The Samsung Galaxy Fold was already a controversial smartphone well before review units of the device were sent out earlier this week. Much was made about how the phone itself was highly expensive — nearly $ 2,000 — and that it had a very visible crease in the middle of its display when in unfolded tablet mode.

However, it’s safe to say none of us were prepared for the rush of Galaxy Fold screen failure reports that hit the interwebs on Wednesday. Media outlets like CNBC, The Verge, and Bloomberg, along with popular YouTube tech reviewer MKBHD, all reported that the larger inside screen stopped working after only a day or two.

The Verge

While at least a couple of these units failed because a protective film on the display was removed, it looks like the screens on the Galaxy Fold units given to CNBC and The Verge failed because the displays themselves broke down. Check out this commentary from our colleague Scott Adam Gordon for more information.

Samsung has already announced it plans to “thoroughly inspect these units in person to determine the cause of the matter.” However, it also indicated that the April 26 launch date for the Galaxy Fold will go on as scheduled. This doesn’t sound like a good idea at all. It leaves Samsung open to potentially getting a lot more of these display failures with consumer units.

It’s impossible not to think about how Samsung responded to the battery failures on the Galaxy Note 7 when you think about this current situation. The good news is the Fold doesn’t seem to be at risk of causing fires and massive destruction to property because of its display issues. However, we are still talking about one of the most expensive phones ever made for general consumers. The fact that Samsung seems to be hell bent on moving forward with the Galaxy Fold launch seems irresponsible.

A damper on the foldable phone trend?

At the moment, we only have one other confirmed launch for a foldable phone in 2019: the Huawei Mate X. It’s design is different than the Galaxy Fold, with an outward folding form factor. However, some people seem to prefer its design over that of the Galaxy Fold. At the moment, the Huawei Mate X is due for release sometime this summer in Europe, for a price that’s actually more than the Galaxy Fold at 2,299 euros (~$ 2,600). However, we have already seen that Samsung has sold out of its first shipments of the nearly $ 2,000 Galaxy Fold so the high price of the Mate X might not be a huge obstacle.

Android Authority contacted Huawei for comment on the Galaxy Fold issues. The company declined to offer a comment.

Breaking in new technology and design features in a smartphone can sometimes be a hit-or-miss proposition. At the moment, it looks like Samsung is trying to rush out the Galaxy Fold before it’s fully ready, just to beat the Mate X to market. (To be fair, the Royole FlexPai actually came to market a few months before the Galaxy Fold as the first flexible display smartphone, but in a very limited capacity).

The Galaxy Fold needs a time out, for now

Samsung could survive a launch of the Galaxy Fold, at least financially, if it had to recall the device later, as Scott suggested in his article. But that doesn’t mean the company should release a faulty phone.

Samsung should take a step back and reevaluate its release strategy for the Galaxy Fold. There’s no harm in delaying the launch to make sure that the faulty units sent to media outlets were outliers. If the company decides to continue with the launch, and then many more screen failures are found by regular consumers, that will give Huawei a ton of free PR for the launch of the Mate X later this year. It could claim, and quite accurately, that it didn’t want to rush its foldable phone out until it was ready.

This whole situation with the Galaxy Fold is a bit of a shame. Despite the high current costs and the possible design issues, foldable phones could be one of the most promising trends in this industry. Making a device that works as a smaller phone and expands to a larger tablet for more serious work is a no-brainer.

It’s more important to be the best, not the first.

We have been promised foldable phones for literally years, but the practical and reliable technology to go along with that promise always seemed to be just out of reach. Samsung may have felt pressure to get the Galaxy Fold out earlier than planned due to the release of the Huawei Mate X. That pressure may have caused more hardware problems than Samsung could overcome at this stage.

As most people know, rushing things out before they are ready is almost never a good thing in any business endeavor. It’s sometimes a good idea to be first, but it’s always a good thing to be best.

Next: Expecting water resistance from the Galaxy Fold is ridiculous

Android Authority

Shutterstock

If you buy one of the newer Galaxy devices on T-Mobile, the self-proclaimed Un-carrier is giving you a second one for free – this Saturday only.

If you’ve been thinking of buying a new Galaxy phone with T-Mobile, you may want to go ahead and do that this Saturday, August 6^th. America’s fastest network will be offering a free Galaxy phone for those who purchase a qualifying Samsung Galaxy this Saturday only.

Dubbed the Saturday-Only Samsung Superphone Superdeal (gotta love some alliteration!), T-Mobile’s BOGOF deal covers the most beloved Galaxies from the recent years: Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, and Galaxy Note5.

