Quick review of my Galaxy S7 vs. my Nexus 6P - Samsung Galaxy S7 Guides, News, & Discussion

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Thought I'd give you guys my first initial impressions of my Onyx Black Galaxy S7 T-Mobile version vs. my Frost White Nexus 6P 128GB.
So I received my S7 today around 11AM this morning and been playing with it non stop for about 13 hours. Setup was a breeze, popped in my 128GB Sandisk MicroSD then had to update/install a bunch of apps while sitting on the charger and it only got "slightly" warm. Every other Android phone I've had doing the same thing and charging would get pretty toasty hot so this is a good first impression.
These are my initial thoughts comparing it to my Nexus 6P, which has been my all time favorite phone of all time. These are areas that are important to me.
Screen quality:
S7 screen gets much brighter, white looks a bit better and also more uniform. Looks to be a top quality AMOLED panel. The Nexus 6P (I've had 5) all had some sort of pinkish areas if you look hard for them, not completely uniform but still a good sharp panel. Doesn't quite match the S7 or even my Note 5 though. The S7 also doesn't seem to experience much AMOLED color shift when you tilt it at different angles, the Nexus 6P definitely shifts much more and sometimes goes from greenish to bluish to pinkish depending on your angle. Colors are also more saturated on the 6P, the factory setting on the S7 is a nice compromise between and is quite pleasing to my eyes.
Performance:
The Nexus 6P is an absolute beast when it comes to general UI interactions and navigating, it just flies and is the fastest Android experience I've ever had. Everything is pretty much butter and still is, seems to always run at 60fps. No other Android phone I've owned matches the Nexus 6P in overall smoothness, well..... except now the S7. Yep, the S7 matches the Nexus 6P in everything from navigating web pages, flipping through home screens, scrolling speed, and a big one...typing on the built in keyboard. NO LAG. I've always had some kind of lag with the factory Samsung keyboards, also present on my Note 5 and Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Not on the S7, it will register as fast as you can type. I haven't tested many games or CPU intensive apps yet but all common social media apps open slightly quicker on the S7, I'm sure games will fly with the S7. Apps also install much quicker on the S7 but I think it's the encryption on the 6P to be blamed.
Finger Print Scanner:
Nexus 6P seems to be more accurate and quicker, the scanner on the S7 seems to be similar to the S6 in function but now responds much quicker. Kinda like the speed difference between the iPhone 6 and 6S. It's definitely faster during setup also but obviously not as quick as the 6P which only requires you to tap your finger 4 or 5 times to finish registering. Definitely prefer the location on the 6P, much more convenient than on the home button of the S7 which sometimes require you to move your thumb akwardly to unlock it.
Battery Life:
Initial battery life on the S7 doesn't seem too impressive, I'll give it a couple days to pass judgment but it's definitely not as good as the 6P so far. Seems to be draining 5 percent in only an hour of doing nothing but resting, always on is off and it's connected to WiFi. Maybe it's still doing some background updates...who knows. The Nexus 6P definitely has great battery life and has never disappointed me. I'm thinking the extra 600mAh on the Edge would have really came in handy at this point.
Speaker:
Sound on the S7 definitely only comes out from the bottom speaker contrary to some rumors saying it also plays through the ear piece (which got me super excited btw). Sound is pretty good, above average for a single bottom firing speaker. It can also get pretty loud, on par with my Note 5 and S6, has more depth and sounds fuller than the front dual speakers of the 6P. Nexus 6P definitely gets louder but also sounds a bit tinny, always had though. Overall the speaker on the S7 does a good job, some cupping might still be necessary to get louder volume out of it. It's a great feat that Samsung kept the speaker quality decent while making this baby IP68 certified.
Build Quality and Feel:
My jaw dropped when I first took the S7 out of the box, although it looks like the S6 in the pictures, the pictures do not do this baby justice.. you guys need to handle it yourself. It has a real quality heft to it, it just feels fantastic in the hand. The S6 was also built beautifully but felt a bit toyish to me, the S7 in hand feels just so much more expensive. What a difference an extra few grams make huh? The in hand feel definitely matches the looks now. The Nexus 6P also has that expensive feel in the hand, it's a close call but the S7 just feels a lot more comfortable without the sharp edges of the 6P. I stuck my S7 into a Spigen case at the end of the night but tempted to run it naked because it just feels so nice. Samsung also up their game in box presentation, the box feels much more premium now compared to the cheap crap they used to be packed in. Reminds me of the box from my Huawei watch, oh and bonus, they also threw in an OTG USB adapter.
Camera:
Went out and snapped a few pictures outdoor and indoor, trying out various lighting scenes. Conclusion? S7 Camera is a beast, focus is instant and quality is razor sharp. In low light it pulls in more light than the 6P but the 6P picture looks better. It looks like the S7 uses too much post processing and everything becomes muddy, like an oil painting when zoomed in, although the pictures are brighter. Nexus 6P is still the king when it comes to low light photos without flash, they just look more natural and clear with minimal noise. It also seems like the 6P doesn't have a crazy amount of post processing to achieve a fine picture. Bright light is a draw in quality but the S7 really shines in speed and focus accuracy. I can confidently say you will get more usable pictures with the S7 in most conditions, but in low light with no flash the 6P is still the champ. Haven't taken any selfies yet so I can't comment on the front camera.
Subjective areas:
I find the button placement on the 6P to be near perfect with the power and volume buttons easily distinguishable with my thumb, I always find it a bit awkward with my Samsung phones. Sometimes I hold the phone to change the volume and my squeezing action will press the power button and turn it off. Also still no longer a fan of the physical home button, I guess I'm so used to onscreen buttons now. I'm in love with fingerprint scanner placement on the 6P, it just works and makes sense, still trying to get used to the home button finger print scanner on the S7. Touchwiz is definitely toning down with every iteration but still a bit childish looking to me, although I still prefer it over stock Android for the added functionality. Wished it worked like Touchwiz but looked like Stock Android or HTC Sense, make sense?
Conclusion:
I've heard people say the S7 should really be called an S6-S, and it's not worth the upgrade, I would have to disagree. When an iPhone comes out with the S designation, it's mostly just a faster CPU/GPU and camera updates. Everything else is pretty much the same down to the physical shape of the body. The S7 to me looks similar in pictures but in the hand, it feels like a completely new premium device. It had everything upgraded, completely overhauled inside and out making it better in every way. It just feels so much more quality in the hand and is 100 percent deserving of the new S7 model name. After using it the whole day today, it doesn't leave me wanting like my S6 or Note 5 did. It's really that good.
Don't get me wrong, I love my Nexus 6P, I was one of the first to get one and I jumped ship many times to try other different models/brands but ultimately I always go back to it. It pretty much checks everything I could want in a phone but now this new S7 does also with some extra perks on top to sway me away.. Expandable memory and waterproofing? Oh yeaaahhh.. It's too early to tell which one will stay and which one will end up on Swappa...So far this sexy new S7 is really, REALLY impressing me.:good:

Dude thanks for taking time to post it all here haha, awesome work

This 'canard cache' guy and now this guy. When did they let all the Nexus fanbois out of the asylum?

xxaarraa said:
This 'canard cache' guy and now this guy. When did they let all the Nexus fanbois out of the asylum?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but i dont like at all the nexus series... i have never had one...
I have had all the samsung

Thanks for the (objective) impressions dude! It would be nice if you could test some games later and keep us posted. I think of San Andreas and other GPU intensive games here.

Keep us posted about the battery life and maybe some low light pics ?

Nice appreciate it.
But would be even better with camera samples comparing them especially low light, If you get a chance?

Nice review. Currently have a Nexus 6 and a Note 5 (Verizon) and have been eying the S7e. Now that (allegedly) T-Mobile works in my area of Minnesota I've been planning on jumping back to Tmo and scooping one up. Good bye Note 5.

Good quick review, thanks. I would like to see some photos at 9.1MP. Is that possible?

Dear friend nice review, thank you. What I want to ask is : is there any substantial difference on web loading compared to your Nexus 6P? Can you test them both of them to browse the same websites and see which one is faster and share your findings?

Why did you get the S7 and not the S7 Edge though? The Edge seems like the better phone to compare it to the 6P anyways since they are close in size and battery size.

