Samsung Galaxy S7 Active
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 13, 1969 in Suwon, South Korea |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Smartphones, tablets, consumer electronics |
| Website | www |
Samsung Galaxy S7 Series Overview
The Samsung Galaxy S7, along with the Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy S7 Active, are smartphones based on the Android platform, developed, launched, and sold by Samsung Electronics. These models followed the Galaxy S6, including the S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, and S6 Active variants introduced in 2015. The official announcement for the S7 and S7 Edge took place on 21 February 2016 at a Samsung event during Mobile World Congress. They became available in Europe and North America starting 11 March 2016. The Galaxy S7 Active was revealed later on 4 June 2016 and was released exclusively through AT&T in the United States on 10 June 2016.
Building upon its predecessor, the Galaxy S7 introduced enhanced hardware and subtle design updates, while reinstating several features omitted in the Galaxy S6. Notably, it reintroduced IP68 certification for resistance against water and dust, along with support for expandable storage via MicroSD cards. The lineup consisted of a standard model featuring a 5.1-inch (130 mm) display and an Edge version characterized by curved screen edges and a larger 5.5-inch (140 mm) display. The ruggedized S7 Active variant offered a reinforced chassis and a higher capacity battery.
Both the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge mark the final devices in Samsung's Galaxy S series to include a physical home button integrating a front-mounted fingerprint sensor. Similarly, the S7 Active is the last model in the Active lineup to feature three physical buttons alongside a fingerprint reader embedded within the home button, excluding the short-lived Galaxy Note 7. Additionally, this series represents the final Galaxy S phones equipped with a microUSB charging port before Samsung transitioned to USB-C connectors.
The Galaxy S7 series was eventually succeeded by the Samsung Galaxy S8 in April 2017.
Hardware
Design
The Galaxy S7's physical design closely resembles that of the S6 model. Samsung eliminated the integrated Infrared blaster due to insufficient consumer interest. The device continues to feature a metal and glass construction, enhanced with subtle changes such as a rectangular-shaped home button and a less prominent camera bump. Both black and gold finishes were standard options, while white, pink, blue, and silver variants were made available depending on the region. As an official Worldwide Olympic Partner, Samsung released limited edition Galaxy S7 Edge models for the 2016 Summer Olympics, characterized by a dark blue exterior with hardware and software elements reflecting the colors of the Olympic rings. These special editions were distributed in select markets in limited numbers and also presented to athletes competing in the 2016 Games. In October 2016, Samsung introduced a "Blue Coral" color option—a light blue shade previously seen on the recalled Galaxy Note 7.
The Galaxy S7 Edge incorporates software features that utilize its curved screen, enabling functions such as a ruler, a night clock, and various visual alerts including the Edge notification light for incoming calls and messages. Users can assign preferred colors for notifications from up to five contacts. Additionally, there is an option to adjust the brightness of the integrated LED when used as a torch, offering five levels of intensity.
Water resistance
The Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, and S7 Active all hold an IP68 certification, ensuring protection against dust and water ingress. Unlike the Galaxy S5, these models feature sealed ports that eliminate the need for protective covers. Both the S7 and S7 Active are equipped with 5.1-inch 1440p Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, while the S7 Edge boasts a larger 5.5-inch screen. Continuing the design trend from its predecessor, the S7 Edge incorporates curved side bezels on its display.
A moisture detection sensor is integrated within the Galaxy S7’s charging port. This sensor disables wired charging if it senses moisture inside the USB port, thereby safeguarding the device from potential damage.
Batteries
Compared to the previous generation S6, the S7 series offers increased battery capacities: 3000 mAh for the S7, 3600 mAh for the S7 Edge, and 4000 mAh for the S7 Active. All three support wireless charging standards including AirFuel Inductive (formerly PMA) and Qi. However, wired connectivity remains via a microUSB Type-B port.
For wired power delivery, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology is supported, providing up to 15 watts of charging power. Wireless charging delivers an effective output of 7.5 watts when using a Qi 1.2-compatible charging pad connected to a Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 USB charger.
Samsung states that the Galaxy S7 can reach full charge in approximately 90 minutes using wired fast charging and about 140 minutes with wireless fast charging. The S7 Edge requires around 100 minutes wired and 160 minutes wirelessly to achieve a full battery. It is important to note that fast charging functionality is disabled while the device is actively in use.
Camera
The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are equipped with a 12-megapixel (4032×3024) rear camera that incorporates "Dual Pixel" image sensor technology, enabling quicker autofocus, paired with an f/1.7 aperture lens.