As you may have noticed, the newest addition to the Galaxy family, the Galaxy Note7, is not on the list, so pre-ordering the iris-scanning phablet won’t get you a free smartphone sadly. However, the deal does include last year’s Note5 as well as Note7’s S-Pen-less siblings: the Galaxy S7 family.

Want all the fine prints? Well, here they are:

If you buy a qualifying Samsung Galaxy phone on T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Plan (EIP), and you add a line of service, you get a second Galaxy phone of equal or lesser value for free. According to T-Mobile, customers will be credited on their monthly bill over the 24-month EIP term for the full amount of the second device after paying any down payment, which will also be credited.

The deal is available at T-Mobile stores in the US and online for US customers.

With the Galaxy Note7 launching on America’s third largest network soon, T-Mobile probably wants to boost sales of all the older Galaxy models. Considering all of the qualifying devices still boast top-notch specs and considering T-Mobile’s recent victory, the Super-deal is indeed quite… super.

What are your thoughts on T-Mobile’s latest deal? Let us know if you plan on buying a qualifying Galaxy device on T-Mobile this Saturday!

Android Authority

The just released Galaxy Note 7 has become the first handset from Samsung to feature iris scanning technology, which could possibly pave the way for the company to do away with other security methods, such as PIN, pattern, simple swipe, and even fingerprint, even if that is quite unlikely.

With iris scanning arriving in the Galaxy Note 7, you don’t need to touch the device to verify your identity and can access the phone by just looking at the screen. Our tests with the iris scanner in the were pretty positive, particularly given the number of times we have seen the same security feature in other devices failing to respond, or proving unreliable.

For the uninitiated, iris scanning uses mathematical pattern recognition of images of the iris – the thin, colored ring of your eye that opens and shuts the pupil to regulate the amount of light reaching the retina. Just like your fingerprints, your iris pattern is also uniquely different and cannot be changed or replicated, making devices with iris scanning technology highly secure.

Now, in a post on its website, Samsung explains the hardware and technology behind its iris scanner in the Galaxy Note 7. According to the company, the device stores your registered iris information as an encrypted code safely in its hardware using its KNOX security platform. Whenever you want to access content, such as a protected app, the device first captures your iris pattern for recognition, extracts and digitizes it, and then proceeds to match it with the encrypted code to provide access. You can be sure that no one else apart from you can access your device in case it is stolen or lost because the Note 7 registers the iris information of only one person.

Samsung has made all this possible by including a dedicated iris camera for recognizing the composition of the user’s eyeballs. The dedicated iris camera uses a special image filter to receive and recognize the reflected images of the irises through an infrared light on the other end of that panel. The light emitted from the Galaxy Note 7’s display allows the scanner to receive data even in low light environments.

Along with iris scanning technology, the Galaxy Note 7 offers a separate Secure Folder for storing private apps and files that can be accessed using your fingerprint, iris scanner, pattern, or PIN. You can use the Secure Folder to keep your private and personal information, like your banking details, completely separate on the device, as well as block access to specific games or content for children. If this sounds familiar to you, that’s because it is similar to Samsung’s KNOX security platform found on its other devices that allows you to manage two different profiles for work and normal usage.

The Note 7 also brings Samsung Pass, a security feature which you can use to log into websites on the Samsung Internet Browser using biometric authentication without having to input your username and password. Samsung now plans to partner with major financial institutions such as Bank of America, Citibank and U.S. Bank to allow the integration of its iris scanner into mobile banking apps.
Even as Samsung looks to expand the use of its iris scanning technology, you can be sure that the company is likely to introduce the biometric security feature in other future devices, including its mid-range smartphones.

Related Note 7 content:

• Galaxy Note 7 S View Standing Cover and Battery Pack hands on
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 availability: what we know so far (Updated)
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy S7 Edge First Look
• Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5 first look: the difference a year makes
• Galaxy Note 7 color comparison: gold, silver, black & blue
• This is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Let us know in the comments below if you would like to see the Galaxy Note 7’s iris scanner in other Samsung smartphones!

Android Authority

Samsung’s Galaxy Note series is often held up as the pinnacle of phablet devices and now the Galaxy Note 7 has arrived with yet another selection of high-end specifications and new features. While not as heavily contested as the sub-5.5-inch flagship segment, there’s still plenty of consumer demand for large powerful smartphones. So let’s see how the Galaxy Note 7’s specifications stack up against some of the best in the field.

