Samsung S7 rumors, speculation, and suggestions

[Mopetar]

It's possible that this SOC is also too toasty

But it's the same SoC that any other top of the line Android phone is going to use. Samsung could use their own Exynos SoC, but I'm willing to bet the performance / efficiency characteristics are overall better for Qualcomm's chip so it doesn't matter.

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.

At this point, it doesn't look like there's an Android phone that's going to be better than this, especially with there being two different sizes with the edge getting bumped up to 5.5".

Either you want a smaller phone in which case the S7 is out of the running, you absolutely need replaceable batteries and can't use an external charger or case, in which case the S7 is a non-starter again, or you absolutely must run your own custom ROM that makes you prefer a Nexus.

It's not as though Samsung is some unknown quantity and the specifications alone show that this phone corrects any of the problems that most people had with the S6. The reviews are going to tell us what we already know.

 

[Miklebud]

I'm on AT&T and have had my Galaxy S4 since launch. When did AT&T drop the contract pricing? Not a big fan of paying full price when every other provider is offering a $199 contract price. I don't really want to switch provider, as I'm on a family plan... Hmmm, I may just have to suck it up and do the monthly $24. But my S4 is surely dying, so I need a new phone sooner rather than later. Do these flagships ever go on sale after launch?

 

[Red Storm]

I'm on AT&T and have had my Galaxy S4 since launch. When did AT&T drop the contract pricing? Not a big fan of paying full price when every other provider is offering a $199 contract price. I don't really want to switch provider, as I'm on a family plan... Hmmm, I may just have to suck it up and do the monthly $24. But my S4 is surely dying, so I need a new phone sooner rather than later. Do these flagships ever go on sale after launch?

Contract pricing is deceiving, you think you're only paying $200 but you aren't. A device payment is much more transparent, and is good because if you pay the phone off, your bill actually goes down.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The free Galaxy VR with pre-order is pretty aggressive on Samsung's part. They weren't fooling around having Mr. Facebook at the keynote.

One thing I find interesting is the Note 4 VR was $200, then the S6 one was $100, now the S7 one is back up to $200.

 

[herm0016]

I preordered today, going from an s5. Verizon is offering the gear s2 watch instead of the VR.
I wonder if it comes with the wireless charging pad? what cases does everyone love? i have been using commuter series otterbox for a 8? years. anything better now? i do like the spigen on my work iphone.

It says i should have it by the 11th.

 

[Compddd]

I'd rather have $200 off the phone than watches or VR headsets.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'd rather have $200 off the phone than watches or VR headsets.

I'd have to agree with you there.

 

[herm0016]

I'd rather have $200 off the phone than watches or VR headsets.

trading in my s5 is worth a bit. also, i have been thinking about trying one of the watches for a year or so.

 

[lsd]

Definitely getting the s7 edge as it seems like a a worthy upgrade from my note 4. I'm concerned about finding a tempered glass screen protector though. When I got my wife the s6e I couldn't find a decent screen protector and I wonder if it will be the same case with the s7e. After using tempered glass on my note 4 it will be hard to go back to film.

 

[Exterous]

I'd rather have $200 off the phone than watches or VR headsets.

Looks like Target is offering a $100 GC and the VR Gear so its closer. I'm strongly tempted as my HTC M7 is showing its age. Samsung has been offering some pretty nice deals for their phones as of late but I don't know if I want to wait and hope one of those pops up while I am looking for it

 

[Zaap]

How does this eliminate 3rd part...more profitable eliminating 3rd party choice.

 

[WelshBloke]

They've eliminated the entire market of cheap, plentiful third party INTERNAL batteries. Lots of people (me for one) don't want to pay to strap to my phone what it used to have built right in. Eliminating that choice makes it more likely their battery case will be seen as an option for people.

But if that battery case is seen as overpriced then people will buy 3rd party ones, or 3rd party power banks.

Even eventually when the internal battery life goes to crap and needs to be swapped,pretty much the only option now is to pay Samsung about 2x the cost of replacing it, compared to the old third party swap it at your leisure.

I'd imagine that most people won't get that done through Samsung, that'll either be DIY or small corner shop phone repairs.

I just don't buy all this 'premium' design stuff. That's marketing BS. Its more profitable eliminating 3rd party choice.

That's fine, I sort of agree with you about some of it, I just don't think it's at all about eliminating 3rd parties.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Definitely getting the s7 edge as it seems like a a worthy upgrade from my note 4. I'm concerned about finding a tempered glass screen protector though. When I got my wife the s6e I couldn't find a decent screen protector and I wonder if it will be the same case with the s7e. After using tempered glass on my note 4 it will be hard to go back to film.

Yeah, that's the only thing that's making me hesitant. I might try one of those wet apply screen protectors so that the curve is protected properly.

 

[Cakefish]

Really comes down to screen size. I'd say the standard S7 is your pick unless you know you want something big.

