Samsung Galaxy S7 – Review – eurogamer.pl

Last year, Samsung praised for openness to criticism. The result of listening to the voice of consumers was the Galaxy S6, made of metal and glass phone with a high-end, which in terms of the attractiveness of the market could successfully become compete with Apple products – and by the way turned out to be one of the most powerful mobile 2015.

the warm welcome phone by the market – what part contributed to the appearance of the device – can understand why Samsung is still open to feedback on its products, he decided to follow the path trodden by Apple and HTC, and also this year to remain at proven design, introducing him only slight modifications. Features that Samsung removed the S6 – as port memory card and waterproof case – the new model returned to favor. S7 is a matter of fact, such S6S, but considering the fact that Apple has for many years successfully apply this strategy, it is difficult to have a grudge against Samsung, he decided to learn from the experience of competition.

This does not mean that Galaxy S7 is no different from last year’s model. The rear part of the phone is curved, so that the producer could equip it with a larger battery, and by the way alleviate unsightly bulge camera, which reminded of himself when he tried to put S6 on a flat surface. It might seem that a greater thickness will speak against the phone, but thanks to the curvature makes it feel as thin as the previous model. The glass rear reminiscent of the solution S6 and is also prone to breakage – that is why the buyer should as soon as possible to equip the protective case, although the override stylish body.

From the upper edge of the removed infrared transmitter, but the front looks almost like a dot in dot S6. Super AMOLED screen has a resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels. The fact that it was decided to use the higher resolution may disappoint some fans – although the naked eye and so does not perceive individual pixels – but every day works perfectly thanks to the vivid colors and deep blacks, distinctive signs AMOLED panels. With the higher resolution screen would benefit, in principle, only enthusiasts of virtual reality, but more on that later in the text.

Despite the fiasco, which turned out to be Snapdragon processor 810, Samsung has renewed cooperation with Qualcomm, but the phone, which will go into the hands of European buyers S7 has not been equipped with a brand-new Snapdragon 820. He was replaced by samsungowski Exynos 8890 processor with a similar performance. The phone comes with 4 GB of RAM, which according to some commentators is overkill for your mobile device. The internal memory consists of 32 or 64 GB, depending on the model, on how to choose. All this technology was locked in a metal and glass housing bearing certified IP68, which means that the phone is resistant to water and dust.

• Size: 142.4 × 69 6 × 7.9 mm
• Weight 152 g
• Chip: Exynos 8890 Exynos 8890 (European version, I test), Snapdragon 820 (a model for North America)
• Snapdragon 820 CPU: Kryo Dual-core 2.15 GHz dual-core 1.6 GHz Kryo
• Exynos 8890 CPU: Mongoose quad 2.3 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 1.6 GHz
• Snapdragon GPU: Adreno 530
• Exynos GPU: Mali-T880 MP12
• RAM 4 GB
• Display 5.1-inch capacitive touch screen Super AMOLED 2560 × 1440 pixels, 577 ppi
• memory 32 GB (also available in mobile versions of 64 GB), entry on a micro SD card (up to 200GB)
• camera Back, 12-megapixel enables recording 4K30 / 1080p60; Front 5-megapkselowa allows recording 1440p30
• Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth v4.2
• Other Android 6.0.1, 3000 mAh battery, NFC, Nano SIM card, fingerprint reader, support fast charging, charging wireless, certified IP68

Samsung aggressively advertises the always-on , thanks to the AMOLED screen will provide us with the necessary information 24 hours a day. Since AMOLED panels off black pixels, this mode consumes minimum power – less than 1 percent per hour, according to Samsung. To check the time, no longer need to turn on the phone and in the long run we operate slower battery. Displays are also notifications and missed calls, but unfortunately no longer e-mails. When the phone is in your pocket or lying on a table face down, the display is switched off completely.

Returns fingerprint reader, this time with full support for Android 6.0. This means that we can use it not only to unlock the device, but also making payments on Google Play and other compatible applications, as well as transactions proximity Samsung Pay and Android Pay.