To enter into this contest, handsets much breach the 5.5-inch display mark. I’ve picked out the Nexus 6P, LG V10, Huawei Mate 8, and the Moto X Pure Edition (Style) as four of the best contenders. Those looking for slightly smaller handsets, might also find that the Xperia X5 Premium or the OnePlus 3 worth a look at.

Starting as we always do, you’ll instantly notice a lot of similarities in the display section of our table. Most manufacturers seem to have settled on 5.7-inch panels as the sweet spot for larger smartphones, and a 2560×1440 (QHD) resolution offers up a little extra clarity with these big displays. Display clarity will be equal across these models, but some more subtle color and viewing angle differences may be noticeable across the range. The only exception here Huawei’s Mate 8, which opts for a larger 6.0-inch display with a reduced 1080p resolution, which will result in slightly less crisp images. That said, the Mate 8 does cost a bit less.

We’ve started seeing a lot more smartphone manufacturers make use of more vibrant AMOLED panels this year, but the only competitor to match Samsung’s Note 7 display type at this size is the Nexus 6P. Of course, Samsung’s latest Super AMOLED technology offers up some minor color improvements over the 6P’s display. The other three phones on our list opt for LCD technology, which doesn’t quite offer the same pop or deep blacks as AMOLED displays. Samsung has also chosen to only offer its curved dual-edge AMOLED design with this year’s Note 7, which offers a sleek look and some extra software features that you can’t find in any of these rivals.

There’s a lot more diversity on our list when it comes to processing power, and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 is the first major flagship phablet to make use of Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon 820 processor. This processor is the chip of choice for many of 2016’s slightly smaller flagship phones, so you’ll find equal processing power inside the likes of the HTC 10, LG G5, and the Sony Xperia X Performance.

Benchmarks, for what they’re worth, show that Snapdragon 820 is the fastest chip around. However, most of the extra performance come into play thanks to its improved Adreno 530 graphics chip. CPU performance, and therefore day to day tasks, should perform pretty much identically across all of these handsets, although the Snapdragon 808’s lower high performance core count may hurt it in some instances.

Looking at the GPUs, there’s quite a performance gap between the Snapdragon 808’s mid-tier Adreno 418 and the Kirin 950’s Mali-T880 MP4. Gamers will definitely see extra performance from the newer 820 chip, and it even hands in notably more grunt than the Snapdragon 810. Given the very high resolution of these display panels, this GPU will certainly aid the Note 7’s performance and offers a major boost over last year’s Galaxy Note 5 (Exynos 7420).

Rounding off our look at the main processing components is memory. 3 or 4GB of RAM is plenty enough for multitasking, and the Galaxy Note 7 sits at the top of the group, along with the V10 and the more expensive Mate 8 model. The Note 7 only offers one internal storage option of 64GB, but that’s still a typical value across all of these phones and lends itself to plenty of space for pictures, movies and music. Samsung’s choice of fast UFS 2.0 memory might see apps and large files open up a little more quickly than its competitors that use eMMC. If 64GB isn’t enough, all of these phones apart from the Nexus 6P can be supplemented with a microSD card.

See also: Samsung switches to LPDDR4 and UFS 2.0 memory, but what does it mean?72

It’s impossible to judge final camera quality without doing a head to head shootout, but based on the specifications we have a pretty good idea about how the Galaxy Note 7 should perform. The 12 megapixel dual pixel f/1.7 sensor matches the Galaxy S7’s specifications, which was an excellent performer when we last put it to the test.

Opting for larger pixel sizes at the expense of some resolution has also worked out well the the Nexus 6P. Although we were still pleased with the results produced by the more traditional higher resolution LG V10 and Moto X Style cameras too. Video shooters will want to pick from the Note 7, V10 or the Mate 8 as they come equipped with optical image stabilization. The only camera that we were so-so about at review time was the Huawei Mate 8’s. Front facing cameras are more varied still, and Samsung hasn’t opted to catch up with the 8 megapixels offered by the Nexus 6P or the Huawei Mate 8.

Moving into the handsets’ extras, Samsung again shows the industry how to squeeze as many features as possible into a smartphone. Fingerprint scanners, NFC, and some form of fast charging technology have become the standard, and only the Moto X Style drops the fingerprint scanner from the list. Android Pay will work on all of these handsets, thanks to NFC support. However, Samsung Pay is still a cut above thanks to its universally compatible MST technology.