It's only really the 20% larger battery that is tempting me over to the S7 edge. I am the kind of very heavy user whereby no smartphone battery is ever large enough to truly satisfy me. The exception was the Moto X Play which has same size battery as S7 edge!

However, I also have smaller than average hands and thus get a much better grip on smaller phones, so prefer them. I actually returned the Moto X Play after having it for two weeks because I couldn't get used to the larger 5.5" size (S7 edge not much smaller than that phone as both have small bezels).

So I'm worried that I'd get an S7 and envy the battery life of the S7 edge. On the other hand I'm worried that if I get an S7 edge I'd find it a bit too cumbersome and long for the more compact S7.

It's really difficult choice.

 

[ChronoReverse]

So Canada is getting the Exynos version. This upsets me because development on Exynos has always been poor.

 

[Red Storm]

It's only really the 20% larger battery that is tempting me over to the S7 edge. I am the kind of very heavy user whereby no smartphone battery is ever large enough to truly satisfy me. The exception was the Moto X Play which has same size battery as S7 edge!

However, I also have smaller than average hands and thus get a much better grip on smaller phones, so prefer them. I actually returned the Moto X Play after having it for two weeks because I couldn't get used to the larger 5.5" size (S7 edge not much smaller than that phone as both have small bezels).

So I'm worried that I'd get an S7 and envy the battery life of the S7 edge. On the other hand I'm worried that if I get an S7 edge I'd find it a bit too cumbersome and long for the more compact S7.

It's really difficult choice.

One thing to factor, the thickness of the devices. Moto's design is not very hand friendly, at least compared to Samsung anyway. See below:

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/si...-edge,Samsung-Galaxy-S7/phones/9554,9818,9817

The thinness and slight curves on the edge of the back really improves your grip on the device. The Note 5 feels much better in hand than say the Note 4. Plus they're both lighter than the X Play.

 

[Commodus]

So Canada is getting the Exynos version. This upsets me because development on Exynos has always been poor.

I'm a bit torn on that. I know it won't be great for customization, but the Exynos 8890 will probably be faster than the Snapdragon 820. Might be worth it if you're comfortable with the stock firmware.

 

[ChronoReverse]

I'm a bit torn on that. I know it won't be great for customization, but the Exynos 8890 will probably be faster than the Snapdragon 820. Might be worth it if you're comfortable with the stock firmware.

Faster CPU, slower GPU. Unknown on battery life although Qualcomm's LTE stuff is more efficient.

The development part hits hard though. Well, I'll probably wait to see which has better battery life. As long as I can have customized Touchwiz ROMs I can probably live with it assuming battery life is as good as we think it should be.

 

[Lat]

Does anybody know if you can purchase without contract from T-Mobile in-store?

For those of us in Canada who do prefer the Snapdragon 820 (development, AOSP roms), the tmo pentaband would probably be the model to get.

 

[Red Storm]

Does anybody know if you can purchase without contract from T-Mobile in-store?

For those of us in Canada who do prefer the Snapdragon 820 (development, AOSP roms), the tmo pentaband would probably be the model to get.

If you're already a T-Mobile customer I don't see why not. Not sure how it would go if you aren't a customer.

 

[Lat]

If you're already a T-Mobile customer I don't see why not. Not sure how it would go if you aren't a customer.

Definitely not a customer; just want to walk into store and pick up contract-free

 

[shabby]

So Canada is getting the Exynos version. This upsets me because development on Exynos has always been poor.

WHAT?!?#@?# Who confirmed this? I just preordered one

 

[Achtung!]

So basically it's a faster CPU, ridiculous amount of RAM, water resistance and SD card slot.

I think the biggest improvements are the SD card slot and water resistance.

Oh did Samsung fix the multitasking flaw where programs running in the background weren't managed by RAM and this caused them to have delays when switching between apps already open in the background?

And it looks like the Galaxy S7 takes the crown for the best smartphone display of 2016, overtaking the previous title holder, the Galaxy S6.

http://www.gsmarena.com/displaymate..._have_best_performing_displays-blog-16870.php

http://www.displaymate.com/Galaxy_S7_ShootOut_1.htm

Apple will eventually have to source AMOLED panels from Samsung in the near future, and 2016/2017 may be the first time according to numerous reports.

 

[antihelten]

Oh did Samsung fix the multitasking flaw where programs running in the background weren't managed by RAM and this caused them to have delays when switching between apps already open in the background?

Early reports seem to indicate that this has been fixed:

Getting into using the phone, the S7 and S7 edge feel very quick and responsive. I even did some back-and-forth multitasking to see if the phone reloaded apps unnecessarily, and the S7 edge didn't seem to flinch - apps loaded back to where they should, and did so quickly. So perhaps Samsung has finally fixed its aggressive memory management.

Source

 

[Oyeve]

I checked preordering on tmobiles website but I dont see where they would offer the VR promo.