The key difference between Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6S is that Galaxy S7 comes with a better camera, better display, and larger battery capacity whereas the iPhone 6S is more portable and comes with a larger built-in storage which can perform faster when compared with expandable storage.
If we are to say there are two smartphone giants out there, the Apple iPhone and the Samsung S series devices will be on the top without a doubt. The competition between the two has increased year by year. One of the efforts of Samsung to outperform its competition is by introducing its latest flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S7, which comes with many significant improvements than its predecessor. The camera found on the new device has seen an upgrade which is not in the detail but in the inner components that affect the picture quality of the device. The other significant improvements include the large battery capacity, water and dust resistance, and micro SD card support.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Review – Features and Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is due to be released into the market on the 11th of Mach 2016. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is also due to be released on the same date.
Design
From a design point of view, there is not much change when comparing it with the Samsung Galaxy S6, its predecessor. It comes with the same 5.1 inches screen and the aluminum build with the screen being protected by Gorilla Glass4. The device looks spectacular as it has been designed for precision and the finish of the device is stunning. If you are to look into the device carefully, you will notice a subtle change where the back edges have been curved towards the frame which is similar to the one found on the Galaxy Note 5’s body. This will give the user the ability to grip the device firmly and will also be comfortable in the hand. The front of the device houses the proximity sensor, front-facing camera, and the call speaker. At the bottom of the device is the home button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner. The side of the device comes with the volume control button and the power button.
The thickness of the latest device has seen an increase mainly due to the larger battery it comes with. Even then the thickness can be said to be negligible. As a whole, the design is elegant, simple and fresh and can be said to be unbeatable as with the design of the Samsung Galaxy S6 as well.
The bottom of the phone comes with the speakers, the micro USB port, and the mini jack, which will help the device to attach a headphone. Another key feature that comes with the device is it is water and dust resistant and has IP68 certification. The device also comes with a fingerprint scanner and NFC support. It also has useful health features like heart rate monitor and S Health fitness application.
Display
The size of the display is 5.1 inches and is powered by a QHD unit with a QHD resolution of 2560 X 1440 pixels. This is one of the brightest screens that can be found on a smartphone device. The screen is also able to produce great color with deep blacks and natural white on its images. Some users do not prefer the high level of saturation the screen produces, but this is to be decided according to personal preference.
Processor
The SoC that comes with the device is Samsung’s very own Exynos 8890 chipset. It comes with octa cores where four cores are capable of clocking speeds of up to 2.3 GHz. The remaining four are able to clock a speed of 1.6 GHz. Applications are able to run on the device very smoothly, and it is astonishing to see such a small phone being able to pack such a punch.
Storage
The device has a micro SD card slot and an SIM card slot on the top of it. The expandable storage which had disappeared from its predecessors has been reintroduced.
Always on Display
As with some of the LG devices, the Always on feature enables part of the device’s display to be turned on all the time to show the clock or any other type of notification. This in return will not affect the battery as much as only a selected number of pixels will be turned on.
IP68 Certification
The device also comes with dust and water resistance. The Samsung Galaxy S7 can be immersed in water to a depth of 1m for 30 minutes like the Sony Xperia devices. This is a major differentiator from its predecessor.
Vulkan
Now Samsung provides the user with the feature where he or she could record or take screenshots while interacting in gaming. Another feature known as game launcher conserves energy while gaming by reducing background processes. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge are the first devices to come with a 3D rendering API known as Vulkan. This is expected to improve the control over the graphics on the device to make for a solid gaming experience.
Camera
The camera sensor on the rear of the device protrudes only by 0.46 mm, which is really significant when compared with the camera sensor on the Samsung Galaxy S6. This means that the device can be laid flat on the surface. Although the resolution of the camera sensor has been reduced to 12 MP from 16 MP, it comes with an improved aperture of f/1.7. This will help in low light capture and when the camera loses detail when capturing the distance. The camera is also powered by optical image stabilization and dual pixel technology. The focusing part of the camera also performed significantly faster in low light conditions. Due to the larger pixel and sensor size, it is able to capture more light than the Samsung Galaxy S6 which improved photography significantly in low light.
The front facing camera also comes with an aperture of f/1.7 and a resolution of 5MP. It also supports fast and slow motion video as well as 4K videography.
Memory
The memory that comes with the device is 4GB. This memory is able to handle any multitasking thrown at it as well as gaming that it needs to support.
