新的三星 Galaxy 智能手机(Samsung Galaxy smartphone)的发布引起了如此大的宣传，以至于它只能与iPhone 的发布(iPhone release)相提并论：每个人都对新功能感到兴奋，许多人都希望获得长期运行的Galaxy 系列(Galaxy series)的最新版本。拥有三星 Galaxy S2(Samsung Galaxy S2)多年后，我对S3-S4-S5 系列(S3-S4-S5 line)感到失望，所以我完全放弃了三星智能手机，并对(Samsung)Galaxy S7能带来什么真正感兴趣。简而言之，我很惊讶。阅读我们的评论，了解您需要了解的有关三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)的所有信息：
硬件(Hardware)规格和包装
三星(Samsung)似乎并没有在其旗舰智能手机(flagship smartphone)的包装上浪费太多时间：三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)采用简单的黑色硬纸盒包装(cardboard box)，既不优雅也不简约，但至少看起来还不错。正面印有型号名称和存储空间(model name and storage space)，右侧印有型号颜色，另外您还可以获得一张闪亮的蓝色保修贴纸(warranty sticker)。
纸板箱(cardboard box)是磁性密封的，打开后可以看到智能手机本身，放在包装的顶部。设备下方有一块纸板 - 取出后，您可以看到与智能手机捆绑在一起的所有其他配件：充电器头(charger head)、microUSB 数据线(microUSB cable)、USB OTG 适配器(USB OTG adapter)和小塑料盒(plastic case)中的耳机。
虽然Galaxy S7(Galaxy S7)没有捆绑智能手机壳(smartphone case)，但配件的数量还是相当丰富的：耳机有自己的漂亮小盒子，非常方便，因为耳机的线不会缠结。OTG 适配器(OTG adapter)是另一个不错的好处：它可用于将三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)连接到您以前的智能手机并立即传输您的所有个人数据，或者如果需要，您甚至可以将鼠标或键盘连接到您的设备。
当然，包装内最有趣的是智能手机本身：当你拿在手中时，你就会感觉到(feel)质量。冰冷的拉丝金属背板完美贴合中等大小的手掌，给人一种完美尺寸的感觉。除此之外，很明显智能手机是由非常优质的材料制成的，而且非常坚固。它肯定不会分崩离析。🙂
它的设计非常优雅，尤其是我们测试的Black Onyx版本。(Black Onyx edition)这是当前第一款真正黑色的智能手机(current-gen smartphone)，而不是一些深银色(dark silver color)，它看起来非常好。当然，如果你喜欢更奢侈的东西，你可能想要一个粉红金版(Pink Gold edition)，或者介于两者之间的东西，比如白珍珠(White Pearl)、金铂或银钛(Gold Platinum or Silver Titanium)。
让我们看看三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)在技术方面提供了什么：
它的显示屏是一块 5.1 英寸Super AMOLED 触摸屏(Super AMOLED touchscreen)，分辨率为 1440 x 2560像素 - 这意味着(x 2560)像素密度(pixel density)高达577 ppi 。屏幕有一层康宁大猩猩玻璃 4(Corning Gorilla Glass 4)涂层保护，因此您不必担心S7 不是一款非常大的智能手机：高 5.61 英寸或 142.4 毫米(mm tall)，宽 2.74 英寸或 69.6 毫米，厚度仅为 0.31 英寸或 7.9 毫米。在这个尺寸下，它重 5.36 盎司或 152 克，这主要是由于设备中使用了高质量的金属。不是很多，我们相信它不会令人讨厌。
至于这款旗舰智能手机(flagship smartphone)的心脏，不得不说它不止一个。这意味着三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)有两种口味：美国版(US edition)配备高通 MSM8996 Snapdragon 820(Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820)芯片组，具有两个 2.15 GHz和两个 1.6 GHz Kryo内核，而如果您居住在美国境外，您将获得另一个版本它配备三星 Exynos 8890(Samsung Exynos 8890) 八核芯片(Octa-core chip)，使用四核 2.3 GHz Mongoose 处理器(GHz Mongoose processor)和四核 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU。两个(Both)版本都使用 4 GB 双通道 LPDDR4 RAM(GB Dual-channel LPDDR4 RAM)，虽然(US version)与非美国版的 1974 MHz 相比，美国(MHz)版的速度稍快，为 1866 MHz。
