Samsung unveils the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

It’s been a long time coming. Finally, we’re getting our greedy, little hands on the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The curtain has finally been unveiled on Samsung’s follow-up to last year’s hugely successful Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. Coinciding with this much-anticipated launch, the world also saw the launch of the Gear VR headset and new finishes of the Gear S2 Classic smartwatch.

If it ain’t broke…

First of all, let’s talk about the latest Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Once again, the flagship pair utilizes Samsung’s re-imagined design philosophy introduced last year. Featuring a streamlined body of glass and metal finish, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge has smoother curves (front and back) that will fit much more comfortably in your hand than last year’s harder edges.

In terms of display, the Galaxy S7 will feature a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED Quad HD, while the Galaxy S7 edge will feature a 5.5-inch dual-edge display. Under the hood, the S7 and S7 edge is powered by an octa-core processor (2.3GHz quad-core + 1.6 GHz quad-core). Both are available in 32GB variants. Sadly, the 64GB and 128GB variants will not be available in the Philippines. On the plus side, the S7 and S7 edge will see the return of a beloved feature we missed out on last year—expandable memory. Both will be compatible with expandable memory by up to a whopping 200GB.

The edge perfected

Being the first of its kind, Samsung’s edge display revolutionized how we imagined screens. But since the technology was still in its infancy, innovations were only starting to make their mark. This time, the Galaxy S7 edge expanded the display’s functionality. Instead of just the People Edge and App Edge, the S7 edge introduces the new Task Edge, which allows users to take a selfie or send a message directly from the panel. The S7 edge will also feature panels for third-party apps, such as Yahoo! News.

Stepping back to go forward

When the S7 and S7 edge leaks appeared online, we were scratching our hands at the seemingly downgraded 12-megapixel camera. Last year, the S6 line’s camera undoubtedly dominated the market. The S7 naturally has to step up its game. It was right to doubt the 12-megapixel downgrade, but in the end, Samsung lay our doubts to rest.

The S7’s camera is a reminder that quality isn’t a sole product of the megapixel count. This year’s camera (officially named the Dual Pixel camera) uses dual photodiode technology, which was originally just used on DSLR cameras. This technology enables even faster Auto Focus for crisper pictures. This camera may take 12-megapixel photos, but the pixels are definitely bigger, which results in sharper photos even from last year’s. The brighter f/1.7 lens allow bright photos to be taken even in low-light conditions.

To complement these, Samsung has added several features in its camera software to make taking photos a more fun experience. The Motion Panorama combines the dynamism of action shots and videos with the wide angling of panoramas. The Hyperlapse function has been made easier to create and share. Finally, the loved Beauty Mode has been enhanced with the Spotlight feature to capture faces with the effect of natural light.

Down and dirty

Another feature we missed last year was water and dust resistance. Not anymore. Both the S7 and S7 edge are cap-less, water and dust resistant with an IP68 certification. They can withstand being submerged in 1.5 meters of water for half an hour. It is also dust-tight, which makes it safe to bring along to beach. Both phones will also be able to take photos while underwater. No word yet on other functionalities while underwater, though.

More power

While the processor’s architecture managed battery consumption remarkably well in the last devices, the S7 and S7 edges are receiving upgrades to its battery capacity. The S7 will carry a 3,000mAh battery, while the S7 edge carries a 3,600mAh battery. Both support Ultra Fast Charging (wired) as well as built-in wireless charging.

Availability

To elevate their Galaxy S7 and S7 edge experience, future owners of the smartphone will enjoy automatic enrollment to the Samsung Concierge Service, a VIP program exclusively for Galaxy S7 and S7 edge users. The program includes VIP phone pick-up service for repairs, its own VIP hotline, and exclusive offerings via the MySamsung app.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will be available for preview and experience the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge from March 4 to 16. The Galaxy S7 will retail for P34,990, while the S7 edge will retail for P39,990. They will be available on March 19.