Vandam500 said:
Why did you get the S7 and not the S7 Edge though? The Edge seems like the better phone to compare it to the 6P anyways since they are close in size and battery size.
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Click to collapse
I had the S6 Edge before and I couldn't get used to the curved display, it was a bit distracting when watching movies and you will get "glare bars" on the top and bottom when holding it in landscape (Unless you're in a dark room with not much light source). Also when browsing, some of the texts are wrapped around the sides and you need to move the page around to read all the content. I also never used any of the software extras so to me it was just more added bloat.
The edge designs are beautiful though and the 600 extra mAh's are great, I think this time around though, the smaller S7 is a welcomed relief for my tired old hands which are used to handling 5.5"+ displays. I have no issues with the S7's smaller 5.1 which I think is a pretty good compromise in device size and screen real estate. Who knows though, I go through phones like people go through underwear so the S7 Edge might be added to the collection soon. I'll have to play with one in store first to see if I could live with it again.

Which soc did u have? Snapdragon or exynos? Thanks

King p1n said:
Nice appreciate it.
But would be even better with camera samples comparing them especially low light, If you get a chance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem, these are two shots taken in very low light with no flash @ 100 percent crop. As you can see the 6P gets more detail but it looks like the S7 image is a little brighter.
Galaxy S7
Nexus 6P

ponkz said:
Which soc did u have? Snapdragon or exynos? Thanks
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Click to collapse
I'm US T-Mobile so it's Snapdragon 820.

Have you noticed connectivity isn't as good? At my college I usually get 1-2 bars of LTE on my 6P whereas my S7 edge is struggling with one bar of edge.

Thanks for your review. Can I kindly ask you to read this post and give us your opinion regarding the possible delay to wake? Thanks!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s7/help/galaxy-s7-slow-to-wake-t3326304

kinnesotan said:
Have you noticed connectivity isn't as good? At my college I usually get 1-2 bars of LTE on my 6P whereas my S7 edge is struggling with one bar of edge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I notice is the 6P's signal bar tends to be more generous than other phones I've had, it was the same compared with my Note 5. Same signal strength but the 6P always shows like it has more bars.
S7 signal strength seems to be on par with my wife's iPhone 6S+ and all my other phones in my house, haven't noticed any connectivity issues.

Chaleman said:
Thanks for your review. Can I kindly ask you to read this post and give us your opinion regarding the possible delay to wake? Thanks!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s7/help/galaxy-s7-slow-to-wake-t3326304
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't seem to have any issues, I'm also running a SanDisk 128GB Micro SD card with fingerprint unlock set up. It wakes up almost as quickly as my 6P which is pretty fast. I'll report back if I notice any delay with more usage.

Ram management? Does it kill apps running in background?

Related

Considering the Nexus 4 - What are its major flaws?

I currently have a Nexus S which I have had for 2 years now. I'm considering the Nexus 4, was going for the S4 but this is half the price, and the iPhone 6 would be too far out and the iOS would not be to my liking.
I know I cannot really go wrong with the Nexus 4 - it's loved by every reviewer, and not because of its price - the price is only a bonus.
What are its major flaws? I have a few things I was curious about:
- Screen touch sensitivity/fluidity. When your finger touches/swipes on the screen, does it behave like an iPhone 5 or the Galaxy S3/4/Note II devices? I personally like the sensitivity to your finger from the iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy devices. I don't have this in my current Nexus S but definitely would like it in my next phone.
- Battery life. Can it last 14-16 hours, with let's say, 2-3 hours of screen time or so?
- Camera. I've seen some sample pictures, was not too impressed, but as long as it's decent I'm fine.
- Headphone output? I heard the headphone output is lower than other devices from a video. Not sure if significant.
That's all for now. :good:
Just wait for the Nexus 5. Only 3-4 months away.
Tbh I've considered that, but it'll be announced in October, released in December, and if I want it with my carrier it'll probably hit in perhaps March/April of 2014, unless I choose to buy it from the Play Store.
I also heard it packs in a lot, and I think Google's going to price it high this time around. Either way, my current carrier is offering the N4 16GB for only $300 outright. So its price seems lower than market value, and it for some reason is hard for me to wait.
I upgraded from by Galaxy S (Same as the Nexus S) in Feb.
- Screen touch sensitivity/fluidity. I would say the same, hard to notice the difference.
- Battery life. 5+ hrs on screen time with WiFi on (I dont have data so thats not in use). It was a definate improvement from Galaxy S.
- Camera. There is a mod floating around that allows you to get better quality pictures at the cost of a larger file size.
- Sound. NOTHING beat Galaxy S's sound chip. I was disappointed a bit here.
- Overall animation/fluidity/framerate. Stock android on N4, even the most overclocked Galaxy S with the most slimmed rom cannot come close to these speeds.
- Size. I like smaller phones that fit into my pocket easier. Galaxy S wins here but thats a personal choice. HD videos play exactly to scale on the N4, you just feel immersed.
- Physical features. You can't drop it, glass on both sides, bumpers/cases probably won't do anything. It's also heavier. No removable battery or SD card. I made the mistake of getting the 8GB, dont. Doesn't feel plasticky/cheap like the Galaxy S.
ROM support is very nice here, I think it's just as good as when Galaxy S was in it's prime.
You have to get it, try getting it through your provider ($300 in canada for the 16Gb via koodo whereas $366 shipped from goolge for the 8Gb)
OnlySkills said:
Tbh I've considered that, but it'll be announced in October, released in December, and if I want it with my carrier it'll probably hit in perhaps March/April of 2014, unless I choose to buy it from the Play Store.
I also heard it packs in a lot, and I think Google's going to price it high this time around. Either way, my current carrier is offering the N4 16GB for only $300 outright. So its price seems lower than market value, and it for some reason is hard for me to wait.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buying from Play Store is better anyway, at least for T Mobile USA.
What can the Nexus 4 do that your Nexus S can't? The Nexus 5 will be even better than the Nexus 4 on all scales. It is rumored to be based off the LG G2 which will have stereo speakers, bigger screen, improved camera, and much more. Maybe even launched with Key Lime Pie(?)
Just wait for it.
1. Low earpiece/mic
2. Camera speed slower than GN, need to be very steady for HDR
3. Storage can be challenging to manage, we need 32/64 nexus...
4. MTP is slow in general, and touchscreen goes crazy when charging from my PC
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Ace42 said:
1. Low earpiece/mic
2. Camera speed slower than GN, need to be very steady for HDR
3. Storage can be challenging to manage, we need 32/64 nexus...
4. MTP is slow in general, and touchscreen goes crazy when charging from my PC
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My touchscreen never goes crazy when charging from a PC.
i had a nexus s for long time, loved that thing. yes, it does have great sound, especially with voodoo, but the nexus s is merely a childs toy compared to the nexus 4. heck, the galaxy nexus was a large step from the nexus s. you will love the nexus 4. coming from two samsung phones in a row(ns and gnex), i first thought that not having a plastic back was the nexus 4s' major flaw, but now i dont mind
oh, and some photos, all hdr mode..
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Touch sensitivity is quite good for an android device similar to the nexus s, but the nexus 4 has lower touch sensitivity than it is capable of because of the touchscreen drivers, this problem has supposedly been fixed in the upcoming android 4.3 update but honestly touch response is very good you won't have a problem.
