Samsung galaxy s7 which memory card. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will return microSD card support. Trimming the SIM card for installation on microSD
Many of us were pleased with the fact that Samsung's new flagship smartphones, unlike their predecessors, received a slot for microSD memory cards, with which you can expand their built-in memory.
However, as it turned out, despite the fact that the new items are running the latest version of the Google operating system - Marshmallow, Samsung has deprived smartphones of support for its proprietary function - Adoptable storage, which allows you to use a memory card as the built-in memory of a smartphone. Nevertheless, there is a way out of this situation.
If you by all means want to get Adoptable storage support on your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, you can enable it on your smartphone yourself.
To do this, you need to follow a few points of the simple instructions that Paul O'Brien published the other day from the MoDaCo website. This is how it looks when translated into Russian:
1. Make sure to back up all data on your microSD card as it will be lost in the following steps!
2. Decide whether you want to use the entire memory card as the built-in memory of your smartphone or only part of it. In the second case, you can use the map in other devices, but the author of the instructions still recommends not breaking the map into parts.
3. Activate the settings item on the smartphone and enable USB debugging in it, then connect the smartphone using a USB cable to a computer with the ADB program preinstalled on it.
4. Launch a command prompt window on your PC and run the command in it
adb shell
after running adb enter the command:
sm list-disks
as a result, you will see something similar to this on the PC screen:
where disk: 179: 160 is your microSD card. In your case, the numerical values may be different.
5. We divide the microSD card into sections. To do this, use the sm partition DISK TYPE RATIO command.
For example, if you want to use the entire card as the built-in memory of a smartphone, you need to run the command: sm partition disk: 179: 160 private, where instead of disk: 179: 160 you need to substitute your disk name obtained in step 4.
To use only half (50%) of the disk as internal memory, enter the command sm partition disk: 179: 160 mixed 50
6. Wait until the command is executed, after which, in the smartphone settings menu, in the Memory section, you will see that its built-in memory has increased due to the microSD card and there is much more space for installing applications or games in it.
Keep in mind that even the fastest current microSD cards are much slower than the built-in UFS flash found in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, so apps or games installed on the card may start and run noticeably slower. It is for this reason that Samsung has removed support for Adoptable storage on its new smartphones.
According to a Samsung representative in an interview with VentureBeat, the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge models will once again return the microSD slot that has already become familiar to users, which will support cards up to 200 GB. Most likely, such a measure was forced, after Samsung studied the reaction of its fans, who generally negatively perceived the lack of a slot and a removable battery in the Galaxy S6-S6 Edge.
What else is interesting, according to the version of the VentureBeat portal, is being prepared by Samsung in new models, the official announcement of which will take place very soon, we will tell below.
Question: "Why did Samsung suddenly give up microSD?" looks far from idle. The company probably understood quite well how negative user reactions could be. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S6 came out without a slot, and even with a non-removable battery. The most likely explanation is a refusal in favor of more significant acquisitions, or more precisely, in favor of freeing up free space that could be used for a battery, while making the phone thinner.
As an option to abandon the microSD slot, as noted on the pages of the GSMArena blog, another possible reason can be considered - the use of a new type of UFS 2.0 memory in the S6, which was able to provide data transfer rates at the SSD level, exceeding the indicators of the absolute leader of the race - eMMC 5.0 memory. ...
The comparative advantage was confirmed by the AndroBench memory test, which made it possible to obtain read and write speeds in random and sequential modes. The obtained values were compared with the performance of smartphones from other manufacturers and younger representatives of the Galaxy line. According to Samsung, the UFS 2.0 memory that was installed in the Galaxy S6 was 2.7 times faster than the modification used in the Galaxy S5 solution. The test results showed an even more convincing difference in indicators - the speed increased by 3.25 times.
At the same time, a series of tests of Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy S5 smartphones in random read mode with an installed microSD card showed a value 10 times lower than in the case of using UFS 2.0.
For clarity, let's turn to the test results (values are given in megabits per second)
Sequential reading:
- Samsung Galaxy S6 - 317.85;
- LG G3 - 239.68;
- HTC One M9 - 239.19;
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - 212.45;
- Samsung Galaxy S5 - 206.85
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 microSD - 78.41;
- Samsung Galaxy S5 microSD - 43.02.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - 126.69;
- HTC One M9 - 123.97;
- Samsung Galaxy S6 - 120.70;
- Samsung Galaxy S5 - 56.31;
- LG G3 - 39.53;
- Samsung Galaxy S5 microSD - 11.25;
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 microSD - 10.73.
- Samsung Galaxy S6 - 78.03;
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - 22.10;
- LG G3 - 21.81;
- HTC One M9 - 20.27;
- Samsung Galaxy S5 - 18.79;
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 microSD - 7.62;
- Samsung Galaxy S5 microSD - 7.08.
- Samsung Galaxy S6 - 20.74;
- HTC One M9 - 13.93;
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - 10.71;
- LG G3 - 9.42;
- Samsung Galaxy S5 - 6.91;
- Samsung Galaxy S5 microSD - 0.69;
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 microSD - 0.67.
But ... despite the obvious increase in speed achieved through the integration of a new type of memory, the lack of a microSD slot in the Galaxy S6, as well as a non-removable battery, was recognized as one of the most unfortunate innovations of the company, especially since this solution blocked any possibility of using increased memory cards. capacities that are becoming more than affordable today.