It’s nice that the sensor fingerprint is widely used, but an even greater surprise was the return of two coveted features: waterproof and support for micro SD card which is removed in the model S6 because – as when we heard – did not fit the phone project of the highest quality. Samsung hard worked hard to fix this “oversight” so S7 is much better. Certified IP68 means that the device is resistant to dust and up to a half-hour immersion in water to a depth of 1.5 m. What is important, to Samsung managed to achieve this effect without the use of bulky plugs mounted headphone jack and charging port.

of course, nobody in their right mind would take a smartphone for 3000 gold on the water, but accidents happen and it is good to know that the S7 survive an unplanned dip in the tub / toilet / sink / pool (delete as appropriate). Micro SD card inserted into the tray SIM, which is specially extended.

	Galaxy S7	Galaxy S6	Galaxy S5	Google Nexus 5X	Google Nexus 6	iPhone 6S	iPhone 6
Geekbench Single-Core	2171	1233	972	1263	1053	2552	1605
Geekbench Multi-Core	6465	3964	2949	3436	3081	4464	2901
3DMark Graphics	32404	22954	17464	22074	24668	41968	22824
3DMark Physics	17730	17795	15541	12641	17259	12998	9385
3DMark Icestorm Unlimited	27370	21565	18524 ​​	18934	23205	28067	17304
GFXBench T-Rex	87.0	58.0	27.4	38.0	37.0	79.7	42.8
GFXBench Manhattan	29.0	25.9	11.4	16.2	18.0	40.3	18.1

a little more space be devoted to support micro SD card, because Samsung approached the matter in a rather unusual way, especially in the light of what has made Android. After many years of treatment micro SD card as the storage for photos and music, Google has aligned them with internal flash memory – which means that installing the card with a capacity of 32 GB, add the 32 GB memory pool and they are not treated separately.

Samsung chose a different solution, arguing that in such a way that the user wants to have the freedom to exchange cards with specific content (in a model adaptive formatted the card can not be used with another device). This is unconvincing translation, ignoring possible to copy files from the PC to which you do not need yet the old micro SD card. It is possible that Samsung will make memory function adaptive in one of the subsequent updates, but for now it seems that the company missed a good opportunity.

Given that you’ve Galaxy S6 powalał power throughput, it is hard to believe the S7 offers her even more. Due to problems with chip Snapdragon 810, manufactured by Qualcomm, Samsung had to use his last year’s model Exynos 7420, for which they deserve praise, because the South Korean chip manufacturer has demonstrated its many advantages. On the occasion of the work on the Galaxy S7 Samsung renewed cooperation with Qualcomm, and the new phone is one of the first devices equipped with a chip Snapdragon 820 – well, at least in some parts of the world.

The European model – which REVIEW – has samsungowy processor Exynos 8890, which admittedly somewhat lacking for a new chip Qualcommu, but – as demonstrated by benchmarks – offers almost identical performance. 4 GB of RAM very easy multitasking, and the interface runs smoothly, without delays and stuttering even when the background is included in several processes.

Increased computing power means, of course, better performance of games and really all we tested the titles went flawless – apart from the typical Android problems with optimization, solid phone works as a gaming device. Samsung is associated, however, with your phone more ambitious and does not intend to settle for Mobile Gaming – last year the company presented Gear VR hardware to virtual reality developed in collaboration with Oculus.

Headset is admittedly also compatible with the S6, S6 Edge Galaxy Note and 5, but Samsung decided to refresh it – at the same time intensifying the campaign – with the launch of the S7 and S7 Edge. In the United States offered a headset with your phone. This is not what is true particularly sophisticated device in terms of technology used, but used in the sensors, which work together with the IMU phone guarantee very accurate tracking of the movements of the head.

powered from the phone and free of any cable Gear VR is one of the cheapest solutions for tasting the virtual reality, which recently drew attention to himself John Carmack, chief. Oculus technology. VR without cables is one of the strongest arguments that will convince casual players to try out the headset, and the biggest attraction hardware Samsung may be announced port of Minecraft.

The games that we tested on the device turned out to be quite shallow in terms of gameplay but left an indelible impression. Climate Land’s End from UsTwo fully enjoy the freedom of movement that comes Gear VR, from time to time by ordering the player to turn around to find the next target, and EVE Gunjack is graphically impressive shooting just in time for a short posiadówy. Gear VR realizes how much would change 4K resolution – the image is pixelated, but rather should not be surprising, since the screen is very close to the eyes, and this was magnified by the lens Gear VR. However, the higher the resolution would affect the performance. Maybe next year be able to do something more.