两个芯片组的图形处理器也不同：美国版(US edition)624 MHz Adreno 530 GPU，而非美国版配备 Mali-T880 MP12图形处理单元(processing unit)，均具有DirectX 11.1、OpenCL 1.2和OpenGL ES 3.1支持。只是为了让您今晚睡个好觉：无论您使用哪种变体，两种型号的系统性能(system performance)几乎完全相同，因此不必担心技术问题。
虽然您不会真正看到您购买的是前两款的哪个型号，但您仍然可以根据存储空间(storage space)进行选择，因为Galaxy S7配备 32 或 64 GB 的空间。如果看起来很小，您可以扩展它，因为您可以安装最大 200 GB 的 microSD 卡。您实际上无法在 microSD 卡上安装大多数应用程序，但我们确信它非常适合大型文件，例如您的音乐或视频(music or videos)。
三星旗舰(Samsung flagship)设备的另一个变化是它同时提供单 SIM 和双 SIM 版本(Single SIM and Dual SIM editions)。第一个有一个 nano- SIM 插槽(SIM slot)和另一个专用于microSD 卡(microSD card)的插槽，而后者可以使用两个 nano- SIM 卡(SIM card)，或者一个 nano- SIM和一个microSD 卡(microSD card)，占用第二个SIM 插槽(SIM slot)。Dual SIM 版(Dual SIM edition)采用双待技术(standby technology)，也就是说，当您使用一张SIM 卡通(SIM card)话时，另一张处于待机状态，无法接听电话。两个SIM 卡插槽(SIM slot)s 支持 4G，尽管一次只能连接到这些高速网络。
该设备的电池具有不可拆卸的锂离子电池，容量高达 3000 mAh。根据我们的测试，您无法取出电池并不是问题，因为它具有非常好的待机时间(standby time)- 但稍后会更多。
三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)有两个摄像头。主要的后置摄像头具有 12 MP 的分辨率、f/1.7的光圈大小、(aperture size)相位检测自动对焦(phase detection autofocus)、光学图像稳定(image stabilization)和LED 闪光灯(LED flash)。它可以以 30fps 的速度录制 2160p 视频、以 60fps 的速度录制 1080p 视频和以 240fps 的超慢速度录制 720p 视频。前置摄像头是一个 5 MP 模块(MP module)，具有相同的 f/1.7光圈大小(aperture size)，并具有自动HDR以提高图像质量(image quality)。
至于连接性，三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)没有什么不能处理的：它支持从 2G 到LTE的所有网络，尽管其在线规格中没有提到具体频率，也没有提到 4G 网络的理论最大速度。该设备可连接各种WiFi网络（802.11 a/b/g/n/ac），具有双频WiFi（同时支持2.4 GHz和5 GHz网络），支持WiFi Direct，可用作WiFi热点(WiFi hotspot). 它还配备了支持A2DP、LE 和 aptX的蓝牙 4.2(Bluetooth 4.2)芯片，它具有带A-GPS 的GPS 模块(A-GPS)、GLONASS 和 BDS 支持(GLONASS and BDS support)、一个microUSB 2.0端口（支持 OTG(OTG support)）、一个 3.5 毫米音频插孔和一个NFC 芯片(NFC chip)。虽然这款智能手机没有FM 收音机(FM radio)，但它还有其他一些不错的附加功能，比如后面板上的心率监测器，或者(heart rate monitor)Home键上的指纹读取器。
完整的硬件规格可以在这里找到：三星 Galaxy S7 规格(Samsung Galaxy S7 specifications)。
如果你只看一下它的规格，就会很明显三星 Galaxy S7 不是小时候的玩家：它装载了最新最好的硬件，有一些非常好的附加功能，并且尺寸可能是完美匹配许多人的手。(If you just take a look at its specs, it becomes quite clear that the Samsung Galaxy S7 is no small-time player: it's loaded with the latest and greatest hardware, has some really good extras and comes in a size that will probably be a perfect match for the hands of many.)
