For those that haven't gotten to see/handle these devices yet, I figured I'd share my experience. I preordered the S7 Edge in silver from AT&T, but figured I'd make the trip just to see if there's any glaring differences in the software (I use a Note 5 currently), how the Edge felt in hand, and to get a look at the S7 proper.
I used the S6 Edge last year and while I enjoyed the phone, the only thing that threw me off was the in hand feel. The edges were much sharper than I thought they'd be, but the S7 Edge alleviates that and then some. The way they curved both the glass on the front and the back makes this phone so much nicer to hold. It's also deceptively small for a 5.5 inch display, too. I got to use all 3 colors and I have zero qualms with my original choice of silver. That said, you can't really go wrong with any of them. The black is definitely as sleek as advertised.
Generally a retail unit like these are bogged down by marketing software so I don't like judging performance, but the UI seemed a tad bit faster and more fluid than my Note 5. App launches were quick, the lock screen transition was quick, the camera launch was ridiculously fast, and scrolling in either Chrome or their stock browser didn't show any lag. I generally use the mobile version of the Verge as a test for that and I didn't see any reloading. It is running 6.0.1, it had roughly 21.50 GB available (cache and preloaded software account for a good chunk of that---I'd expect 24-25 out of the box), and aside from the color change in the notification shade, the core apps don't seem much different. If I had to describe them, I'd say they look "cleaner".
Taking pictures in a Best Buy store isn't going to be a good barometer for image quality, but the speed of the auto focus blows away anything I've used prior. It'll change the way you use your camera. I'm a huge fan of their camera software and I can't imagine -anyone- complaining about the performance of these cameras.
All in all, I'm not regretting my order. Admittedly, it's not a huge jump from my Note 5 as the software is basically the same, but the larger battery, improved camera, SD card support, IP68 water/dust resistance, and Edge features make it worth my while. I think I'm more excited about the battery life than anything---it's a smaller screen with more efficient internals that has a 600 mah boost over my Note 5. I have zero issues with the battery life on this thing already, but that potential jump is something I'd love to have. If that part holds true and we get excellent battery life out of the S7 Edge, I think every other competitor this year is going to have a tough time beating this package.
Posted via the Android Central App
02-28-2016 02:51 PM