It must be assumed that it was precisely the “correction of errors” performed by Samsung analysts that convinced them of the need to return the slot to its rightful place, which was what the company representatives said in their interview with VentureBeat. And the return of the "prodigal slot", as the latter reported in their report, will be timed to coincide with the announcement of the next stellar pair - Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
Predictions from VentureBeat
According to the information in the VentureBeat report, the Galaxy S7 model will be equipped with a 5.1-inch display, while the older version of the S7 Edge will have a 5.5-inch curved display. Both Super AMOLED screens will come with the same Quad HD 2560 x 1440 resolution. An interesting innovation will be the support for the display of the innovative power-saving function AOD (Always-on Display), which ensures that the screen consumes no more than 1% of the battery charge per hour without losing picture quality.Regarding the non-replaceable battery - the second bottleneck in the S6 version, this point, according to VentureBeat, will most likely remain unchanged, but the battery capacity of both flagships will significantly increase, amounting to 3000 mAh for the Galaxy S7 and 3600 mAh for the Galaxy S7 Edge respectively. Recall that the predecessors had this figure, respectively, 2550 mAh and 2600 mAh. The time required for wireless charging (supported, as in the current versions), respectively, 2 and 2.2 hours for the S7 and S7 Edge.
Both phones will be powered by the new 2.3 GHz Exynos 8 Octa 8890 octa-core 14nm FinFET processor, Samsung's first mobile processor with in-house computing cores.
Exynos 8 Octa 8890 is built on the ARMv8 architecture with support for 64-bit instructions and has a big.LITTLE configuration: Samsung cores are combined into a powerful “big” block, while the “LITTLE” module contains a quartet of Cortex-A53 cores.
The chip's Heterogeneous Multi-Processing technology allows all eight cores to be used simultaneously. According to the manufacturer, in comparison with the Exynos 7 Octa 7420 processor, a 30 percent increase in performance and a 10 percent increase in energy efficiency is achieved. The graphics part is based on the integrated ARM Mali-T880 controller, an accelerator that is 80% faster than the Mali-T760 and saves up to 40% energy.
Another interesting feature of the Exynos 8 Octa 8890 processor is the built-in LTE Rel.12 modem, which provides download speeds up to 600 Mbps and upload speeds up to 150 Mbps.
At the same time, as noted by VentureBeat, given the fact that Samsung often uses different processors when shipping to different regions of the world, as well as based on the report of the management of Qualcomm, there is a high probability that the S7 and S7 Edge models will be shipped to North America with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor.
Both versions of the S7 will receive 4GB of RAM and, depending on the configuration option, will be equipped with 32GB or 64GB of ROM. Samsung representatives have not yet given an unambiguous answer about the preparation of a configuration with 128 GB of ROM. In addition, both flagships will come out dust and moisture resistant and will receive an IP67 certificate.
Somewhat unexpectedly, the message that the company intends to cut the number of megapixels of the main CMOS camera from 16 (in the S6) to 12 is received. But, as Samsung representatives explained in an interview, a more advanced module with f / 1.7 optics (instead of f / 1.9 in the S6) will be installed in the new models, which will significantly improve the quality of shooting in low light conditions. The front selfie camera will retain its previous values on both modifications.
As noted in the VentureBeat report, following an annual tradition, Samsung intends to present the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge on the eve of the 2016 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and begin global sales in March, giving its fans a choice of three colors: black, white and gold. ... The cost of new products has not yet been announced.
The fact that the new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have a memory card slot has certainly pleased many of their potential owners. Each of these smartphones comes with 32GB of internal memory, but a significant part of these gigabytes is occupied by the operating system, TouchWiz and various pre-installed applications, which the S7 and S7 Edge already have a lot from the start.
For example, in a 32 GB Galaxy S7 the user has access to about 22GB of internal memory, of which, after installing a few more "own" applications, only 15 gigabytes remain.
Therefore, the opportunity to add more memory by means of a micro-SD card (up to 200GB, by the way), where you can "merge" all the photos, videos and programs, is very useful, moreover, literally on the very first day of using the smartphone.
For if you leave all sorts of Asphalt 8, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Altos Adventure and other equally popular and exciting software products in the desired range in your smartphone's own memory, then the regular 32GB ends in the blink of an eye.
In general, 200GB on the card (or even much more democratic 64GB) the problem of lack of space for mobile applications in the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will be eliminated forever (or for a long time). We leave the system and preinstalled programs on the built-in 32's, and transfer all the software luggage from Google Play to the memory card. Fortunately, this procedure in the new S7 is extremely simplified and does not take much time.
So, in order to move certain applications from the built-in memory to the microSD card in the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones, we do the following:
- install the existing microSD card into the appropriate slot and open “ Settings »A smartphone;
- then we tap "Device" -> "Applications" -> "Application manager" ;
- in the list, select the application that needs to be moved to the memory card, tap on the name;
- further in the window " Application Details" In chapter " Memory "Press the button" Change «;
- in the menu that appears, select " Memory card " and then - " Further “To start the application migration process. More or less like this:
After completing this procedure on the memory card, the freshly transferred application should start and work as usual. But a couple of nuances remain.
Firstly , if the card is disconnected, then in the menu a mark will be automatically added to the icons of all applications that are installed on it, indicating that they are left on SD. And, of course, you won't be able to run all these applications in your Galaxy S7 without a memory card.
Secondly , if, after transferring to a memory card, any of the applications began to work worse and / or slower, then in this case it can be moved back to the built-in memory of the smartphone. You are already familiar with the transfer procedure.