Samsung also remains the only manufacturer to support two wireless charging standards by default and has also joined other manufacturers by offering a USB Type-C interface with the Note 7. Although above the 5.5-inch size, only the Note 7 and Nexus 6P are on the cutting edge of USB port technology right now. Speaking of power, the Note 7, Mate 8, and the Nexus 6P offer up the largest batteries. There’s little excuse for falling below 3,300mAh in these supersize handsets, and customers  can expect slightly better battery life than the V10 or Moto X Style.

There aren’t many gimmicks to be found in these top-of-the-line models, although some consumers may not find too much use for the secondary display properties of either the Galaxy Note 7’s dual-edge display or the secondary ticker display on the front of the LG V10. Then again, some consumers firmly swear by these features, and Samsung did a good job at refining its Edge software with the S7, which is now available with the Note 7. There’s also some improved stylus support and extra features for those who find this long running Note feature particularly useful. It’s also worth mentioning the Note 7 adds waterproofing to the mix, following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S7 series.

Finally, we come to the much more subjective element of design and build. The Mate 8 and Nexus 6P cater well to those who prefer metal build materials, while Samsung has chosen to stick with its slick glass design. The LG V10 is also an interesting option thanks to its shock absorbent casing. Impressively, Samsung has produced a large phone that weighs a bit less than its competitors. The Note 7 is around 10g lighter than its closest rivals and 22g lighter than the hefty LG V10.

Wrap Up

As we have all come to expect from Samsung’s Galaxy Note range, the latest edition continues to refine an already well polished experience. The Note 7’s extras continue to help it stand out just a smidgen above the rest of the pack, complete with top-of-the-line hardware that we’ve come to expect. That being said, there are some very competitive pieces of hardware on offer from late last year, which can now be grabbed at very compelling price points. Especially when we consider that Samsung’s hasn’t fundamentally changed anything major since last year’s Note 5.

Of course, the successor to the LG V10 is right around the corner, and it might give the Samsung a run for its money. Do you think that Samsung is still on top of the phablet market with its Galaxy Note 7?

Android Authority

If the Samsung Galaxy J1 were one of your high school classmates, it wouldn’t be the cheerleader who went on to get a doctorate in nanotech engineering and who dabbles in modeling when she’s not globetrotting with her rugged photographer husband. No, you’re thinking of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The Galaxy J1 is that good ‘ol boy who made solid B’s, married his high school sweetheart, and who has developed a reputation as an honest mechanic in your hometown. He might not have taken on the world, but he’s doing right by the people around him in his own humble way.

See also: Samsung Galaxy J series helps Samsung secure foothold in India8

That’s the Galaxy J1. It’s a solid entry-level device that does away with flash and flair in favor of nuts-and-bolts reliability on a budget. And now this wallet-friendly smartphone is available at major retailers and Samsung Experience Stores in Canada. You can get it in any color so long as that color is black.

Let’s take a look at what you’re getting when you throw in your lot with the J1. The screen is 4.3 inches and and has a resolution of 800 x 480. The 1.2GHz Dual-Core Cortex A7 CPU is powered by half a gig of RAM, and it’s got 4GB of internal storage that can thankfully be expanded with microSD. The rear camera is 5MP, and the selfie-snapper is 2MP. For a device in the $ 100 to $ 150 range, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck, honestly. Although it’s not for everyone, the device is proving to be very popular in developing smartphone markets, and it might even help Samsung secure its foothold in India.

What are your thoughts on the humble Galaxy J1? Although it’s intended as an entry level device, it seems like it would also make a good compliment to a more robust daily driver. If you’ve owned this device, let us know what your experience was like in the comments below. You might just help someone make a better purchasing decision.

See also: Best cheap Android phones (March 2016)358

Android Authority

Here’s some good news for Big Red Galaxy S6 owners. Verizon has announced that it will begin rolling out its Android Marshmallow update for its branded Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones today.

As I’m sure you’re already aware, the update packs in a slew of new core Android features. The list includes Doze power management, Google Now on Tap contextual search, and greater control to grant and deny app permissions. Samsung has also packed the “latest security patches” into the update, so that presumably means the March fixes, along with some miscellaneous performance optimizations.

As for Samsung’s half of the update, there’s the new look TouchWiz user interface complete with tweaks and improvements, such as the revamped notification panel. There’s also the new web browser with ad-block support. Not forgetting that the Galaxy S6 Edge is now updated with the much more functional edge panel, which can now be used to create shortcuts for a ton of apps and other useful features.

See also: Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates roundup – March 31, 2016136

As with all carrier roll outs, the update will be making its way out across the country in waves. Although you can always try to manually download the update via a tap (or many) of the software update button under Settings > About device. The update will begin rolling out today, April 1st, so keep an eye out for that notification.

