Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge hands-on and first impressions

We’re here at MWC 2016, where Samsung has just taken the wraps off of their latest flagship offerings. As was the case last year, the company has also released an Edge variant alongside its main flagship product, the Galaxy S7. What does this curvy device have to offer? Let’s find out, as we go hands on with the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge!

Design

Moving around the sides of the device, the buttons are all in the same spots as last year’s flagships. One important thing to note is that Samsung decided to forgo USB Type-C this time around and instead opt for the standard Micro USB port. We aren’t entirely sure why Samsung made this decision, as it’s been made pretty clear that Type-C is the new standard for Android devices.

Display

Performance and hardware

The Galaxy S7 Edge will be powered by either a Samsung Exynos or Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, depending on the market. We’re still waiting on official word from Samsung regarding the exact model of Exynos used. Regardless, all versions are paired with 4GB RAM.

Samsung has certainly noticed the uproar that was a result of the removal of staple features like a removable battery and expandable storage with the previous iterations, and while the former is still not available, the latter makes its way back into the fold. The device comes with dual SIM capabilities, with the secondary SIM slot also serving as a microSD card slot, leaving users with having to make the choice between dual SIM features or expandable storage. Also returning from the Samsung Galaxy S5 is water and dust resistance, with the Galaxy S7 Edge coming with an IP68 rating for the same.

Another big issue with last year’s devices was battery life, but with the Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung is looking to address that concern by packing in a large 3,600mAh battery. There should be no reason why this phone cannot comfortably allow for a full day of use, if not more. Fast wireless charging also makes a return here, and also Quick Charge capabilities, that should have you up and running in no time.

Cameras

The camera has also seen quite a few improvements. First off, the large camera bulge is pretty much gone this time, and while the camera still protrudes a little bit, it is nowhere as significant (or worrisome) as before. The camera is 12MP shooter, which may seem like a downgrade from the 16MP primary camera of its predecessor, but what you get is a much large pixel size, at 1.4 microns, that allows for much improved low-light performance, which is augmented even further with its f/1.7 aperture. The camera is also utilizing a dual pixel setup, which is the first of its kind on a smartphone, and this allows for faster focusing, even in poorly-lit conditions.

Software

On the software side of things, you get the latest iteration of Touchwiz on top of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and this is probably the cleanest version of the Touchwiz UI we’ve come across. The squared circle icons aren’t the most aesthetically-pleasing, but they are definitely a big improvement over Samsung’s previous icons. Also gone is the blue and green color scheme, for a far simpler blue and white.

And as noted in our Galaxy S7 hands-on, Samsung has added in an experimental feature to the software that allows you to remove the app drawer if you’d like. LG decided to forgo the app drawer altogether with the G5, but it’s optional with the S7 and S7 Edge. We’ve also heard rumors that Android N, the next major version of Android, will axe the app drawer as well, so it looks like both Samsung and LG might be getting a head start with the change.

The dual curved edges still give off that really cool waterfall effect, and Samsung has added some additional software features to take further advantage of the Edge display. You still get the People Edge and Apps Edge like before, but there are now two columns of apps, which makes it a lot more useful. New to the edge features is Tasks Edge and the Edge panel. Tasks Edge, as the name suggests, lets you add shortcuts to specific tasks, like adding a calendar event, composing a text message, and other activities that you would normally do regularly. The Edge panel, on the other hand, is basically a slew of customizable widgets that you can pick and choose between, such as stocks, Yahoo news, Calendar, or Weather, to quickly give you information at a glance.

Specs

Gallery

Wrapping up

So there you have it for this quick look at the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge! A more refined design, a larger display, the return of key features, a further streamlined software experience, and more features to take advantage of the Edge display means that the Galaxy S7 Edge does bring a lot to the table. If you found its predecessor to be lacking, the latest Samsung flagship may have done its part in addressing those concerns. We’ll be sure to update this post as we learn more about this device.

What do you think? Could this be your next smartphone? Be sure to tell us your thoughts in the comments below!