Samsung decided to listen to its fans and returned support for memory cards to the new flagship devices Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. However, she did it with the help of a hybrid slot, as it has become fashionable lately. This means that the user has to choose whether to use 2 SIM-cards in the smartphone or one "SIM" and a microSD-card. Fortunately, there were craftsmen who discovered that the contacts of the second SIM and the contacts of the memory card are in different places and managed to combine business with pleasure to organize the simultaneous operation of two SIM and microSD cards. And if you decide to become the owner of a new device (or have already become), despite all its minor disadvantages, then this article is for you. We publish a translation of the instructions with detailed comments on how to install two SIM cards and a memory card in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
Denial of responsibility: all the manipulations listed below you do only at your own peril and risk. Neither the author and no one else is responsible for your actions and for the possible damage caused. It is very likely to damage the microchip of the SIM card, to a lesser extent - the microSD memory card. Also, when the smartphone heats up, there is a danger of this structure peeling off and in which case problems may arise when removing the tray. It is quite possible that you will have to contact the service center to get it. In this case, the device will be removed from the warranty.
So, if you have realized all the listed risks, then in order to continue you will need the following devices:
- Nano SIM (because it's easier to cut and disassemble)
- MicroSD memory card
- Lighter
- Scissors, blade, or any other sharp object
- Thin double-sided tape (preferred) or super glue
- Some free time, patience, head on shoulders and straight arms
To install two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time in a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, you must:
- Determine the correct position of the SIM card
First, you need to determine the correct position of the SIM card in the tray. Cards of different operators may have different contact configurations. The author of the original instructions carried out operations with SIM-cards of the operators U Mobile and Maxis (Malaysia). Usually all SIM cards have a special key on one side (cut corner).
- Disconnect the SIM card chip from the base
Any SIM card consists of a plastic base and a microchip glued to it with a contact pad. Gently heat the SIM card on the opposite side (where the plastic is). This can take from 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then carefully separate the chip with the contact pad from the base. It is recommended to use a sharp object (scissors, knife, blade, etc.) as an auxiliary tool. After that, the chip needs to be cleaned from the remnants of glue or plastic.
If everything went smoothly and you did not have to change the SIM card, then you can consider half the way covered.
- Trim the microchip of the SIM card
Now you need to carefully cut the contact pad of the SIM card to fit on the memory card. Usually it is required to shorten it by 1-2 mm on each side (as in the photo).
- Mount SIM to microSD
This can be done using double-sided tape (in which case the memory card can be easily (more or less) “released”) or super-glue (this option is less preferable, since if you damaged the SIM card chip, then separate it from the memory card will be quite difficult or even impossible). For the correct placement, the first step was provided. Also, make sure the corner of the microchip of the SIM card is aligned as shown in the image (circled in red).
- Place the finished structure in the tray
Now it remains to place the geno modified microSD card in the tray, and the tray itself into the smartphone.
Finally, you need to check the correctness of all actions. If everything is done correctly, the Galaxy S7 will "see" two SIM cards and a microSD memory card. It will look something like this:
It is also worth noting that the above method works for all smartphones with the same hybrid SIM tray. In particular, the owners of Meizu Pro 5 have a similar experience.
Specifications
- Android 6.0.1, TouchWiz 2016
- 5.1-inch display, QHD-resolution, 576 ppi, SuperAMOLED, automatic backlight adjustment, Always On function, different operating modes, Corning Gorilla Glass 4
- 4 GB of RAM, 32/64 GB of built-in, memory card up to 200 GB
- nanoSIM (there will be options for 2 SIM cards)
- Exynos 8890 chipset, 8 cores up to 1.8 GHz per core, MALI T880 MP12 graphics coprocessor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 option available in some countries)
- LTE cat12 / 13 support with software update, operator support is also required
- Front camera 5 megapixels, flash (screen), main camera BRITECELL, 12 megapixels, time lapse, slow motion, video effects, 4K video
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 / 5GHz), HT80 MIMO (2x2) 620Mbps, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile hotspot, Bluetooth®: v4.2, A2DP, LE, apt-X, ANT +, USB 2.0, NFC
- Built-in wireless charging (WPC1.1 (4.6W Output) & PMA 1.0 (4.2W)
- Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery, extreme power saving mode, fast charge in one hour up to 70 percent
- Water resistant, IP68 standard
- Dimensions - 142.4x69.6x7.9 mm, weight - 152 grams
Contents of delivery
- Telephone
- Charger (Fast Adaptive Charge) with USB cable
- USB adapter, microUSB-USB
- Instructions
- Wired stereo headset
- Clip for SIM tray
Positioning
In 2015, there was a reshuffle inside Samsung that affected the positioning of devices, their release schedule and what the company was doing. In particular, we went for an experiment for the flagships, when they abandoned memory cards (Apple does not, and no one complains!), Made the cases monolithic, and this scared many consumers. The fact that two models appeared on the market at once - S6 and S6 EDGE, in the same case size, but one with a side edge, and the other without, confused the situation even more.
The very first sales showed that the fashionable EDGE is in overwhelming demand, while the simple S6 is not so popular. The difference in demand did not affect the total volume of sales, but rather their distribution in the S6 / S6 EDGE pair. The EDGE deficit was noticeable during the first three months, the company did not have time to produce dies for them and was forced to launch additional production.