Android Authority

Drop tests are out of fashion, scratch tests are boring, and you can only watch so many videos of smartphones getting shot with assault rifles. Luckily, YouTubers come up with new ways to ruin perfectly good electronics all the time and now SlickWraps is joining the fun with a video titled “400 Ton Hydraulic Press VS Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.”

Yeah, you know where this is going. That poor Galaxy S7 Edge won’t live to tell the tale. That’s not surprising. But you know what is surprising? How dramatic the whole thing is. There’s smoke, and sparks, and flames, and whistles, and bangs, and plastic mush oozing out in slow motion. There’s even black fluid running down the press, and it looks a lot like blood, and OMG, what did you do to that innocent Galaxy S7 Edge, you sadists!

If we need to say it, don’t try anything like this at home. Those fluids and gases you see in the video come from the battery, and they can be corrosive and toxic. No amount of “Febreze or something” can protect you from their effects.

Android Authority

Let there be LIGHT…in the darkness. But make sure it’s ambient and not draining the battery.

When Samsung launched its Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge last month, it brought forth a fortitude of features. Some were a triumphant return to form such as the inclusion of water resistance (from the Galaxy S5) and microSD card support. Others were entirely new, such as the Always On Display feature. Indeed it is this last in the list that Samsung has taken to talking about today.

In a post on its Samsung Newsroom site, the Korean conglomerate has extolled the virtues of its new screen-off-spectacle in a piece titled, fittingly, “How the Always On Display of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge Keeps You on Track”. The piece begins with a brief overview of the technology, followed by an explanation of its development.

As per Samsung’s comments, the AOD “allows users to check the time and date with ease, and also keep an eye on missed calls and message alerts, even when the phone is not in use and just on standby. And, with its variety of clocks, calendars and themes, the AOD even offers customization options.”

Perhaps the more interesting part, however, is the aforementioned history, where Samsung reveals the AOD functionality began development about three years ago. The problem of course, was in part one of power consumption. To battle such a barrage of battery bleed, several solutions were reached: (1) making liberal use of black colors which AMOLED displays don’t need to light, (2) reducing power consumption in sleep mode to 1/5 of previous models, and (3) applying a new hardware algorithm called Smart Power Saving.

The end result is that the hardware itself consumes power at different rates depending on if the phone is powered on, or in sleep mode. Samsung uses an analogy of how a car driver can opt between 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive depending on the road conditions. Likewise, with respect to the AOD itself:

Power consumption rates vary depending on the information users want to check via the AOD. The display only uses eight colors when it displays simple information, including the time and date. If more images or colors are to be displayed on the screen, then bit depth is increased to 16 million colors, requiring a little more power. This change happens automatically and seamlessly by AOD software and hardware in a harmonious way.

The last part of the piece focuses on yet another way the device makes smart use of energy efficiency: by decreasing the frame rate. The AOD has a lower refresh rate compared to normal operation. This, coupled with the relatively small AOD image itself means that battery power is preserved. Also in play are “special proximity, RGB light and accelerometer sensors work to automatically disable the AOD in situations when users are unable to see the screen, such as when the phone is in a pocket or a bag.” This also lets the AOD itself automatically adjust its brightness.

For the full feature, be sure to visit Samsung’s website here and read all the diligent details.

Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy S7 hype is calming down and it is time to make a decision. Will you go for the Samsung Galaxy S7 / Galaxy S7 Edge, or is the more budget-friendly Nexus 6P still the better bet for your needs? These are two (well… three) handsets of high interest, so we had to put them head to head to find out which is the best handset for your money.

• Galaxy S7 Edge Review
• Galaxy S7 Review
• Nexus 6P Review

I have been playing around with these handsets for some time and it’s time to give you my full thoughts. Shall we get started?

Design

These are all great-looking handsets, but their designs are vastly different from each other. Size is one of the main things to consider; the Nexus 6P towers over the Galaxy S7 Edge, and even more so with the smaller Galaxy S7. The Nexus 6P is also thinner in terms of width, largely thanks to its extensive top and bottom bezels. While both handsets are relatively ergonomically friendly, the larger bezels do make the Nexus 6P a lot tougher to use in one hand.

The vast difference in the size is largely due to the screen size; the Nexus 6P is the largest at 5.7 inches, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge sports a 5.5-inch screen, and the regular S7 is significantly smaller with its 5.1 inch display.

