Yesterday Apple revealed the latest iteration of its handset, the iPhone 7 and quickly claimed that the 7 and 7 Plus are the best smartphones in the world. So with improved cameras, faster processors, and no headphone jack. I am going to take a brief look at how these two new iPhones compare to two of Samsung’s flagships, the Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
Yesterday’s handset reveal turned out to be one of the worst-kept secrets I have ever had the opportunity to follow. It turns out that the majority of the rumor mill’s predictions were accurate. However, some had been suggesting we would not see a redesigned Home button on Apple handsets until the iPhone 8 next year.
iPhone 7 vs. Galaxy S7 Edge vs. iPhone 7 Plus vs. Galaxy Note 7 – design
Gone is the manual mechanical Home button and in its place is a solid state replacement, and it now offers customizable multitasking features and a touch-sensitive tactic engine. My first impression on the design was that it’s beautiful. Yes, it looks similar to what came before it. However, the “Jet Black” and “Black” variations I’ve seen look like works of art!
The Galaxy Note 7 is Samsung’s troubled flagship. It takes some obvious visual cues from the other Android handset in this article. However, it is not a clone of the Galaxy S7 Edge. Instead, it keeps its core Note looks and just adds to them to make it look unique, which is something that cannot be used to describe the iPhone 7 or the 7 Plus at all.
While Apple has gone some way to increase the functionality found on the iPhone with the redesign of the Home button, The Note 7/higher-end Android phones have had a feature-full Home button for some time. So in this regard, Apple is playing catch-up. One more thing I believe the Note 7 has over the iPhone 7 is its S-Pen. This device adds another level of features, for which the iPhone does not have an answer.
As for the Galaxy S7 Edge, this device with its all-glass finish and curved back was considered to be the most stunning handset ever before the launch of the Galaxy Note 7. While it remains one of the better handsets on the market, I can’t help but feel that it has now fallen away to the simple, yet gorgeous looks of the iPhone 7.
iPhone 7 vs. Galaxy S7 Edge vs. iPhone 7 Plus vs. Galaxy Note 7 – camera
From what Apple revealed at its event yesterday, I believe it is going to be difficult for other handsets to compete, especially with what Apple has provided in both the 7 and iPhone 7 Plus cameras. Yes, the iPhone had been lagging behind a little in technology before the launch of the new handsets, but now that they have Optical Image Stabilization and a 1.8/f aperture lens which has six elements, they are now competing with, if not now the best cameras available on a smartphone. And that is without me even having to mention the dual-camera technology on the iPhone 7 Plus. That tech looks (at first glance), to have propelled Apple to the top of the camera pile.
Comparing the iPhone camera to those found on the Galaxy Note 7 and S7 Edge is made easier because the two have identical 12-megapixel rear dual-pixel sensors. How they directly compare in photo quality is not easy to say as no real world testing has been done yet. But if the iPhone does provide close to DSLR-quality images, then it’s not hard to determine which handset will come out on top.
iPhone 7 vs. Galaxy S7 Edge vs. iPhone 7 Plus vs. Galaxy Note 7 specs sheet
If you want to see how each of the handsets featured here compares, take a look at the spec sheet below. It will give you a good idea without real world testing at just what’s on offer.
