galaxy S7 is top-notch. The phone comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and supports 24-bit/192kHz audio which ensures that users enjoy high-quality sound. Additionally, the phone's loudspeaker is loud and clear, making it suitable for listening to music or watching videos.

Fourthly, the Samsung Galaxy S7 has a range of unique features that make it stand out from other smartphones. These features include ANT+ support, S-Voice natural language commands and dictation, and Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) which makes it easier for users to make payments using their phone.

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with an always-on display which is a convenient feature that enables users to quickly check the time, date, or notifications without having to unlock their phone. This feature helps to conserve battery life and ensures that users do not miss important notifications.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S7 offers a range of additional features that enhance the user experience and make it a great phone to own.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Samsung Galaxy S7 to other related phones, one device that comes to mind is the iPhone 6s. Both phones were released around the same time and are similar in size and weight. However, the Galaxy S7 has a larger and higher resolution display, more RAM, and a better camera. The iPhone 6s, on the other hand, has a more user-friendly interface and a wider range of third-party accessories.

Another phone that can be compared to the Samsung Galaxy S7 is the LG G5. Both devices have similar specifications, such as the same processor and RAM amount. However, the LG G5 has a modular design, allowing users to swap out components such as the battery or camera. While the Galaxy S7 doesn't have this feature, it does have better battery life and a more vibrant display.

Lastly, the Google Pixel is another phone that can be compared to the Samsung Galaxy S7. Both phones have similar specifications, such as the same amount of RAM and internal storage. However, the Google Pixel has a better camera and more up-to-date software. The Galaxy S7, on the other hand, has a more durable design and expandable storage options.

Overall, when comparing the Samsung Galaxy S7 to other related phones, it's important to consider the specific needs and preferences of the individual user. Each device has its own unique features and drawbacks, and it's up to the consumer to decide which one best suits their needs.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is a phone that still holds its own in the market despite being released in 2016. Its sleek design, durable build, and water-resistant feature make it stand out from its competitors. The Super AMOLED display with its high resolution and color accuracy delivers an exceptional viewing experience. In terms of performance, the Exynos 8890 Octa processor and 4GB of RAM ensure that the phone can handle multitasking and gaming without any lag. The camera setup is also impressive with its dual-pixel autofocus, image stabilization, and high-quality video recording capabilities. The only downside is its outdated Android version, but it is still upgradable to Android 8.0. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is a solid choice for those in need of a reliable and durable phone with impressive features and performance.