Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1, 1938 in Daegu, South Korea |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Smartphones, consumer electronics |
| Owner | Samsung Group |
| Website | www |
The Samsung Galaxy S7, along with its variants the Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy S7 Active, are Android-powered smartphones developed and commercialized by Samsung Electronics. These devices succeeded the previous generation models — the Galaxy S6 series including the standard, Edge, Edge+ versions and the S6 Active from2015. Officially introduced during a Samsung event on February21,2016 at Mobile World Congress, the standard and Edge versions launched across Europe and North America on March11,2016.[1][2] The ruggedized variant known as the Galaxy S7 Active was revealed on June4,2016 before hitting the US market via AT&T on June10.[3]
Building upon its predecessor's foundation, the Galaxy S7 brought enhancements in hardware specifications alongside design improvements while reinstating previously removed features such as IP68 water and dust resistance certification plus expandable storage through microSD support. The lineup consists of a conventional model sporting a5.1-inch screen and an Edge edition featuring curved edges on its larger5.5-inch display panel. The Active version offers a more robust exterior complemented by a larger battery capacity for extended usage.
Notably, both the standard Galaxy S7 and its Edge counterpart represent the final Samsung Galaxy S lineup to include a physical home button embedded with a front-mounted fingerprint sensor. Similarly, the S7 Active is the last device in that series to maintain three physical buttons including one with an integrated fingerprint reader—excluding the discontinued Galaxy Note 7 series.
Additionally, these models mark the end of microUSB connectivity within the Galaxy S series as subsequent releases transitioned exclusively to USB Type-C ports.
The succeeding flagship following this generation was the Samsung Galaxy S8 which debuted in April2017.
Hardware
Design
The hardware design of the Galaxy S7 closely resembles that of the S6. Samsung decided to eliminate the integrated Infrared blaster due to minimal consumer interest. The device continues to feature a metal and glass construction, incorporating enhancements such as a rectangular-shaped home button and a less prominent camera bump. Both versions came in black and gold finishes; however, additional colors including white, pink, blue, and silver were made available depending on the region. As part of its role as a Worldwide Olympic Partner, Samsung released special editions of the Galaxy S7 Edge for the 2016 Summer Olympics, featuring a dark blue exterior with hardware and software elements inspired by the Olympic rings color scheme. These limited-edition models were distributed in select markets and provided to athletes participating in the 2016 Summer Games. In October 2016, Samsung introduced a new light blue hue called "Blue Coral," previously showcased on the recalled Galaxy Note 7.
The Galaxy S7 Edge incorporates software functionalities that utilize its curved screen as a ruler, a night clock, and various visual notification tools such as the Edge notification light. This feature allows users to assign specific colors for incoming calls and messages from up to five contacts. Additionally, users can adjust the brightness of the built-in LED lamp when using it as a torch, choosing from five different intensity levels.
Water resistance
The Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, and S7 Active all possess an IP68 rating for protection against dust and water intrusion. Unlike the Galaxy S5, these models feature sealed ports that do not require additional protective covers.[1][2] Each device is equipped with a 1440p Quad HD Super AMOLED screen; the S7 and S7 Active both utilize a 5.1-inch display, whereas the S7 Edge offers a larger 5.5-inch panel. Consistent with its predecessor, the S7 Edge incorporates curved side bezels along the edges of its screen.[1][2]
The Galaxy S7’s charging port includes a moisture detection sensor that disables wired charging if moisture is detected inside the USB port, thereby safeguarding the device from potential damage.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Batteries
All three variants—the S7, S7 Edge, and S7 Active—feature increased battery capacities compared to the S6, with capacities of 3000 mAh, 3600 mAh, and 4000 mAh respectively. They support both AirFuel Inductive (formerly PMA) and Qi wireless charging protocols; however, the S7 continues to employ a microUSB Type-B connector.[1][2]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[4]
For wired charging, Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 technology allows up to 15 watts of power delivery.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Wireless charging is enabled at an effective output of 7.5 watts when using a Qi 1.2-compatible wireless charging pad connected to a Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 USB charger.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Samsung states that the Galaxy S7 can reach full charge in approximately 90 minutes via wired fast charging and about 140 minutes using wireless fast charging. The S7 Edge requires roughly 100 minutes wired and 160 minutes wirelessly for a full charge.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
It should be noted that fast charging functionality is disabled while the device is actively in use.[5]
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 alongside an f/1.7 aperture lens.
