Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, S7 release date, specs news: New flagships offer better features
Samsung has unveiled the newest devices to their prime Galaxy S series: the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Pre-orders started Feb. 23, and the company is even giving away a free Gear VR and a bundle of six games for early buyers, at least until supplies last.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have 4 GB RAM, which is more than the 3 GB RAM that their predecessors, the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, had. They run on a Snapdragon 820 or Exynos 8890 Octa processor with 32 GB or 64 GB internal memory, depending on region. Both devices use the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow software.
The S7 has a 5.1 inch screen at 577 pixels per inch while the S7 edge sports a 5.5-inch display at 534 ppi. Moreover, they have a more streamlined design using 3D Thermoforming, a more comfortable grip, and are water and dust resistant.
"We melded 3D glass to curve with such precision that it meets the curved metal alloy to create an exquisitely seamless and strong unibody," Samsung said in their announcement in their website.
The most promising new feature is the comeback of memory expansion. The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have a microSD slot that lets owners add memory up to 200 GB or input another SIM card.
The new S series devices, however, have a lower megapixel count for the rear-end camera, with only 12 MP compared to the S6's 16 MP. Nonetheless, the megapixel count is not the only factor that determines whether or not a camera can take good photos . Moreover, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge offer new camera features. There is an improved autofocus with their dual pixel sensor. Motion Photo and Panorama are also introduced wherein users can now shoot 3-seconder motion photos.
The Galaxy S7 also upped the selfie game by introducing the spotlight feature, wherein users are allowed to highlight parts of their face that they want to stand out. There is also the selfie flash and wide selfie – perfect for a groufie.
Samsung introduces the "always-on" feature wherein users can select what they see even when the phone is in lock screen. Users can choose to see the clock, calendar, or images without unlocking the phone. Even with this feature, the devices promise a longer battery life with a 3600 mAh battery for the S7 edge and 3000 mAh for the S7, and the wireless charging stayed.
Gamers aren't forgotten as the devices have a dedicated gaming feature that lets them record sessions and screenshots. The devices also give the users the option to block notifications when they're playing – no more annoying interruptions when users least need it.
The newest Samsung flagship phones will be available in the market on March 11.