设计和建造质量
正如我之前提到的，在Galaxy S3-S5 期间(Galaxy S3-S5 period)，我并不是三星(Samsung)智能手机设计的粉丝。不知怎的(Somehow)，我总觉得我手里拿着一个非常脆弱的东西，随时都可能折断。Galaxy S7绝对不是这样：它的曲线非常圆滑，设计简单，介于优雅和运动(bit sporty)之间。
它的大部分前面板都被 5.1 英寸屏幕占据，几乎从边缘到边缘：当然，唯一缺少的是Galaxy S7 Edge的弯曲侧面，但如果你不习惯拥有这些，你绝对会没有它们也很好，花入门级智能手机的价格也没什么大不了的。在屏幕上方，我们可以看到光线和接近传感器(light and proximity sensors)，以及正面的 5 MP 摄像头(MP camera)，手机扬声器(phone speaker)和制造商的徽标，而在显示屏下方有一个物理Home键，其中还装有一个指纹读取器。 (fingerprint reader)Home键的侧面有两个软键，但在需要时这些软键是不可见的。
底部边缘(bottom edge)非常拥挤：从左到右分别是 3.5毫米插孔(mm jack)、microUSB 2.0端口（支持 OTG(OTG support)）、主麦克风和扬声器。此外，这些连接器放置在两块塑料之间，这应该是全钢外壳的一小部分。这些看起来与iPhone 6(iPhone 6)侧面的非常相似，我们真的不明白为什么它们是必要的。它们可能给人一种跑车前部的印象，但也感觉像是一些更便宜的材料。值得注意的是，虽然 microUSB 和插孔端口没有密封，但三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)是IP68认证，这意味着它完全防尘，可连续浸入 3 米深的水中。如果水渗入这些连接器，该设备会警告用户在干燥之前不要将任何东西连接到它。
顶部边缘看不到什么，我们只有辅助麦克风和SIM 插槽(SIM slot)：如果是单 SIM 卡型号(Single SIM model)，内部有一个用于放置 nano SIM 卡(SIM card)的托盘，或者如果您有双 SIM 卡型号(Dual SIM model)，托盘可放置两张 nano SIM 卡(SIM card)，或一张 nano SIM和一张 microSD 卡。两块塑料也存在于该边缘上。
两侧也不是空的：右侧边缘(right edge)有一个按钮，用于打开和关闭(Off)智能手机或显示器，而右侧有两个控制音量的键。
这是一个经典的按钮布局(button layout)，它被证明是最有效和用户友好的布局之一。
后面板明显由大型 12 MP 主摄像头主导，可以在最顶部的中央看到它。相机附近有一个 LED 闪光灯和另一个传感器，它原来是一个光学心率监测器(heart-rate monitor)。
请记住(Remember)，在使用此功能时，光学心率(heart rate)传感器仍被认为是新技术，并非 100 % accurate，医疗设备也不是，因此不要将它们的数据用于医疗目的。相机下方有另一个三星标志(Samsung logo)，而在后面板的底部有一些强制性的制造信息(manufacturing information)，几乎看不到。
至于智能手机的制造质量，我们不得不说我们印象深刻。将三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)握在手中的感觉就像是握着一件精心打造的完美之物。我们真的不喜欢使用最高级，但它感觉就像一个非常坚固、持久的结构。虽然制作它的材料可能会有点滑(bit slippery)，但设备不会太大，所以我们认为它不会从你的手掌中掉出来。
屏幕非常明亮，并且 - 与三星(Samsung)智能手机一样 - 具有高对比度。对于某些人来说，这甚至可能看起来有点太多，但可以从设置中进行微调。它是一个 2.5K ( QHD ) 屏幕，分辨率为 2560 x 1440像素，(x 1440)像素密度(ppi pixel density)为 577 ppi 。无论您在何种照明条件下使用它，它都非常好看，亮度极佳。它是“始终开启”("Always on")显示屏，这意味着即使您关闭显示屏，当前日期和时间也始终显示在屏幕上。(date and time)这几乎不使用任何电源，这是一个好主意，但它可能有点烦人，因为时间显示(time display)会定期在屏幕上移动以避免老化。
三星的设计团队在 Galaxy S7 上做得非常好：它感觉非常紧凑，没有烦人的设计特征，它由非常优质的材料制成，而且它的屏幕几乎是当前技术的奇迹。(Samsung's design team did a great job with the Galaxy S7: it feels very compact, it has no annoying design features, it's made of very high quality materials and it's practically blessed with a screen that is a marvel of current technology.)
