Samsung Galaxy S7 And S7 Edge Outshine iPhone 6s And 6s Plus, According To Reviewers
Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones may not be radically different than the S6 and S6 Edge, but they are amazing phones — at least according to critics. The Wall Street Journal raves about Samsung’s current smartphone efforts.
“Samsung is that slightly awkward boy who’s been studying very hard in school. The Galaxy S7, which arrives in stores this week, is his first solid A. Yep, Samsung just moved to the head of the smartphone class.”
Reviewer Geoffrey A. Fowler adds that the cameras on both the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are better than the one offered on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Darren Orf from Gizmodo says that Samsung’s latest smartphones are inching towards perfection.
“Samsung f***s up. A lot. Snooping smart TVs, insane VR demos—you name it. Even its most cherished gadget—the Galaxy smartphone—has seen its share of flaws. But with the seventh iteration the Galaxy S, Samsung inches ever closer to a perfect smartphone.”
“Both devices are an evolution — a perfection, one might say — of what Samsung set out to do with its previous effort, the Galaxy S6. The new models have small, but important, differences from their predecessors,” Edicicco says.
The review notes that users can add extra storage, the camera doesn’t protrude awkwardly from the back, and that both phones are water resistant. Edicicco loves the look and feel of both phones.
However, BGR — a site known to pit Samsung negatively against Apple — says the Galaxy S7 suffers serious performance issues. However, in another article, BGR concedes that, based on reviews, Samsung has indeed created a masterpiece.
“The reviews are in for Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge and it sounds like Samsung has made a masterpiece of a smartphone. Samsung has steadily worked to improve its craft over the years as a hardware designer and reviewers are heaping praise on this year’s flagship devices as being as close to perfect as any smartphone ever built.”
The comments after the article are typical for BGR.
“Everyone knows how the corrupt SWINEsung operates. It pays off iPhone-using celebrities for endorsements, bribes judges to side with them on lawsuits, burn money on ads for 24/7 exposure on prime time channels,” says commenter SWINEsung LAGaxy.
“Been an iPhone user since 2009. This Samsung edge is the most beautiful phone I have ever seen. I really believe that this is the phone that will pull iPhone users to android. Hoping the iPhone 7 is worth it because I would hate to have to rebuild my ecosystem,” claims Maurice Johnson.
Twitter is filled with excitement over the Galaxy S7, but the S7 Edge has caused the most thrills.
I unboxed the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. Beautiful phone! https://t.co/gYFRzOs1AN
— Aaron Baker (@AaronCBaker) March 9, 2016
Wow the new samsung galaxy s7 edge sounds amazing
— Charmander♡ (@Jeevitthabunny) March 2, 2016
Many who pre-ordered the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge have already received their smartphones. For the rest of us, Samsung’s latest devices arrive in stores on Friday. Are you buying a Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge? Let us know in the comments section.
[Photo via Daryl Deino]
Galaxy S7 Edge vs. iPhone 6S Plus: Which phone has the better camera?
Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have everything you could possibly want in a phone.
The phones have gorgeous screens, all-day battery life and the latest and greatest processors. Expandable storage and water-resistance are back, too. You won't be disappointed with either device.
But how do the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge's cameras (both front and back) compare to the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, which have the most reliable and consistent smartphone cameras of 2015? We compared photos shot with an S7 Edge and iPhone 6S Plus to find out which phone takes better pictures.
Before we dive into the comparisons, it's good to know a few things about the cameras on both phones. Both the Galaxy S7 Edge and iPhone 6S Plus have 12-megapixel back cameras with OIS (optical image stabilization) and 5-megapixel front-facing cameras for selfies.
However, there are two key differences. The first is the aperture, the opening inside of the camera lens that lets light in to capture a photo. Larger apertures have lower f-stop numbers and let in more light. Smaller apertures have higher f-stop numbers and let in less light.
The iPhone 6S Plus's cameras have f/2.2 apertures and the S7 Edge Plus's cameras have f/1.7 apertures. What this means is the S7 Edge, in theory, should take better low-light photos because its aperture is letting in more light, which translates to increased picture clarity.
The second difference is the camera's angle of view. The S7 Edge's cameras have wider angles and can fit more into a picture compared to the iPhone 6S Plus's cameras, from the same distance.
With all this in mind, let's get on with the camera comparisons!
Outdoors (daylight)
Most pictures are shot outdoors, where there's plenty of natural light. We did the first outdoor test from outside of our office window (yep, we risked life and limb for it!).