These devices support slow motion video capture at 720p HD resolution with a frame rate of 240 fps, doubling the speed available on the Galaxy S6 and Note 5. This marks the first instance of 240fps slow motion recording on a Samsung flagship. The high-speed footage is encoded live and includes audio, with built-in software allowing for subsequent slow motion editing. Additionally, the previous five-minute restriction on 2160p video recording has been lifted.
The enhanced burst shot feature now allows capturing twenty full-resolution images per second, with up to one hundred photos in a single burst sequence. This is a substantial increase from the Galaxy S6's limit of thirty images per burst at around eight frames per second.
The camera received acclaim for its superior low-light capabilities at the time of release.
Users can take still photos while recording video at 1440p (30 fps) and 2160p (30 fps), an improvement over the predecessor which only permitted this up to 1080p resolution. However, capturing still images is not possible during 1080p video recording at 60 frames per second.
The Galaxy S7’s camera application includes a manual mode that allows users to adjust settings such as exposure, ISO sensitivity, white balance, and exposure value. These adjustments extend to video recording; however, ISO sensitivity and exposure remain fixed during video capture. Moreover, toggling the LED torch is disabled while recording video.
Chipsets
Galaxy S7 models feature either a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC in the US editions or Samsung's proprietary octa-core Exynos 8890 SoC in all other regions. The US versions are compatible with legacy CDMA networks widely utilized by American carriers. The processor benefits from a 0.4mm thick 'liquid cooling'heat pipe system that dissipates heat from the chip to the phone’s chassis, complementing the graphite thermal pads introduced in the Galaxy S6.
Each Galaxy S7 device is equipped with 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM and offers internal storage options of 32, 64, or 128 GB, with the largest capacity exclusive to the S7 Edge. Storage capacity can be expanded externally via a microSD card slot integrated into the device’s SIM tray. For dual SIM configurations, the secondary SIM slot is shared, allowing users to choose between using two SIM cards simultaneously or one SIM card alongside a microSD card.
Included in the package is a USB OTG adapter, which serves as a standard connector for attaching USB peripherals such as flash drives or wired accessories. Additionally, it facilitates data migration through Samsung’s "Smart Switch" application, enabling seamless transfer of content and settings from older Samsung Galaxy or Android devices running Android 4.3 or newer, as well as from iOS 5 and later versions, or BlackBerry devices operating on BlackBerry OS 7 or earlier.
Software
The Galaxy S7 launches with Android Marshmallow (6.0) alongside Samsung's customized TouchWiz Hero UX interface. It was guaranteed two years of operating system and user interface updates plus four years of security patches. The updated Hero UX allows users to disable the app drawer if desired. An innovative "always on" feature shows a clock, calendar, and notifications while the device is in standby mode; this display automatically turns off when the phone’s proximity sensor detects it is enclosed, such as inside a pocket. Samsung estimates this functionality consumes only about half a percent of battery power per hour. On the S7 Edge model, additional widget panels can be accessed on the curved screen edges in either "Edge Single" or the broader "Edge Single Plus" formats. Notably, Android Marshmallow’s "adopted storage" capability is disabled and unavailable on these devices.
In September 2016, an update introduced support for Vulkan, a modern low-level graphics API. Then in January 2017, Samsung rolled out an upgrade to Android 7.0 "Nougat", replacing TouchWiz with the newer Samsung Experience 8.0, initially debuted on the Galaxy S8 series. By mid-2018, Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge models received Android 8.0 "Oreo" paired with Samsung Experience 9.0—marking the final major Android iteration officially available for this lineup. Official support concluded in April 2020 with the last security patch release. However, unofficially, enthusiasts can run Android 10 featuring One UI 2.5 through custom ROM installations.
The user interface supports multi-window functionality similar to that of its predecessor, the Galaxy S6, enabling multiple compatible applications to be displayed simultaneously either split-screen or as floating pop-up windows.
Reception
The Galaxy S7 was met with largely favorable critiques, with reviewers commending the reintroduction of the microSD card slot and enhanced water resistance, all while maintaining the high-end metal aesthetic established by the Galaxy S6. The design of the larger Galaxy S7 Edge attracted particular acclaim, as its curved edges effectively reduce the phone's width compared to devices with flat screens. This design choice makes the device more compact and user-friendly, a distinction that becomes evident when comparing the S7 Edge to other smartphones with similar screen sizes, such as the iPhone 6s Plus (5.5 inches) and Google Nexus 6P (5.7 inches). Enhancements to the main rear camera were also highlighted; despite a reduction in megapixels from 16 MP to 12 MP, the sensor features larger 1.4-micron pixels and quicker autofocus than its predecessor on the S6.
