It is March 2016, and Samsung has delivered the most balanced and technically complete smartphone on the market. The Galaxy S7 is the refined sibling of the S7 Edge, built for the user who wants world-class power without the curved-screen ergonomics. At 152g, it is a dense, premium combination of glass and metal that feels incredibly solid. In the UK, it has arrived as a technical apology for the omissions of the S6; the microSD slot has returned, and the device now features an IP68 rating, meaning it can survive a half-hour soak in a British puddle without any port covers.
The technical headline is the ‘Dual Pixel’ 12-megapixel camera. By using 100% of the pixels for phase-detection autofocus, the S7 focuses with a speed that is literally unmatched by any other smartphone or even many DSLR cameras. Combined with a massive f/1.7 aperture, it is a low-light champion, pulling detail out of shadows that other phones simply cannot see. The screen is a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440) with a staggering 577 PPI. It is bright, sharp, and features an ‘Always-On’ display that shows the time and notifications while sipping minimal power.
Under the hood, the UK model features the Exynos 8890 octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM. It handles Android 6.0 Marshmallow with effortless speed and features a unique internal ‘heat pipe’ cooling system to keep things stable during intensive gaming. Connectivity is total, featuring 4G LTE Cat 9, NFC for Samsung Pay, and fast wireless charging. The 3,000 mAh battery is a significant upgrade over the S6, providing a very comfortable day of heavy use. The Galaxy S7 is a masterpiece of technical refinement; it is a phone that does everything exceptionally well without a single major compromise.