But then something happened that should have happened, the S6 with a flat screen took its toll, this device, at the expense of the price, pulled the sales onto itself. For example, in Russia the cost of S6 is about 35 thousand rubles in the basic version, while a similar EDGE costs 10-12 thousand more. In the Russian market, it was the S6 that became the most massive flagship on Android, one of the best-selling models from Samsung. I am sure that the same will happen over time with the S7, this device has a long life cycle and over time and with the price adjustment will acquire more and more fans.
What is the beauty of this model? For me, the first priority in the phone is always the screen, you get used to the large diagonal quickly, and it's hard to refuse it. Last year I had a pair of two phones - S6 EDGE and Note, then smoothly switched to Note 5 and EDGE Plus. It so happened that my choice settled on two flagships with a large screen diagonal. In addition to the screen, the main reason was the operating time, the “small” EDGE did not allow me to comfortably survive until the evening, despite the fact that it was the second device to pair with the big Note. It is clear that my scenario of using the phone is different from the vast majority of people, I use smartphones to the fullest, I have different devices connected to them, a wireless headset, a hands-free kit and various sensors.
But many people use only one device and at the same time they do not want it to be large, they strive for compactness. In my opinion, the golden mean of the modern market is 5 inches, this is the overwhelming mass of smartphones sold, about half of all devices in the world come out in this diagonal. And that is exactly what the Galaxy S7 is, which offers that sweet spot.
For whom is this phone interesting? First of all, these are those who are transplanted from the iPhone and strive to maintain a compact body, and at the same time get more battery life and a better screen. The transition from the previous generation of sixes from Samsung does not make much sense, unless you have the extra money and itching that there is a model that is better in many ways. Among the flagships, the S7 looks like a balanced solution, on the one hand, this is a typical cost for the basic version (the most affordable flagship of 2016), on the other hand - a maximum of technologies and noticeably improved ergonomics of the solution. Despite my love for phablets, I now again consider the S7 as a second phone in a pair to the S7 EDGE / S6 EDGE Plus, since it is more compact and at the same time is not inferior to its older brothers in anything, except for the screen diagonal.
Design, body materials
Time passes, and yesterday's ideas of beauty evaporate like fog. Remember, until recently we considered thin devices one and a half centimeters thick, but that was some ten years ago. Exactly the same situation with what is considered a compact phone today, in my opinion, these are models with a diagonal of 4.5-4.7 inches, while the most popular are devices with a screen of 5 inches. And gradually people are switching to such phones, considering their size to be convenient, today they are the majority of smartphones on the market. The same S7 fits well into the cohort of such devices, has a good size for them - 142.4x69.6x7.9 mm, weight - 152 grams.
The ergonomics of the device is something that we worked on day and night, the impressions of the model in comparison with the S6 are very different. This device fits into the hand like a glove. Compared to the S7 EDGE, due to the absence of a beveled front edge, as in it, you feel the S7 is much more comfortable. No slippage in hand, lays down as if it was always there. Of course, these impressions are individual, some may not like the device, it all depends on your habits and the size of your hands. But it suited me perfectly. And the most important thing is that there are no difficulties here in order to dial a number with one hand on the go, it is quite possible without acrobatic numbers.
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S6 Edge
For Samsung in 2015, the redesign of the flagships was successful, now they are all built on a metal frame, they have a back surface made of Corning Gorilla Glass 4. In 2016, nothing changes, except for the fact that the glass on the front and back panels becomes 2.5D ( this is a fashion and only, now all companies make such glass with a rounding). At Samsung, in order to position itself differently from competitors, they call glass 3D, for this they have reasons, no one uses such folds for Gorilla Glass 4 in their products.
As you can see, outwardly, these smartphones completely repeat the flagships of 2015, it will be difficult to see the differences. Moreover, the same A-series of 2016 looks similar to these devices, only the colors will differ, due to which they will try to emphasize the older models. But it is difficult in life to distinguish the color saturation of the case, to notice what kind of apparatus a person uses. A successful design, which is multiplied in a dozen models, quickly becomes boring. And, perhaps, this very moment will stop many, people will think that it will be difficult to stand out with the help of such a device. As I see it, Samsung switched to a two-year design cycle, like Apple, but decided to play as a counterweight, that is, to change the look of the pipes in a different year than Apple. This year, the iPhone 7 will get a different look, but the Galaxy S7 will resemble its predecessor.
From the point of view of color solutions, the Black Onyx looks more interesting, the gold color is a little boring in the previous model. And most people order a black or silver phone, which is also good.
All in all, these colors are still available, but they will not appear in all markets at the same time.
Now a few words about dreams about a collapsible body. It is not and will not be in this model, the design itself does not involve replacing the battery on its own. But this can be done at any service center. The second point is protection from water. Just like in the Galaxy S5, it returns to Samsung devices again, and to all flagships. The protection standard is IP68, phones can be heated, and they will not get anything from it. There is an impregnation of the components on the board with a special solution that repels water (they like to use it in Motorola phones), but the design itself does not allow water to get inside, there are special membranes on the speakers and microphones.
And this is how they protected the microUSB connector so that water does not get inside, and if it does happen from a shock, then there is a special controller that prevents a short circuit.
All metal surfaces have undergone additional anti-corrosion treatment. In the picture you can see the painted parts, which are additionally protected from water.
We ran the IP68 test and the phone passed it with ease. There are no problems with it, watch the video. I want to note right away that in order for the speakers to sound not dull after water, it is necessary for the apparatus to dry out, this is a simple logic, which for some reason is not clear to individual people.
