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Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7
...


8.5/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy S7 currently has an Informr score of 8.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 51 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Blazing performance
  • Comfortable grip
  • Premium design
  • Excellent low-light camera performance
  • MicroSD support
  • QuadHD display
  • All-day battery
  • Rapid/Wireless charging

What's bad

  • Cost
  • TouchWiz interface clutter
  • 7+ GB of software pre-installed
  • Non-removable battery

Fans of Android phones have loved most of Samsung’s Galaxy-series flagships. However, with the minor issues of the S6 and a fresh wave of flagships debuting from the competition, Samsung needed to hit a homerun with the S7 to stay near the top of the pack.

While the phone might look like an S6 on the outside, Samsung has been hard at work tweaking and polishing their favorite flagship. Do the changes add up? We’ve scoured reviews from the biggest tech sites on the Internet to find out! Let’s dig in!

Samsung has stuck with a similar design to their previous Galaxy S6--an aluminum frame with a glass back. However, they have accentuated the curves as the side of the device and massaged bezels and faces to create a sleeker appearance. Most reviews applauded the changes with Android Pit saying it offers a “sumptuously snug fit in the hand” and Stuff declaring, “the whole thing just oozes with quality.”

Trusted Reviews summed up the new design well, stating, “the sides now curve ever so slightly, just like they did on the larger Galaxy Note 5, and it makes a huge change to how the Galaxy S7 feels … It’s marginally thicker than its predecessor and has a nice weight to it. It feels dense and expensive, though not as delicate as you’d expect from a phone with glass on the front and back. I dropped it about four foot onto a hard floor and it survived without any problems.”

Overall, reviews indicate that Samsung has found a great balance between design, size and comfort. Unfortunately, that shiny glass that provides a nice appearance has one downside. Alphr notes, “This is a phone you’ll be wiping on your shirt to keep clean – a lot.”

Heading around to the front of the handset, you’ll find the first difference between the S7 and S7 Edge. The S7 features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display while the Edge goes slightly bigger at 5.5-inches. Both feature a quadHD resolution of 2560-by-1440 pixels resulting in some of the highest pixel densities available in a mobile phone. There’s also the Gorilla Glass 4 treatment to help repel scratches and glare.

Reviews on the display are great across the board. Android Pit declared, “The screen is typical Samsung: that is to say, it’s sublime.“ Stuff took the S7 for a spin and says it “delivers an incredible amount of clarity and detail. Text is pin-sharp whether you’re browsing this wonderful website, or other lesser alternatives, and video ain’t half bad either.”

Another perk to the Super AMOLED technology is the always-on display feature new to the S7. This allows the phone to display basic notifications and other widget-style information on the display even when the phone is resting on your desk. Samsung notes that battery usage should be minimal (1% of your battery per hour) and most reviews agree.

However, most reviews noted that notifications are limited to Samsung specific apps. Alphr noted, “Having lived with the S7 for a while now, though, I’m not convinced of its usefulness.“ If you’re hoping for GMail or WhatsApp notifications, you might be disappointed unless Samsung rolls out an update.

To push all those pixels, Samsung opted for an octa-core processor. The global variant uses the Exynos 8890 processor while the US model sports a Snapdragon 820. If you’re worried about which to grab, TechRadar notes, “The differences between the two variants (global vs North America) may frustrate mentally, but you won't see any differences day to day, so don't fret.”

This is due to the sheer power offered by both processors. Most reviews note that the phone features enough processing power to keep any user happy well into the future. Trusted Reviews states, “for the time being Samsung’s latest flagship is the one to beat.” Android Pit ran a full series of benchmarks and declared, “in many measurements, the Galaxy S7 is faster than every other Android devices we’ve seen in the newsroom.”

The responsiveness of the S7 is partially thanks to its generous 4GB of RAM. This provides enough memory for virtually any app and reviews indicate that even heavy multi-tasking is silky smooth. Upgrades to the 32GB of internal storage also squeak out more performance while loading large files or turning the device on or off.

Should you need more space, Samsung has brought back microSD support for cards up to 200GB in size. However, reviews noted that the recent Android Marshmallow feature to merge microSD and internal storage was not activated on their handsets.

Another feature returning from previous handsets is the IP68 water-resistance rating. Unlike the plastic flaps and covers of the S5, the S7 accomplishes this through its design providing less chance of error and greater protection. Reviews indicated that the S7 shrugged off everything from a splash to a 10-minute drop in the pool.

The second difference between the S7 and S7 Edge is in the battery. While both are non-removable, the Edge offers slightly more battery capacity, coming it at 3600mAh compared to the 3000mAh of the S7. Both phones support wireless PMA and Qi charging and offer fast charging modes for quick top offs while you go about your day.

Reviews indicate both batteries require approximately 90 minutes for a full charge while a quick 10 minute boost will net you a few hours of usage when needed. PC Advisor UK put the phone through its paces and said, “With heavy usage of course your results will vary, but with light-to-moderate use we could easily see this battery lasting two days.”