As mentioned above, all phones here are beautiful, offering aluminum frames. But the Nexus 6P’s metal body does extend all the way to the back, while the Galaxy S7 handsets have a Gorilla Glass 4 backing. The curved back on the Galaxy S7 smartphones looks gorgeous, and it happens to make for a very comfortable feel in the hand.

The one thing I will say is that glass will accumulate plenty of fingerprints, and it can become very slippery in the hand. This extra slippery texture, mixed with the fragility of the glass on the front, kind of creates a recipe for disaster. Thankfully, Gorilla Glass 4 is pretty strong and will likely hold up against minor drops and scratches.

The Nexus 6P’s aluminum housing looks just as beautiful, in its own way. It’s very smooth in texture, but will not fly off your hands as much as the slippery Galaxy phones. And fingerprints never really show up, at least on the silver model I have been touting for a while. Google’s flagship gadget can scratch pretty easily, though.

The 6P is a bit thinner than the Galaxies at 7.3 mm, vs the S7’s 7.9 mm and S7 Edge’s 7.7 mm. Sadly, the 6P’s camera does protrude a lot more from the rear, but it’s not the end of the world as it’s still manageable and it does have glass protecting the camera lens from scratching and damage.

But of course, the biggest story here is the curved display on the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. It is mostly there for aesthetics, even if it does serve some features. And it certainly works; the Galaxy S7 Edge will definitely turn more hands than the Nexus 6P, as well as the regular S7.

The way this curved glass reflects light and gives an illusion of a bezel-less look makes the S7 Edge, in my opinion, the best designed phone on the market. And even without this curved display on the standard S7, the thin bezels and minimal reflective backing still has the 6P beat.

Display

Whether you like small, medium or large handsets, there will likely be a perfect size for you here. As I already mentioned, the Nexus 6P is the largest of the lot at 5.7 inches, which will be great for those who prefer the bigger handsets. You can go a little smaller with the 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 Edge, or settle for a more traditional size with the S7 at 5.1 inches.

That’s really where the differences end here, at least in terms of the screens. All phones have a QHD (2560×1440) resolution on an AMOLED panel. In fact, the Nexus 6P’s screens were supplied by Samsung, so these phones will all look very similar. The Nexus 6P colors are a tad warmer, but just barely. I will have to give the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge the upper hand here, though, as these do seem to have brighter screens.

Otherwise, both displays look gorgeous, with vibrant hues and punchy colors. Of course, there’s also the curved Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and its morphed display. This creates a very cool effect when moving apps around or watching videos, but it can get annoying in certain situations. The edge can distort images and reflect unwanted light at times. Regardless, it does create a cool 3D-like effect.

All the displays here are beautiful, with the only big differences being the actual sizes. Big movie watchers or YouTube viewers are going to love the larger displays on the 6P and S7 edge, while some may just prefer the one-handed use of the S7.

Hardware

There’s a very forgivable reason for those large bezels on the Nexus 6P – dual front speakers. These are amazing; one of the best speakers on any phone right now. The Nexus 6P speakers point right at you, which is ideal for any type of media consumption. They also get very loud and clear, which we all like.

Meanwhile, Both Galaxy handsets have the speaker on the bottom. This makes for sound that not only points away from you, but can be easily muffled when holding the handset. And in terms of sound quality these are not very good either. In fact, I would say they are a lot worse than last year’s Galaxy S6 speakers.

There is also a very valid reason for this downside, though. Keep in mind the new Samsung flagships are water resistant. There is a protective coating over the speaker, making for a muffled sound. Yes, there are no annoying flaps protecting the ports this time around. These are protected from the inside. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge can survive under 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

You can find fingerprint readers on all 3 phones, but there is a clear difference in placement. I happen to be a fan of the NExus 6P’s, as it is located on the back of the phone, in an area where your phone rests all the time. The Nexus 6P’s scanner is also a little faster, although both are among the fastest in the market. You likely won’t notice much of a difference.

A big surprise this year was Samsung’s use of the mciro USB standard, as opposed to adopting the new USB Type C port. The Nexus 6P does use the newer technology, and can take advantage of its faster transfer speeds and reversible port. This could be a good thing for those of you who would rather not buy a bunch of new cables, though.

A welcomed addition on Samsung’s smartphones is the inclusion of microSD support. The slot can be accessed by pulling out the SIM tray, and you can use cards with up to 200 GB of storage. Curiously, when you pull out the Nexus 6P’s SIM tray it seems like the plan was also to include microSD support, but this never made it to market.

