How does the newly outed Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE stack up next to Apple's iPhone 6s Plus?
While the mobile market has diversified quite a bit in recent years and there is more consumer choice than ever before, for many smartphone fans the annual battleground to watch remains the competition between long-standing rivals Apple and Samsung.These two titans are regularly at the forefront of new tech, with faster and more innovative hardware every year, and batches of new features we never knew we wanted or needed until it's right in front of our faces. There's an overlap in how the two launch devices though, Apple usually releases a new iPhone in September and it'll be the flagship going forward well into the following year. Samsung, meanwhile, is now in the habit of launching its new flagships early in the year, at MWC around February/March.
Just ahead of MWC 2016, on February 21, Samsung launched the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Unlike last year's duo, where the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge were the same size, the Galaxy S7 edge model is actually the larger of the two, with a 5.5in display the same size as the iPhone 6s Plus, as well as the distinctive curved OLED edges. Initial reception of Samsung's latest batch seems to be quite positive due to the welcome return of waterproofing and microSD support, as well as one of the best displays on the market.
According to analyst reports out of Asia, Samsung is believed to have shipped as many as 10 million Galaxy S7 units in the one month (March) since the phones hit the market - much more than earlier 7 million unit predictions . Note that these estimated figures do not distinguish between Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge units, and they're not based on actual figures from Samsung, as the firm is yet to divulge shipping and sales data. Samsung has not commented on the reports, but previously did say that pre-order sales were higher than expected and that it believed the Galaxy S7 series would outsell its predecessors as a result. Analysts were somewhat skeptical at the time, but share prices have now risen following these new reports and analysts are adjusting their sales and shipping forecasts for 2016.
In the past few months talk has turned towards Apple’s plans for future iPhone display technology. Initial reports claimed the company would likely switch to OLED panels inside 2018. Apple, however, is keen to fast track the switch and wants OLED panels in place for 2017’s iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus.
Samsung and LG are vying for the contract, said to be worth $12 billion. Apple could employ both firms to provide display tech for its forthcoming iPhone, of course, as it does with its chipsets, but with $12 billion on the table it is likely one of them will attempt to gain exclusive control of the order.
“While it has been reported in the past that Apple would pair the launch of an iPhone with an OLED display with redesigned curved build,” reports Apple Insider, “this report claims that since the company is looking to change displays sooner than expected, that may not happen. Apple generally only changes the design of its devices every other year, meaning that if the iPhone 7 is released this year, we’ll see a largely similar iPhone 7s next year with an unchanged design. To make up for the lack of design change, Apple often changes the components of the device, which in this case could perhaps include the display technology.”
We’ve already taken a look at the smaller flagships — the Galaxy S7 versus the iPhone 6s. Here we’re going to look at the Plus and the Edge and see how these two phablet phones compare against each other. Like their junior counterparts, given that the Galaxy S7 Edge is brand spanking new and the iPhone 6s Plus is already almost 6 months old (Apple should be releasing its iPhone 7 Plus flagship in September) it might be assumed that the Galaxy S7 edge is better in every way. But is that really the case? Let’s take a look to find out.
iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Specs
Here’s the specs for the iPhone 6s Plus:
- Display: 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 1920x1080 resolution at 401 ppi, 3D Touch enabled
- Dimensions: 158.2mm x 77.9 mm x 7.3 mm
- Weight: 192 grams
- Storage: 16, 64, or 128GB
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Processors: A9 chip with 64-bit architecture and M9 motion coprocessor
- Front camera: 5 MP
- Rear camera: 12 MP photos. ƒ/2.2 aperture. 4k video
- Battery: 2750mAh
- Colors: Silver, Space Grey, Gold, or Rose Gold
And here’s the specs for the Galaxy S7 Edge:
- Display: 5.5-inch display with a 2560×1440-pixel resolution at 534 ppi
- Dimensions: 150.9mm x 72.6 mm x 7.7 mm
- Weight: 157 grams
- Storage: 32 or 64, plus support for microSD cards up to 200GB
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Processors: Samsung Exynos 8890
- Front camera: 5 MP
- Rear camera: 12 MP, f/1.7 aperture, 4K video
- Battery life: 3600 mAh
- Colors: Dark Grey, Silver, or Gold
When it comes to spec vs spec, the Edge has A LOT of things going for it over the Plus—especially when it comes to storage. Like it’s smaller sibling the Edge starts at 32GB storage and also comes in a 64GB version too, although the latter is kind of tricky to find inside the US at present. Even better, it’s expandable by another 200GBs thanks to its new microSD card slot. That compares to the iPhone 6s Plus’s PATHETIC for 2016 16GB entry option. Why Apple,WHY give a massive phablet a teeny tiny 16GB of storage???
Still, it must be said that the iPhone 6s Plus comes in a 64GB and 128GB option as well. Samsung again also got the RAM right, doubling what the 6s Plus has with 4GB total.
The A9 chipset has proven itself as one of the best SoCs inside any mobile device at present. Benchmarks are impressive, as is performance. But this is pretty much par for the course for Apple these days. Its A-line chip series is one of the most respected in the business and is more than a match for almost all of its peers, as you can see below in our group benchmark tests.
