Two of the biggest smartphone releases of 2016 have undoubtedly been the Galaxy S7 and its main rival, the recent iPhone 7. But when compared, how do they fare?
They’re both amazing in their own right and each come with pros and cons, lucky for you, we’ve compiled a guide to both handsets.
Design
The Galaxy S7 is one of the sleekest handsets on the market, featuring a glass front and back, with metal edges, the look of the phone may be pleasing but one major con is that the glass housing leaves the device frighteningly fragile.
Though the phone may not be able to survive a drop to the ground, it will certainly survive a drop into water, IP68-certified, the S7 will survive any water-related mishaps, though it’s probably still a good idea to avoid the sea.
The variety of colours the phone is available in is another pro of the S7, with black, white, gold, silver and rose gold available to choose from.
Like the S7, iPhone 7 is an attractive handset, however, it’s awfully similar to the iPhone 6 which may disappoint users looking for a complete change, though a virtually invisible antenna banding is one clear difference.
With a slim 7.1mm frame and a weight of 138g the dinky handset is somewhat smaller than the S7. With an aluminium back, it’s not as fragile as its rival, though the screen is still susceptible to cracks.
However, one new addition, which may the biggest pro of all, and something which was previously unprecedented with the iPhone, is the dust and water proofing.
Though, Apple’s device is only IP67-rated so not as resistant as the S7. One similarity is that the 7 is available in five colours: Gold, Silver, Rose Gold, Black, and Jet Black. Though the jet black option may prove to be a major con, as it seems like an absolute scratch magnet.
Display
The Galaxy 7 once again comes up trumps in the display department. The pros of the display include a superb 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, a high-resolution screen and an overwhelming screen-to-body ratio.
However, one slight downfall is the Corning’s Gorilla Glass 4 which coats the display, this addition is there to help the device survive any drops or impact, though reports suggest that the display is still prone to damage.
The iPhone 7’s ever so reliable Retina HD display is always a plus, the screen measures 4.7 inches from corner to corner, so whilst the resolution may not be as high as its Galaxy rival, it’s spread over a smaller area, so unnoticeable.
The brightness levels are a definite pro, up 25% from the 6S, and the addition of a super wide colour gamut to match the the latest iPad is pleasing.
This is most noticeable when taking pictures, with the results far more vivid and colourful than previous iPhones.
The 3D, pressure-sensitive screen is neither a pro or con, whilst it allows you to access content by pressing down hard on the display, it’s not an everyday feature.
Camera
The S7’s camera quality is flawless, with a image stabilisation, two-tone flash and Samsung’s unique dual-pixel phase detection autofocus, the results are going to be perfect.
Like the S7, the latest iPhone boasts a 12-mega-pixel camera making for a perfect finish. The new Quad LED flash is 50% brighter than the 6S, so even in dim lighting, photos will be perfect quality.
Price
These are both top spec handsets and as such cost top spec prices.
That’s doesn’t mean there isn’t a difference in the two, with the Galaxy S7 being significantly cheaper to buy outright. The Galaxy S7 is currently ranging between £475-£519 depending on your retailer and options; dramatically cheaper than the iPhone 7 with prices starting at £599, rising to £699 and £799 respectively.
For those who don’t have hundreds of pounds tucked away, both handsets are available on mobile phone contracts from Mobile Phones Direct and other UK retailers, with deals for the iPhone 7 available from £37 with no upfront fee.
Performance and Audio
Depending on where you purchase the S7, it comes with different processors. Though, wherever purchased, the S7 features 4GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of storage with a micro SD slot. Points to Samsung for the revival of the SD slot, as running out of storage can be one of the most frustrating things about owning a smartphone.
One thing that lets the S7 down majorly on the other hand, is the average quality speaker.
The iPhone 7’s new A10 Fusion is another huge pro about the new device, it is said to run 40% faster than the A9 chip, and can keep up with even the most demanding tasks, also making for a better graphical performance.
The storage options range from 32GB to 256BG, so while there is no additional SD slot, storage should not be a problem.
In terms of audio, one major con, and probably the most talked about feature, is the lack of audio jack. With lighting connectors and Bluetooth headsets available, this may just be a minor inconvenience for users, but it will take some getting used to.