The first bach of reviews of Samsung’s much anticipated flagship smartphones for 2016 — the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge — are out. The handsets went up for pre-order late last month in most markets of the world, with most pre-orders scheduled to be delivered today. Thus, it makes sense for the first batch of reviews of the phone to go live today as well.
So, what do the review indicate about the phone? We have done a quick roundup of some reviews of the phone to find out.
Android Central
The publication calls the Galaxy S7 as one of the best iteration of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S lineup. While the design of the handsets are the same as its predecessor, it improves upon it in almost every aspect. However, Android Central says “it’s very possible to ding it up a little bit. We’ve managed a few pockmarks on the edges already. Undoubtedly there will be others.” It also notes that the downward-facing speaker of the handset is vastly improved over the S6.
On its waterproof capabilities: The camera on the handset seems to be a mixed bag, which is a bit surprising. It’s a cool feature to have, even if it’s not really one you should actively use. Safety first and all that. But, seriously, try to keep your phone out of the water. On the most controversial part of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, its software: Low light is supposed to be where the Galaxy S7 really excels. And, again, the answer is “it depends.” Give it some light to work with and it does pretty well. Maybe it’s not quite as magical as the GS6 and Note 5 seemed to be, or our expectations are that much higher now. It’s good. It’s really good. But it’s not a miracle worker. Conclusion: So there’s still a LOT going on here in the software, but it’s smartly done, better designed and fast as anything. And you can always download and use a different launcher if you want. Make sure to read the full review of Android Central here.
The Verge
The publication praises the minor design refinements that Samsung has done on its flagship handsets this year. Dan Seifert even goes as far ahead as calling the S7 edge as the “most impressive smartphone hardware” he has ever held in his hand. The publication’s take on the camera of the handset was also mixed, with a tendency to produce warm images sometimes. To conclude, The Verge says that the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge are among the best Android smartphones in the market right now, though the software remains one of their weakest points. Read: The Verge’s Galaxy S7 review
Gizmodo
Just like The Verge and Android Central, Gizmodo’s review of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge is also extremely positive. Design Camera Though the S7 is near useless when submerged (water activates the screen’s capacitive sensors), it’s a million times better than being out $700+ and having a sore throat from screaming endless obscenities. While using the S7 Edge, I kept my phone perilously close to the edge of a sink or shower and didn’t need to worry about water damage. TouchWiz The publication, however, does note that the handset’s performance is not as good as the iPhone 6s, especially while opening large apps and games. Conclusion Review So, it looks like the design refinements of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge really make them that much better than their predecessor. It is, however, surprising to see mixed reviews of the camera, which while good, does have some issues. In the end though, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge are easily the best Android smartphone in the market. The main question is: are you buying one?