Test Samsung Galaxy S7: like the Galaxy S6 … but … – LesMobiles.com

Last year, we took pleasure in testing the top models of Samsung. For there was a correlation between the promise, price and reality. Yes, the Galaxy S6 and its variations were certainly the most expensive models in Samsung. But they were finally able to claim this price level. And that again this year, to our delight, as the Galaxy S7 is a great vintage, no doubt. Perhaps very traditional in its approach, but the recipe is tried and executed very well.

A flagship in the rules of art

And even though Samsung may be, as Apple or Sony, taxed not to renew sufficiently between the generation S6 and S7 generation, we do not really keep it rigorously. First, because the design of the S6 was already very good (breaking with the existing). Secondly, because the lines of the S7 generation are much better than those of the S6, despite the resemblance, as we shall see. Not to mention that, like Apple between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S, it is primarily within the changes are visible. Just look at this data sheet:

• dimensions: 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm

 

• Weight: 152 grams

 

• Protection front and back glass reinforced Gorilla Corning 4

 

• IP68 certification

 

• screen Super AMOLED Quad HD 5.1 inch with a resolution of 577 pixels per inch

 

• ratio and screen size of the mobile: 72.1%

 

• chipset Samsung Exynos 8890 Octa 8 composed of 4 hearts Mongoose M1 clocked up 2.15 GHz, 4 Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.6 GHz and a GPU ARM Mali-T880-MP12
 
• 4GB RAM LPDDR4

 

• 32 or 64 GB of internal storage UFS 2.0 format (expandable by microSDXC)

 

• Battery 3000 mAh non-removable

 

• Compatible wireless charging shell Qi and Mobile Payment Samsung Pay

 

• 12-megapixel camera sensor (pixel 1.4 micron), 26mm lens opens to f / 1.7, single flash LED, optical stabilizer, phase detection autofocus (Dual Pixel Technology) compatible 4K video (slow motion 240 fps in 720p)

 

• 5 megapixel webcam in the front, 22 mm lens aperture of f / 1.7, 1080p video, flash with the

 

• infrared sensor in the center button and heart rate monitor on the back

 

• supports LTE Category 9, ac dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, MHL 3.0, ANT + Glonass and GPS

 

• Android 6.0 Lollipop with Touchwiz overlay

 

If you compare this with the specifications of the Galaxy S6, you will notice that the smartphone is smaller, while the screen is identical, but also thicker and heavier. You will also notice some improvements on the RAM, battery, network connectivity (with the new Exynos) and even on the camera lenses (not to mention the sensors). As with the Galaxy S7 Edge, we used AIDA64 application to know which version of the Galaxy S7 we received test. This is a version with Exynos Sony photo sensor. This is important, especially for comparing the phone with his opponents on the premium segment.

A design wins in roundness

Before comparing technical results, first observe outside the Galaxy S7. This is a very close model of the Galaxy S6, not only on the materials used (glass reinforced sides, aluminum frame), but also the location of different ergonomic features, such as camera, infrared sensor heart rate monitor, the hardware buttons, the speaker grille, etc. For this new model, Samsung therefore relied heavily on its design from the “Project Zero”, which has largely contributed to put Samsung in the upper echelons of global telephony.

however, we noticed some small visual details that make a difference. The first is the location of the drawer for the SIM. It is no longer located on the right side under the power button, but on the upper edge, next to the secondary micro dedicated to the active reduction of ambient noise. Another change as the Edge S7, the surface on the back of the phone is not flat but slightly curved sides. This has several consequences (the same also that on the Edge S7).

the mobile is thicker (which explains the change in dimensions) and the camera sensor is less protruding. In the Galaxy S7, it exceeds half approximately. Note that despite the curved construction of the back of the device, the glass slab, the slab remains protected by metal brackets. However, like last year, the S7′s screen is slightly raised, exposing a little more if dropped.

Another change on the slices, you will notice that they are less worked. Previously, the S6, they were curved, but the most exacerbated part was flattened in the center. It was a trick to reduce the width of the mobile while maintaining good protruding buttons. Since the phone is thinner (in width), Samsung did not need to use this trick: the slices are so much simpler. Finally, remember that the Galaxy S7 is waterproof (IP68 certification), despite the absence of caches to isolate apparent ports. Samsung has managed to seal all of the phone.