Pay attention to how the tray for the SIM card and memory card is arranged, it has a rubberized insert that is lower than the top edge. As a result, dust from pockets quickly gets piled in here, but it does not get inside the phone. Affects the peculiarity of its protection. Someone may not like this from an aesthetic point of view, but this is not a problem, since dust does not penetrate into the case, cannot get there.
The case has slightly increased in size, this is a consequence of both the larger battery in the S7 and the different frame design, it was made stronger so that the device could withstand serious falls (aluminum alloy 6013). For the latest generations of Galaxy, I have absolutely no complaints about resistance to falls. We immediately recalculated the location of the components and parts of the phone to ensure even greater survivability and safety of the glasses that cover the screen and the back surface. There are no miracles in the world, and you can break any device, but users of the Galaxy / Note line know that they have very reliable devices that are difficult to break.
Of the minuses of the black version, I would like to point out the speaker grill, which is also painted black. The paint wears off in a few weeks in the pocket, white metal appears. In the golden color of the case, it is simply imperceptible, it seems that everything is correct, but here it is clearly visible. In my opinion, this is a clear drawback, but it cannot be called critical.
Overall, the S7 turned out to be very good in terms of materials and feel. Fits perfectly in the hand, good in pockets.
In order to prevent the device from heating up, a special cooling system was created inside. Look at its description.
Memory type, RAM, memory cards
When Samsung started to abandon the production of its flagships with memory cards, the company reasoned that the memory capacity of 32, 64 and 128 GB would be enough in theory for any person. In practice, the company got confused in logistics, and the first devices appeared with 32 GB, then 64 GB, but 128 GB models turned out to be difficult to find, and they were not produced much. This is a fundamental difference from Apple, where you can buy a device with any amount of memory and they are always in stock. Therefore, the experiment inside Samsung was considered unsuccessful, and the groan of consumers was so loud that all Samsung top managers felt it.
Apparently, in order to please people, you must first take something away from them. This happened with memory cards, they were removed in 2015 and realized what a mistake it was in 2016. Now memory cards have been returned to all flagships, you can use them of almost any size. The 200 GB card is recognized and works. Later, support for 2 TB memory cards may appear, there is no reason not to do this, there are no technical restrictions.
The main models will be those that offer 32 GB of internal memory, while 64 GB devices will not be very common. I think that there is nothing wrong with this, and users will choose exactly such solutions.
Since Samsung smartphones use fast memory of the UFS 2.0 standard, the company had to abandon the proprietary function of Android 6, combining memory cards and internal memory into a single array. This is necessary for those who are not going to use their memory card elsewhere, but only in one phone. The risks are great, if the memory card fails, you will lose most of your data, if not all of it, except for those stored in the cloud.
As a result, Samsung decided to make an interim solution. You get 24 GB of space out of 32 GB, while 8 GB contains the system and space for working with external memory, for example, it is used as a buffer when recording video, cache and other system functions. But, as before, you can transfer most of the applications to the memory card, not store them in the internal memory of the smartphone. As a result, there are no de facto restrictions, you can use your smartphone as you please.
The type of RAM has not changed, these are chips built on 20 nm technology, we first saw them a year ago. The peak data transfer rate is 3.2 Gb / s, which can be considered the maximum speed in mobile devices in the next year, or even one and a half. The amount of RAM has grown to 4 GB.
The memory manager, which appeared in the previous generation and caused complaints from many users that it unloaded applications from the memory, remained. But they added a mode of operation in which the latest applications are kept in RAM, they are unloaded only when necessary. That is, it turned out to be a kind of mixed mode: while memory is not required, applications hang in it, and as soon as it is needed, they go to the buffer.
But due to the speed of the processor, the loading time of applications from the cache has been reduced by at least half, it seems that they are hanging in memory. Visually, and by sensations, this is a big increase in the speed of work in this very aspect.
Chipset and performance
In 2015, Samsung stopped using Qualcomm in its flagships, the processors were very hot and had many flaws. In particular, it was the Snapdragon 810, which Qualcomm was able to refine only a year after the first samples. This processor and Samsung's abandonment of it brought down Qualcomm's stock and even triggered a wave of layoffs and a reorganization of the chipset maker.
Until 2015, the prevailing stereotype said that the Exynos versions of the flagships are noticeably worse than their counterparts on Qualcomm. Often this was not the case, they were equivalent from the point of view of an ordinary consumer. Qualcomm traditionally has stronger LTE modems than Samsung's own solutions. In 2016, the difference is leveled even more, as the modems on Exynos also received an update and began to work better. Are they lagging behind Qualcomm? I think yes. Will you notice this difference in real life? I think no.
The vast majority of countries will receive flagships from Samsung on the Exynos version, and not with the Qualcomm 820. Operators who want to get the version on Qualcomm for some reason do so deliberately and for their own reasons. As for the disadvantages of the Qualcomm version, I would like to point out that the operating time in various modes is about 10 percent shorter, which, with the same performance, looks like a huge difference. Also, less integration of the Qualcomm chipset with the Samsung camera can affect the autofocus speed (but you probably won't notice it). The predominant version of the flagships will be the one that uses the Exynos 8890 internally.
Depending on the operator and / or the chipset used, the letters in the model markings will differ, the standard name is SM-G930. Let's dwell a little on this processor. So, it is made according to the 14 nm FinFET technological process, it has eight cores, as well as a new graphics coprocessor MALI T880 MP12. In the area of graphics, the processor is claimed to be 80 percent faster than the MALI-T760 and 40 percent more energy efficient at maximum load.