As for battery expect 4-5 hours sot on WiFi and 3-4 hours on 3g.
Photos in good lighting conditions are quite good but in low light its another story so if you take pictures in good light you'll be okay.
I find the sound output to be fairly reasonable its quite loud I don't think you'll have a problem with it unless you need to drive something huge with a high impedance, for normal headphones/earphones its loud enough.
Roastmeat said:
I upgraded from by Galaxy S (Same as the Nexus S) in Feb.
- Screen touch sensitivity/fluidity. I would say the same, hard to notice the difference.
- Battery life. 5+ hrs on screen time with WiFi on (I dont have data so thats not in use). It was a definate improvement from Galaxy S.
- Camera. There is a mod floating around that allows you to get better quality pictures at the cost of a larger file size.
- Sound. NOTHING beat Galaxy S's sound chip. I was disappointed a bit here.
- Overall animation/fluidity/framerate. Stock android on N4, even the most overclocked Galaxy S with the most slimmed rom cannot come close to these speeds.
- Size. I like smaller phones that fit into my pocket easier. Galaxy S wins here but thats a personal choice. HD videos play exactly to scale on the N4, you just feel immersed.
- Physical features. You can't drop it, glass on both sides, bumpers/cases probably won't do anything. It's also heavier. No removable battery or SD card. I made the mistake of getting the 8GB, dont. Doesn't feel plasticky/cheap like the Galaxy S.
ROM support is very nice here, I think it's just as good as when Galaxy S was in it's prime.
You have to get it, try getting it through your provider ($300 in canada for the 16Gb via koodo whereas $366 shipped from goolge for the 8Gb)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can drop it with a bumper on and screen protectors. I dropped mine onto concrete and accidentally stepped on it. Lol its perfectly fine except for the scratch on my screen protector
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Gets extremely hot when gaming. I'm not sure whether this causes damage, but it makes me sweat on the device.
Both 3G and Wifi have connection issues. This may be fixed in software, but I'm not sure.
Speaker sound isn't as good as some other phones.
Being totally flat, it sits flush on a surface and the speaker is covered, muting notification sounds.
Being made of glass, there's twice as much breakable surface.
I upgraded my Nexus S for the N4 about the time it launched, so I know how slow it must be getting.
While its not perfect, I wouldn't trade it for anything on the market. It's a nexus device, which has the major benefit of being the first to be updated and having more stable ROMs, which you will miss from other devices.
The battery is not as good as I would have hoped for, but it will get me through the day as long as I'm not using it constantly. With mobile data on, I can get 2 hours of SOT (Screen on Time) if I wasn't playing games.
On the topic of the screen, I can tell you that the stock color calibration is extremely washed out. It's a good screen, they just botched the calibration. I remember looking at it for the first time and being really disappointed because of the faded look of colors like blue. This is something that is easily fixed by a non-stock kernel like Franco's Kernel, which is the one I use. The calibration I have right now looks amazing.
While the headphone output is quiet by the standards of most phones, I don't notice it unless I plug it into something like external speakers, or my car.
Also, it's probably worth noting that the 4.3 update that was leaked yesterday is supposed to drastically improve touch sensitivity.
and I would probably wait until at least the 24th of July on the off chance that Google announces lower pricing or a higher capacity version.
Touch Pretty darn smooth. Without a screen protector that is. But even with a sp you'll be able to swipe like no other. Response is top notch and definitely on par with new released phones. (Just my opinion)
Battery If you're a heavy user the battery might slack. If you're an addict, don't get this phone lol. But if you're able to balance data / running apps / screen time / etc. this phone will be perfect. (Choose the right rom & kernel, or just stay stock with a nice kernel)
Camera I don't use it that much but its alright, not the best out there. If you're some fancy photographer I doubt you'll be satisfied. But still takes pretty nice pictures as long as you take it right
Headphone I literally listen to music all day if I'm out of my house. No doubt the output is nice and clear, but it all depends on what type of headphones you're using.
This phone isn't a super computer. It lags when it needs to and produces slight flaws as you use it. But then again, what electronic doesn't
In the end, it all depends on the user's preferences. But if anything, I'd recommend waiting for the N5.
One of the most annoying things about the N4 is undoubtedly the fact that notifications etc cannot be heard when the phone lies flat with the screen up. Many calls have been missed due to this fact...
lazer155 said:
My touchscreen never goes crazy when charging from a PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I touch in one spot it reacts like I hit another location.
I have to say, it is SLIPPY. It slips off everthing, even when i think its a flat surface!
OnlySkills said:
I currently have a Nexus S which I have had for 2 years now. I'm considering the Nexus 4, was going for the S4 but this is half the price, and the iPhone 6 would be too far out and the iOS would not be to my liking.
I know I cannot really go wrong with the Nexus 4 - it's loved by every reviewer, and not because of its price - the price is only a bonus.
What are its major flaws? I have a few things I was curious about:
- Screen touch sensitivity/fluidity. When your finger touches/swipes on the screen, does it behave like an iPhone 5 or the Galaxy S3/4/Note II devices? I personally like the sensitivity to your finger from the iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy devices. I don't have this in my current Nexus S but definitely would like it in my next phone.
- Battery life. Can it last 14-16 hours, with let's say, 2-3 hours of screen time or so?
- Camera. I've seen some sample pictures, was not too impressed, but as long as it's decent I'm fine.
- Headphone output? I heard the headphone output is lower than other devices from a video. Not sure if significant.
That's all for now. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do u run custom Roms/kernels on the nexus s?
If you want the same experience x100 then the nexus 4 is for u.
I went from a nexus s to a nexus 4 and I'm more than happy. Android + iOS smoothness.
Flaws:
The touchscreen unresponsiveness is not major (very soft touches don't register sometimes) and it is remedied with either a custom kernel in 4.2.2 or with the upcoming 4.3 (new touchscreen driver).
Screen colors are a bit washed, but with the same solutions as above screen is beautiful.
The phone is made of glass, so it is not as resilient to falls as the nexus s.
Some people experience notification delays on specific WiFi routers. Never had such problem myself.
The phone tends to get hot when in mobile network or under heavy use (because its glass). Can be solved with custom kernels, undervolting/underclocking (this is the most tweakable phone ever).
No issues with audio.
Camera is good. Not the best, but acceptable quality.
Battery life is typically between 4 to 6 hours screen on time, on WiFi, which is pretty good in my opinion.
P.s. this phone offers the smoothest android experience from every other phone I put my hands on.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
urmothersluvr said:
You can drop it with a bumper on and screen protectors. I dropped mine onto concrete and accidentally stepped on it. Lol its perfectly fine except for the scratch on my screen protector
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dropped mine without bumper and just got a few scratches
btw is an awesome phone
I wouldn't wait for n5 as it's rumored to have a 5" screen which I feel is too large.
Here's a pic I took with the phone
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Overdose1986 said:
I dropped mine without bumper and just got a few scratches
btw is an awesome phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dropped my 4 times because it keeps slipping down the table only slight scratch on the back glass
only around 2-3 ft