Operating System
The operating system which powers the device is the Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 which has the Touch Wiz user interface as like its recent predecessors.
Battery Life
The battery capacity of the device is 3000mAh. This high battery life coupled with Android Marshmallow 6.0, Doze mode and a more efficient 8890 processor is expected to extend the life of the device up to 2 days.
Samsung Pay
From the home screen, when the finger is dragged upwards, it lets the user access the Samsung Pay.
Apple iPhone 6S Review – Features and Specifications
Design
The Apple iPhone 6S comes with the dimensions of 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm, and the weight of the device stands at 143 g. The Body is made up aluminum, and the device is available in Gray, Pink, and Gold.
Display
The size of the display is 4.7 inches, and the resolution of it is 750 X 1334 pixels. The pixel density of the screen is 326 ppi. And the screen technology used to power the device is IPS LCD. The screen to body ratio stands at 65.71 %. The peak brightness that can be produced by the screen stands at 500 nits. The screen also comes with features like 3D touch, proximity sensor, and a light sensor. The screen is protected by a scratch-resistant glass and also comes with the Oleophobic coating.
Processor
The SoC on the device is the Apple A9, which has a dual-core processor. The processor is. designed according to 64-bit architecture. The graphics department is powered by Power VR GT7600 GPU.
Storage
The built-in storage on the device is 128 GB, which is enough to store today’s high capacity media like videos and HD photos.
Camera
The rear camera comes with a sensor resolution of 12 MP and is ably assisted by a Dual LED flash to brighten up the scene. The aperture of the lens stands at f/2.2, and the focal length of the same is 29mm. The sensor size of the camera is 1 / 3 inches and the pixel size on the sensor is 1.22 microns. The front-facing camera on the phone comes with a resolution of 5 MP, which is also featured by High Dynamic Range Mode.
Memory
The memory on the device is 2 GB, which is able to run multitasking and application in a smooth manner.
Operating System
The operating system that powers the device is the iOS 9 which will provide for an efficient and effective user experience.
Connectivity
Connectivity can be achieved with the help of Wifi, Bluetooth, NFC, UMA for wifi calling, Tethering, OTA Sync, and AirDrop.
Battery Life
The battery capacity on the device is 1715mAh, which will enable the device to last throughout the day. The battery is not user replaceable which may not be preferred by some users.
Additional/ Special Features
The device comes with 3D touch which is a unique feature that is only available with Apple iPhone right now.
Availability
The device was officially announced on the 9th of September 2015.
What is the difference between Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6S
Design
Samsung Galaxy S7: The Samsung Galaxy S7 is powered by the Android Marshmallow operating system. Its dimensions include 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm and the weight of the device is 152 g. The body of the device is made up of aluminum and glass. The key features include Water and dust resistance and fingerprint scanner. The colors that the device is available with are Black, Gray, White, and Gold.
Apple iPhone 6S: The iPhone 6S is powered by the iOS 9. It dimensions include 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm and the weight of the device is 143 g. The body of the device is made up of aluminum. The colors available with the device are Gray, Pink, and Gold.
When both the devices are placed side by side, both devices look impressive. They appear distinct with the individual devices possessing their own unique designs. Both the devices are refined and are stylish. The iPhone 6S is the slimmer and lighter of the two. The iPhone 6S does not attract fingerprint as with the Samsung Galaxy S7 rear. But the Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with a few advantages over the iPhone 6S. The water and dust resistance is a cool feature, which can protect the phone from rain and accidental spills. Both devices come with a fingerprint scanner, which can operate on 360 degrees and has been embedded into the devices. Both the devices feel comfortable in the hand. The Samsung comes with a larger display, which may be preferred by users due to its larger dimensions.
Display
Samsung Galaxy S7: The Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with a display which is 5.1 inches, and the resolution of the screen is 1440 X 2560 pixels. The pixel density of the display is 576 ppi and the technology used on it is super AMOLED. The screen to body ratio of the device is 70.63 %.
Apple iPhone 6S: The iPhone 6S comes with a display which is 4.7 inches, and the resolution of the screen is 750 x 1334 pixels. The pixel density of the display is 326 ppi and the technology used on it is IPS LCD. The screen to body ratio of the device is 65.71 %. The peak brightness that can be achieved by the display is 500 nits. The screen is also able to support 3D Touch.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 screen is an impressive one that comes with vivid colors, which are saturated. The resolution is also impressive, and the display comes with a high pixel density as well. The displayed images will be more detailed than that comes with the iPhone 6S. The Samsung Galaxy S7 also comes with the new Always On Display, which allows the display to show basic information without affecting the life of the battery.