三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)上的智能手机体验(smartphone experience)
Galaxy S7(Galaxy S7)不是三星(Samsung)最昂贵的智能手机，但它的价格仍然相当高。考虑到这一点以及它所包含的硬件，我们显然正在寻找一款高端旗舰智能手机(flagship smartphone)。如果规格和制造质量不能说服您，那么是时候打开设备了。
您首先会注意到我们已经称赞过的晶莹剔透的屏幕，但我们必须再说一遍，在如此狭小的空间内看到如此多的像素看起来真是太好了。您肯定会注意到的第二件事是智能手机的速度：硬件非常强大，真的没有机会看到任何滞后、屏幕撕裂或减速。三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)拥有最好的移动处理器之一，它配备了大量的RAM ，(RAM)并配有出色的图形芯片。总而言之，速度根本不是问题。告别(Say goodbye)加载时间或漫长的等待。
尽管打电话似乎是当今智能手机上最不受欢迎的活动之一，但我们仍然在谈论电话，因此声音和通话质量应该是一流的。所有的电话都非常清晰，我们听到别人的声音没有问题，其他人也很好地听到了我们的声音。
网络连接(Network connectivity)在任何现代设备上都不是问题，在Galaxy S7上也没有：智能手机连接到 4G 网络没有问题，而且连接始终稳定，我们没有遇到任何问题. 很高兴知道，如果您选择双 SIM 卡模式(Dual SIM model)，您可以在两张SIM卡上的任何一张上进行 4G 访问，但其中只有一张可以使用高速网络，另一张仅限通话和短信。
WiFi、蓝牙连接和导航(Bluetooth connectivity and navigation)都轻而易举。5.1寸的屏幕在现在算是中规中矩，但看电影也够大了， (inch screen)GPS导航(GPS navigation)也能成为旅途中的好伴侣。
三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)的官方规格并未列出预期的待机或通话时间(standby or call times)，不过根据 GSMArena(according to GSMArena)的说法，您应该能够在 3G 网络上通话 22 小时或播放音乐 62 小时。我们不是真正的整天闲聊或永无止境的家庭聚会的粉丝，但我们必须说 3000 mAh 电池(mAh battery)相当令人印象深刻：它让Galaxy S7持续了两天多。现在我们满足于不需要每天充电的智能手机，所以这是一个非常好的结果。像往常一样，我们使用智能手机的默认设置：自动亮度，始终在线WiFi，禁用蓝牙(Bluetooth)并且该位置设置为省电模式。再加上平均电话、消息、电子邮件和相当多的网页浏览(web browsing)次数，这两天的电池电量甚至更好。
充电(Charging)是另一回事：一定要保持原装充电器完好无损，因为三星 Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)支持快速充电，这意味着你的设备将在一个半小时左右从 0 充电到 100。是的，这真的很快，但要小心智能手机在快速充电期间会变得有点热。三星Galaxy S7(Samsung Galaxy S7)也支持无线充电(wireless charging)，但您需要为此单独获取无线充电器(wireless charger)。
当您从主要制造商处购买旗舰智能手机时，您希望它能够完美运行，而三星 Galaxy S7 正是如此。它有一个很棒的屏幕，比市场上大多数当前的智能手机更快，没有连接问题，正常运行时间超过两天，可以快速充电，并且没有重要的软件错误。(When you buy a flagship smartphone from a major manufacturer, you expect it to work flawlessly and the Samsung Galaxy S7 does exactly that. It has a great screen, it's faster than most current smartphones on the market, has no connectivity problems, has an uptime of over two days, can be charged quickly and it lacks important software bugs.)
阅读这篇评论的下一页，了解更多关于这款智能手机的相机体验(camera experience)以及它在基准测试中提供的性能。
The Samsung Galaxy S7 review - Great looks, great software, great hardware!