As is often the case, the two photos looked great on their respective screens; the S7 Edge is sharper because of its higher-resolution Quad HD display. But opening them up at full-res, it's clear to us the iPhone 6S Plus just barely, um, edges the S7 Edge.
The details in the bricks (most noticeable in the building located at the bottom center) and buildings are more defined. The colors from the iPhone 6S Plus are also more accurate compared to the S7 Edge's more saturated and warmer (yellower) color temperature.
In our second outdoor test (above), we hopped over to Central Park to capture the famous Gapstow Bridge and some ducks coming out for a feeding.
To our surprise, the iPhone 6S Plus's cameras kicked into saturation overdrive. The shadows completely obscure the details of the bridge and the ripples in the pond. The S7 Edge is the clear winner here.
Winner: Draw
Indoors
Whether it's a picture of your kid, your loved one, or some inanimate object, you're bound to take pictures indoors. Indoor lighting is more controlled since it doesn't change every second like sunlight, but it also tends to be dimmer.
Above, we've got two jolly Mashable employees happily banging away at their laptops. It may be hard to spot at first, but the iPhone 6S Plus pic has deeper blacks (see: hair, headphone band and keyboard) and better noise reduction (see: blue wall). The S7 Edge's pic looks a little hazy, as if there's a filter applied on top.
In the subway, we took this shot of some folks in a hurry. The S7 Edge freezes the shot better (the woman on the left is less blurry and you can see more detail in her coat), but look at how off the color is compared to the iPhone 6S Plus (what it really looked like). Even in the subway, it looks like there's a thin fog floating through.
Winner: iPhone 6S Plus
Selfies
Selfies are undeniably important in our culture, especially for teenagers. You gotta look good! It was tricky to judge the quality of selfies on the S7 Edge mainly because the front-facing camera's angle is so much wider than the iPhone 6S Plus's.
By default, the S7 Edge has its "beauty" mode turned on; it automatically airbrushes your face to smooth out wrinkly skin and other imperfections. I turned it off to take the selfie below.
In the above comparison, you can see the S7 Edge captured more of the background compared to the iPhone 6S Plus. I'm not a huge fan of beauty modes, but when applied sparingly, selfies look better. After all, who doesn't want to have a bomb selfie?
The S7 Edge's Selfie flash vs. the iPhone 6S Plus's Retina flash.
Image: Raymond Wong/Mashable
The S7 Edge also copies the iPhone 6S Plus's front-facing flash (the screen goes white right before selfies are taken). Again, there's some airbrushing happening on the S7 Edge; it's not terrible and you can turn it off.
Winner: S7 Edge
Close-ups
As we mentioned earlier, the S7 Edge's camera has a larger f/1.7 aperture versus the iPhone 6S Plus's f/2.2 aperture. While the camera lens most certainly lets in more light (more on that in the section below), it also means photos can have shallow depth of field or more bokeh (blurred backgrounds).
In the photo above, we've got a pink flower posing masterfully for the cameras. Pay attention to the background. Notice how the S7 Edge's background is more blurred. Shallower depth of of field draws your eyes to what's in focus (the flowers), but in this case, the background blur is so rough it actually distracts you. The colors are dull and have the same haziness to them on the indoor test. No bueno.
The food close-up shot is always a favorite. Everyone is guilty of taking pics of their food. This one was a close call and the S7 Edge only wins by a hair; the Gobstoppers are sharper and the depth of field on the chips gives the pic more depth.
Winner: Draw
Low-light
The iPhone 6S Plus didn't fare very well on the low-light test in our ultimate smartphone camera shootout last year — that honor went to the LG G4 — and it doesn't fare well against the S7 Edge.
These art supplies were sitting inside of a dark cabinet, the words on the cans barely visible. As expected, the S7 Edge destroyed the iPhone 6S Plus on this test. The iPhone 6S Plus's f/2.2 aperture was no match for the S7 Edge's f/1.7. At full resolution, you can clearly read the words on the can in the S7 Edge pic. You can't on the iPhone 6S Plus pic. The noise reduction isn't too shabby on the S7 Edge pic, either. Good job, Samsung!
Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge
Nighttime
Nighttime shots are always tricky to take. For the best results, you need to use a tripod, or else your photo is going to be blurry. But you're using your phone, so the chances of having a tripod are pretty low.
We're torn between which one is better. On the one hand, the S7 Edge's nighttime pic is brighter, sharper and has greater dynamic range. But on the other, the iPhone 6S Plus has accurate colors. You can decide for yourself which one you prefer, but we're going to side with the S7 Edge, if only because details are clearer. Besides, correcting the color is pretty easy with a photo-editing app.
Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge
Final verdict:
It appears no smartphone camera comes remotely close to the iPhone 6S Plus for color accuracy. It's a testament to how finely tuned the iPhone's image signal processor is and how it works with the camera sensor.
That said, the iPhone 6S Plus only came out on top as the clear winner on the indoor tests. The S7 Edge aced the selfie, low-light and nighttime tests. And the two phones tied for the outdoor and close-up tests.
Final score: 3 wins for the S7 Edge, 1 win for the iPhone 6S Plus and 2 draws.
After shooting with both the S7 Edge and iPhone 6S Plus side-by-side, it would appear Samsung's new flagship phone is a very serious iPhone 6S camera contender. In some situations, it's better.
Our tests are by no means definitive. Photography, after all, is subjective. Whichever phone you decide, you're going to get some solid pics. Our recommendation: Pick the S7 Edge if you take lots of low-light pics, selfies and food snapshots. Otherwise, the iPhone 6S Plus has a good camera that's nice and consistent across the board.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
iPhone SE: What we know about Apple's rumored 'iPhone Mini'
Apple's confrontation with the United States government has dominated headlines since February 16, bringing to the fore many important issues related to the first amendment, terrorism, and national security. And yet we must not ignore the possibility that new iPhones may be introduced this month!
Apple's standard retail lineup includes the three most recent iPhone models. At the moment, the portfolio extends from the relatively new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus to 2014's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus to the iPhone 5S, introduced back in 2013. In the run-up to the most recent launch this fall, there was much speculation as to the fate of Apple's iPhone 5C; would the company refresh or banish it? Alas, that model -- essentially a plastic 2013 remake of the 2012 iPhone 5 -- it was officially put out to pasture, leaving the 5S to occupy the entry-level slot.
Given the popularity of the 4-inch form factor, it's quite likely that Apple will introduce a replacement for the aging iPhone 5S -- at some point. Of course, with the 6S nomenclature already taken, the company will have to adopt an alternative coinage. The original leading candidate was thought to be "iPhone 6C," though the iPhone Mini, iPhone 5SE, and, most recently, iPhone SE have also been bandied about; according to 9to5mac.com, the SE could signify "special edition" or an "enhanced" version of the current 5S model.
Note that the prevailing opinion of online pundits is that the next major iPhone release -- ostensibly, the iPhone 7 -- will take place in the fall.
What will the next iPhone look like?
Eric Mack/CNET
In the meantime, and in absence of any hard facts from Cupertino, the Internet will continue to feed the vacuum of information with all manner of speculation and hearsay, credible and otherwise. We present here a curated collection of the latest rumors, leaks and dubious pronouncements made by anonymous supply chain sources about the next generation of the 4-inch iPhone.
Editors' note: This story was originally posted on December 16, 2015, and last updated on March 9, 2016.
Announcement and release dates
Though hotly contested as the rumors first emerged this fall, there appears to be a growing consensus that a new iPhone will come in March. That noted, Apple usually introduces its new iPhones in the fall; announced on September 9, the 6S and 6S Plus first appeared in stores on September 25, 2015. The next major update -- expected to be the launch of the iPhone 7 -- is likely to come as kids head back to school in 2016.
The iPhone SE could ostensibly come sooner. Many sources are reporting that Apple is planning a product introduction for March 2016; a recent report from MyDrivers (via Gadgetz Arena) citing details revealed at a China Mobile event further corroborates this timing.
Given that such an introduction would coincide the Apple Watch's first birthday, it's highly likely that such an event would be focused on its successor. And yet it's plausible that the iPhone SE could also arrive then, with a retail launch following just days later. Mark Gurman, who has developed a good track record of predictions for 9to5mac.com, has been steadfast on the March debut. On top of that, Recode's Kara Swisher is reporting that Apple's product event will happen the week of March 21, and Buzzfeed's John Paczkowski is reporting that Monday, March 21 will be the actual day of the event.
That noted, Apple Insider reports that veteran Apple tea-leaf reader Gene Munster has suggested that the iPhone SE would actually be introduced alongside the iPhone 7 next September. (Would it then be called "iPhone 7C"? That's anybody's guess.)
Design
Though the possible introduction of the 4-inch iPhone is imminent, there remains no consensus about its specific shape. Even the case manufacturers, who have so much at stake, have not yet agreed on the precise measurements or whether the power button will be embedded atop the phone or along its side.