Of the interesting features of the chipset, I would like to note support for LTE cat.12 / 13, which provides data download at speeds up to 600 Mbps (a 1 GB movie can be downloaded in one minute, if your operator supports these categories). Check out the infographic for this processor.
In synthetic benchmarks, the Exynos version shows better performance.
The S7 wins in the tests, it is the fastest device at the moment (my phones are on Exynos). Look at the test results.
I'd like to point out that the new processor is very fast. In every sense, this is one of the best processors on the market, and at the same time it has good energy efficiency, reduced power consumption, which, together with other technical solutions, makes these models very interesting.
The phone also has an additional processor Exynos M1, which is responsible for calculating movements. Allocating a separate, dedicated processor for this is justified. At the moment in S Health there is an erroneous counting of steps when moving in a car, shaking is perceived as walking. This flaw will be corrected in the coming months.
Display
The phone has a SuperAMOLED screen, 5.1 inches, QHD resolution. There is simply nothing better on the market, and the fact that all companies are trying to switch to AMOLED and are ready to buy screens outdated by several generations from Samsung only speaks of how good this technology is.
DisplayMate traditionally conducted a study of screens in S7 / S7 EDGE, and the result is quite interesting, the previous leader in the person of S6 EDGE Plus lost the crown, the best screens in mobile devices are called displays from the last generation, nothing better exists in the world. , it is quite detailed and thorough.
Let's focus on a few technologies, each of which is not obvious, but improves the use of these devices in everyday life. So, let's start with how screens behave in bright sun. The S7 has no problems with this, no glare, no reflections, the brightness in automatic mode can be set to such a level that you will see bright and colorful colors, the entire contents of the screen will be readable. But it depends on your preferences, however, more on that later.
Now let's imagine the unimaginable. Many people wear sunglasses in the summer, many of them have polarized lenses. The problem with most screens in portable electronics is that they are difficult to see, especially in normal, vertical orientation. The screen of the same iPhone 6 / 6s becomes darker than it really is. Flip the screen to landscape orientation and it appears lighter. Miracle? Just the arrangement of the elements.
The Galaxy S7 screen took care of this "little thing" and placed the polarizing filter at an angle of 45 degrees so that no matter how you look at the screen with glasses, the picture remains bright. This is the first device on the market in which even such trifles for the screen have been thought out.
Another thing that has changed for screens and first appears in the S7 / S7 EDGE is personal auto brightness. What does it mean? How can tuning be both personal and automatic? The answer lies in the fact that we are all different and perceive the brightness of screens, their colors and other parameters differently. Samsung has implemented an intelligent system that evaluates the ambient light level and what kind of backlighting options we choose, what we consider to be a comfortable level for us. And this data is used in order to subsequently adjust the backlight as it is convenient for you. It is enough for about one week to use both manual backlight adjustment and automatic, so that the phone knows what you like and works like that in automatic mode. I am absolutely delighted with this feature, as it predicts what I want to see, what should be the brightness of the screen in different conditions.
There is also an Always On mode for the screen, when the time is constantly shown, as an option, a picture or a calendar, and you can select themes in which these images will differ.
This is just a wonderful feature, since, unlike competitors, the picture is displayed in color, it is always visible, whether at night or during the day, and is quite bright. For those who fear that this will affect the operating time of the device, on the S7 EDGE 12 hours of display operation in this mode spends from 1 to 2% of the battery (depending on external lighting conditions, the picture changes in brightness automatically). This is nothing, but you always have a watch in front of your eyes, and this sharply distinguishes this phone from all others.
Cameras - front and rear
The front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, slightly increased light sensitivity. The screen itself can act as a flash. It is possible to improve complexion, remove artifacts on the skin, and at the same time correct the geometry of the face. Face enhancers will definitely appeal to girls.
But there is no intrigue here, everything is clear and familiar. The intrigue is what happened to the main camera, because in the S6 its resolution was 16 megapixels, and in the S7 / S7 EDGE the camera suddenly became 12 megapixels.
The Galaxy S7 / S7 EDGE uses a Sony IMX260 camera module (a year earlier IMX240), which was created specifically for Samsung. Such products usually do not receive descriptions on the Sony website, and moreover, they cannot be purchased from other manufacturers.
I could not find a sane description of the IMX260, and this is not so important, since the main innovations were explained during the presentation of the Galaxy S7. So, the company increased the f / 1.7 lens aperture (a year earlier f / 1.9), while also increasing the pixel size to 1.4 microns, which makes it possible to get more information on the matrix. At Britecell, the pixel size is one micron, and it immediately turns out that this technology is not used in the IMX260, judging by the information that we had before. But everything is not so simple, let's try to figure it out.
To begin with, the S7 is the first device on the market that has focusing over the entire area of the matrix, that is, one hundred percent of the pixels are used in phase detection autofocus.
But, perhaps, the most important thing is the increased clarity and brightness of the picture (although, I confess, I don’t know much better anymore, the current flagships shoot very well). Here the possibilities of shooting in the evening and in the dark have increased. There are new scenes and plots, camera settings. Samsung was able to improve the camera, although it seemed impossible to do so.
Sample photos
Comparison with S6 Edge +
| S7 Edge | S6 Edge + |
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For example, the "Food" mode has appeared, this is a kind of filter in which the background is blurred, note that on the left is a picture without a filter, on the right - with it.
| Usual | Food mode |
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For video recording, a slow-motion mode appeared, as well as a time-lapse, examples of which you see in the video below.