A more natural grip

For the rest we find a fairly traditional structure, but very effective. Large flat touchscreen in front, topped by a hardware button with fingerprint reader and two touch-sensitive buttons for navigation in Android. Left volume control. To the right of that starting. Downstairs, opposite the drawer for the SIM, a microUSB port, a 3.5mm jack port, microphone and speaker grill. A configuration thus heard, for no surprises grip. Once in hand, the smartphone widely expresses all its arguments. The building is beautiful. No real false note in this phone. We certainly agree that this is not necessarily the taste of everyone. Caution however fingerprints and wet hands (with the risk of slipping impromptu)

same thing with the screen. Like the Galaxy S6, S7 uses a Super AMOLED Quad HD panel with a resolution reached 577 pixels per inch. A record beaten by the Sony Z5 Xpria Premium, but still among the best in the market. contrasts rates are excellent. The colors are not overloaded, but still vibrant. The brightness is perfect, even in daylight. This screen is obviously one of the great strengths of this smartphone even more than the Galaxy S7 Edge, just a readability issue, curved edges that tend to narrow the field of view. Here, this is not the case. And we got to see in media, as discussed in the section dedicated

Touchwiz: the overlay of malignant

once lit the Galaxy S7 reveals Android 6.0.1 with the latest version of Touchwiz overlay. An overlay that we studied extensively in testing the Galaxy S7 Edge. We recommend you consult to observe all significant changes we identified, with one important difference, since the Edge cover is naturally absent from the S7. As we have seen with the curved declination, the interface is more clear and apparently simpler. A born ergonomic feel more thoughtful choices about the widgets and applications preinstalled.

Observe for example the desktop. Structurally, it is identical to the Galaxy S6. Three screens: the welcome, the additional right of office and replacing Upday Briefing. Apart form that changes icons, you see that, by default, the time / weather widget is more discreet. Similarly, the number of pre-installed shortcuts from 4 to 3 (not including the link to the application menu). However, nothing prevents you to reconfigure as before. Proof below with the capture of the Galaxy S6, conducted last year and the next two shots, made with S7 respectively after returning to the initial state and the implementation of some changes. And visually, the screen is cluttered.

interface Galaxy S7 start, after amendment and the Galaxy S6 interface

it is the same in the application menu. Many icons have disappeared, but the applications that support them are always present in the system. We have had experience with Samsung Video, which is activated at the opening of an audiovisual file, or Samsung Weather, awakening a pat on the eponymous widget. Yet their applications are missing from the menu. In fact, the application menu has only one page. And it’s not even filled. Note, however, that Samsung also ranked much of the icons in theme files. Samsung, Google, Microsoft, social networks (which are present only Facebook group applications)

Upday, S Health and Meteo

As with S7 Edge, you find a range of applications and features to configure, customize and secure smartphone. Smart Manager, Protection (McAfee and Knox), Smart Lock, etc. With the S7 Edge, we also discovered Game Launcher, a mode that automates some adjustments if an application recognized as a game is launched. Basemark OS II, for example, is not a game. And yet, it is considered as such. It is possible to add other applications to it, even if they are not considered by the games, but in the latter case it must go through a validation step for Samsung.

Game Launcher

the settings are for consumption energy (and therefore the game performance) and notifications. The Game Launcher comes with a tool called Game Tools, a virtual button that adds six shortcuts for actions related to the game, like a screenshot, record a video, lock the touch buttons under the screen, etc. The only negative for Game Launcher is the next “marketing” since you made some suggestions of games to download. Samsung remains a for-profit business.

Good performance, but until when?

Android overlay and weigh about 7 GB, which is obviously not nothing, especially in the 32GB version of the flagship. Moreover, without any applications in the background, and after cleaning by Smart Manager, the system alone monopolizes 48% of the memory. Although with 4GB LPDDR4, Samsung may be placed in RAM much of the process. In fact, the smartphone starts in seconds. A velocity that delights us. But really correspond to the technical capabilities of the smartphone? We obviously asked the question to our dear benchmark tools.