These models introduce 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 footage is encoded live and includes audio, with built-in editing tools provided for slow motion video refinement. Additionally, the previous five-minute restriction on 2160p video recording has been lifted.
The enhanced burst shot functionality allows capturing twenty full-resolution images per second, up to a maximum of one hundred photos in a single sequence. This is a significant improvement over the Galaxy S6's limit of thirty photos per burst at roughly eight frames per second.
The camera's performance in low-light conditions received commendations for its quality at the time of release.
While recording video at 1440p (30 fps) and 2160p (30 fps), users can also take still pictures—a feature not supported beyond 1080p on previous models. However, capturing still images during 1080p video at 60 fps remains unsupported.
The Galaxy S7’s camera app includes a manual mode that permits adjustment of settings such as exposure, ISO sensitivity, white balance, and exposure compensation. These controls extend to video recording, although ISO and exposure adjustments are fixed when shooting video. Furthermore, the LED torch cannot be activated while recording video.
Chipsets
The Galaxy S7 series utilizes two different processors depending on the region: US models are powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC, while international versions feature Samsung's own octa-core Exynos 8890 SoC. The US editions are compatible with legacy CDMA networks commonly used by American carriers. To manage heat dissipation, the processor employs a 0.4mm thick 'liquid cooling' heat pipe system that transfers thermal energy from the chipset to the phone's chassis. This cooling method works in conjunction with graphite thermal pads, similar to those implemented in the Galaxy S6.
Each Galaxy S7 model is equipped with 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM and offers internal storage options of 32, 64, or 128 GB—the largest capacity being exclusive to the S7 Edge variant. Users can expand storage via a microSD card slot integrated into the SIM tray. For dual SIM configurations, the secondary SIM slot is shared, allowing either two SIM cards simultaneously or one SIM card alongside a microSD card.
Included in the package is a USB OTG adapter, enabling connection to various USB peripherals such as flash drives or wired accessories. Additionally, this adapter facilitates data migration through Samsung's "Smart Switch" application, which supports transferring content and settings from earlier Samsung Galaxy or Android devices running Android 4.3 or newer, as well as from iPhones with iOS 5 or later, and certain BlackBerry devices operating on BlackBerry OS 7 or earlier.
Software
The Galaxy S7 comes pre-installed with Android Marshmallow (6.0) alongside Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz Hero UX interface. The device was guaranteed two years of operating system and user interface updates, plus four years of security patches. Among the new features introduced in Hero UX is the option to disable the app drawer entirely. An "always-on display" function presents a clock, calendar, and notifications even when the phone is in standby mode; this display automatically switches off when the proximity sensor detects the device is enclosed, such as inside a pocket. Samsung states this feature consumes approximately only half a percent of battery per hour. On the S7 Edge model, additional widget panels can be accessed at the screen’s edge in both "Edge Single" and larger "Edge Single Plus" formats. Notably, Android Marshmallow’s "adopted storage" capability is disabled and unavailable for use on these devices.
In September 2016, an update introduced support for Vulkan, a modern low-level graphics API. Later, in January 2017, Samsung rolled out an upgrade to Android 7.0 "Nougat", which replaced TouchWiz with the newer Samsung Experience 8.0, initially launched alongside the Galaxy S8. By mid-2018, both the S7 and S7 Edge received Android 8.0 "Oreo" paired with Samsung Experience 9.0; this marked the final major Android version officially available for these models. Official support for the Galaxy S7 series concluded in April 2020 following its last security update. However, through unofficial custom ROMs, users can install Android 10 featuring One UI 2.5 on these devices.