And here is an example of a typical video for this camera.
From year to year, I say that Samsung flagships are shooting better and better, they are of very high quality. And I'm tired of constantly answering the question on social networks, what this picture was taken for. In S7 / S7 EDGE, the camera has become even better, which makes these devices the undoubted leaders. Now the time has expanded when you can be guaranteed to get a high-quality picture, this is not only day, but also twilight, evening. In short, the camera is, as before, one of the strengths of these devices.
extracurricular reading
Battery
Slightly increased dimensions are also related to the capacity of the battery - 3000 mAh. The operating time of the device is always a combination of factors, in particular, the stability and optimization of the software, the quality of the components, the power consumption of the screen. It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to consider the operating time in isolation from these parameters.
A typical scenario for using a modern smartphone involves working in the background of various programs, not only browsing pages, but connecting a wireless headset, and so on. Everyone has their own use case, for example, I use phones to the fullest - I take pictures, listen to podcasts on a wireless headset, watch social networks, movies, web pages, receive mail from different mailboxes every fifteen minutes. I have an EDGE Plus with three to three and a half hours of screen operation from morning to late evening with a backlight of about 70 percent. And this is a good indicator. For many, the operating time of this device is an average of two days. Some people manage to make it work for up to three days, and say that this is enough for them for active use. It should be noted here that the word "active" is different for everyone, everyone puts his own worldview into it.
For S7, I get a full day, from morning to evening, there are no restrictions here. The operating time of the screen with automatic backlighting is from 3.5 to 4.5 hours (brightness is 50-60%, which is quite noticeable, for competitors it is considered full brightness). It is the operating time that becomes one of the advantages over the S6 / S6 EDGE.
Video playback time at maximum brightness is from 13 to 14 hours on average (the radio module is not turned off).
The phone has two built-in wireless chargers, you can use either one. There is support for fast wireless charging. There is also fast wired charging - in 90 minutes you will charge the device to 100 percent. It takes less than half an hour to get half the charge. Many flagships of other companies can only dream of such fast charging technology, which saves, even if you forgot to charge the device in the morning, in the morning it will take only a few minutes.
The most important improvement in the current flagships, and indeed all 2016 models from Samsung, is the increased battery life. A tremendous amount of work has been done here, and this should be noted. On average, they will work 1.5-2 times longer than previous devices of the same segment. The reason is the increase in battery capacity, but also the optimization of software and hardware.
A few words about the microUSB connector, which the progressive part of humanity has already decided to send to the scrap and is waiting for USB Type C. Personally, I was tortured to carry the second cable, I constantly forget it, and therefore some phones I charge only at home, where there are such cables. The value of Type C is still highly overestimated, such a connector is needed by a small audience, which considers itself to be technology enthusiasts. Therefore, it was not used in mass products. The gradual transition to it will begin in the fall of 2016, and then, this is an issue that has not been fully resolved. Now Samsung considered that the compatibility of all accessories is much more important than maintaining a fashion trend.
Speaking of AMOLED, Exynos and battery life. The Meizu Pro 5 used this combination of Samsung components to maximize battery life in its flagship. Other companies are starting to adopt Samsung's experience, and this is becoming a trend.
USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities
Bluetooth version 4.2, it was created for the Internet of Things and works great with various sensors. Otherwise, there are no special changes, new profiles have appeared, energy consumption has improved. Let me remind you that there is something interesting in the new standard.
Firstly, this is an extended range, which can reach several tens of meters, depending on the device settings and how the manufacturer configured this option. Secondly, IP is used for addressing, that is, devices now have their own unique addresses and communication with many such devices is supported.
From technical points, the interaction between Bluetooth and LTE has been improved, now, within the framework of one device, the operation of these technologies is synchronized, there is no mutual interference (for our LTE frequencies it is irrelevant). Plus, Bluetooth devices can now access the cloud and transfer their results directly, bypassing the companion device, as was previously necessary.
USB connection... It uses USB 2.0, that is, the data transfer rate is about 20 Mb / s. These are not theoretical, but real results on devices. They may differ depending on the operating system and the computer to which you connect your phone. Both up and down.
Wi-Fi... Supports 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac standard, the wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember the selected networks, automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a one-touch connection to the router, for this you need to press a button on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). Among the additional options, it is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears when the signal is weak or disappearing. You can also configure Wi-Fi to work on a schedule.
For 802.11 n, HT40 mode is supported, which allows you to double the Wi-Fi bandwidth (requires support from another device).
Wi-Fi Direct... A protocol that aims to replace Bluetooth or compete with its third version (it also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). In the Wi-Fi settings menu, select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts looking for devices around. We select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now, in the file manager, you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer the necessary files to them, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.
Wifi repeater.
It is impossible to write a review when you use the phone for a few minutes at the company's stand and this device is not your main one. Then there are materials that lack a lot of "chips", which the manufacturer himself did not tell, as well as others did not find them. I am constantly working with the Galaxy S7, I have already discovered many "little things" that distinguish Samsung flagships from other Android smartphones and will later become part of Android itself. I want to tell you about one of these chips.
Usually, when you turn on the access point on your phone, it instantly turns off Wi-Fi, you cannot use both at the same time.
On the Galaxy S7 / S7, EDGE suddenly discovered that when Wi-Fi was turned on, there was a connection to the wireless network, but your hotspot was not disconnected. There are two icons in the status bar.
