Samsung S7 rumors, speculation, and suggestions

[Zaap]

https://promo.samsungpromotions.com/ultimatetestdrive/

Anyone with an iPhone to sign up with that's interested, keep an eye on this ^. On several occasions I've kept watch and it just goes live all of a sudden and I've got a free phone for a month. Hoping to test-drive an S7 edge. (Had the S6 and S6 edge+)

The S7 edge could possibly lure me back to Samsung. Having got used to the 6+ edge for a month made me really miss that edge screen- it just added an almost 3D quality to viewing on it. Glad they wised up and put the SD card back.

Here's hoping the Note 6 is freakin' awesome. (Or gee, Samsung could just remove the headphone jack and REALLY be innovative!)

The bezels on the iP6plus just look primitive to me compared to the S6 and S7 (from the side by side chart from the phone arena link). Apple needs a refresh already, and not just removing more ports to shave off .005mm no one really wants shaved off if they're honest.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Samsung actually went and did a lot of the things that we asked for this time around.

In particular, making the phone thicker for more battery and lowering the megapixels of the camera for better lowlight and latency impresses me. This is something that's quite unusual for any phone manufacturer since it's lowering "marketing numbers" for a less easily tangible (but more useful) benefit.

If a removeable battery is the only thing that's missing, I'm more than willing to swallow that if battery life is massive in exchange. The AMOLED panel is the same resolution so Samsung will have made it even more efficient. The SoC is guaranteed to at least match the GS6's already good efficiency. It would take a stunning screw up in the software to not have stellar battery life.

The same goes for removable storage but electing for a 32GB base model with mergeable microSD is just perfect.

 

[poofyhairguy]

It's possible that this SOC is also too toasty, or that the new camera has a problem. Personally I think that it'll be a great phone but I'd still wait for reviews on an item of this value. I don't think that I'd pay more than a monkey for something and not read at least a few reviews that I trust.

The toasty SoC thing was a onetime screwup from Qualcomm, a screwup that was easy to see coming (I called it six months before). The 820 SoC should be fine.

In fact the only questions are:

1. How much did Samsung screw up the software with Touchwiz?

and

2. (for those who will consider Apple) What will Apple do with the iPhone 7 that might top this?

Otherwise you are looking at the best Android non-phablet we will see this year, unless Google stops being dicks and gives us the Nexus 5P many have prayed for.

 

[ChronoReverse]

1. How much did Samsung screw up the software with Touchwiz?

The interesting thing is that it's usually the add-on apps that come with Touchwiz that is the problem.

Comparing slimmed Touchwiz and AOSP/CM custom ROMs on Samsung phones usually has the edge for Touchwiz assuming the same features are being used.


With a Qualcomm SoC, I believe development for the GS7 will be much nicer than with the GS6. I can see myself quite satisfied running a slimmed Touchwiz ROM.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The interesting thing is that it's usually the add-on apps that come with Touchwiz that is the problem.

And the update timing. Right now the second biggest knock for me on the S7 (after the port) is that it took freaking 5 months to get 6.0 on the Int. S6. That is crazy, I had it on my M8 in a month.

Hopefully you are right and the Qualcomm SoC will speed up updates.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Well, I'm not sure about updates, I only meant stuff like AOSP or Cyanogenmod.

Still, Samsung is getting the security updates out even if the Android updates aren't so it's a somewhat less pressing concern for me now. If anything, I think Marshmallow's interface will be fairly stable for at least a couple years.


It's not ideal but not completely untenable either. I definitely will miss how easy it is on my Nexus 6P enough that I can't say I'm going to the GS7e for sure.

 

[CakeMonster]

I was largely disappointed via the Samsung S5 and S6 generation not because they were bad but because they were just incremental improvements and in my mind not worth anything close to the prices that they charge

[...]

But now we look to have a Samsung Phone that is a serious performer in a way that Samsung has not been in the last few years really since mid 2013

I don't really follow you here. The performance leap came with S6. Samsung was far ahead of the whole Android field with Exynos 7420 and 14nm. The S6 was the revolution while the S7 is the evolution (but its a pretty damn decent hashing out of what the S6 lacked too). The S6 had the CPU/GPU improvement, the storage speed improvement and pretty much the best screen and camera at the time. At least we got some hardware for price increase. The S6 is when Samsung upped their S line with half a tier both performance and price wise. I'm not saying I'm a fan of the pricing but I don't agree with your assessment of the improvements.

