Note 5 to S7 - Initial Impressions

[GBP87]

I went from a Verizon Note 5 (on Marshmallow) to an S7. The smaller device intrigued me so I pre-ordered. Here are my thoughts after spending time with it:

1) Size difference - the difference feels much bigger than the 0.6" difference in screen size. The S7 feels like a pebble, reminiscent of the S3. Very pocketable and portable, which are a couple things the Note 5 struggles with. However, it's oddly less comfortable for me than the Note 5. It's really not that much more one-handed friendly; you still have to do the slide to get to upper left hand corners. Your mileage may vary, but I'm 6'2" with large hands. Typing and interacting on the 5.7" screen is so much nicer.

2) Performance - no discernible difference between the two. However, the Chrome on the S7 is unbearably slow. On the Note 5, I'm using the Samsung browser with adblock and it is much smoother. Hopefully Verizon users get access to this browser. I don't game or anything so can't help you there.

3) Screen - screen quality is a wash, however, the DPI on the Note 5 is much more pleasant to me. Also, watching YouTube on the bigger screen is a true difference maker.

4) Camera - I'm disliking the 4:3 aspect ratio of the new sensor much more than I thought I would. Never had an issue with the Note 5's quality. Also, I rarely ever would move a photo off of my device, and showing people 16:9 pictures on the Note 5's screen always wow'd them. You definitely don't get the wow factor on a 4:3 photo on the S7's screen.

5) Audio quality - speaker phone on the Note 5 is louder and clearer. Headphone audio quality is close. The S7 is one notch quieter with a slightly muddier sound (read: deeper, if you will) than the Note 5. To me the Note 5 is crystal clear where the S7 drags out the lows. The Note 5 reminds me of Sony's sound signature which to me is crystal clear and excellent.

6) Home button - the Note 5's home button is so much better. Th S7 is all mushy while the Note 5 is tactile and clicky. I'm surpised by this as Samsung's home buttons have gotten better and better. I've had S2, S3, S4, Note 4, Note 5, and S7. I view the S7 as a downgrade here. However, it is quieter. The Note 5 is so clicky that anyone in the room will know dang well you're clicking it, haha. Some may prefer the S7, in that regard, but double clicking and finger print unlock are far less satisfying.

I was all ready to go smaller and pocketable, but I'm leaning towards returning this. The one upgrade I see (waterproofing) does not outweigh what I find to be downgrades. I'm curious to what other Note 5 owners are thinking, too.

 

[tesladroid]

I moved to the S7 Edge from the Note 4. I agree with all your points except that I think the speaker lacks bass compared to the Note 4. Notifications and ring tones are where I can really tell.

I too am probably going to return this and wait for the Note 6.

 

[Blues Fan]

I too thought about getting an S7 in a couple months once bugs are known and worked out. However it doesn't seem to be much difference than the S6 and I'm seeing complaints about battery life already lol. I guess I'm better sticking with the Note 5 and waiting for Note 6 or maybe look at the LG g5. G5 catching my attention and usually LG lowers the price and throws in extra stuff to sweaten the pot. The IR blaster, larger size, removable battery on the G5 makes it look worth while. I love my Note 5 though and really the Note 5 is still the top of the line for Samsung. Maybe the S7 edge would be close to this but I can't see spending over 750 bucks for the Edge right now.


I also don't see the S7 selling much since it's so similar to the S6.

 

[russel5150]

I am getting the s7 for a friend who is on my account tomorrow, i have the note5 and my biggest concern for her is if the battery will be at least as good as the note5. She has been using a moto droid turbo which has a huge battery and last a long time. All she wants thonis to make it through a day, and she usually ends he day with 60 or 70 percent w the turbo. As long as she can end the day with 30 or 40 she will be happy. She wants the better camera and samsung stuff like on my phone.

As long as the s7 battery will hold up as well as the note5 things should be ok.

The edge isnt an option because none of the cases really protect the screen, and thats important.

Sent with my white Note5 with nonremovable back and no SDcard!

 

[Blues Fan]

I am getting the s7 for a friend who is on my account tomorrow, i have the note5 and my biggest concern for her is if the battery will be at least as good as the note5. She has been using a moto droid turbo which has a huge battery and last a long time. All she wants thonis to make it through a day, and she usually ends he day with 60 or 70 percent w the turbo. As long as she can end the day with 30 or 40 she will be happy. She wants the better camera and samsung stuff like on my phone.

As long as the s7 battery will hold up as well as the note5 things should be ok.

The edge isnt an option because none of the cases really protect the screen, and thats important.

Sent with my white Note5 with nonremovable back and no SDcard!

Yep! that's why I didn't buy an edge phone and got the regular s6 last year. Plus the edge cost a lot more for the gimmick of the curved screen and it's hard to protect the screen or find good screen protectors for it. The S7 just looks too small though from seeing it in person especially after using Note 4s and 5. The Note 5 is the smallest I want in a Note phone now. I don' t I'd be able to get used to the small screen of the S7 and typing on it.

I think I will pass on the S7. The water resistance is nice to have again but I have thick cases on my phone and in a rain storm at work I've never had problems with it. I hope the Note6 is a beast then. However the LG G5 looks tempting though. Especially if they have a bundle and lower the price like the G4. One thing I didn't like about g4 was the screen resolution compared to samsung which is more crisp I think. Removable battery, SD memory AND IR blaster I think the G5 will be better than the S7.

 

[t11rmh]

I used to have a Note 4 and now have a S7 and S7 edge.

I bypassed the S6 as that did not seen to be the finished article. The S7's are the finished article.

The Note4 is a great phone.

The S7 Edge feels and looks better than the Note4 and the battery seems to last longer. It is noticeably faster than the Note4 and the screen size difference does not effect me.

The S7 is more on a par with the S5 I had before I got my Note4 but or is a family fast phone.

The expandable storage on both S7 variants sealed the deal for me. Having a sealed battery not so much as I got used to that with the A5 I used to have.

So I don't regret getting both of them. They are first class android devices. Samsung has gotten back on form.

Posted via the Android Central App on a kicking Samsung Galaxy S7