The release of a new Samsung Galaxy smartphone generatеs such hype that it can оnly be compared to an iPhоne release: everyone's excited about the nеw featurеs and many want to get the latest installment in the lоng-running Galaxy series. After owning a Samsung Galaxy S2 for many years, I have been disappointed by the S3-S4-S5 line, ѕo I have completely abandoned Samsung smartphones and was genuinely interested in what the Galaxy Ѕ7 could bring to the table. In s hort, I have been sυrprised. Read our review to learn everything you need to know abоut the Samsung Galaxy S7:
Hardware specifications and packaging
Samsung doesn't seem to waste too much time on the packaging of its flagship smartphone: the Samsung Galaxy S7 comes in a simple, black cardboard box that is not very elegant nor minimalistic, but at least it looks OK. It has the model name and storage space printed on its front, with the model's color on the right side, plus you also get a shiny blue warranty sticker too.
The cardboard box is magnetically sealed and opens up to reveal the smartphone itself, placed on top of the package. Under the device there is a piece of cardboard - when taken out you can see all the other accessories bundled with the smartphone: a charger head, a microUSB cable, a USB OTG adapter and a headset in a small plastic case.
Although there is no smartphone case bundled with the Galaxy S7, the number of accessories is still quite generous: the headset has its own nice little case that can be very handy, as the headset's cable won't get tangled up. The OTG adapter is another nice bonus: it can be used to connect the Samsung Galaxy S7 to your previous smartphone and instantly transfer all your personal data, or you can even connect a mouse or a keyboard to your device if you need to.
Of course, the most interesting thing inside the package is the smartphone itself: when you take it into your hand you just feel quality. The cold, brushed metal back fits perfectly in an average-sized palm and it simply gives the feeling of a perfect size. Besides that, it's also obvious that the smartphone is made of very high quality materials and it is very solid. It won't fall apart for sure. 🙂
Its design is quite elegant, especially the Black Onyx edition which we had for testing. This is the first current-gen smartphone that is really black, not some dark silver color and it looks incredibly good. Of course, if you prefer something more extravagant, you might want to get a Pink Gold edition, or something from in between, like White Pearl, Gold Platinum or Silver Titanium.
Let's see what the Samsung Galaxy S7 has to offer on the technical side of things:
Its display is a 5.1" Super AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels - that means a rocking 577 ppi pixel density. The screen is protected with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 coating, so you don't have to worry about getting it scratched. The S7 is not a very large smartphone: it's 5.61 inches or 142.4 mm tall, 2.74 inches or 69.6 mm wide and it has a thickness of only 0.31 inches or 7.9 mm. At this size it weighs 5.36 oz or 152 grams, which is mostly due to the high quality metals used in the device. It's not very much, we are sure that it won't be annoying.
As for the heart of this flagship smartphone, we have to say that it has more than one. This means that the Samsung Galaxy S7 comes in two flavors: the US edition is equipped with a Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 chipset that has two 2.15 GHz and two 1.6 GHz Kryo cores, while if you live outside the US, you will get the other edition that comes with the Samsung Exynos 8890 Octa-core chip, using a quad-core, 2.3 GHz Mongoose processor and a quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. Both versions use 4 GB Dual-channel LPDDR4 RAM, although the US version is slightly faster, ticking at 1866 MHz, compared to the non-US speed of 1974 MHz.
The graphical processor is also different in the two chipsets: the US edition the 624 MHz Adreno 530 GPU, while the non-US variant is equipped with a Mali-T880 MP12 graphical processing unit, both having DirectX 11.1, OpenCL 1.2 and OpenGL ES 3.1 support. And just to let you sleep tight tonight: no matter which variant you get, the system performance is almost exactly the same on the two models, so don't worry about the technicalities.
Although you won't really get to see which model are you buying of the previous two, you can still choose based on storage space, as the Galaxy S7 comes with 32 or 64 GB of space. If that seems small, you can extend it , as you can install a microSD card of up to 200 GB in size. You won't really be able to install most apps on a microSD card, but we're sure that it will be great for large files, like your music or videos.
Another variation for the Samsung flagship device is that it comes in both Single SIM and Dual SIM editions. The first one has a nano-SIM slot and another dedicated for the microSD card, while the latter can use two nano-SIM cards, or a single nano-SIM and a microSD card, taking up the second SIM slot. The Dual SIM edition uses dual standby technology, meaning that while you're talking on one SIM card, the other one is in standby, not able to receive calls. Both SIM slots have 4G support, although only one can connect to these high-speed networks at a time.