My mini S6 review!

Hello!
Just wanted to make a quick mini review of my S6. Received it yesterday around 5:30 pm after waiting all day impatiently for UPS to show up haha . I chose the 32g white model, primarily cause I'm not a super heavy user so I don't need a ton of extra space, as well as it doesn't show fingerprints as much as the darker colors. Right now it's sitting in a white Spigen feather case. Here's pics (images taken with a Blackberry Z30 that I don't use anymore lol):
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I'll just keep this review super simple and to the point:
Screen: Amoled has definitely come a long way. Beautiful screen, good color reproduction using the basic setting, good brightness levels. Overall, it rocks. :good:
Build: Feels nice in the hand. Coming from an Iphone 6, it definitely feels as premium. Beware the fingerprints though haha, you will get them all over!
Camera: Not even going to lie, I don't know a damn thing about photography so I'm not going to pretend that I do. It takes great photos, but then again I personally felt that the Iphone 6 camera was good for what little photography I do, so I'd say look at other reviews for more in depth info about that topic.
Quick sample photos. Everything set to auto. No changes made to the photos:
Fingerprint Scanner: Never used the one from the previous Samsung phones, but coming from the Iphone 6, it works just as well. Registered four different prints, and it hasn't messed up once. :good:
Software: I appreciate Samsung's toning down of Touchwiz. At this point, since I haven't been on Android for awhile, I'm still getting use to the UI overall. Definitely appreciate the ability to install themes.
Reception/Service: Don't see any issues here. Sounds good when on phone calls and the reception seems on par with what I was getting with my Iphone 6.
Some things I've found so far that I'm not a fan of: None of these have anything to do with the hardware of the phone really. These are just a few annoyances that I haven't been able to fix just yet.
I can't seem to find any settings to adjust the lights for the capacitive buttons. As such, it's really annoying to use at night since every time you touch the screen, they light up for a second and a half and then disappear again. If anyone knows how to adjust the time or completely turn them off, please let me know. The only setting I've found that disables the lights is power saving mode.
The second thing I don't like is that both the stock Samsung web browser, and Chrome, don't have settings for full screen mode. I don't like having the status bar sitting at the top all the time. Call my crazy, I'm afraid of screen burn in with Amoleds .
At any given time, a high amount of RAM is always in use, and I honestly haven't installed many apps. I just checked right now, and my phone sitting idle is at 77% of RAM in use. I have 1 push gmail, and that's about it. No apps are running. I don't use any social media at all, and all of the bloat of the phone is disabled.
When I open the stock battery app, I cannot find 'screen' listed under the usage tab. As such, I don't know how I can test what my SOT will be on charges. (I know SOT is subjective and can vary greatly depending on use, but it'd still be helpful to have it listed regardless.
Don't really know what else to say at this point. If anyone has any questions or anything, let me know. Overall, I'm definitely enjoying the phone, and I'm super glad to be back on Android. :good:
Cheers,
-Matt
Thanks for sharing!
One point about the ram usage: don't bother looking at it. On almost every android phone you will have high consumption, regardless if the phone has 1/2/3/99 gigs of ram. Simply the more ram you have, the more applications will remain open. The fact that you consumption is around 77% means absolutely nothing - just enjoy your phone
derWolf_ said:
Thanks for sharing!
One point about the ram usage: don't bother looking at it. On almost every android phone you will have high consumption, regardless if the phone has 1/2/3/99 gigs of ram. Simply the more ram you have, the more applications will remain open. The fact that you consumption is around 77% means absolutely nothing - just enjoy your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I'm gonna try and just ignore it unless I start having a bunch of like redraws or something when switching between apps. Thanks for the input! :good:
-Matt
Roflwafflez said:
Hello!
Just wanted to make a quick mini review of my S6. Received it yesterday around 5:30 pm after waiting all day impatiently for UPS to show up haha . I chose the 32g white model, primarily cause I'm not a super heavy user so I don't need a ton of extra space, as well as it doesn't show fingerprints as much as the darker colors. Right now it's sitting in a white Spigen feather case. Here's pics (images taken with a Blackberry Z30 that I don't use anymore lol):
I'll just keep this review super simple and to the point:
Screen: Amoled has definitely come a long way. Beautiful screen, good color reproduction using the basic setting, good brightness levels. Overall, it rocks. :good:
Build: Feels nice in the hand. Coming from an Iphone 6, it definitely feels as premium. Beware the fingerprints though haha, you will get them all over!
Camera: Not even going to lie, I don't know a damn thing about photography so I'm not going to pretend that I do. It takes great photos, but then again I personally felt that the Iphone 6 camera was good for what little photography I do, so I'd say look at other reviews for more in depth info about that topic.
Fingerprint Scanner: Never used the one from the previous Samsung phones, but coming from the Iphone 6, it works just as well. Registered four different prints, and it hasn't messed up once. :good:
Software: I appreciate Samsung's toning down of Touchwiz. At this point, since I haven't been on Android for awhile, I'm still getting use to the UI overall. Definitely appreciate the ability to install themes.
Reception/Service: Don't see any issues here. Sounds good when on phone calls and the reception seems on par with what I was getting with my Iphone 6.
Some things I've found so far that I'm not a fan of: None of these have anything to do with the hardware of the phone really. These are just a few annoyances that I haven't been able to fix just yet.
I can't seem to find any settings to adjust the lights for the capacitive buttons. As such, it's really annoying to use at night since every time you touch the screen, they light up for a second and a half and then disappear again. If anyone knows how to adjust the time or completely turn them off, please let me know. The only setting I've found that disables the lights is power saving mode.
The second thing I don't like is that both the stock Samsung web browser, and Chrome, don't have settings for full screen mode. I don't like having the status bar sitting at the top all the time. Call my crazy, I'm afraid of screen burn in with Amoleds .
At any given time, a high amount of RAM is always in use, and I honestly haven't installed many apps. I just checked right now, and my phone sitting idle is at 77% of RAM in use. I have 1 push gmail, and that's about it. No apps are running. I don't use any social media at all, and all of the bloat of the phone is disabled.
When I open the stock battery app, I cannot find 'screen' listed under the usage tab. As such, I don't know how I can test what my SOT will be on charges. (I know SOT is subjective and can vary greatly depending on use, but it'd still be helpful to have it listed regardless.
Don't really know what else to say at this point. If anyone has any questions or anything, let me know. Overall, I'm definitely enjoying the phone, and I'm super glad to be back on Android. :good:
Cheers,
-Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well , thanks to share your thoughts ! I have right now the iPhone 6 and I'm thinking to upgrade to Galaxy s6 edge I watched lot of reviews and like the phone. Like you coming from iPhone 6 it's worth the upgrade ? I used to have the Galaxy s3 years before. Thanks again !
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
edyfrances said:
Well , thanks to sure your thoughts ! I have right now the iPhone 6 and I'm thinking to upgrade to Galaxy s6 edge I watched lot of reviews and like the phone. Like you coming from iPhone 6 it's worth the upgrade ? I used to have the Galaxy s3 years before. Thanks again !
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No prob! Honestly, it's hard to tell. In my honest opinion, the S6 and the Iphone 6 are both great devices in different ways. It really just depends on what you're looking for in a phone. Personally, I wanted to get back to the customization side, so the switch was an easy choice. :good:
-Matt
Nice write up man. It is nice to se what phones people are coming from to get the right perspective.
Don't ever worry about the burn in anymore
Maknora said:
Don't ever worry about the burn in anymore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And why would you say that? The burn-in problem of the AMOLED displays is still very, very likely to occur. I've seen massive burn-ins on the Note 4, which has basically the same display as the S6.
derWolf_ said:
And why would you say that? The burn-in problem of the AMOLED displays is still very, very likely to occur. I've seen massive burn-ins on the Note 4, which has basically the same display as the S6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any input on ways to avoid burn in (besides the obvious I mean hehe)? Specifically it's that damn status bar. Everything else changes pretty regularly, but that thing is always there .