Nevertheless, the Exynos 8890-powered Samsung Galaxy S7 is not to be messed with — the SoC holds it own against Apple’s A9, even surpassing it in Geekbench. What does this mean with respect to differences you will experience in the real world? Not much: both phones are insanely fast and in the hand there isn’t likely to be much difference. Wonder what the SD820 would look like in the same tests?
iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Design & Build
The S7 Edge — as with the iPhone 6s Plus — kept, mostly, the same look as its predecessor. Both feature metal bodies with glass screens. On the Edge that glass screen curves around the side. That curve makes it, arguably, a more comfortable phone to hold in your hand, important given their large sizes.
The iPhone 6s Plus comes in four colours, while the Edge comes in three. The colour the Edge lacks that the Plus has is a rose gold/pink offering.
Samsung also was able to make the S7 edge IP68 dust and water proof—something the iPhone 6s Plus is not. You can submerge the S7 Edge for up to 20 minutes and it will work just fine when you take it out.
As for size and weight the iPhone is still the thinner and one coming in at 7.3mm thin versus the S7 Edge’s 7.7mm thickness. However, the Edge is MUCH lighter than the Plus, weighing just 157 grams versus the Plus’ 192 grams.
iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Display and Battery
As for displays, both feature a 5.5-inch screen. And each offer something different. for the Edge, it’s the curved display. For the Plus, it’s Apple’s 3D Touch pressure sensitive touchscreen. But Samsung takes the clear lead when it comes to screen resolution. It features a 2560×1440 pixel display at 534 ppi versus the iPhone 6s’ 1334x750 pixel resolution at 401 ppi.
In the display department the Galaxy S7 edge wipes the floor with the iPhone 6s Plus. In every regard.
When we get to battery, the S7 Edge’s 3600 mAh battery is fairly larger than the iPhone’s 2750 mAh pack. However—just as with RAM and processors—how long a phone’s battery lasts has as much to do with the size of the pack as it does with how well the software works to conserve power.
We don’t have the Galaxy S7 edge included in our most current group test, unfortunately. But as you can see above, the Galaxy S7 destroys the iPhone 6s in our standard battery test, where a video is played on a loop until the battery dies. The Galaxy S7 edge has a larger battery powering it, but also a larger display, so it will be interesting to see how it does in future tests. Anecdotally, the S7 edge appears to surpass the iPhone 6s Plus for battery performance in our initial tests but we cannot say by how much or with any degree of certainty until we’ve put it through our standard test.
iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Cameras
Apple has excellent pedigree when it comes to imaging, favouring quality components, excellent sensor technology and brilliant engineering over sheer megapixels. For a point and shoot setup, the iPhone — at least since the time of the iPhone 5s — has been a solid bet for millions of people all around the globe.
With the iPhone 6s Plus, Apple took what was present inside the iPhone 6 Plus and refined the hell out of it by introducing 4K video support, a new 12MP sensor that packs in around 50% more pixels than the iPhone 6 Plus’ setup and allows for exceptionally detailed shots and improved low-light performance.
iPhone 6s Plus Test Shots
Both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge come equipped with a new 12MP sensor. Yes, that's lower than last year's but don't fret because it's a deliberate move, one that Samsung believes will result in better pictures as both Samsung phones have a wider f/1.7 aperture, a larger 1.4um pixel size, and a dual-pixel sensor with 100% phase detection.
In practice, the handset’s are excellent point and shoot setups. I love the control you have over settings as well. Samsung has always been at the forefront with its camera app, and the one aboard the Galaxy S7 edge is no exception.
You can get some seriously cool shots with its array of filters, effects and, for the more knowledgable photographers out there, Pro mode which lets you mess around with filters and the like on the fly. And the improved sensor means better low-light performance. I seriously enjoyed messing around with the S7 edge’s camera, though I don’t know if it is “better” than the one aboard the iPhone 6s Plus.
Galaxy S7 Edge Test Shots
Both setups are very impressive. Both deliver excellent results. I just think the 6s Plus’ is slightly more consistent with quality, though I will have to investigate this further in a proper head-to-head imaging test to find out, empirically, which has the better imaging setup. I prefer using the Galaxy S7 but if I were a betting man I’d put my chips on the 6s Plus coming out on top in a standardised test.
iPhone 6s Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Verdict
This is a very tough call. Tough because both handset are exceptionally good phones, with great battery life, great performance and great cameras. It is almost impossible to say which is better from a macro standpoint, as both do everything so well.
As is usually the case, though, the deciding factor for most will be which platform you’re used to. The iPhone 6s Plus, because of its size and power, is a very attractive option for floating Android users. Traditional Apple users prefer smaller iPhones like the iPhone 6. This is why Apple is building the iPhone SE.
For me, the Galaxy S7 Edge is just about the best looking phone I have ever seen. It looks what a phone should look like in 2016 and it has the performance and specs to match pretty much everything else currently available on market, though I will admit the LG G5 is a very interesting prospect.
Still, in this context the Galaxy S7 gets my vote. It has the specs, power and the looks. Apple’s design — at least in my opinion — is now a little tired. I’m looking forward to what it comes to the table with later on this year with the iPhone 7, as that handset will have to turn heads just as the iPhone 6 did before it.
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