The device's battery has a non-removable, Li-Ion battery with an impressive capacity of 3000 mAh. Based on our tests it won't really be a problem that you can't get the battery out, as it has a really good standby time - but more on that later.
Samsung Galaxy S7 has two cameras. The primary, rear-facing camera has a resolution of 12 MP, an aperture size of f/1.7, phase detection autofocus, optical image stabilization and a LED flash. It can record 2160p videos at 30fps, 1080p videos at 60fps and 720p videos at a super-slow speed of 240fps. The front camera is a 5 MP module with the same f/1.7 aperture size and has auto HDR to enhance image quality.
As for connectivity, there is nothing the Samsung Galaxy S7 cannot handle: it supports all networks from 2G to LTE, although the specific frequencies are not mentioned in its online specifications, as neither are the theoretical maximum speeds on 4G networks. The device can connect to all kinds of WiFi networks (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), has dual-band WiFi (supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks), supports WiFi Direct and can be used as a WiFi hotspot. It is also equipped with a Bluetooth 4.2 chip with A2DP, LE and aptX support, it has GPS module with A-GPS, GLONASS and BDS support, a microUSB 2.0 port (with OTG support), a 3.5 mm audio jack and an NFC chip. Although there is no FM radio in this smartphone, it has some other nice additions, like the heart rate monitor on the back panel, or the fingerprint reader on the Home key.
The full set of hardware specifications can be found here: Samsung Galaxy S7 specifications.
If you just take a look at its specs, it becomes quite clear that the Samsung Galaxy S7 is no small-time player: it's loaded with the latest and greatest hardware, has some really good extras and comes in a size that will probably be a perfect match for the hands of many.
Design and build quality
As I have previously noted, I haven't really been a fan of Samsung's smartphone designs during the Galaxy S3-S5 period. Somehow I always felt that I was holding something very fragile in my hands, that could break at any given moment. This is absolutely not true for the Galaxy S7: it has very sleek curves, a simplistic design, that is somewhere on the border between elegant and a bit sporty.
Most of its front panel is taken up by the 5.1" screen, that nearly goes edge to edge: of course the only things missing are the curved sides from Galaxy S7 Edge, but if you are not used to having those, you will be absolutely fine without them, it's not such a big deal to spend the price of an entry-level smartphone on that. Right above the screen we can see the light and proximity sensors, as well as the frontal, 5 MP camera, the phone speaker and the manufacturer's logo, while below the display there is a physical Home key, which also houses a fingerprint reader. There are two softkeys on the sides of the Home key, but these are invisible until needed.
The bottom edge is quite crowded: from left to right there is the 3.5 mm jack, a microUSB 2.0 port (with OTG support), the primary microphone and the loudspeaker. Also, these connectors are placed between two pieces of plastic that are supposed to be a small addition to the all-steel case. These look quite similar to the ones on the sides of the iPhone 6 and we honestly don't understand why they were necessary. They might give the impression of the front of a sports car, but also feel like some cheaper materials. It's also interesting to note, that although the microUSB and the jack ports are not sealed, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is IP68 certified, which means that it's completely protected against dust and can be continuously immersed in up to 3 meters of water. If water penetrates these connectors, the device warns the user not to connect anything to it until it's dried.
There is much less to see on the top edge, we only have the secondary microphone and the SIM slot: in case of a Single SIM model, there is a tray for a nano SIM card inside, or if you have a Dual SIM model, the tray has place for two nano SIM cards, or a nano SIM and a microSD card. The two pieces of plastic are present on this edge as well.
The two sides are not empty either: there is a single button on the right edge, which is used to turn the smartphone or the display On and Off, while on the right side there are two keys to control the volume.
This a classical button layout and it is proven to be one of the most effective and user-friendly.
The back panel is clearly dominated by the presence of the large, 12 MP main camera, which can be seen in the center of the topmost part. Near the camera there is a LED flash and another sensor, which turns out to be an optical heart-rate monitor.
