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Samsung Unveils Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and Gear 360 VR Camera (hothardware.com)
MojoKid writes: Samsung held their annual Unpacked event at Mobile World Congress 2016, officially unveiling their next generation Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones. The Galaxy S7 sports a 5.1-inch QHD Super AMOLED display with 2560x1440 resolution, while the Galaxy S7 Edge wields a larger 5.5-inch dual-edge screen also at 2560x1440. Among the new features are the company's always-on display technology. When you pull the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge out of your pocket or purse, you'll be able to peek at basic information like the time, calendar, or notifications without touching or waking the display. Both devices also feature "Dual Pixel" 12MP cameras. Using dual-photodiode technology, this is an alternative to phase-detection auto-focus that's supposed to work faster and better. Samsung also claims the rear shooters on the phones capture 95% more light through a wider f1.7 lens. Both are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage which is expandable via microSD, along with 802.11ac MU-MIMO Wi-Fi, BT 4.2, NFC support, fast wireless charging, and 3,000 mAh (Galaxy S7) or 3,600 mAh (Galaxy S7 Edge) batteries. Both are water-resistant and dust-resistant designs with IP68 certification that will withstand total submersion for 30 minutes. The company also announced a new Gear 360 VR video camera and a partnership with Facebook-Oculus. The Gear 360 sports dual fisheye lenses each with high resolution 15MP CMOS image sensors capable of capturing 360-degree video at 3840x1920 and 30-megapixel (7776x3888) still images. When the Gear 360 is synced to a compatible Galaxy phone, you can preview footage in real-time using the phone as a remote.
if I can't change out the battery, I'll use my Note 4 until it dies, then switch to the new LG.
I never had problems rooting non-carrier samsung phones.
In fact, it was pretty much a necessity, because Samsung loads the phone up with so much crap, it's like buying a new laptop.
I'm god, but it's a bit of a drag really...
ive been a samsung fan for a few generations now however I personally am looking forwards to the LG G5. They are giving us a removable battery whereas samsung has decided we dont want it ( I blame tech journalists who wants smaller and smaller handsets) Same chip as this phone but more versatile IMO
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
Nexus is really about getting software support. You will have the latest Android version, while Samsung will be 6-12 months late (and will update only once). You also get monthly security updates.
Nexus are also less bloated. Samsungs tend to ship with two alternatives for the same program. Samsung's version always suck more.
But hardware-wise, the S7 is better than the 6P. The 5X might have the best value however, with recent price drop. Moto G is a good cheap alternative.
Still doesn't have removable batteries for some reason. The new S7 has a 3,000 mAh non-removable battery but the old S5 has a 2,800 mAh removable battery you can swap out for a new one.
Wake me when they add a removable battery AND a microSD slot...
I was in the market for a new phone last year. I was interested in the Galaxy S6, and it ended up high on my list. The biggest drawbacks to the S6 (for me) were: smallish battery, no USB-C, price, and questionable optimization decisions. The biggest drawbacks for the 6P were: no wireless charging, Snapdragon 810, and weight. (There are other downsides shared by both, like lack of a removable battery and the lack of an SD card slot. But that's becoming pretty standard these days.)
Battery life was a key feature for me, so I ended up choosing the Nexus 6P. I've been really happy with it. The 810 heat turned out not to be an issue. The overall battery life and speed with which it charges over USB-C makes me not mind the lack of wireless charging. I appreciate stock Android, though I think the hullabaloo over Samsung's TouchWiz is vastly overblown. It's not terrible, and hardly even noticeable if you download Nova launcher.
If the S7 had been out, it would have been a much tougher choice. Still no USB-C, but a bigger battery, and they're bringing SD card slots back. If I'm reading this right, they actually made the phone thicker than its predecessor... which is amazing. I hope more manufacturers stop the thickness race.
Ultimately, the 6P is a great phone, and the S7 looks like it'll be a great phone. You'll probably be happy with either. Although: if you haven't had a phone with a giant screen, it's worth borrowing a friend's and carrying it around for a while to see how well you like it — hard to get a good idea just from handling it in the store.
my complaint is that the phones these days have gotten to skinny as it is, gimme an old candybar size thickness with a battery to match and id be happy.
to me, its function over form, and when I go out hiking for a few days at a time, a removable battery is a necessity
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
The wireless charging sounds nice...
Honestly, I feel like smart phone companies have run out of reasons for me to upgrade. I'm on an S5 right now and if it broke I'd be more than happy to buy another one rather then pay top dollar for anything newer.
Now if only some one would bring back smart phones with fold out physical keyboards that are built in rather then this touch screen garbage. I miss my old Motorola that had this feature and I'd be willing to pay quite a lot for a phone with it, even if I had to sacrafice or accept lesser features elsewhere in the phone's design.
I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
The problem with microUSB is that the charging speed is limited to less than 500mA with that. So you need a special "charge only" cable to actually charge at a higher speed (or a special Samsung-specific charger).
You can't just take a generic microUSB cable, plug it into some generic charger, and get any decent charging speed on a Samsung phone. I found this out the hard way. The cable has to internally short the data pins for high-speed charging to be enabled. The charger could do it too, but chargers will not do it because that's not the way iPhones work, and the aftermarket charger makers only care about their devices working with iDevices.
Of those that are disappointed in not having a removable/replaceable battery. I guess the main thing for me is that I keep phones a bit longer than most people, and it isn't uncommon for the battery life to slowly degrade. Ordering a replacement always fixes it (as long as you get a good quality battery, and not some after-market piece of crap).
Not being able to replace the battery just seems like planned obsolescence. They want to force you down a path where your only good option is to just buy another phone.
While these screens look amazing, they have a very short life.
They look amazing indoors. Outside in bright sunlight, they look like a dark piece of glass. I had a hell of a time taking photos at an air show a couple of years ago because even with the brightness on my S4 cranked up all the way, it still wasn't bright enough to be useful for the most part. Fortunately I haven't had any issues with burn-in like you described, so I got that goin' for me, which is nice.
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That is incorrect. Since about 2007 the USB spec has allowed for higher charging current. Most modern chargers use that standard. The more expensive ones use dedicated ICs that can detect the type of device connected and go into iPhone mode when required.
Most phones, including all Samsung ones, actually measure the available current. They start at 500mA and ramp up, watching for when the voltage starts to sag. That's the best way to do it - it handles chargers that can supply different amounts of current, and it handles cables that can carry different amounts of current.
If you are having issues you might find it is your cables. The cheap ones tend to have enough resistance to cause voltage sag at relatively low currents.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
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