Some drawbacks were noted for the Galaxy S7, including the elimination of MHL support and the removal of the IR Blaster that was present on the Galaxy S6. Additionally, Samsung replaced its proprietary music and video player applications with Google Play’s streaming-focused alternatives. Another point of contention was the decision to incorporate a Micro USB charging port instead of adopting a USB Type-C connector.
In terms of performance, the Exynos-powered variant demonstrated superior multitasking capabilities compared to its Qualcomm Snapdragon counterpart. The Snapdragon version struggles to maintain as many background applications and exhibits slower app switching times. Conversely, when it comes to graphics-intensive tasks and gaming, the Snapdragon model offers better performance.
iFixit assigned a repairability rating of 3 out of 10 to the Galaxy S7, citing extensive use of adhesive and glass panels. The evaluation highlighted that servicing specific internal components—such as the daughterboard—is nearly impossible without removing the display, which is not designed for easy detachment. The report also suggested that replacing the glass without damaging the display is likely unfeasible.
Sales
Within just two days following the official release in South Korea, combined sales of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge reached roughly 100,000 units. During its initial month on the market, the Galaxy S7 saw shipments between 7 and 9 million devices. Throughout 2016, total sales for the Galaxy S7 series amounted to approximately 48 million units.
Among Samsung's 2016 offerings, the Galaxy S7 Edge emerged as the best-selling model in South Korea. Meanwhile, the Galaxy J3, categorized as an entry-level smartphone, ranked as the sixth most purchased handset that year. In comparison, Apple's iPhone 6s achieved around 60 million shipments globally, while Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge and other models collectively shipped about 25 million units.
Known issues
Upon launch, both Exynos and Snapdragon variants experienced video playback stuttering when recording at high frame rates. A subsequent firmware update addressed this by resolving "flickering video playback after recording."
Certain Galaxy S7 Edge devices have exhibited a persistent vertical pink line appearing randomly on the display. For customers in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, Samsung has provided complimentary repairs or replacements under warranty, provided that the screen has no external damage.
Repairing a damaged screen on the Galaxy S7 is notably challenging due to the necessity of removing the AMOLED panel for replacement.
On September 23, 2016, a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge belonging to a make-up artist began emitting smoke while in a beauty salon located in Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines. Samsung announced that they were conducting an investigation into this event.
Samsung Exynos 8890 Variants
- SM-G930F (International, Single SIM)
- SM-G930FD (International, Dual SIM)
- SM-G930W8 (Rogers Wireless)
- SM-G930S (South Korea, SK Telecom)
- SM-G930K (South Korea, KT)
- SM-G930L (South Korea, LG U+)
China
These versions all support dual SIM functionality.
- SM-G9300 (Unlocked)
- SM-G9308 (China Mobile)
United States
The Galaxy S7 marks the first Galaxy S device in which the hardware configuration remains largely consistent across all US models. Consequently, the FCC assigned a uniform device ID (A3LSMG930US) to every US variant. Distinctions among these models are limited to software/firmware differences and minor external branding variations.
- SM-G930U (Unlocked)
- SM-G930A (AT&T)
- SM-G930V (Verizon Wireless)
- SM-G930AZ (Cricket Wireless)
- SM-G930P (Sprint)
- SM-G930T (T-Mobile US)
- SM-G930R4 (US Cellular)
- SM-G930VL (TracFone)
Samsung Exynos 8890 Variants
- SM-G935F (International, Single SIM)
- SM-G935FD (International, Dual SIM)
- SM-G935W8 (Canada)
- SM-G935S (South Korea, SK Telecom)
- SM-G935K (South Korea, KT)
- SM-G935L (South Korea, LG U+)
China
All models come equipped with dual SIM support.
- SM-G9350 (Unlocked, Hong Kong)
- SM-G9358 (China Mobile)
United States
- SM-G935U (Unlocked)
- SM-G935V (Verizon Wireless)
- SM-G935A (AT&T)
- SM-G935P (Sprint)
- SM-G935T (T-Mobile US)
- SM-G935R4 (US Cellular)
Japan
- SC-02H (NTT DoCoMo)
- SCV33 (KDDI au)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Variant
- SM-G891A (United States, AT&T)