Samsung’s two new flagships have a whole lot in common, but there are some key differences. You can read-our full reviews for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge-to learn which one you want, but we thought a head to head comparison might make your job a little easier. Related:- Samsung Galaxy S7 vs. the Galaxy S6-|-Samsung Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5 On the surface, Galaxy S7 Edge boasts a bigger screen and two sexy edges, while the standard S7 has a more petite frame and traditional design. Both are excellent phones that are more than worthy of filling your pocket, but which one is right for you? Below are key differences between the two Galaxies. Specs, battery Specs and camera Galaxy S7 Galaxy S7 Edge Size 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 in) 149 x 72 x 7.62-mm-(5.85 x 2.85 x 0.30 in) Weight 5.36-ounces 5.54 ounces Screen 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED Dual-edge, 5.5-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED Resolution 2,560 x 1,440 pixels 2,560×1,440 pixels OS Android 6.0 Marshmallow Android-6.0 Marshmallow Storage 32/64GB 32/64GB SD Card Slot Yes Yes NFC support Yes Yes Processor Qualcomm MSM8996, Snapdragon 820 (U.S.-Models), Exynos 8890 Octa (International Models) Qualcomm MSM8996, Snapdragon 820 (U.S. Models), Exynos 8890 Octa (International Models) RAM 4GB 4GB Connectivity Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Camera Front 5MP, Rear 12MP Front 5MP, Rear 12MP Video 2,160p 4K UHD 2,160p 4K UHD Bluetooth Yes, version 4.2 Yes, version 4.2 Fingerprint sensor Yes Yes Water Resistant Yes Yes Battery 3,000mAh 3,600mAh Charger Micro USB Micro USB Quick Charging Yes Yes Wireless Charging Yes, Qi and PMA Yes, Qi and PMA Marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store Color offerings Black, white, gold, silver Black, white, gold, silver Availability AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile DT Review 4 out of 5 stars 4 out of 5 stars When it comes to specs, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are evenly-matched. Both U.S. models rock Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors and 4GB of RAM, which result in super speedy performance. The European counterparts for the S7 and S7 Edge have Samsung’s Exynos octa-core onboard, which is said to be weaker than the Qualcomm chips, but not noticeably so. The two Galaxies also have special water cooling systems inside to keep the heat down while gaming or taking on processor-heavy tasks, though both do get warm in your hand. In terms of performance, these two are completely tied. Related: Ready to grab your next Galaxy? You can buy Samsung’s Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge in stores Both phones start at 32GB of storage and support expandable storage via MicroSD cards up to 200GB, so there’s no difference there, either. The 12-megapixel, dual-pixel back cameras on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are among the best smartphone cameras you can find. The f/1.7 aperture and the 1.4µm dual-pixels allow more light to enter the sensor and result in stunning photos in an array of-lighting conditions. As usual, Samsung’s camera app is fast and capable, and the new dual-pixel tech boosts low-light performance to entirely new levels. Although it can occasionally blow out night time shots, the camera typically takes great shots with very little light. Sometimes the resulting pictures are even better than ones taken with the iPhone 6S Plus, which is a fantastic feat. The front-facing 5-megapixel cameras are equally matched and take decent selfies. Spec-wise, these two are tied. Specs winner: Tie Battery life and charging The only real spec difference between the Galaxy S7 and the Edge is battery capacity. The S7 has a 3,000mAh battery, while the Galaxy S7 Edge boasts a 3,600mAh pack. The slight upgrade in battery size should be negligible because the Edge has a larger screen, but it actually matters. In our testing, the S7 Edge regularly showcased-better battery performance-than the S7. However, both phones do support Quick Charge 2.0 via Micro USB and wireless charging, so you’ll be able to juice them up quickly in a pinch. Neither phone’s battery is removable, though, so if that is a problem, you won’t want either S7. Related:- 7 annoying Galaxy S7 Edge problems and how to fix them We found the Galaxy S7 and the Edge both last through a busy day with ease, though the Edge can hold out longer. Our S7 regularly had 10 percent less battery than the Edge after a solid day’s use. As anyone with a smartphone knows, that 10 percent can mean the difference between having a dead smartphone on your cab ride home or one with just enough juice to send a text or two. Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge Display, software, unlocking Display The S7 and S7 Edge both have Quad HD Super AMOLED screens with 2,560 x 1,440-pixel resolution, but the S7’s screen is much smaller at 5.1-inches versus the 5.5-inch screen on the Edge. Thanks to the curves, though, the Edge doesn’t- feel like it’s 5.5 inches, and is very comfortable to hold. If extra screen space matters to you, get the Edge. Other-than size, there’s no difference between the two displays. Both support the Always-On display feature, which is really cool and helpful for those of you who like to know the time at all times. We enjoy the curved edges when viewing most content, including movies, but some have complained about the edges being bothersome while watching YouTube. We recommend you look at it in a store before buying. Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge Special software The main motive for buying the S7 Edge over the regular S7 is that the edge is useful. If you love big screens, but also want to be able to use your phone one-handed, the Edge is for you. The Edge panels give you quick access to your favorite apps, contacts, and shortcuts for specific actions in Samsung apps. You can also add edge panels with news coverage and more. The more popular Edge phones become, the more app developers will make cool and useful Edge panels. Using the regular S7 after using the S7 Edge feels disappointing. You miss the edge after you’ve gotten used to having it. It also looks stunning when viewing pictures, videos, and other media on your device — though, again, the edge does seem to bother a minority of people. This year, the Edge is worth it. Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge Unlocking and updates Neither Galaxy comes unlocked in the States, so be aware that you’ll have to get the phones with a specific carrier. Depending on your carrier, you may get a ton of bloatware pre-installed on your device that you can’t remove. Our Verizon review units, for example, have nearly 10 uninstallable Verizon apps on them. The regularity of software updates is another thing you should consider when buying a phone. Both devices run Samsung’s TouchWiz on top of Android, so updates are likely to be somewhat delayed, and some carriers will hold them back even longer. Slow software, firmware, and security updates are essentially unavoidable with most Android phones. The only Android phones that are regularly updated are likely Google’s Nexus phones. We recommend the Nexus 6P. Winner: There are no winners here Comfort, durability Comfort The main question you need to ask yourself is pretty basic: Do you like the edges or not? Most people agree that the curved edges on the Galaxy S7 Edge are absolutely stunning, but others prefer the more traditional look of the standard S7. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it’s entirely up to you whether you like the curves or not. However, there are some other things to consider when weighing the Edge against the regular S7. One of the biggest is comfort. Last year, we were not a fan of the S6 Edge, because the sharp metal frame around the slim edges dug right into our hands when we held the device. Many users complained that the edge design just wasn’t comfortable. Samsung fixed the issue with the S7 Edge by adding curved glass to the back of the device. Much like the Note 5, the S7 Edge curves right into your palms, offering better grip and comfort. The Galaxy S7 feels great in the hand, too, and it is smaller than the Edge. The S7 measures-142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, while the Galaxy S7 Edge comes in at 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm. Related: 10 cases and covers to protect your shiny, new Galaxy S7 That said, the S7 Edge is remarkably slender and petite for a phone with a 5.5-inch screen. It’s significantly smaller than the iPhone 6S Plus, which also boasts a 5.5-inch screen, and it’s not much bigger than the regular S7. In our view, this means you’re getting more screen with little size tradeoff. Both of these phones are comfortable and easy to operate one-handed, though they are both slippery fingerprint magnets because of their glass backs. In that regard, they’re tied. We’re giving the win here to the standard Galaxy S7. Though both are comfortable, on the S7, we’ve had fewer issues accidentally touching the side of the screen and bringing up menus. Winner:-Galaxy S7 Durability When it comes to durability, both phones are a glass-filled nightmare, but the S7 Edge is the one you don’t want to break. That one-of-a-kind dual-edge screen will likely be damn expensive to replace, though Samsung hasn’t confirmed a price. The back panel is curved, too, so you’ve got a double whammy if you break either glass panel. Although the S7 is equally fragile with its curved glass back, at least the front glass is not curved. It shouldn’t be quite as difficult or expensive to replace if you only damage the front, so bear that in mind if you’re a butterfingers. The two phones are waterproof (IP68), though, which is a plus. Regardless of your choice, buy a case! Winner:-There are no winners here Price, winner Price Both the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge come in gold and black color options, but if you opt for the Edge, you can get the stunning silver version. The Galaxies are currently on sale in the United States, Europe, Singapore, Australia, and South Korea. In the States, the retail prices are between $620 and $695 for the S7 and between $720 and $795 for the S7 Edge, depending on your carrier and how much storage you want. The Edge is pricier by $100, so if cost is of concern, be aware that you’ll pay more for that curved screen. Here’s the pricing at the big four carriers: AT&T: The Galaxy S7 costs $695 or $23.17 per month for 30 months, and the S7 Edge goes for $795 or $26.50 per month for 30 months. T-Mobile: The Galaxy S7 costs $670 or $27.92 per month for 24 months, and the S7 Edge is $780 or $32.50 for 24 months. Sprint: The Galaxy S7 costs $26 per month for 24 months, and the Galaxy S7 Edge costs $30.50 per month over 24 months. Related:- Samsung Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5: Which flagship phone belongs in your pocket? Winner: Galaxy S7 Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge Overall, we prefer the Galaxy S7 Edge. It’s more attractive to look at and use, has better battery life, has a bigger screen, includes useful edge software, and is just about even with the Galaxy S7 when it comes to-every other spec or feature.-It’s more attractive, more innovative, and in the end, it’ll be more useful. That edge panel makes a big difference if you use it to its full potential, and the edge will only become more useful as-more developers get involved and create apps for it. The differences between the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge are not vast, however. Both phones have the same specs with the minor exceptions of screen size, battery capacity, and the dual-edge screen. Price is another factor, though paying $100 more for the Edge is small potatoes, given what it provides. The Edge offers something different that no other phone offers and it seeks to solve the problem of one-handed use on a large-screened phone in an interesting and intelligent way. Now that it’s comfortable to hold and Samsung’s opened up more pixels to edge panels, the Galaxy S7 Edge is the phone to buy.



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