-Matt
Roflwafflez said:
Any input on ways to avoid burn in (besides the obvious I mean hehe)? Specifically it's that damn status bar. Everything else changes pretty regularly, but that thing is always there .
-Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now with Lollipop the status bar isn't such a big problem, because it constantly changes colors. In kitkat and with older versions it was a problem, as it was constantly black (or color close to black).
But I'd suggest rooting, xposed and force immersive mode.
derWolf_ said:
Now with Lollipop the status bar isn't such a big problem, because it constantly changes colors. In kitkat and with older versions it was a problem, as it was constantly black (or color close to black).
But I'd suggest rooting, xposed and force immersive mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I'll definitely look into rooting and all that for this device. Haven't messed with any of that stuff in awhile lol :good:.
-Matt
I had all 4 notes never had any problem with burnin. I'm not quite sure I had it with my s2 it was ages ago lol
I have one favor to ask though
Can you please install all the apps you use (and possibly some that you won't use, but just for the sake of testing), take a few hundred pictures and tell us if the phone feels as snappy as it did at the beginning?
When I played with the phone in a store I thought this was the fastest Android phone ever produced (without exaggerating even a tiny bit), but since it Samsung we are talking about, I have fears that after having all your stuff on the phone, the device's performance will suffer greatly.
@avenging - the fact that it didn't happen to you (which is great) doesn't mean that the technology doesn't suffer the issue. I have personally seen at least 3 units of the Note 4 with burn ins. Just go to your local electronics shop and check the Note 4. I can almost guarantee that it will have some degree of burn-ins.
derWolf_ said:
I have one favor to ask though
Can you please install all the apps you use (and possibly some that you won't use, but just for the sake of testing), take a few hundred pictures and tell us if the phone feels as snappy as it did at the beginning?
When I played with the phone in a store I thought this was the fastest Android phone ever produced (without exaggerating even a tiny bit), but since it Samsung we are talking about, I have fears that after having all your stuff on the phone, the device's performance will suffer greatly.
@avenging - the fact that it didn't happen to you (which is great) doesn't mean that the technology doesn't suffer the issue. I have personally seen at least 3 units of the Note 4 with burn ins. Just go to your local electronics shop and check the Note 4. I can almost guarantee that it will have some degree of burn-ins.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can certainly give it a try!
-Matt
Roflwafflez said:
I can certainly give it a try!
-Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And when you look into that, make sure you note your remaining space leftover.
It's fairly well-known that devices grow more sluggish as their storage fills up, so with the 32GB unit you'd have the easiest time seeing at approximately what % of space is remaining when the "threshold" is crossed and the device slows down a bit.
Frankly, it should be pretty hard to get the device to exhibit this behavior due to the UFS 2.0 within the device, but it probably does still happen to some extent.
This is actually relatively important to know because people sometimes exclude the necessity of having "empty" space for a device to perform at its best, and they often end up making a purchase decision without factoring that into their decision and regretting it down the road.
So on that note, the sake of Galaxy S6 science depends on you!
Let us know how that battery life is! That's the only thing I am worried about with this phone.
Poetique said:
And when you look into that, make sure you note your remaining space leftover.
It's fairly well-known that devices grow more sluggish as their storage fills up, so with the 32GB unit you'd have the easiest time seeing at approximately what % of space is remaining when the "threshold" is crossed and the device slows down a bit.
Frankly, it should be pretty hard to get the device to exhibit this behavior due to the UFS 2.0 within the device, but it probably does still happen to some extent.
This is actually relatively important to know because people sometimes exclude the necessity of having "empty" space for a device to perform at its best, and they often end up making a purchase decision without factoring that into their decision and regretting it down the road.
So on that note, the sake of Galaxy S6 science depends on you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, maybe I should defer this project to someone who is better capable lol.
-Matt
Burn In on Note 4? I had one since day it was launched, have no idea what your talking about. I sold it a week ago and am using iphone 6 right now until s6 Comes. I notice a lot of differences in note and iphone. Iphone is so slow for me. Can't wait to get s6.
Roflwafflez said:
Hello!
Just wanted to make a quick mini review of my S6. Received it yesterday around 5:30 pm after waiting all day impatiently for UPS to show up haha . I chose the 32g white model, primarily cause I'm not a super heavy user so I don't need a ton of extra space, as well as it doesn't show fingerprints as much as the darker colors. Right now it's sitting in a white Spigen feather case. Here's pics (images taken with a Blackberry Z30 that I don't use anymore lol):
I'll just keep this review super simple and to the point:
Screen: Amoled has definitely come a long way. Beautiful screen, good color reproduction using the basic setting, good brightness levels. Overall, it rocks. :good:
Build: Feels nice in the hand. Coming from an Iphone 6, it definitely feels as premium. Beware the fingerprints though haha, you will get them all over!
Camera: Not even going to lie, I don't know a damn thing about photography so I'm not going to pretend that I do. It takes great photos, but then again I personally felt that the Iphone 6 camera was good for what little photography I do, so I'd say look at other reviews for more in depth info about that topic.
Quick sample photos. Everything set to auto. No changes made to the photos:
Fingerprint Scanner: Never used the one from the previous Samsung phones, but coming from the Iphone 6, it works just as well. Registered four different prints, and it hasn't messed up once. :good:
Software: I appreciate Samsung's toning down of Touchwiz. At this point, since I haven't been on Android for awhile, I'm still getting use to the UI overall. Definitely appreciate the ability to install themes.
Reception/Service: Don't see any issues here. Sounds good when on phone calls and the reception seems on par with what I was getting with my Iphone 6.
Some things I've found so far that I'm not a fan of: None of these have anything to do with the hardware of the phone really. These are just a few annoyances that I haven't been able to fix just yet.
I can't seem to find any settings to adjust the lights for the capacitive buttons. As such, it's really annoying to use at night since every time you touch the screen, they light up for a second and a half and then disappear again. If anyone knows how to adjust the time or completely turn them off, please let me know. The only setting I've found that disables the lights is power saving mode.
The second thing I don't like is that both the stock Samsung web browser, and Chrome, don't have settings for full screen mode. I don't like having the status bar sitting at the top all the time. Call my crazy, I'm afraid of screen burn in with Amoleds .
At any given time, a high amount of RAM is always in use, and I honestly haven't installed many apps. I just checked right now, and my phone sitting idle is at 77% of RAM in use. I have 1 push gmail, and that's about it. No apps are running. I don't use any social media at all, and all of the bloat of the phone is disabled.
When I open the stock battery app, I cannot find 'screen' listed under the usage tab. As such, I don't know how I can test what my SOT will be on charges. (I know SOT is subjective and can vary greatly depending on use, but it'd still be helpful to have it listed regardless.
Don't really know what else to say at this point. If anyone has any questions or anything, let me know. Overall, I'm definitely enjoying the phone, and I'm super glad to be back on Android. :good:
Cheers,
-Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't help but notice how many reasons you mentioned that make me believe you really don't need a smartphone at all.
CraigP17 said:
I can't help but notice how many reasons you mentioned that make me believe you really don't need a smartphone at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh you're probably right lol. I use to do a lot more with my phones (I rooted and did roms and such on my DNA, Droid M, and Galaxy S2), but just seems like lately I'm just addicted to getting new gadgets haha. Don't get me wrong, I still take photos, watch youtube videos, check my email and browse the web when I'm out and about, just not in the same capacity as almost everyone on XDA I would surmise. Was heavily into the whole social media thing too, but I just got burnt out feeling like I had to check a bunch of apps every 10 mins to keep up to date with what everyone I know is doing.
-Matt

