Smartphone consumers looking for a new device in the early months of 2016 will have several new handsets to choose from, but two of the biggest releases will be the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the LG G5. Both of these smartphones are expected to be launched at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, with this huge trade show this year commencing on February 22.
With this date just two weeks away, the anticipation for the two devices is massive. And both companies may see something of an opportunity, considering that Apple has announced that iPhone sales will decline for the first time ever in 2016. On the other hand, this is more indicative of the fact that the smartphone niche is becoming increasingly competitive, and both Samsung and LG will face challenges in significantly increasing market share.
It is also largely expected that Apple will unveil a new iPhone in the early months of 2016, although this will not be the fully fledged iPhone 7. Instead, It is anticipated that the consumer electronics giant will produce a smaller version of the iPhone, possibly to be dubbed the iPhone 6C.
With Apple not releasing a premium device in the early months of 2016, the Galaxy S7 and the LG G5 are the two big releases of this period. Neither LG nor Samsung has revealed any significant details about their respective flagship smartphones, but a good deal of information has seeped out from close to their supply chains. So which of the two smartphones is shaping up to be the superior device at this point in time, and which one should consumers choose when they are both released?
Galaxy S7 vs LG G5 – Display
Samsung is particularly associated with high quality display technology, particularly since it became the largest seller of television sets back in 2008. and arguably its OLED technology has led the way in the smartphone niche as well. But the LG G range is perhaps a little unheralded in this department, and numerous publications have named LG releases as being the outstanding smartphone of previous calendar years.
Thus, it is interesting to note that the rumor mill suggest that the LG G5 may be slightly superior to the Galaxy S7 in this department. It is expected that the Samsung offering will feature a 5.1-inch display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. This will be somewhat inferior to the LG G5, which could feature a 5.5-inch screen with true 4K resolution.
At one time the Galaxy S7 was being linked with 4K capabilities, particularly since Sony armed the Xperia Z5 with this resolution. But this suggestion has dampened down in recent months, indicating that the LG G5 may very well have an advantage over the Galaxy S7 in screen capabilities.
If the LG G5 features a screen resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels then the pixels per inch rating of the smartphones will be relatively similar, but there is no doubt that the LG G5 that will have the superior display of the two.
Advantage: LG G5
Processor and RAM
Although Samsung utilized an Exynos processor in the Galaxy S6, there have been murmurings that the Korean corporation will revert back to its previous policy of using different processors for different geographical regions in this smartphone generation. This could mean that both the Galaxy S7 and the LG G5 will run off the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor in the West. Additionally, it is anticipated that both phones will be armed with 4GB of RAM. It is therefore difficult to separate the two contenders in this department.
Advantage: Neither
Storage
It is anticipated that both the Galaxy S7 and LG G5 will be made available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB storage options. If one is looking for a difference between the two devices, it could very much come in the shape of microSD storage. The last generation LG G4 came complete with a micro SD card slot which enabled users to expand storage to 2TB. It seems extremely likely that LG will retain this feature for the G5, and possibly it may consider even increasing the storage capacity of the micro SD feature.
There will be pressure therefore on Samsung to reinstate the micro SD card slot when the Galaxy S7 is released. There is no doubt that many Samsung fans bemoaned the absence of this feature when the Korean corporation removed it from the Galaxy S series. It has certainly been rumored in the build up to the release of the Galaxy S7 that Samsung will indeed include a micro SD slot in the Galaxy S7, but it is doubtful that users of the Android device will be able to store as much as 2TB of data.
Advantage: LG G5
Camera
When looking at the raw data in this department, one’s initial reaction could be to assume that the LG G5 is superior. Certainly it is expected that the LG offering will have a 20-megapixel rear-facing camera, and an early leaked picture of the device suggests that dual-cameras will also be a feature. By contrast, the 12-megapixel lens that is being linked with the Galaxy S7 naturally sounds inferior to its rival.
However, it is anticipated that Samsung will include its innovative BRITECELL technology in the Galaxy S7, which promises to produce photography in mobile devices in low-light conditions that set new standards for the industry. Considering the strong package that Samsung already has with outstanding optical image stabilization, and arguably the Galaxy S7 camera could be a standout smartphone device of 2016.
Advantage: Galaxy S7
Battery
The Galaxy S7 is expected to be armed with a 3,000mAh battery, while the LG G5 may come with a larger 4,000mAh battery. Quite simple to deduce that the LG G5 will have the edge here.
Advantage: LG G5
Operating System
Both the smartphones are expected to be powered by the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.
Advantage: Neither
Fingerprint Scanner and Eye Scanner
It has been particularly strongly rumored that the Galaxy S7 will incorporate a fingerprint and iris scanner. LG is reported to be working with IRIENCE to deliver similar technology, so at the time of writing it seems probable that both smartphones will offer similar features.
Advantage: Neither
Conclusion
The LG G range remains unloved in commercial terms, yet critics are well aware that it is an outstanding smartphone series. Previous releases have been lauded by experts, and the LG G5 looks to be another extremely solid offering. It’s almost a certainty that the Galaxy S7 will outsell the LG handset, but the LG G5 seems to have the spec edge ahead of the release of the two devices.