 

[WelshBloke]

The toasty SoC thing was a onetime screwup from Qualcomm, a screwup that was easy to see coming (I called it six months before). The 820 SoC should be fine.

I wasn't suggesting that there will be a problem with the SOC(s), I was just saying that it's worth waiting for reviews as things in reality aren't always as good as they should be given how they look on paper.

I'll actually be surprised if this isn't the best phone this year TBH. I'd still wait for reviews though.

 

[Commodus]

In fact the only questions are:

1. How much did Samsung screw up the software with Touchwiz?

and

2. (for those who will consider Apple) What will Apple do with the iPhone 7 that might top this?

Otherwise you are looking at the best Android non-phablet we will see this year, unless Google stops being dicks and gives us the Nexus 5P many have prayed for.

On 1, we'll have to wait until at least reviews, if not some real-world use. Samsung's biggest problem in TouchWiz (outside of a propensity for gimmicks) has been under-the-hood issues that don't really manifest until you've spent weeks or months with a device.

For 2... it's hard to say. The Snapdragon 820 is mostly catching up to the A9, so I suspect the (presumed) A10 in the iPhone 7 will be noticeably faster. The biggest rumor so far is that at least the Plus model will have a dual-lens camera that boosts photo quality. It's too soon to say whether this will be genuinely better or just different, though. I suspect we won't get more tangible rumors for a little while yet.

 

[kaerflog]

Both phones are very very nice. Just about everything you want in a phone but in this day and age, $700 and $800 for a phone is just absurd.
No way in hell will I ever pay over $500 for a phone again.
I bought my wife a Note 5 shortly after it came out because of the $250 rebate from Costco kiosk, plus $50 Samsung pay making it closer to $400.
Too many comparable Android alternatives for ~$400 to spend $700 for a phone.

 

[Ackmed]

I'll be getting this the first week it's out if I can find it. To hold me over for the Note 6, I currently have the Note 3. Water resistance and especially the SD card do it for me. As long as the reviews don't suck, I'll get it. Then just wait for the Note 6 and get it too.

If only they would get their head out of their asses about not supporting USAA with Samsung Pay. Reaaaaally annoyed by that. I don't know if it is USAA or Samsungs fault, but they need to get it done.

 

[WelshBloke]

Looks like they are pulling out some good 1st and 3rd party accessories as well.
I particularly like this one...

Samsung's Galaxy S7 battery case uses Qi wireless charging to keep your phone powered up http://www.androidcentral.com/samsungs-galaxy-s7-battery-case-uses-qi-keep-your-phone-powered

 

[Zaap]

^ Bleh. The REAL reason for getting rid of removable batteries. (Now we can sell you what you used to have back to you as a bulky/costly accessory!)

 

[khon]

The S7 looks great, but it's a bit too small for me, and I don't like the curved display of the S7 edge.

If they had made a non-curved version with a 5.5-5.7 inch screen, I would have bought it.

As it is, it looks like neither Samsung or LG made a phone that fits what I want, guess I will end up buying something else.

 

[WelshBloke]

^ Bleh. The REAL reason for getting rid of removable batteries.

I think that the real reason was the constant sniping in the tech press about "build quality" and premium feel" more than being able to sell you battery case.

 

[WelshBloke]

The S7 looks great, but it's a bit too small for me, and I don't like the curved display of the S7 edge.

If they had made a non-curved version with a 5.5-5.7 inch screen, I would have bought it.

As it is, it looks like neither Samsung or LG made a phone that fits what I want, guess I will end up buying something else.

You'll have to wait to see what the new Note will be like.

 

[Zaap]

I think that the real reason was the constant sniping in the tech press about "build quality" and premium feel" more than being able to sell you battery case.

You really think Apple selling similar fugliness for $99 had nothing to do with it? Samsung has been on a kick following Apple lately. There's huge profit to be made selling users back function they used to have.

 

[Oyeve]

The S7 looks great, but it's a bit too small for me, and I don't like the curved display of the S7 edge.