Sources report that Cupertino has already developed a number of new prototypes, and Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent Apple analyst who works the supply chain for hints and clues, has predicted that the company will indeed bring out a new 4-inch model. From a design perspective, it remains unknown whether the iPhone SE will follow in the footsteps of the aluminum iPhone 5S or the candy-colored polycarbonate iPhone 5C.
Apple's iPhone 5S (left) and iPhone 5C.
Apple
In the tradition of Apple's brightly colored iPods of old, the SE certainly provided a very different aesthetic palette from its immediate metallic predecessors and successors. And given that the current portfolio sticks to a pretty basic range of colors -- silver, space gray, gold and rose gold -- the playful rainbow of the SE would be a welcome option. In early February 2016, Japanese site Mac Otakara reported that the 4-inch iPhone may come in silver, space gray and a pink hue distinct from the rose gold featured on the iPhone 6S.
The 2013 iPod Nano came in pink, blue, green, and black.
CNET
One particularly interesting rumor posits that future iPhones may do without a physical home button, leaning on the pressure-sensitive 3D Touch screen and hands-free functionality of Siri instead. Certainly, a buttonless iPhone would be a natural move for a company with such a strong preference for clean lines and simple design. It would also allow the large top and bottom bezels to shrink, effectively allowing Apple to squeeze a larger screen into the same size body. But such a radical redesign would almost certainly be reserved for the iPhone 7, not the step-down, entry-level that the SE would be. Likewise, the added cost and weight that 3D Touch would require seem far beyond the purview of SE. (Note that recently leaked photos would seem to confirm that the forthcoming 4-inch iPhone will not have 3D Touch.)
Driven by discovered case maker design drawings, multiple sources have determined that the new iPhone will be essentially identical to those of the iPhone 5S -- roughly 124 mm long, 59mm wide and 7.5mm thick. This supports the prevailing consensus that the iPhone SE will be aesthetically similar to the 5S, but with some of the newer components and software flourishes from the newer models.
Don't expect 3D Touch.
James Martin/CNET
Though security hasn't often been a major focus of the iPhone rumor mill, the vast majority of recent headlines in both major and fringe publications have involved Apple's ongoing battle with the FBI over just that. The Financial Times reported that Apple is working on ways to encrypt data stored via its iCloud service, which could further frustrate law enforcement agencies in investigations. And according to the New York Times, Apple engineers are now working on new security measures to prevent iPhone-hacking.
If the next iPhone does appear in March, it's highly unlikely that it would contain technology developed in response to the FBI's prying. That noted, if the new security features are rooted only in the software (or iCloud), subsequent OS updates could bring additional safeguards in the nearer term.
Display
There is a particularly durable rumor about a sapphire display, which would offer a higher degree of scratch and shatter-resistance than the current models' Gorilla Glass. In fact, the higher-end Apple Watch models have sapphire displays -- as well as OLED technology that provides best-in-class black levels, contrast and colors on a growing assortment of smartphones (including the Samsung Galaxy S6).
Expect the iPhone 6C to keep the same 4-inch screen as the 5S (far left). The iPhone 6 (4.7-inch screen) is center, and the iPhone 6 Plus (5.5-inch screen) is far right.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Forbes (and others) have reported that the iPhone SE may have a "2.5D" display, with curved edges, that improves the tactile sensitivity of finger swipes, similar to that found on the iPhone 6 and 6S. Apple uses LED backlit LCD technology for the current iPhones' Retina displays, and there has been speculation that Apple will eventually switch to OLED displays, but not until 2018. So, again, this upgrade would most likely debut on whatever model succeeds the iPhone 7 -- and almost certainly not on the iPhone SE.
Under the hood
It was originally thought that the iPhone SE would use "old" technology -- perhaps the 2014-era A8 chip from the iPhone 6, which would preclude the inclusion Live Photos and always-on Siri, which are dependent on the newer A9 processor.
But it appears that the iPhone SE may be more of a shrunken down iPhone 6S than previously expected. According to a Bloomberg Businessweek profile of Apple senior vice president for hardware technologies Johny Srouji, the SE is getting the same CPU as the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus:
In March, Apple intends to announce an updated iPad and smaller-screen iPhone featuring the latest A9x and A9 chips, according to a person familiar with the plans, who wasn't authorized to comment publicly.
Apple's 64-bit A9 chip processor.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
And it gets better. Multiple sources, including analyst Kuo, however, have suggested that the iPhone SE could come equipped with an A9 processor. Such an upgrade, coupled with 2GB of RAM (the content of yet another rumor), would put the iPhone SE on equal performance footing with the iPhone 6S. Sources embedded within the Asian supply chain have also predicted that the iPhone SE will have a 1,642mAh battery, which is slightly larger than the 1,570mAh model featured in the iPhone 5S.