Even though numerically the display on the iPhone may seem way behind, the screen on the device is pleasing to the eye. It also comes with a unique and clever feature known as 3D touch.
Camera
Samsung Galaxy S7: The Samsung Galaxy S7 rear camera comes with a resolution of 12 MP and comes with an LED flash. The aperture on the lens is f/1.7, and the sensor size of the camera is 1 / 2.5 inches. The pixel size on the sensor is 1.4 microns and is powered by optical image stabilization. The front-facing camera on the device comes with a resolution of 5MP.
Apple iPhone 6S: The iPhone 6S rear camera comes with a resolution of 12 MP and comes with a Dual LED flash. The aperture on the lens is f/2.2, and the sensor size of the camera is 1 / 3 inches. The pixel size on the sensor is 1.22 microns and is powered by optical image stabilization. The front-facing camera on the device comes with a resolution of 5MP.
Although both rear and front-facing camera come with the same resolution, the Samsung Galaxy S7 on paper has the better camera with a wider aperture and larger pixels, which will increase its performance in low light. The same camera also comes with optical image stabilization and Dual Pixel for super-fast focusing.
Hardware
Samsung Galaxy S7: The Samsung Galaxy S7 is powered by an Exynos 8 Octa 8890 processor that comes with an octa-core processor capable of clocking a speed of 2.3 GHz. The Graphics is powered by ARM Mali-T880MP14 and the memory on the device is 4GB. The built-in storage is 64 GB, and it can be further expanded to 200Gb with the help of a micro SD card.
Apple iPhone 6S: The iPhone 6S is powered by Apple A9 APL0898 processor, which comes with a Dual-core processor that is capable of clocking a speed of 1.84 GHz. The Graphics is powered by PowerVR GT7600 and the memory on the device is 2GB. The built-in storage is 128 GB.
Both devices are powered by very powerful and efficient processors. Both devices can be expected to perform well in multi-tasking although the iPhone comes with less RAM. The Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with an option to expand storage which was disappearing from recent flagship devices. The built-in storage on the iPhone is higher but does not support expandable storage, but the internal storage can be expected to perform faster.
Battery Capacity
Samsung Galaxy S7: The Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with a battery capacity of 3000mAh.
Apple iPhone 6S: The iPhone 6S comes with a battery capacity of 1715mAh.
Galaxy S7 vs. iPhone 6S – Summary
| Samsung Galaxy S7 | Apple iPhone 6S | Prefered | |
| Operating System | Android (6.0) | iOS (9) | – |
| Dimensions | 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm | Galaxy S7 |
| Weight | 152 g | 143 g | iPhone 6S |
| Body | Glass, Aluminum | Aluminum | iPhone 6S |
| Water Dust Proof | Yes | No | Galaxy S7 |
| Display Size | 5.1 inches | 4.7 inches | Galaxy S7 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels | 750 x 1334 pixels | Galaxy S7 |
| Pixel Density | 576 ppi | 326 ppi | Galaxy S7 |
| Screen Technology | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD | Galaxy S7 |
| Screen to Body Ratio | 70.63 % | 65.71 % | Galaxy S7 |
| Rear Camera Resolution | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels | – |
| Front Camera Resolution | 5 megapixels | 5 megapixels | – |
| Aperture | F1.7 | F2.2 | Galaxy S7 |
| Sensor Size | 1/2.5″ | 1/3″ | Galaxy S7 |
| Pixel Size | 1.4 μm | 1.22 μm | Galaxy S7 |
| Flash | LED | Dual LED | iPhone 6S |
| SoC | Exynos 8 Octa | Apple A9 | – |
| Processor | Octa-core, 2300 MHz | Dual-core, 1840 MHz | – |
| Graphics Processor | ARM Mali-T880MP14 | PowerVR GT7600 | – |
| Memory | 4096 MB RAM | 2048 MB RAM | Galaxy S7 |
| Built in storage | 64 GB | 128 GB | iPhone 6S |
| Expandable Storage Availability | Yes | No | Galaxy S7 |
| Battery Capacity | 3000mAh | 1715 mAh | Galaxy S7 |