If they had made a non-curved version with a 5.5-5.7 inch screen, I would have bought it.

As it is, it looks like neither Samsung or LG made a phone that fits what I want, guess I will end up buying something else.

Love my lgv10 but am anxious to see what the note 6 will be.

 

[WelshBloke]

You really think Apple selling similar fugliness for $99 had nothing to do with it? Samsung has been on a kick following Apple lately. There's huge profit to be made selling users back function they used to have.

They have been selling replacement batteries, extended batteries and cases for years; this isnt anything particularly new.

I quite like that case, it turns your S7 into an S7 active.

 

[Zaap]

They have been selling replacement batteries, extended batteries and cases for years; this isnt anything particularly new.

Tons of third parties, sure. But I don't recall an actual Samsung branded extended battery case for any model phone with a removable battery.

 

[WelshBloke]

Tons of third parties, sure. But I don't recall an actual Samsung branded extended battery case for any model phone with a removable battery.

I've used an official Samsung extended battery in an S2, an S3 and an S5. They are great but then no accessories ever fit the phone, and if you use third party stuff you lose the waterproofing.

I think that a big battery, fast charging and that funky battery case are going to work for the vast majority of people.

 

[linkgoron]

Tons of third parties, sure. But I don't recall an actual Samsung branded extended battery case for any model phone with a removable battery.

A genuine question - what is the price difference between a battery case and just a battery? Are Samsung making significantly more money from a battery case than a battery?

Also, how easy is it to have a swappable battery with ip68 certification (The s5 was ip67)? Is there any phone on the market with both?

 

[Zaap]

I've used an official Samsung extended battery in an S2, an S3 and an S5. They are great but then no accessories ever fit the phone, and if you use third party stuff you lose the waterproofing.

I think that a big battery, fast charging and that funky battery case are going to work for the vast majority of people.

Hmm... all I searched for was an S5 extended battery from Samsung, but I couldn't find one. Tons of things from companies like ZeroLemon, but I can't find a Samsung one. I'm guessing if they did make extended batteries/cases for their removable battery phones they weren't huge successes?

A genuine question - what is the price difference between a battery case and just a battery? Are Samsung making significantly more money from a battery case than a battery?

My guess would be, if they are following Apple as I believe they have been, that they certainly believe there's more money to be made. Apple sells their own extended battery case for a (IMO) ridiculous $99, as companies like mophie charge that. I guess it remains to be seen what Samsung charges for theirs.

I'm all for greater choice, but it seems by elimiating more third party choice (cheap third party internal bateries means people like me would NEVER consider a Samsung branded battery case uglifying my phone) they pave the way to make their own assessories more profitable.

 

[WelshBloke]

Hmm... all I searched for was an S5 extended battery from Samsung, but I couldn't find one. Tons of things from companies like ZeroLemon, but I can't find a Samsung one. I'm guessing if they did make extended batteries/cases for their removable battery phones they weren't huge successes?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=s...-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=s7nLVr3ZMMfZU6DQn9gL
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=s...-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=m7nLVpLcLYu3UefyoegJ
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=s...-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=hrnLVvyJKcS4UfX4k8AG

My guess would be, if they are following Apple as I believe they have been, that they certainly believe there's more money to be made. Apple sells their own extended battery case for a (IMO) ridiculous $99, as companies like mophie charge that. I guess it remains to be seen what Samsung charges for theirs.

I still don't see how this is different from before. Samsung branded stuff is generally more expensive than cheap Chinese stuff, but you get to decide which one to buy.

I'm all for greater choice, but it seems by elimiating more third party choice (cheap third party internal bateries means people like me would NEVER consider a Samsung branded battery case uglifying my phone) they pave the way to make their own assessories more profitable.

How does this eliminate 3rd party stuff? If Samsungs stuff is over priced then surely that leaves a gap for 3rd party stuff?

 

[s44]

In fact the only questions are

Naah, you're missing the key new one: given the tiny weight/width difference between the S7 and the S7 Edge, shouldn't we actually be considering the latter even as a non-phablet?

Anyone tried the TPU/TPU hybrid cases that leave the edges exposed with one of last year's Edge phones? Is it safe to drop given the raised corners?