Also, it’s worth noting that while you get on screen navigation buttons with the Nexus 6p, you have 2 capacitive buttons on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Which one you like is a matter of preference. 

Performance

2016 is upon us, so it’s obvious to expect the newer Samsung devices to come with better specs. Samsung is using a Snapdragon 820 processor, while the Nexus 6P takes advantage of last year’s Snapdragon 810. Samsung’s phones also have 4 GB of RAM, while the Huawei-made Nexus 6P only sports 3 GB.

When it comes to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and and S7 Edge, both phones have the same internals, save for battery capacity. The largest Samsung device offers 3,600 mAh of juice, while the standard S7 comes with a 3,000 mAh battery. Meanwhile, the Nexus 6P sports a 3,450 mAh battery.

Geekbench gave the Galaxy devices a higher score, beating the Nexus 6P at around 5,500. Antutu also has the Samsung products above the Nexus 6P by a large margin at a score of about 130,000. Although the Nexus 6P is running pure Android, the S7 and S7 Edge’s faster processing package allows for apps to open and load faster. The only area the 6P is faster in is the opening of the recent apps screen. Surprisingly, RAM management seems to be about the same, despite the Nexus 6P having a whole GB of RAM less.

Galaxy S7 Edge performance on AnTuTu

Battery life is really good on all devices, but if you want your phone to last the longest possible you will definitely prefer the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The Nexus 6P would last me all day, with about 4:15 of screen-on time. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge will last me all day too, but if I stretch my day out very long, I can manage close to 5 and a half hours of screen-on time. 

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S7 lasts me for 3-4 hours of screen-on time, but that is still a huge improvement over last year’s Galaxy S6. It will mostly last me all day, but not every time: there were days where it died about an hour before bed time.

That being said, the Galaxy S7 Edge is a in a whole other league when it comes to battery life; as we covered in our Galaxy S7 Edge review, the battery life on Samsung’s latest flagship can exceed 8 to 9 hour’s screen on time! All three phones are capable of fast charging, however. Even with their different charging cables, the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge is capable of wireless charging, while the Nexus 6P is not.

Software

Another area where these phones couldn’t be any more different is software. The Nexus exists to showcase Google’s software, as well as where the Search Giant wants to take Android. These phones have no skins or tweaks; it’s just Android as it naturally is. There is another great advantage you will get with the Nexus 6P; Nexus devices are always the first to get updates, and they are pushed straight from Google’s servers.

With Samsung devices – along with all other non-Nexus devices – you’ll have to wait plenty of time to get your updates. These Samsung cellphones are flagships, so they get priority, but the wait is still usually months long. For now they all run Android Marshmallow, though.

The Nexus 6P offers a lot of Material Design elements, such as the pull-down notification shade. Simply swipe down once to show the notifications and twice to expand your shortcuts. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S7 only requires one swipe down to show everything.

One cool feature the Samsung devices have is the ability to view multiple apps at once, but that is something Nexus 6P users will also be able to do later this year, when Android N is released. As it stands, the Nexus 6P is all about simplicity, which is great, but also means features can be lacking. Meanwhile, the Sasmung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are loaded with all kinds of helpful tools.

The Galaxy S7 Edge is especially unique, thanks to its curved sides and added functionality. Edge Panels allow you to customize a special area that can be pulled from the side. Here you can find shortcuts to weather, news, mail, taking selfies and more. Furthermore, People Edge will also allow you to quickly get in touch with your favorite contacts. This make for a very nice way to organize your phone without cluttering your home screen with all kinds of widgets and shortcuts.

Always On Display is another feature found in this year’s Galaxy phones. Even when your Galaxy S7’s screen is off, a portion will stay on, showing you the time, date or calendar. The Nexus 6P has Ambient Display, which I prefer a lot more as it actually lights up the phone in a black and white mode as notifications come in, allowing you to see incoming notifications without powering on your screen.

Touchwiz is known for it’s sluggish nature, but this year it has been improved by a decent amount. Once you disable certain laggy apps and widgets, like the Briefing screen, you have a very solid software experience. Even though stock android isn’t tinkered with, it’s not without it’s freezes and crash sometimes, especially when using certain apps that involve the camera.

Camera

As it stands, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Nexus 6P have some of the best cameras in the smartphone market. This makes it a very tough call to say which is better, as both cameras will create amazing photos. This means it’s all really up to your own preference.

This year Samsung lowered the megapixel count from 16 to 12, while making the pixels larger to allow more light in. The NExus 6P uses a similar technique. In fact, Google’s phone actually has bigger pixels.