If you’re looking to snap pictures or record HD video with your phone, the 12-megapixel Dual Pixel camera with optical image stabilization on the phone receives high marks, rivaling those of the acclaimed iPhone 6s. Fans of selfies? A 5-megapixel wide-angle lens on the front offers enough room in the frame for you and a few friends.

Reviewers were excited to try the new camera as it’s one of the few mobile phones featuring dual-pixel technology--a feature typically reserved for high-end DSLR cameras. Reviews were undoubtedly positive. Gizmag applauded the camera for its “outstanding low-light camera performance.” Trusted Reviews says the S7 features the “best autofocus I’ve ever used on a phone.” Stuff Magazine tried out the camera and said, “the S7 captures the kind of pictures you can post to Instagram with an obnoxious but proud #nofilter.”

There were a few areas where reviewers were undecided or unimpressed. One of the biggest being Samsung’s decision to still use TouchWiz with Android 6.0.1. Reviews noted that while the interface is much better than previous editions, it still feels cluttered compared to the stock Android interface. There’s also the fact that many reviewers found that the pre-installed software on the phone took up more than 7GB of storage space--much of which cannot be uninstalled.

Another issue many reviewers had was with the speaker on the phone. By opting to place the speaker on the bottom of the phone, many reviewers noted that they often muffled the sound with their hand. PC Advisor UK did more in-depth testing and found, “When testing the phone’s internal audio quality we found the S7 to be mediocre in its ability to drive an audio signal when tested at 80-85 percent of the maximum volume. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S6 needed only 55-60 percent of its total volume to output the same sound.“

Lastly, many reviews noted a slight delay in the performance of the phone’s fingerprint sensor. While no review considered the fingerprint scanner a glaring problem, nearly all noted that it wasn’t quite as responsive as the scanners on other flagships.

Overall, reviews for the S7 are undeniably good. Trusted Reviews praised it as “the most complete phone I’ve ever used.” Android Pit ends their review stating, “The Galaxy S7 surely warrants its asking price. It excels in all the key areas: its camera is the best that we have tested so far; its gaming performance is great and future-proof; its battery life is enough to support heavy use; and it’s generally a snappy and smooth device.”

Perhaps the best summary of the new flagship duo comes from Stuff, saying, “Where past Galaxy S handsets have felt like a checklist of enviable specs, this device is a complete all-rounder. More than offering you a tremendous processor or bumper battery, the S7 focuses on how these components tally together and whether you’re going to enjoy using them.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.3 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.3 GHz
5.1"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.1"
12+ MP
Camera
Camera
12+ MP
3000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Android Central
Android Central

Getting up to the modern era is mostly good — with a little speed slowdown trade-off. Oreo didn't offer these phones a new lease on life, but it gave them another year of usefulness with no use downside.

- Andrew Martonik, Android Central
JimsReviewRoom
JimsReviewRoom

It’s not 100%, but the overall experience for the average consumer, the piece of mind from water-proofing, the elimination of worrying about storage space, and of-course, you get one good looking phone, I think Samsung did very well by offering just an overall, well-rounded package.

- Jimmy Luong, JimsReviewRoom
The Wirecutter
The Wirecutter

The Galaxy S7 has the best screen of any Android phone and one of the best displays, plus water resistance and a microSD card slot.

- Ryan Whitwam, The Wirecutter
Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

What can I say? A tremendously pleasing smartphone to use. It's been a while since I test-drove something I didn't want to give back, but the Galaxy S7 fits into that category quite comfortably. It looks sharp, feels reassuringly expensive and robust in the hand, the camera experience is an absolute...

- Paul Briden, Know Your Mobile
G Style Magazine
G Style Magazine

Besides the missing curves of the Galaxy S7 Edge, the S7 is just as good that don’t need the added features. Crisp colorful display, quick picture-taking and runs smooth no matter what’s thrown at it. MicroSD storage is great to have back and with a 3,000mAh charging shouldn’t be a...

- Jason Million, G Style Magazine


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S7 user manual here.


Samsung backs up the Galaxy S7 with a 2 Years parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy S7 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
5.1"

The Samsung Galaxy S7's screen size is 5.1 inches with 1440 x 2560 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.3 GHz

There is a Samsung Exynos 8 Octa core 2.3 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32/64 GB

Internal memory is 32/64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3000 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 1680 minutes, 840 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy S7 Specs

Overview
Release Date March 11, 2016
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Samsung Exynos 8 Octa core 2.3 GHz
Internal Storage 32/64 GB
RAM 4 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.43 W/kg
Body: 1.06 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 2 Years
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR, Voice activation, Slow motion recording
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, FLV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1440 x 2560 pixels
Pixel Density 577 pixels
Size 5.1 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 960 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 840 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 780 minutes
Talk Time Up to 1680 minutes
Standby Time Up to 12 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Black Onyx, Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium, White Pearl, Pink Gold
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.2 x 7 x 0.8 cm (5.6 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight 152 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

Variation: Samsung Galaxy S7 with Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 Quad core 2.2 GHz Processor

Additional Sensors: Barometer
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy S7 Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy S7
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