The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is the latest in a legendary series of smartphone that create a new product category with the phablet, now the entire industry is focusing on larger handsets. Let’s find out if Samsung played it safe or really innovated with the Note 7.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a the first waterproof smartphone in the Note series, the improved SPen is also waterproof, need to take notes in the rain? No problem! The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is 5.7 inches and looks similar to the S7 Edge, it’s slightly more square and Samsung is calling the design language symmetrical beauty.
Samsung Galaxy Note7: Specifications
| display | 5.7-inch qHD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels (518 ppi) |
| processor | Exynos 8890 octa-core SoC (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz quad), manufactured in 14nm process and 64 bit compatible |
| random access memory | 4 GB RAM |
| Internal memory | 64 GB, expandable via microSD card up to 256GB |
| rear camera | 12 MP 1 / 2.5-inch sensor with Smart OIS, f / 1.7 aperture, a pixel size of 1.4 microns, dual-pixel autofocus |
| front camera | 5 MP, also with f / 1.7 aperture |
| OS | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow |
| battery pack | 3500 mAh, not interchangeable, Fast Charging and Wireless Charging |
| features | Iris scanner, S Pen, fingerprint sensor |
| connectivity | WiFi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 / 5GHz), MIMO, Bluetooth v 4.2 LE, ANT +, USB 2.0, NFC, Location |
| network | LTE Cat.9 (450 / 50Mbps) (varies by region) |
| IP code | certified to IP68 |
| Dimensions | 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm |
| weight | 169 grams |
If it’s possible the Note 7 feels better in hand than both the Note 5 and the S7 Edge as they’ve improved ergonomics and construction the glass. On the bottom we have the SPen, speaker usb type c connector and headphone jack, the right hand side the power button, the left has seperate volume buttons and the top the Nano SIM and SD card slot. When looking at the specifications we have some similarities to Samsung’s most recent handsets with the S7 series. The Note 7 has the same 12MP camera, so if you’re familiar with the S7 & S7 edge camera you’ll know that what we have here is arguably the best camera on the market. We have the same Octa Core Exynos 64 bit Processor, 4GB RAM, qHD Display and finger print sensor.
Looking at the front of the handset you’ll see a new sensor on the left hand side in addition to the same old 5MP front facing camera, this, it’s an IRIS scanner. We’ve seen this tech before on other handsets, but it does feel very futuristic to just place you face in front of the phone to unlocked. It took us a while to figure out what was going on because it’s so fast, let’s see it again just to make sure you caught it. Samsung is also giving Knox security a feature with a new security folder which can have a separate password than the phone login. The rest of the UI is very familiar, TouchWiz hasn’t really changed at all, you’re still going to get all the very smart and subtle software details that we had in the last generation. And it’s still the lightest version of touchwiz to date running on the latest version of Android. Always on Display now allows you to pin notes and you can still take notes. The Edge UX is one of our favorite quick navigation methods around and has received an update with the ability to use 3rd party apps.
The main differentiating feature of the Note series is the Pen, the tip is only 0.7mm thick with 4096 pressure sensitivity levels so if you’re it almost feels like you’re really mixing your own water colors. In addition to being waterproof the SPen has also gotten a few new improvements, you can hover translate, magnify and my personal favorite is create gifs from videos in just a few clicks, here is a goal from the euro cup that we can now watch over and over. Samsung Notes is a new app which combines Action memo, Memo, scrapbook and Snote all into one app. Nothing has changed, it’s all just in one interface that’s meant to feel like a real notebook.
If you love your stylus the Note 7 is a perfect phone for you, it’s not ground breaking with innovation, it’s refining what was already a great smartphone.
We have a few other videos comparing the Galaxy Note7 with the Note5 and the iPhone 6S Plus and 6 Plus below for you to enjoy!