The main thing to take away here is that the Galaxy S7 seems to take much more vibrant shots, with great highlight control and saturated colors. Meanwhile, the Nexus 6P seems to be better at exposing shots properly. The Nexus will show more details in bright areas like skies and clouds. The Nexus 6P does seem to have more issues with shadows and you will find more detail in the highlights, but when things get darker you start losing quality.

You will also notice the Samsung Galaxy S7 tends to offer more post-processing sharpening. This vibrance and sharpness will make it seem as though the S7 produces better images at first glance, but closer eamination will show the Nexus 6P takes shots with more information.

Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge camera samples

If you are a fan of full manual mode, you will also prefer the Samsung Galaxy S7, which does offer that nifty treat. You can adjust the focal length, ISO, white balance and more with the Galaxy S7, while the NExus 6P doesn’t offer those capabilities.

Both cameras do a similar job when taking low-light photos, but things get really different once you switch HDR on (or HDR+, as it’s called in the Nexus 6P). The Nexus 6P gets rid of noise and boosts colors to make for gorgeous shots. And yes, the Nexus 6P does seem to be better at low-light photography.

But if you are a fan of selfies, you will really enjoy the Samsung Galaxy S7’s 5 MP camera. This is because that wide-angle lens is phenomenal. You will begin to lose a lot of detail once you move to an area that is not outdoors, though. Meanwhile, the Nexus 6P’s front shooter manages low light very well.

Now, with video the S7/ S7 Edge is hands down the winner. The Nexus 6P falls apart in video mode, stuttering to find the right exposure and focus. The Galaxy S7’s shot is very smooth thanks to its optical image stabilization. Also, the Galaxy S7 has the fastest focusing speeds on any smartphone, locking on to objects instantly, where the 6P will take a longer time, and sometimes just won’t even bother trying to focus.

Nexus 6P camera samples

It’s hard to say who’s a winner. In image detail and exposure, the Nexus 6P is definitely better, although when it comes to image control, color representation and video, the Galaxy S7 is the winner.

Final thoughts

So… which one is the better phone? This is likely one of the toughest comparisons we have done. These are said to be the best phones you can get at the moment, and they happen to be similar in many aspects.

The larger phones offer much better battery life, but the Galaxy S7 Edge is definitely the winner in this department. Furthermore, the Galaxy S7 seems to offer the best performance, but not by too much. They are all beautifully designed, but then again, I happen to prefer the S7 Edge’s looks.

One thing is for sure: hard-core Android fans will enjoy the stock Android experience the Nexus 6P has to offer, along with timely updates. The Nexus 6P also offers a USB Type-C, which is cool if you are into the new standard, but the lack of a microSD might give the upper hand to the Samsung Galaxy S7. I still think the Nexus 6P takes the crown for best smartphone picture quality, but at the same time it lacks manual controls and is pretty mediocre at video.

While the Nexus 6P seems to be perfect in some areas, it lacks in others. And while the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge may not be perfect in any areas, there is not an area to be found that is anything less than fantastic.

Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone or tablet each and every Sunday!

A big congratulations to last week’s winner of the Nexus 6P giveaway: Joshua B. (USA). Enjoy your new Nexus 6P!

This week we are giving away the brand new Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge!

Introduced at MWC 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, Samsung’s latest flagship offerings include the Galaxy S7 Edge. The larger of two variants of the newest TouchWiz enabled phones, the Galaxy S7 Edge is equipped with the latest Snapdragon 820 SoC, 4GB of RAM, a 3,600mAh battery and so much more. With a 5.5-inch display the real trick is Samsung’s use of two curved edges. We’ve seen the edge design and extra functionality before on Samsung phones, and the Galaxy S7 Edge takes that side-bar to a whole new level.

More Galaxy S7 Edge Content:

• Galaxy S7 edge review
• Galaxy S7 vs LG G5
• Samsung Pay – Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S7 Edge cases

Enter giveaway

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge International Giveaway!

More International Giveaways:

• Best Android phone of March 2016 giveaway – androidauthority.com
• Bose SoundTrue 2 giveaway – soundguys.com
• iPad Mini 4 Giveaway – tabtimes.com

Winners Gallery

Winners Gallery on Google+

Terms & Conditions

• The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
• If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
• We are not responsible for lost shipments.
• You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
• We are not responsible for any duties or import fees that you may incur.
• Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
• We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
• This giveaway is operated by AndroidAuthority.
• The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.

Android Authority