Further - more and more interesting. All phones connected to the Galaxy S7 start using its Wi-Fi connection, rather than mobile data from it. Until now, the Wi-Fi router scenario in mobile phones has never been used so widely.
Who might need it and why? For example, when traveling, I very often encounter a limitation on the number of connected devices in hotels. With the features of the Galaxy S7, these restrictions on the number of devices are a thing of the past, now I am writing text, and a dozen of my phones are hanging on the same connection via the Galaxy S7 EDGE. And most importantly, I do not need to waste time at all and enter my last name, room number and leave a postal address on each. It's the same story in restaurants, cafes and other places where I can share my connection without having to enter Wi-Fi settings on every device. Cool? Undoubtedly.
Another question is that this function is not so necessary for the vast majority of people. At home, this is an opportunity to distribute your Internet to those corners of the apartment where your router does not finish. At the same time, check whether it is worth buying a regular Wi-Fi repeater and whether it will work.
As always, I believe that it is better to have additional functions in the device that are not required so often, but when they are needed, you will be grateful to them, than you will not have such functions. Do you need a Wi-Fi repeater function?
NFC... The handset has NFC technology, which can be used with various additional applications.
S Beam... A technology that allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes to another phone in a few minutes. In fact, we see in the S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring up and authorize phones, but the second is used to transfer the files themselves. A creatively redesigned way of using Wi-Fi Direct is much easier than using a dual-device connection, file selection, and so on.
Software - Android 6, TouchWiz and more
Inside Android 6.0.1, the same software will be received by the current flagships and two-year-old models at the same time or a little later than the S7 / S7 EDGE will be on sale. As before, this device has a TouchWiz, but it has been heavily redesigned for the Android style, and now the whole system is perceived as very airy and light, everything looks organic. The speed of the UI is excellent, it flies, there are simply no brakes. Again, it all depends on personal perception, someone sees the brakes in what other people consider instant.
The software has a lot of chips, you will have to tell about them separately, which I did, read the full review and watch a video about this software.
Optional accessories
New wireless charging will be available for these models, it differs from the old one in that it has a 50-degree tilt and you can put your phone on it. There will be leather bumpers (leather back) as well as a case with two interchangeable lenses.
From what I was able to try, I will note the standard book covers, including those with an LED screen. Take a look at the pictures of these accessories, then you can also watch the video in which I explain and show how they work.
Comparison with Galaxy S6
Samsung has prepared an infographic on why the new device is better than the S6, everything is very clear in it.
Impressions
There are no complaints about the quality of speech reproduction, ringing volume, these devices are excellent, perhaps, their radio quality is one of the best on the market. And this has long become a kind of mania, Samsung is finishing up what is already good. However, as we have seen in the review, they do this for many components of their flagships.
It is a thankless task to evaluate new devices by pictures or even photographs. In the case of the S7 / S7 EDGE, it is doubly ungrateful. It seems to be the same materials, the same design, but you need to take the device in your hand to realize the difference. And it is not in favor of the previous generation. You need to feel these devices live and see how they work, how responsive the menu is, how the camera shoots, and it is advisable to do this at dusk in order to realize the differences.
We are accustomed to the fact that each new generation of flagships from Samsung provides new technologies and sets the bar for productivity, as well as what can be built into devices. These are the most functional solutions of all today, but last year the rejection of memory cards upset many. Now this flaw has been corrected, and everything is back to normal. But they also added enhanced shock protection, IP68 protection from drowning. Plus, the battery was increased and the system was optimized so that the operating time increased by 1.5-2 times. All this together suggests that the models turned out to be not very successful, but super-successful.
The new camera module gives a great result, it is a breakthrough in a direction where no one expected major improvements. I didn't expect at all that the difference would be visible in life. And this is a serious claim to maintain its advantage in this area, other devices are approaching Samsung in terms of photos, but they cannot catch up.
From an engineering point of view, these devices are small masterpieces, they were stuffed with the latest technology and made them work. What are the improvements in the display, which are not visible, but make our life better and easier. It will not be superfluous to note that other companies, and first of all Apple, reach the use of such technologies only years later, they simply do not have the opportunity to do something similar. They are too far behind in development, and this can be seen in almost every piece of hardware. I have a very positive perception of the new flagships, and the fact that the previous generation sold well in Russia says a lot about the changed orientations of people during the crisis. The same S6, due to its affordable price, became the most popular flagship, followed by the iPhone 5s 16 GB. The choice of a three-year model remains a mystery to me, but people see some sense in it. But everything is gradually changing, slowly and confidently ordinary people realize what fast charging is in real life, what high-quality screens look like and why Android gives freedom of use. I have no doubt that the seventh generation Galaxy will be very successful, there are all the prerequisites for this, the devices turned out to be interesting.
The cost of the S7 is 49,990 rubles, this is the most affordable flagship of the latest generation, the price has not changed compared to the way the S6 came out a year ago. You can choose S7 EDGE as an alternative to this device.
Considering that S7 EDGE comes out at a price of 59,990 rubles, this can be considered a surcharge for a larger screen, battery and better image component.
The choice between S7 and S7 EDGE is obvious, I like the older model more, it looks more interesting. Another thing is that, perhaps, you are an adherent of more compact sizes.
But as a final word, I can say that Samsung has turned out models that are head and shoulders above the competition, and they are not just solid, they are the best that is on the market today. And no compromise.