[REVIEW] Samsung Galaxy S7 edge – The edge of perfection

If there’s something to be said for Samsung, it’s the fact that they aren’t afraid to experiment with new ideas. When they introduced the Galaxy S5, it came with water resistance which was a novelty for the time. The following year, the Galaxy S6 edge removed expandable storage but introduced an innovative curved edge screen, an exquisite glass and metal finish along with one of the best cameras ever crammed into a smartphone. Removing the expandable storage as well as the swappable battery did raise the ire of some fans though it seems they’ve listened to feedback and this year’s Galaxy S7 edge is easily their best phone ever as it includes everything that even the most discerning technophile would want in a phone and then some while sporting some, pun notwithstanding, seriously cutting edge design.|

Belying its size, the Galaxy S7 edge still has dimensions that make one-handed use a viable proposition

When it was unveiled in Barcelona earlier this year at Mobile World Congress, the Galaxy S7 and its edgier sibling the Galaxy S7 edge wowed the crowd with impressive looks, a blazing fast processor, an even more powerful camera than that mounted on the Galaxy S6 and waterproofing too.

Both the S7 and S7 edge are identical in terms of hardware barring minor differences in weight, thickness, battery size and, of course, the inclusion of the larger curved AMOLED display on the S7 edge which also introduces a few interesting additions that expand its functionality.

Unboxing
Rather than the brown cardboard boxes of prior incarnations of the Galaxy series, the S7 edge goes for a classier look with a matte black box that flips open to reveal the Galaxy S7 on a plastic tray. Layered below that is the usual array of documentation like the warranty card and user manual as well as a voucher for a free six month subscription to iFlix on the house.

At the base of the box inset in a layered series of plastic trays is a comprehensive bundle of accessories for the S7 edge. Crammed into the box is a three-pin UK style adaptive fast charger, a microUSB charging cable, a SIM card tray pin, a USB On-the-Go adaptor and a pair of headphones along with a set of changeable earbuds.

The power plug is relatively compact with the third prong folding in for easier portability with the ability to support Fast Charge 2.0 tech that will charge the 3,600mAh battery by 60% in 30 minutes.

The USB on the go adaptor is an unusual but highly welcome bonus, allowing you to read USB drives, interact with all manner of USB-powered peripherals and even charge another device like a smartphone by supping off the S7 edge’s main battery like a powerbank.

The headphones come in a compact black plastic case, sport flat cables to prevent tangling and come with an optional pair of swappable earbuds and an in-line set of controls to control music playback.

In terms of presentation, the S7 edge is a significant step above its predecessors and while it wasn’t necessary, the inclusion of the USB connector, fast charger and the well packaged headphones are a pleasant addition that goes some way to justifying the premium cost of the phone.

Design

Externally, the Galaxy S7 edge is easily Samsung’s best looking phone yet with a look and feel that tops even Apple’s vaunted iPhones. Like the Galaxy S6 series, the S7 edge sports a chassis made of an amalgam of Corning Gorilla glass 4 sheathing its front and back along with burnished metal all around. Compared to the S6 edge+, the S7 edge is slightly heavier and is slightly wider and taller though you can’t feel it when you hold both phones in your hands.

[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”#FF0000″ class=”” size=”15″]…an IP68 rating means that you can plonk it into up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to half an hour without any untoward effects to the phone.[/pullquote]

The biggest difference it has compared to its immediate predecessor is that it’s rated to be water resistant and dustproof out of the box to the tune of an IP68 rating, something the S6 series lacked. Essentially, an IP68 rating means that you can plonk it into up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to half an hour without any untoward effects to the phone. Underwater selfies here we come.

The front of the S7 edge comes with a brilliant 5.5-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen with 1440 x 2560 pixel QHD resolution and a razor sharp 534ppi. The base of the phone comes with a home button that doubles as a fingerprint reader along with a capacitive home and menu key flanking it that are only apparent when you turn the phone on by glowing with a soft light. The fingerprint reader isn’t there just to unlock your phone, once Samsung Pay comes around to Malaysia sometime near the end of the year, it’ll allow you to make payments with your phone. Like the earlier S6 edge, the curved screen edges of the S7 edge aren’t just there for show – they’re used for notifications and a host of additional functionality like faster access to frequently dialled contacts, apps and even stock listings though only one edge of the screen is active at a time; you’re able to set either the left or right edge of the screen as the one currently active depending on if you’re a southpaw or not.

The right side of the phone hosts a power button made of metal along with one edge of the curved display stretching midway down through the phone’s girth.

The base of the phone comes with a speaker grille, a micro USB 2.0 port and an audio jack. While nitpickers may wonder why the S7 series phones lack a USB Type C port as opposed to other phones of recent vintage like the Nexus 6P, it’s likely for practical reasons as there aren’t many Type C cables in the market as yet and the S7 series sports two different processor variants, depending on market. Keeping it to the tried, safe and true makes better logistical sense. The good part here is that unlike the earlier S5 which relied on rubber-lined caps to keep things waterproof but which wore out over time, the S7 edge eschews caps on its microUSB port and audio jack while remaining water resistant. It’s one less thing to worry about.

The left side of the phone comes with a volume rocker and, like the right side of the phone, has a curved edge screen that stretches midway down the phone’s girth.

The top of the phone hosts a dual SIM card tray that allows you to either pack two SIM cards or one SIM and a microSD card.

On the rear of the S7 edge is a 12-MP rear camera with an F/1.7 aperture paired with optical image stabilisation along with Samsung’s Dual Pixel tech for amazingly swift autofocus. Paired next to it is an LED flash array. While selfie cameras are usually tacked on as an afterthought, the front 5-MP snapper on the S7 edge comes with an F/1.7 aperture like the rear, an auto HDR mode and it even uses the front AMOLED touchscreen as a flash too, turning brilliant white like a flashbang grenade as needed when you take a selfie.

When held, the S7 edge feels cool to the touch and lustrously smooth with gentle curves on each corner of the phone to ensure it doesn’t snag on any pockets.

[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”#FF0000″ class=”” size=”15″] You’re chunking out a huge amount of change for the S7 edge but in the looks department you’re definitely getting what you’re paying for. [/pullquote]

You’re chunking out a huge amount of change for the S7 edge but in the looks department you’re definitely getting what you’re paying for. Our gold platinum hued test unit is immediately recognisable, glinting when held in the light  and has an even, reassuring heft to it. It looks and feels as posh as its price tag indicates, which stands at a hefty RM3,099, which is currently at the time of writing one of the most expensive Android phones in the market.