Got my G5 Yesterday

The production is flawless. I really like it. Here were my concerns before it arrived:
1) It would be defective (antenna showing, dust under the camera lens, etc.: *It was perfect, no blemishes.
2) WiFi calling wouldn't work (I don't use it but others said it wasn't working at all on their Sprint phones). *I had to go thru the setup twice and the second time it worked fine.
3) The screen would look washed out. *It's bright and vibrant. I wonder if the store model wasn't a production model.
4) The fingerprint scanner would be too annoying to reach. *This complaint is valid. It sort of defeats the purpose having it on the back when it's on my desk all day.
5) Battery life. *Haven't had it long enough to verify how good it is.
6) Laggy. *Nope, it's blazing fast.
7) Regretting not getting the S7 or S7 Edge. *No regrets yet, I love the price point on the G5.
Hope this is helpful, feel free to ask more questions.
Same here mate. Had the same concerns but mine its immense and blemish free. Funnily enough I had an s7 before this, and it doesn't even come close
That let me sleep so much better! My Pre-Ordered G5 is coming between the 15th and 18th April. I get a Silver One with free Cam Plus Module... Hope there are no building issues, I'm one of the First in Germany who gets one... :fingers-crossed:
Nice man. I wouldnt pay for cam plus i think but would have loved a free one. Hope its fun.
Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk
Just got my G5 yesterday in UK and I have few issues The gap between the battery and device is un even on the right side and have some backlight bleed on top and bottom of the screen :crying:
panamaniac said:
Nice man. I wouldnt pay for cam plus i think but would have loved a free one. Hope its fun.
Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gives at all 4000mah of Battery Size. That's really nice for free, and I love to take Photos with a Hardware Key like on the Xperias from Sony I'm really happy about my Pre-Order. But...
liam_davenport said:
Just got my G5 yesterday in UK and I have few issues The gap between the battery and device is un even on the right side and have some backlight bleed on top and bottom of the screen :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I read this I could cry... UK is close to Germany... Can you give it back to get a new One? :fingers-crossed:
Miustone said:
Gives at all 4000mah of Battery Size. That's really nice for free, and I love to take Photos with a Hardware Key like on the Xperias from Sony I'm really happy about my Pre-Order. But...
When I read this I could cry... UK is close to Germany... Can you give it back to get a new One? :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but gonna trade for a different device don't want another G5 don't get me wrong it's a great phone but nothing special too many build issues for me and I believe there is no unlocked bootloader so this phone not for me will trade it for a S7 Edge performance wise exynos is way better and has a bigger batter
Miustone said:
Gives at all 4000mah of Battery Size. That's really nice for free, and I love to take Photos with a Hardware Key like on the Xperias from Sony I'm really happy about my Pre-Order. But...
When I read this I could cry... UK is close to Germany... Can you give it back to get a new One? :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont worry about the gap. You have to look for it to care. And tru that about the greater battery and hardware button. Again, id be psyched if they'd thrown one in for me.
Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk
panamaniac said:
Dont worry about the gap. You have to look for it to care. And tru that about the greater battery and hardware button. Again, id be psyched if they'd thrown one in for me.
Sent from my LGLS992 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gap isn't an issue but when you pay lots of money for something you'd expect better quality.. Anyways like I say it's a great phone can't knock the hardware just needs some small improvements/refinements and it'll be perfect :good:
liam_davenport said:
The gap isn't an issue but when you pay lots of money for something you'd expect better quality.. Anyways like I say it's a great phone can't knock the hardware just needs some small improvements/refinements and it'll be perfect :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I picked up the Galaxy S7 Edge and I've been playing with it and comparing it to the G4. Camera photography is hit or miss. Obviously the G4 and G5 (since they have the same sensor specs) will capture more detail (16mpx vs 12mpx) but G5 will have better front facing camera, awesomely neat wide angel.
S7E has VERY good low light... I mean VERY good low light! Huge differences when I take night time shots!
But ... Samsung has its flaws as well. I'm not going to cancel my G5 pre-order, I want to get my hands on it. But Samsung S7E is def. a very good, long lasting device in terms of battery life - let's see how the G5 is in the end! If I get a flawed G5 I'll be disappointed, but I'll ask for another and if that one comes back flawed, I'll keep the S7E as my own personal device.
But I really hope it isn't as bad as some people say here.
zkyevolved said:
I picked up the Galaxy S7 Edge and I've been playing with it and comparing it to the G4. Camera photography is hit or miss. Obviously the G4 and G5 (since they have the same sensor specs) will capture more detail (16mpx vs 12mpx) but G5 will have better front facing camera, awesomely neat wide angel.
S7E has VERY good low light... I mean VERY good low light! Huge differences when I take night time shots!
But ... Samsung has its flaws as well. I'm not going to cancel my G5 pre-order, I want to get my hands on it. But Samsung S7E is def. a very good, long lasting device in terms of battery life - let's see how the G5 is in the end! If I get a flawed G5 I'll be disappointed, but I'll ask for another and if that one comes back flawed, I'll keep the S7E as my own personal device.
But I really hope it isn't as bad as some people say here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah but the processing on g5 is hit and miss too so would be good to see some proper comparisons against S7E, As for battery on G5 I got 3-4 sot in less then 24hrs guess will improve over time but as of now not very impressed 2014 flagships can beat this lol, Just watch for Led backlight bleed if you have it you'll see on first boot or put a black image on screen and go in a dark room and check the corners and side lots of units got this fault, It's not a bad device I think with the right modules and some development i.e kernels etc should be a great phone but i'm digging the S7 way more feels amazing in the hand very premium <3 Plus the exynos chip is very optimised if you watch against the SD820 variant destroys it apart from gaming adreno gpu is boss Just the price of the S7E kills me lol
Not trying to push anyone away from the phone just my experience with it
liam_davenport said:
Yeah but the processing on g5 is hit and miss too so would be good to see some proper comparisons against S7E, As for battery on G5 I got 3-4 sot in less then 24hrs guess will improve over time but as of now not very impressed 2014 flagships can beat this lol, Just watch for Led backlight bleed if you have it you'll see on first boot or put a black image on screen and go in a dark room and check the corners and side lots of units got this fault, It's not a bad device I think with the right modules and some development i.e kernels etc should be a great phone but i'm digging the S7 way more feels amazing in the hand very premium <3 Plus the exynos chip is very optimised if you watch against the SD820 variant destroys it apart from gaming adreno gpu is boss Just the price of the S7E kills me lol
Not trying to push anyone away from the phone just my experience with it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Price is only 45 euros more for the S7E here in Spain.
Camera is much worse than my G4 ...
Check these out:
Picture of my shoe, same distance. Color on the G4 is far more accurate. Detail is much higher (look at the button next to the shoe lace). I zoomed out of the G4 image to be able to be almost identical to the S7E picture.
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"lightbox_next": "Next",
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"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
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In the next picture, color on the S7E is SO washed out, it really changed what the wall looks like. Color is also VERY washed out. That is not a "blue sky"...
I'm very unimpressed with what Samsung offered in terms of well lit pictures.
On the other hand, here is a night shot. Samsung DESTROYED the G4, but then again, G4 is older... And S7E has better low light camera. Either way... Both were taken max aperture (10 sec for Samsung, 30 for LG), 50 ISO, both mounted on tripods. Also these are the best of maybe 4 or 5 images.
I hope this has helped anyone who is very happy with good shooters. I just think that Samsung doing a good job, but not compared to LG in most regular shots. Colors are washed out, details are missing, over sharpened.... Meh... Not impressed, honestly ... On the other hand, night shots are SUPERB on the Samsung, but this is only my 3rd time shooting at night - 99.999% of my shots are daytime or indoor. If the S7E had a better or same camera as the G5, I might have just kept it, but I know I'm going to return it after I test the G5 and S7E side by side (like this images). Best shooter (quality, speed, battery life) will be my next device
Oh, if people are interested, I can test out G4, G5 and S7E images. I have a bunch of G4 and S7E side by sides already, so if anyone wants them let me know and I can publish some information and details about them.
Thank you for the pictures, I would like to see more side by side comparisons if you please.
Have the g5 build quality is good but i do have backlight bleed
Sent from my LGLS992 using XDA-Developers mobile app

