The question of whether single-core performance or multi-core performance matters more is still intensely debated in programming circles. Having grown used to rear-facing fingerprint sensors, such as the one on the Nexus 6P, the S7’s seems positively old-fashioned by comparison. The main point is the screen on the Galaxy S7 is 24% brighter than its predecessor, with improved contrast ratios to boot. It has the finest modem in the business, and what's looking like highly competitive app performance. The water resistance was to blame for the S5's bezel size, but on the S7, Samsung managed to add water resistance without expanding the bezels by any appreciable amount.

The Galaxy S7 Edge screen also has the added benefit of the side display, which is accessed by swiping your thumb along from the right- or left-hand side of the phone's screen (you can specify which in the settings). The battery life of the S7 Edge was excellent, easily lasting over a day and a half without any special treatment. Samsung disabled Google's Adoptable Storage feature, which makes the memory card look like internal memory to the system, so you still have to move apps back and forth from the Application Settings screen.Well, unlike what it's done on the Galaxy S7, which looks (initially) like 2015's model, the changes on the S7 Edge were brilliant, adding a zest to a design that could have quickly become tired. With a curved glass design, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are now even more comfortable to hold, with a body that fits just right in your hand. The removable battery isn't making a comeback; it's firmly fixed in place on this latest Galaxy phone.

The devices were sold in limited quantities in selected markets, and were given to athletes participating in the 2016 Summer Olympics. which means it's barely noticeable when you're placing the phone down, while still being strong enough to help protect the lens. The Galaxy S7 is an evolution of the prior year's model, with upgraded hardware, design refinements, and the restoration of features removed from the Galaxy S6, such as IP certification for water and dust resistance, as well as expandable storage with a MicroSD card. The LG G5 launched with a unique modular pull but failed, the HTC 10 looked to rekindle some of the Taiwanese firm's former glories (with mixed success) and, of course, the iPhone 7 landed with no headphone jack and waterproofing to match the Galaxy S7's similar ability. There is an additional setting that allows adjusting the brightness of the built-in LED lamp when used as a torch between five brightness levels.

Check out our Samsung Galaxy S9 vs Galaxy S7 comparison to find out more about how they match up – or jump to the future and get an idea of what’s coming with our guide to the Galaxy S10. I couldn't perform any tests that pushed the limits of LTE performance, but I could check Wi-Fi and weak signal conditions. There was hope Samsung would address the single speaker setup it placed on the Galaxy S6, but alas it hasn't. Some S7 Edge units have an irremovable vertical pink line on the display, which seems to appear at random. The package is an enticing one, but 2016 was a tough year for flagship phones, so Samsung needed something big to stay ahead.

Passionate about fitness, he can bore anyone rigid about stress management, sleep tracking, heart rate variance as well as bemoaning something about the latest iPhone, Galaxy or OLED TV. For starters, it means you now don’t have to pay extra upfront for a larger capacity smartphone, a la Apple. The S7 is available in 32GB or 64GB models by default, so you still have the option of having more storage if you need it, but at least you now have a choice. It’s not quite perfect - the microSD card isn’t as useful as it could be and it won’t get updates as fast as a Google Nexus - it doesn’t break the mould or do anything revolutionary either, but it’s as good as a smartphone gets right now.The phone still rocks from side to side a bit when tapping the top half of the screen at the side, but it’s a huge improvement on the unstable S6, especially if you’re using a wireless charging pad. My first day with the phone, I saw some odd behavior involving the phone not recovering or trading up to 4G LTE from dead zones, but that seemed to sort itself out after a few days.

The curved sides here are less dramatic than on the back of the Note 5, but it still makes the device more comfortable to hold than the flat-backed Galaxy S6.But yes, otherwise, the S7 looks a lot like the S6, although its slightly more rounded back is just a touch thicker, to allow for a bigger battery. The finish, which is mirrored on the rear of the Galaxy S7 Edge, is borrowed from the Galaxy Note 5, and enables the phones to sit more snugly in the palm for a firmer, more comfortable hold.