The multi-window functionality allows users to run multiple compatible apps simultaneously on-screen either as adjustable split views or floating pop-up windows—a user interface experience consistent with that found on the predecessor Galaxy S6 model.
Reception
The Galaxy S7 was met with largely favorable feedback, with reviewers applauding the comeback of the microSD card slot and water resistance features, while maintaining the high-quality metal construction introduced with the Galaxy S6. The design of the larger Galaxy S7 Edge received particular acclaim due to its curved edges, which help reduce the phone's width compared to flat-screen devices. This design makes the device more compact and easier to handle, especially when compared side-by-side with other smartphones sporting similar-sized displays, such as the iPhone 6s Plus (5.5-inch) and Google Nexus 6P (5.7-inch). Improvements were also made to the main rear camera; despite a reduction in megapixels from 16 MP to 12 MP, it features larger 1.4-micron pixels and faster autofocus than its predecessor on the Galaxy S6.
Some drawbacks were noted by critics, including the elimination of MHL support and the removal of the IR Blaster that was present in the Galaxy S6. Additionally, Samsung replaced its proprietary music and video player applications with Google Play’s streaming-based alternatives. Another point of contention was Samsung's choice to include a Micro USB charging port instead of adopting the USB Type-C standard.
Performance-wise, the Exynos variant demonstrated superior multitasking capabilities compared to the Qualcomm Snapdragon model. The Snapdragon version struggled to retain as many background apps and exhibited slower app-switching speeds. Conversely, when it came to graphically demanding applications and gaming, the Snapdragon chipset showed better performance.
Regarding repairability, iFixit assigned the Galaxy S7 a low score of 3 out of 10. The assessment highlighted extensive use of adhesive and glass panels that complicate repairs. Certain internal components like the daughterboard are nearly impossible to access without removing the screen—a process not intended by design—and replacing the glass without damaging the display is considered highly unlikely.
Sales
Within just two days following the official launch in South Korea, combined sales of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge reached roughly 100,000 units. During its first month on the market, the Galaxy S7 saw shipments ranging between 7 and 9 million units. Throughout 2016, total sales for the model amounted to approximately 48 million devices.
Among South Korea's 2016 smartphone offerings, the Galaxy S7 Edge emerged as the top-selling model. The Galaxy J3, positioned as an entry-level smartphone, ranked sixth in popularity for that year. In comparison, Apple's iPhone 6s achieved shipments near 60 million units, while Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge along with other models collectively shipped around 25 million units.
Known issues
Upon release, both Exynos and Snapdragon versions experienced video playback issues when recording at high frame rates, resulting in stuttering. A subsequent firmware update addressed this by resolving problems related to flickering during video playback after recording.
Certain Galaxy S7 Edge devices have exhibited a persistent vertical pink line on their displays, which appears sporadically and cannot be removed. Samsung has provided complimentary repair or replacement services for affected users in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg under warranty, provided the screen has no external damage.
Screen repairs for the Galaxy S7 are notably challenging due to the necessity of removing the AMOLED panel if the display is damaged.
On September 23, 2016, an incident occurred in a beauty salon located in Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines, where a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge began emitting smoke. Samsung announced that they were conducting an investigation into this matter.
Samsung Exynos 8890 Versions
- 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
All models support dual SIM functionality.
- SM-G9300 (Unlocked)
- SM-G9308 (China Mobile)
United States
The Galaxy S7 marks the first Galaxy S series device in which the hardware remains consistent across all US variants. Consequently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assigned a uniform device ID (A3LSMG930US) to every US model. Variations between these models are limited to firmware/software differences and minor external branding distinctions.
- 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 Versions
- 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
Dual SIM support is standard across all models.
- 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 Version
- SM-G891A (United States, AT&T)
See also
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