Device Comparison: Galaxy S7 (Exynos G930FD) vs. OnePlus One

I know, this seems like a no-brainer: Two-year old Chinese upstart’s first device vs. the 7th generation Samsung Galaxy flagship phone. But here’s why: I sold my S4 and skipped the S5 & S6 because the OnePlus was that good, and back then the motto “Flagship Killer” was no exaggeration. And after having the S7 for a week now, I realize that I could have been pretty content pressing on with my OPO—it’s still that good. But I wouldn’t go back, and here’s why:
DESIGN
When I unboxed the OPO it blew me away. The unboxing experience was amazing for a $350 Chinese device, from the quality of the packaging materials, quality of the accessories (even the SIM tray ejector tool!) and the device itself looked amazing. I had unboxed the S3 and S4—this was better by 100 miles! The S7 unboxing experience wasn’t nearly as good as the OPO, just meh... another typical Samsung box with a cool flap that has a magnetic lock.
But when I put the two devices side-by-side, the OPO feels well... merely good whereas before it felt amazing. The S7 takes it up several notches and is absolutely stunning to look at and stunning to touch! If they made a Braille version for blind people, I know they’d love it!
S7 clearly wins over the OPO which is saying a lot.
DURABILITY
I don’t use cases, usually don’t use screen protectors and I don’t drop my phones. In two years, my OPO has taken one fall from the seat of my Tacoma onto rough pavement. That fall merely scuffed a corner before the phone landed face-first on the glass with no discernible scratches. If that had happened to the S7...
In favor of the S7, it has an IP68 rating which the OPO doesn’t. But, since I won’t treat even my S7 like a bath toy, the best moisture protection available is something both devices have—a careful owner.
OPO wins over the S7, which is totally expected. Don’t drop a glass & metal sandwich expecting great things!
DISPLAY
I’m fine with anything above 1080P. I have extremely good near-sighted vision and can occasionally discern pixels on the OPO, though it’s not a bother. So the S7 earns a hollow victory on this front if you ask me.
But I’ve missed SuperAMOLED, and the S7 reminds me why—the deep blacks extracted from a nearby black hole, better color saturation, and yawning viewing angles that are tough to beat.
Both are capable of great color accuracy. My July 2014 OPO doesn’t have the yellow band issue found in many early production models.
In favor of the OPO, it does have good enough viewing angles, but the best thing is that there is very little color shift (none?) at even deep viewing angles. As soon as an AMOLED screen goes off-center, the colors shift blue-green. Not so with the LCD on the OPO, though there is a significant drop in brightness.
S7 easily over OPO, though LCD does have its advantages.
AUDIO
A weakness of the OPO but a strength of the S7. The DAC (at least in the Exynos version) of the S7 is great and the speaker is by far better.
S7 over the OPO.
BATTERY LIFE
No contest here: The OPO is better than the S7 by a long-shot (maybe 25-35%) with a similar usage pattern. I know this isn’t very scientific, but I’m on the charger a lot more with the S7. It’s DEFINITELY better than the S3, S4 and Nexus 5 I had before the OPO. Both devices charge really fast, but the S7 is a bit faster.
OPO clearly over the S7, but the S7 is good enough for me.
CAMERA
Absolutely no contest here either. In low light, the S7 absolutely kills and buries the OPO. In high contrast situations, the HDR on the S7 is also miles beyond what the OPO is capable of. The fast focus on the S7 makes the OPO camera seem like jurassic technology. Only in great lighting during the day are the two phones comparable, but even then it's the S7. This is one major reason that I upgraded. I've attached some comparison pictures below. The S7 pictures are the first 4, the OPO the last.
S7 over the OPO in an unfair contest, like pitting the 2007 Dolphins against the 2007 Patriots.
PERFORMANCE
I don't care about benchmarks. I’m also not much of a gamer, so I don’t really care about frame rates, except that something in TouchWiz is crippling games with 2D graphics. I’ve looked under battery saver settings, Game Launcher and Game Tools, enabled “Force GPU rendering” under developer options, installed Samsung Game Tuner, all with no joy. Hopefully a future update will address this issue. The power is there, but something deep in TouchWiz is throttling it.
The S7 loads apps faster. I’ve also noticed that even though encrypted, the S7 runs circles around the OPO in USB transfer speed.
S7 over the OPO.
DEVELOPMENT
Samsung is trying to make it so that we can’t use the words “development” and “Galaxy” in the same sentence. On the other hand, the OPO’s development scene is as prolific as the bacteria culture flourishing on a 1,000 Riel bill that’s been passed around open-air markets in Cambodia for the last 10 years. If that makes no sense to you, let’s just say it’s on par with any Nexus device out there!
Since the only S7 that can be modded is the Exynos version, I may get some custom TouchWiz ROMs in the future.
No contest here, nor will it ever be—only the OPO showed up to this fight.
THEMES
I’m not a huge themer, but being able to apply an AOSP-like Marshmallow theme over TouchWiz is a great bonus. Nova Launcher puts the icing on the cake.
If this is your thing, both are good. Maybe a themer can chime in and add more.
Tie...
TL;DR
In my non-journalist and non-scientific completely subjective opinion, they both win and I'll be keeping both.
The OPO beats the S7 in unboxing experience, durability, battery life and development, an area which is as close to night (S7) and day (OPO) as possible.
The S7 beats the OPO in display, audio, camera, design, performance—basically every category relevant to the operation and use of the device except battery life and durability.
The bottom line is that I love the S7 and see myself keeping it for a long, long time. But, neither is the OPO for sale—I’ll be keeping it to satisfy my ROM flashing addiction.
If you’re thinking of moving from the OPO to the S7 and have the coin to do so, I think you should. Just make sure that you have something beside the S7 if you need a platform for flashing/customizing.
I have the S7EDGE and owned an opo for 1.5yrs. Its no contest, even battery life is miles ahead on the S7EDGE. All in all, the S7 is the most complete device on the market to date
Added pictures to the OP, from the OPO first, then the S7.
Very well written, thanks for posting your thoughts.
I can agree to nearly every sentence you wrote. I had an Opo for about 1 year and switched to the Galaxy S7 a few weeks ago. If I had not already switched, I would switch after reading your post. For me, the major reasons for me to use the S7 as my main phone were
1. camera
2. smaller form factor.
In the meanwhile I put my S7 in a spigen thin case, which adds better grip and increases the overall size minimally.
I don't have a OPO, but I guess in terms of smoothness it's like a nexus device: butter smooth. How do you guys the OPO smoothness to S7, in apps like chrome, YouTube, playstore... Is the S7 as smooth as the OPO?
nsmart said:
For me, the major reasons for me to use the S7 as my main phone were
1. camera
2. smaller form factor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could have written this myself!
gusoldier said:
I don't have a OPO, but I guess in terms of smoothness it's like a nexus device: butter smooth. How do you guys the OPO smoothness to S7, in apps like chrome, YouTube, playstore... Is the S7 as smooth as the OPO?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can be even smoother if you turn off all the power saving junk.
CafeKampuchia said:
I could have written this myself!
It can be even smoother if you turn off all the power saving junk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which power saving junk?
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nsmart said:
I can agree to nearly every sentence you wrote. I had an Opo for about 1 year and switched to the Galaxy S7 a few weeks ago. If I had not already switched, I would switch after reading your post. For me, the major reasons for me to use the S7 as my main phone were
1. camera
2. smaller form factor.
In the meanwhile I put my S7 in a spigen thin case, which adds better grip and increases the overall size minimally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also made the switch the same time from a Opo as you. I really wish i didn't though. I don't like the edges (inadvertent taps), that its not rootable, sensibility issues, bloatware etc. I also had to get a glass protector, normally i don't do this but it scratches really really easily. So i don't like the feel of it. I would have liked to have waited for something better to have come out. My Opo lasted about year too. Normally my phones last longer but the audio insert broke on my phone and couldn't listen to music with out holding the cable in. The 2 for one special seemed like a great deal but too many draw backs.
iamnotkurtcobain said:
Which power saving junk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Under Settings > Battery > App power saving and Battery > Battery usage > More > Optimize battery usage.
jackscagnetti said:
I also made the switch the same time from a Opo as you. I really wish i didn't though. I don't like the edges (inadvertent taps), that its not rootable, sensibility issues, bloatware etc. I also had to get a glass protector, normally i don't do this but it scratches really really easily. So i don't like the feel of it. I would have liked to have waited for something better to have come out. My Opo lasted about year too. Normally my phones last longer but the audio insert broke on my phone and couldn't listen to music with out holding the cable in. The 2 for one special seemed like a great deal but too many draw backs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the international dual-SIM version (G930FD) so mine is rootable and had no carrier bloat.
jackscagnetti said:
I also made the switch the same time from a Opo as you. I really wish i didn't though. I don't like the edges (inadvertent taps), that its not rootable, sensibility issues, bloatware etc. I also had to get a glass protector, normally i don't do this but it scratches really really easily. So i don't like the feel of it. I would have liked to have waited for something better to have come out. My Opo lasted about year too. Normally my phones last longer but the audio insert broke on my phone and couldn't listen to music with out holding the cable in. The 2 for one special seemed like a great deal but too many draw backs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would have preferred to buy the Galaxy S7 with sandstone backcover and 64GB internal storage. I don't notice any inadvertent taps any more. Maybe it's the spigen case or it was fixed with the april update, I don't know. I don't have carrier bloatware, only the samsung bloatware (plus facebook), but most of it can be deactivated. If I feel the need to mess again with recovery and custom roms, I would turn on my opo again. In the meanwhile I am just using my Galaxy S7.
I too have switched from my opo to s7. Now that I think back, I miss having a 5.5 inch screen and the stock Android feels. As much as I dislike touchwiz, I was bought over by the awesome camera
Just ordered the Galaxy S7 yesterday. I too am coming from a OPO, which I'm not handing down to my wife. It has really served me well over the past two years. The things I'm most looking forward to is the smaller forfactor. 5.5" is just too large and one hand use is nearly impossible unless I'm running LMT launcher.
I'm getting the Exynos version and this time around I'm not planing on rooting. I've done that to every phone and tablet I've had since my HTC Wildfire. But this time I'm actually looking forward to just using the phone as it is. I've grown a bit tired of the stock android feel. To me it's just boring and bland, so it'll be great to once again being back on a UI that has more of complete feel to it that stock android (I know almost everybody will dissagree with me on this).
I feel like the rooting scene hasn't got much to offer anymore. "Back in the days" there where a lot to be gained from rooting. I overclock my Desire S from 1 ghz to 1.7 ghz and you could really feel the difference. Now the most used custom roms on the OPO underclock from 2.5 to 1.9 ghz, because the processor is fast and powerful enough at that freq.
All in all, I'm looking forward to getting my S7 with all it's pros and cons. Also I've ordered the Spiegen Neo Hybrid Case, 'cause I totally agree on OP views on durability.
BTW, wanted to add that the S7 charges crazy fast, even with the OPO'a charger.

G6 or S8?