Overall, the scores of our Galaxy S7 test, with Exynos 8890 processor and 4 GB of RAM, are equivalent to those of the Galaxy S7 Edge. The platform is the same, this is no accident. However, again without going into detail, the Galaxy S7 systematically obtained lower scores. Tens or hundreds of points as benchmarks. But, overall, the S7 is slightly less efficient than the S7 Edge. Last year, it was the opposite. Second point, the S7 and S7 Edge are the first two items with next-generation chipsets and passed through our hands. Compared to mobile the second half 2015, only two managed to stand up to these two mobile: iPhone 6S (and its PHABLET declination) and the Xperia Z5 Sony Premium

Here are the scores of the Galaxy S7 obtained in our tests 131 791 points on AnTuTu v6 2075 points Basemark OS II, 28786 points 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited and 56139 points Quadrant. See the screenshots for additional scores (ES Slingshot and Geekbench 3). The result is overall very good, especially on tests involving the application hearts and a little less on the graphics processor. We see for example that the latest generation of ARM Mali could almost be overtaken by the previous generation Adreno (Snapdragon’s Adreno 430 of 810). Which suggests excellent score for the Adreno 530 Snapdragon 820 … Finally, note that the battery side, the smartphone stays in standby relatively long despite the Allways function is. This is one of the peculiarities of the AMOLED. In contrast, the battery appears to be consumed faster than other mobile use. This obviously depends on your use of the S7.

Ideal for gamers and series fans

so if you are careful player. For the Galaxy S7 is a smartphone player in no doubt (even more than the Edge S7 and its curved edges). The proof: the Game Launcher function, an excellent idea (some tools are also inspired by the PC game), leaves you plenty of time to enjoy your favorite games without a shadow of a slowdown. Dead Trigger 2 has left tamed like a charm, placing itself on the best graphics quality. What more. However, the location of the speaker is not optimal, even if the sound that comes out is powerful enough. Therefore prefer a headset.

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The same video. The screen is completely flat, movies are displayed in full screen without disturbance and without interruption unfortunate if the video is 16/9). Especially since this usage is heavily to Samsung, its overlay and screen. Application Video Samsung remains one of the best to watch a movie (with the support of many audio and video formats as well as subtitles MKV). And the screen Quad HD Super AMOLED is of excellent quality. Beautiful colors. Precise images. So you will definitely enjoy this mobile as a multimedia player.

A calibrated camera for real use

We come to the photo. The Galaxy S7, S7 as the Edge, adopts a new 12 megapixel sensor with a technology called Dual Pixel (for autofocus) and a lens aperture of f / 1.7, the best opening in telephony today. There is a debate today on the Internet between those who believe there is a quilted loss in photos S7 vis-à-vis the S6 and its 16 megapixel sensor (but especially vis-à-vis iPhone 6S) and those who do not see. In our view, the debate is not quite there. For the quality of the photographs, as you can see it again here, is good enough for any amateur eye. And maybe even some expert photographers.

Photo taken with the Samsung Galaxy S7

in fact, yes, there is a loss of fairly rapid dive when you zoom in on a detail, but it is not visible without magnification. However, this loss is not at the expense of contrast nor the brightness. And this is perhaps the most important thing today in a photograph: it is visible. A picture of 21 megapixels with many dive, but burned because the autofocus is too slow or because the white balance is too soft, is useless. We note however two things in the pictures of the S7 and S7 Edge: autofocus is as fast as a laser autofocus, but no loss of brightness and smartphone remains one of the best (if not the best) for photos in low light. Basically, it is a calibrated image sensor for real everyday uses: an evening with friends, part of a family football, etc.

A flagship in the strictest tradition

In conclusion, we like the Galaxy S7. For several reasons. First building is still better than the Galaxy S6 and some ergonomic choices are real improvements. Then all the wrong notes Galaxy S6 have been erased (protrusion of the NPC, no microSD, sealing). Finally, because the platform is great, although we believe that some elements brident technical results: did the Quad HD really useful and a GPU from Imagination Technologies would not it have been more useful

The only complaint we could do this Galaxy S7 is its lack of risk-taking. This flagship store is excellent, better than its predecessor without any doubt. But it is also very smooth (more figuratively than literally). While LG tent bold experiments, Samsung remained in his comfort zone, without offering innovative use. Hence the question: should we change its S6 to S7? The answer is certainly not (unless the lack of microSD really makes you default). Even today, the S6 is a good choice. And with the S7, it will become even cheaper.