At a minimum, it would make sense for Apple to bring the SE into line with the rest of the iPhone line with the addition of Apple Pay. That will require the addition of NFC, which wasn't included in the iPhone 5S.
On the camera side, don't expect cutting-edge. That means the SE will likely stick with the same 8-megapixel model from the iPhone 6/6 Plus, and will almost certainly forego the optical image stabilization found in the top-end iPhone 6S Plus. According to 9to5mac.com, it will feature the popular Live Photo feature, first found on the iPhone 6S series.
Jason Cipriani/CNET
For storage capacity, expectations should likewise be kept in check. Don't expect a 128GB option, but you may get 64GB in addition to 16GB. (The 5S is currently available in 16GB and 32GB capacities.)
The newest iPhone have excellent 4G LTE coverage that work with a wide range of wireless carriers around the world. If Apple wants to target this phone as widely as possible, it would make sense for the company to use that same sort of one-size-fits-all approach for the SE's wireless capabilities as well.
Price
This is the big one.
For years, analysts have been calling for a more affordable iPhone -- often without realizing that it was in front of them all the time. Apple has dropped its 2-year-old model to the entry-level "free on contract or $450/£379/AU$749" for years now. But with the iPhone SE, will they stick with that pricing model? Raise it because it will be a "new" phone? Or lower it to keep up with the increasingly capable models like the Moto G and Alcatel One Touch Idol 3 that are hitting the market at prices as low as $250, contract-free?
The answer, again, is anybody's guess. But if this is replacing the 5S at the bottom of the line, the safe bet is that the price stays the same. Apple can then always drop it later, or simply allow carriers in certain markets to adjust pricing and incentives accordingly.
Zac Hall has posted an interesting analysis of historical iPhone pricing at 9to5mac.com, concluding that Apple will deliver the iPhone 6C/SE in March, featuring a combination of iPhone 6 and 6S hardware and an iPhone 5-based design, with a starting price of $649. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the next iPhone will be priced in the $400 to $500 range, however.
Scroll down for a reverse-chronological look at the latest rumors.
February 27, 2016NoWhereElse.fr: Purported leaked iPhone SE photos do not show 3D Touch
French site Nowhereelese.fr has published images that appear to confirm that the forthcoming 4-inch iPhone will not have Apple's pressure-sensitive touchscreen.
February 26, 2015MacRumors: New 4" iPhone With 12MP Camera Said to Cost $400-$500
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts the price of Apple's next iPhone.
February 22, 2016Bloomberg: The Most Important Apple Executive You've Never Heard Of
The rumored "iPhone Mini" would add a modest amount to Apple's total revenue this year, says analyst
February 17, 2016CNET: Apple could grab $5B in sales from new 4-inch iPhone, says analyst
The rumored "iPhone Mini" would add a modest amount to Apple's total revenue this year, says analyst
February 8, 20169to5mac: Opinion: Why Apple's releasing an iPhone 5se, not a 4-inch iPhone 7
One pundit's rationale for why Apple won't debut a 4-inch model along the iPhone 7 this fall.
February 5, 2016MacRumors: iPhone 5se May Come in Silver, Space Gray, and Bright Pink
Apple's next generation iPhone may come in a shade reminiscent of the hot pink iPod nano.
January 22, 2016CNET: Return of the 4-inch iPhone? Rumor hints at March launch
Apple could be working on a smaller version of its wildly popular phone, along with Apple Watch bands in new materials, and possibly a pair of iPads.
January 13, 2016Forbes: 10 Leaked Features Reveal Important Changes
Like the iPhone 6 and 6S, the iPhone 6C is expected to have "2.5D" cover glass.
December 29, 2015Phone Arena: New information about the 4-inch Apple iPhone 7c emerges; mass production starts next momth?
The next generation iPhone will come equipped with a 1,642mAh battery.
December 5, 2015Business Insider: Data indicates Apple maybe working on a new 4-inch device
An internal survey by Piper Jaffray revealed that over 20 percent of smartphone users say a 4-inch screen size is the optimal size for smartphones.
August 27, 2015CNET: Shrunken version of iPhone 6 reportedly won't be coming this year
Rumors of a 4-inch iPhone 6C have been circulating, but a tech blog reports that this device won't be ready for Apple's upcoming press event next month.
March 26, 2015CNET: Would you go back to a 4-inch iPhone?
A new rumor says to expect three new iPhones this year, including a 4-inch device that bucks the trend of big displays that some of your friends and family love to mock.