At the level of software, the user will not see major differences. The phone goes into our hands with Android 6.0.1 on board, which is the latest version of the operating system by Google, offering some cool solutions, but in the long run, not much differs from the previous version, or Lollipop. With Now On Tap virtual assistant Google becomes even more useful and you can scan any screen in the search keywords that will use for further exploration.

Another new feature is Doze, which extends device through sleep it when not in use – activated for example when the phone for a long time lying on the table. Doze off all notifications, except the most important. Phone receives calls and text messages, but did not inform the notifications application – with the exception of those to whom we give “high priority”. Google decided to make it difficult for developers to bypass these settings and passed “priority” applications on their servers, and pick those that abuse this function. Doze actually saves power when the phone is on the nightstand, but not on the day of little use – well, unless we rarely use the smarfona.

As usual, Samsung has prepared its own overlay user interface. TouchWiz is not as exposed as a few years ago, and the most aggressive additions heavily subdued (missing Flipboard, and its replacement – heavy Upday – we advise you to turn off the start-up), so the device uses a lot better. Still encounter a few annoying applications that can not be uninstalled – mainly the production of Microsoft since the two companies recently remarked on the issue of cooperation.

Samsung undoubtedly heading in the right direction, however. For example, the phone does not have a separate music player, because the company has come to the conclusion that most users prefer to use Google Play Music. This is one of the few examples where possible to avoid unnecessary duplication of functions by different applications, but there were also S Health, S Voice and S Planner, which Android users are unlikely to benefit.

Following the dry numbers could lead to the conclusion that the S7 is worse than the S6 camera. Last year’s model features a 16-megapixel sensor and S7 – the 12-megapixel. This change was to improve camera performance in low light. The sensor is the same size as a year ago, but since reduced the number of pixels, each one larger and better lit – so photos taken in worse conditions perform better than ever before. Samsung argues that the larger the pixels in combination with the aperture of f / 1.7 allows light in your photos by 95 percent relative to S6.

But this is not the end of the good news. S7 is the first smartphone equipped with a dual-pixel sensor. Instead of using only 5 percent of the pixels to detect focus, as is the case in most phones, S7 uses the entire 100 percent. As a result, immediately grabs the camera focuses on an object regardless of where in the frame it is. Add to this classic set of manual settings – and the ability to save images in lossless RAW format – and it turns out that in terms of camera S7 ahead of last year’s model, which in itself is quite an achievement, considering the fact how good he had a camera . This is probably the best camera phone available in the market today.

Some users may disappoint the fact that the camera is equipped with a matrix of a smaller number of megapixels, but they are larger and the camera copes better in low light conditions. It’s amazing how clear can be pictures taken in darker surroundings – forget about grain effect.

One of the biggest shortcomings of the Galaxy S6 was a battery with a capacity of 2550 mAh. Samsung also in this area listened to the criticisms and S7 equipped with a battery of 3000 mAh, and the already mentioned function Doze. Thanks to the energy saving options you can no longer use the phone after charging, but the equipment can withstand an average day.

99 RPG … … who wrote the history of the species

Quick Charge function lets you charge your phone in just over an hour. Loading wireless works much more slowly and we need him special station, which does not get included with the device. Samsung, unlike other manufacturers of mobile equipment, decided not to use USB Type-C. It would seem that speaks to the detriment of their phone, but before the Type-C will take on the good, it will take at least a year, and Samsung is aware that consumers often use adapters. At the moment the company has applied the logical solution.

In general, S7 should be treated as an evolution, not a revolution. S6 was a great phone, but Samsung still decided to eliminate its few flaws – it is the lack of a waterproof case and use a micro SD card. Change for the better is more, including a better camera, faster CPU, better design, better battery and more sophisticated software. Of course, not missing functionality, so that last year’s model has gained high marks – great screen Super AMOLED, sensitive and nuanced fingerprint reader and options for fast and wireless charging. Samsung has made subtle changes to your considered one of the best smartphones 2015, gave into the hands of customers probably best equipment based on Android.