Remember when using this, that optical heart rate sensors are still considered new technology and are not 100% accurate, and neither are medical devices, so don't rely on data from them for medical purposes. Below the camera there is another Samsung logo, while on the bottom of the back panel there is some obligatory manufacturing information that is barely visible.
As for the smartphone's build quality we have to say that we are very impressed. Holding the Samsung Galaxy S7 in your hand feels like holding something that has been crafted to perfection. We really don't like to use superlatives, but it just feels like a very solid, long-lasting construction. Although the material it's made from can be a bit slippery, the device is not too large, so we don't think it will fall out of your palm.
The screen is very bright and - as usual for Samsung smartphones - with a high contrast. This might even seem a bit too much for some, but it can be fine-tuned from the settings. It is a 2.5K (QHD) screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and a 577 ppi pixel density. It is great to look at, has superb brightness, no matter what lighting conditions you use it in. It is an "Always on" display, meaning that the current date and time are always displayed onscreen, even if you turn the display off. This barely uses any power and it's a great idea, but it can be a bit annoying, as the time display is moved on the screen periodically to avoid burn-in.
Samsung's design team did a great job with the Galaxy S7: it feels very compact, it has no annoying design features, it's made of very high quality materials and it's practically blessed with a screen that is a marvel of current technology.
The smartphone experience on the Samsung Galaxy S7
The Galaxy S7 is not the most expensive smartphone from Samsung, but its price is still rather high. Considering that and the hardware it's packed with, we are clearly looking at a high-end flagship smartphone. If the specifications and the build quality didn't convince you, it's time to turn on the device.
The first thing you'll notice is the crystal clear screen which we already praised, but we must say again that it looks darn good to look at so many pixels crammed in such a tight space. The second thing you will surely take note of is the speed of the smartphone: the hardware is very powerful, there is really no chance to see any lags, screen tears or slowdowns. The Samsung Galaxy S7 has one of the best available mobile processors and it's packed with lots of RAM and accompanied by a good graphics chip. All in all, speed won't be an issue at all. Say goodbye to loading times or long waits.
Although making phone calls seems to be one of the least popular activities on today's smartphones, we are still talking about a phone, so sound and call quality should be top-notch. All calls were very clear, we had no problems hearing others and others heard us perfectly as well.
Network connectivity shouldn't be an issue on any modern device, and it isn't on the Galaxy S7 either: the smartphone had no issues connecting to the 4G network and the connection was always stable, we didn't experience any problems with it. It's good to know that if you opt for the Dual SIM model, you can have 4G access on any of the two SIM cards, but only one of them will be able to use a high-speed network, the other being limited to calls and text messages.
WiFi, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation all worked like a breeze. The 5.1 inch screen is considered to be average nowadays, but it's big enough to watch a movie and it can also be a superb companion during your travels, if you use it for GPS navigation.
The Samsung Galaxy S7's official specifications doesn't list the expected standby or call times, although, according to GSMArena , you should be able to talk for 22 hours on a 3G networks or play music for 62 hours. We're not really fans of day-long chit-chats or never ending house parties, but we must say that the 3000 mAh battery was fairly impressive: it kept the Galaxy S7 ticking for over two days. Nowadays we're content with a smartphone that doesn't need to be charged every day, so this is a really good result. As usual, we were using the smartphone with its default settings: automatic brightness, always-on WiFi, disabled Bluetooth and the location set to battery saving mode. Add to this an average number of phone calls, messages, email and quite a lot of web browsing and those two days on battery are even better.
Charging is another thing: be sure to keep the original charger intact as the Samsung Galaxy S7 supports quick charging, which means that your device will be charged from 0 to 100 in an hour and a half or so. Yep, that's really fast, but be wary that the smartphone can get a bit hot during fast charging. The Samsung Galaxy S7 also supports wireless charging, but you need to get a wireless charger separately for that.
When you buy a flagship smartphone from a major manufacturer, you expect it to work flawlessly and the Samsung Galaxy S7 does exactly that. It has a great screen, it's faster than most current smartphones on the market, has no connectivity problems, has an uptime of over two days, can be charged quickly and it lacks important software bugs.
Read the next page of this review to learn more about the camera experience on this smartphone as well as the performance it offered in benchmarks.
