GALAXY S7

WHAT IS THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S7?

Update (16/01/17): Samsung has released the Android 7.0 Nougat update and it should start rolling out to devices soon. We've seen unlocked phones already pick up the updates, and carrier locked phones are sure to be next. We'll update our review with impressions when we get the chance to play with the final build.

To use a tired cliche, Samsung has had a year of two halves. After the release of both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S6 Edge , things were looking strong. It had a phone that was better than the HTc 10, better than the huawei P9 and it’s still better than the iphone 7.

But then the exploding Galaxy Note 7 landed and Samsung took a bit of a hit. Is it enough to make you think twice about buying a Samsung device?

In a word, no. The Galaxy S7 is still the best phone we’ve reviewed this year. Maybe the Google Pixel phone will have something to say about that though?

PROS

• Stunning looks
• Great camera experience
• microSD slot and IP68 water resistance
• Glorious display

CONS

• Fingerprint magnet
• TouchWiz still has some quirks
• Poor speakers

SAMSUNG GALAXY S7 – DESIGN

After the massive, and much needed, change in design direction Samsung took with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in 2015, all rumours pointed to things staying pretty much the same for the Galaxy S7.

Well, it’s not like Apple, HTC or Sony make drastic changes to their industrial design every year.

And that’s exactly the case here. Place the Galaxy S7 next to the S6 and you’d be hard pushed to instantly pick which one is which. Frankly, this doesn’t bother me in the slightest. The S6 was already one of the best-looking phones around, and the Galaxy S7 follows suit.

Both the front and back are covered in Gorilla Glass 4, while a metal rim snakes in between. Two volume buttons sit on one side, with a lock/standby switch on the other. It’s a clean look, with the back free from any markings aside from a Samsung logo.

The camera lens now sits just about flush with the glass body too. This might seem a small change, but it makes a big difference. I can now tap out an email with the phone flat on my desk without it jumping and rocking from side to side.

There is one notable design change on the back – 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. While the S6 felt harsh and rigid, the Galaxy S7 slips softly into my palm. It’s so much more ergonomic and makes picking it up off a flat surface much easier.

And the way the sides almost melt into the glass just looks damn cool. Good job, Samsung.

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