I pre-ordered my S8 last week, but now LG has opened its pre-orders here too. It's a good ~USD 100 cheaper and will actually beat Samsung to market despite starting later (by only about 3 days though). I got the chance to play around with a dummy, and I will say I slightly prefer the blockier construction on the G6 versus the S8's super-thin design (although there's no doubt the S8 looks better). I haven't had the chance to play with a real demo one though, but I'm definitely going out of my way to try it. I'm not terribly concerned about performance or display or camera, but what I am concerned about is battery. I'm someone who's very heavy on my devices, sometimes going 7+ hours SOT a day, and my S7's battery has become a bit of a slog in the year since I got it (even on lighter days, which I realize is still at least 4h SOT, it requires a mid-afternoon "nap"). The G6 does come with a larger battery, but also a less efficient processor. Which one do you think will serve me better, for the next year or so?
AB__CD said:
I pre-ordered my S8 last week, but now LG has opened its pre-orders here too. It's a good ~USD 100 cheaper and will actually beat Samsung to market despite starting later (by only about 3 days though). I got the chance to play around with a dummy, and I will say I slightly prefer the blockier construction on the G6 versus the S8's super-thin design (although there's no doubt the S8 looks better). I haven't had the chance to play with a real demo one though, but I'm definitely going out of my way to try it. I'm not terribly concerned about performance or display or camera, but what I am concerned about is battery. I'm someone who's very heavy on my devices, sometimes going 7+ hours SOT a day, and my S7's battery has become a bit of a slog in the year since I got it (even on lighter days, which I realize is still at least 4h SOT, it requires a mid-afternoon "nap"). The G6 does come with a larger battery, but also a less efficient processor. Which one do you think will serve me better, for the next year or so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am a LG fan myself and has used all the LG flagships since G4, both G and V series. I am expecting my G6 to be delivered today. I don't like Samsung because of their software, but that's just me.
As for you, if that extra 100$ is not a concern I would recommend the S8. For a heavy user, a power efficient cpu will probably give you longer sot, despite smaller battery.
suhridkhan said:
I am a LG fan myself and has used all the LG flagships since G4, both G and V series. I am expecting my G6 to be delivered today. I don't like Samsung because of their software, but that's just me.
As for you, if that extra 100$ is not a concern I would recommend the S8. For a heavy user, a power efficient cpu will probably give you longer sot, despite smaller battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can deal with the software, I actually kind of like it (I know, I'm a monster hahaha). If I'm not wrong, standby is better on LG than Samsung right? Anyway, keep me posted on your G6's battery. I'm interested in hearing about it!
AB__CD said:
I can deal with the software, I actually kind of like it (I know, I'm a monster hahaha). If I'm not wrong, standby is better on LG than Samsung right? Anyway, keep me posted on your G6's battery. I'm interested in hearing about it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the battery life of the G6 is good, but twice now I've seen the battery level drop really fast during the day.
Here is what's common about those two incidents.
1) The phone was hardly used on those days.
2) Connected to WiFi.
3) Appears to happen after a week + days since the last time.
I'm beginning to wonder if the cause is some sort of carrier, or LG, baked in app collecting data, or running diagnostics. Being on WiFi kinda makes me suspect that because we know companies have been trashed before about consuming data on metered lines.
Regardless, it's irritating to find half your battery gone by noon when the phone has been on the coffee table for the entire time. A reboot appears to correct it, or resets the clock.
As for rogue apps in the background, I don't install apps. I've used the same apps for the last two years+ and didn't experience this on my V20, S7E, Note7, or V10.
Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk
echto said:
I think the battery life of the G6 is good, but twice now I've seen the battery level drop really fast during the day.
Here is what's common about those two incidents.
1) The phone was hardly used on those days.
2) Connected to WiFi.
3) Appears to happen after a week + days since the last time.
I'm beginning to wonder if the cause is some sort of carrier, or LG, baked in app collecting data, or running diagnostics. Being on WiFi kinda makes me suspect that because we know companies have been trashed before about consuming data on metered lines.
Regardless, it's irritating to find half your battery gone by noon when the phone has been on the coffee table for the entire time. A reboot appears to correct it, or resets the clock.
As for rogue apps in the background, I don't install apps. I've used the same apps for the last two years+ and didn't experience this on my V20, S7E, Note7, or V10.
Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like poor callibration on LG's part. Or perhaps intentional result modification to give the illusion of good endurance. Much like my S7 drops rapidly after exiting Ultra Power Saving.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
I was excited about LG Pay, but that appears to be a slow moving boat. For those that don't know, LG Pay will use magnetic field modulating technology similar to Samsung Pay, which allows the phone to be used as a payment device with older magnetic card readers. Unfortunately LG Pay won't be released until June, and then only in South Korea. So far, LG has only been able to bring two, yes only two, financial institutions on board. No word if LG Pay will be released in the US.
I did like Samsung pay, but hated the white background it went to after an update. It looks like the white background may no longer be there from recent pictures I've seen.
I'm teetering...
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Hi, I would like to buy LG G6 or S8, It is true that the rounded corners are bad on G6???
Cri87 said:
Hi, I would like to buy LG G6 or S8, It is true that the rounded corners are bad on G6???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theyre not bad per se, just differently done. Where the Galaxy S8 has a normal display with bezels that cover the corners, the LG G6 display is a display whose corners have actually been cut off. This improves durability, as the corners are less likely to be impacted during a fall. This means the corners arent perfectly smooth, but only about as jagged as a circle on the display is. Which is to say: not noticeable when viewing normally.
There are lots of reasons to get the S8 over thd G6, and vice versa, but this ain't one of them.
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AB__CD said:
Theyre not bad per se...
...There are lots of reasons to get the S8 over thd G6, and vice versa, but this ain't one of them.
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the info :good:
The curved display of s8 is a big minus for me, along with the fingerprint sensor position.
Specially when watching a video, or playing games, the curved edges looks really ugly.
suhridkhan said:
The curved display of s8 is a big minus for me, along with the fingerprint sensor position.
Specially when watching a video, or playing games, the curved edges looks really ugly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The curve is not as dramatic as previous curved Galaxy phones. The S8 reminds me a lot of the Note 7. Both the G6 and S8+ are great phones.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
echto said:
The curve is not as dramatic as previous curved Galaxy phones. The S8 reminds me a lot of the Note 7. Both the G6 and S8+ are great phones.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the opportunity of having a s8 for a couple of hours yesterday from my cousin. I admit it's a gorgeous looking phone, but still couldn't really like the screen curve, it's just not for me. Functionality is more important to me than aesthetics. My G6 got delivered today, and so far I am pretty happy. The only thing I am gonna miss is the notification LED, guess I just have to get used to the always on display.
You need to evaluate well for both and against...
suhridkhan said:
I had the opportunity of having a s8 for a couple of hours yesterday from my cousin. I admit it's a gorgeous looking phone, but still couldn't really like the screen curve, it's just not for me. Functionality is more important to me than aesthetics. My G6 got delivered today, and so far I am pretty happy. The only thing I am gonna miss is the notification LED, guess I just have to get used to the always on display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't turned my my G6 yet. I'm going to use the G8+ for a day or two before decided which one to keep.
The G6 definitely feels better in the hand with it's flat edges.
The S8+ finger print sensor is not as bad as the press is making it out to be. The press should concern themselves with more important issues in my opinion.
The display on the S8+ is fantastic, and you can stream music to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.
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Whichever goes on sale first
I am waiting for Verizon to put one of these two on 50% off sale. Probably won't happen until Black Friday. No hurry, my G3 is working perfectly with Nougat 7.1.1.
Get the S8 if the fingerprint sensor is not an issue for you. The G6 is slower than most 2016 flagship. You could also get an S7 since its both faster and cheaper. Oh, and no bootloop
Relayers said:
Get the S8 if the fingerprint sensor is not an issue for you. The G6 is slower than most 2016 flagship. You could also get an S7 since its both faster and cheaper. Oh, and no bootloop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the s7 and the s7 edge (and the Note 7 for that matter}, and none of them were faster than the G6 I have now. YMMV.
mhill1986 said:
I had the s7 and the s7 edge (and the Note 7 for that matter}, and none of them were faster than the G6 I have now. YMMV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
too bad all the tests on the web says otherwise (Exynos with Nougat). The G6 is a joke. It even got a CDN$400.00 rebate since day 1 (using the trade in promo, I used a $15.00 Alcatel pos) + free LG TONE INFINIM (CDN$170.00 value (apparently)).
Terrible battery life, mediocre camera,2016 CPU, GG 3 and will probably get the bootloop plague. There is no reason (but the cool shape/screen ratio) to get this phone at retail price or even close to retail price. Its an overpriced mediocre phone thats great to hold.
And for some reason, only a few countries get the wireless charging ! What a weird decision.
Relayers said:
too bad all the tests on the web says otherwise (Exynos with Nougat). The G6 is a joke. It even got a CDN$400.00 rebate since day 1 (using the trade in promo, I used a $15.00 Alcatel pos) + free LG TONE INFINIM (CDN$170.00 value (apparently)).
Terrible battery life, mediocre camera,2016 CPU, GG 3 and will probably get the bootloop plague. There is no reason (but the cool shape/screen ratio) to get this phone at retail price or even close to retail price. Its an overpriced mediocre phone thats great to hold.
And for some reason, only a few countries get the wireless charging ! What a weird decision.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery life is on par with most of the other flagships (somewhere between 4.5 and 6 hours SOT) and I stick by my assertion that performance is on par as well. The camera has strengths and weaknesses just like all cameras. Anyway, I'm enjoying the device. I'll leave it at that.
I also went with the G6. Never been much of a Samsung fan, but did want to at least have an open mind. I really prefer the screen size of the G6; the S8 just feels too long and narrow. So far battery life has been excellent, even with the AOD turned on. The camera seems to be a big improvement over the G4 I came from. FWIW, I'm very happy I chose the G6 over the S8. As always, YMMV.

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