7 reasons I prefer the Galaxy S7 edge over the Google Pixel XL

The Galaxy S7 edge has been on the market for 9 months now (it was released in stores on March 11th), but it has become the standard with which all other so-called high-end Android flagships must compete. So, it’s natural that some Galaxy Note 7 users in particular are having to decide between the Galaxy S7 edge and the Google Pixel/Pixel XL. I own both the S7 edge and the Pixel XL and have had a good two months with the Pixel XL. At this point, though my time with the S7 edge has been 4 times as long, I’m ready to provide some answers for former Galaxy Note 7 customers wondering whether or not they should stick with Samsung or jump ship for Google.

I think that, in the absence of the Galaxy Note 7, the Galaxy S7 edge from Samsung is the next best thing, but the following seven reasons will include information I’ve gleaned from the Pixel XL.

Without further ado, here are seven reasons why I prefer the Galaxy S7 edge over the Google Pixel XL.

Design 

The design is the first noticeable feature of these two handsets, but I find the Galaxy S7 edge design to be better than that of the Google Pixel XL. Google’s design makes sense, seeing that the search engine giant wanted to use glass for the back-mounted fingerprint sensor and metal for the bottom two-thirds of the back cover. And yet, Google could’ve solved the design problem by placing the fingerprint sensor at the bottom bezel portion of the display on the front of the phone. This way, the bezel would’ve served a purpose other than sitting there, and the back cover design wouldn’t appear conflicted.

In contrast, the Galaxy S7 edge just has a design where everything seems in place. The dual-edge display has been a change from the single-edge display design of the Galaxy Note Edge that now looks complete, unified, whole. Again, I understand why Google designed the back cover with one-third glass and two-thirds metal, but it still appears haphazard and whimsical with an absence of design focus.

Water resistance vs. Splash resistance 

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge feature IP68 water and dust resistance, while the Pixel and Pixel XL feature only IP53 splash resistance (and some dust resistance, though not nearly enough). Google says it ran out of time to add full-blown IP68 water and dust resistance to the Pixels, and this, in addition to the glass-and-metal design of the back cover, indicates that the final product was rushed to market.

I shouldn’t have to question whether or not my smartphone can survive the elements, and, for 99% of the water situations I’ll encounter, the Galaxy S7 edge can more than hold its own. Splash resistance is more hypothetical than real when it comes to water amounts (what constitutes a splash or a jet stream of water, exactly?).

The S7 edge charges faster than the Pixel XL

The Galaxy S7 edge has a 3,600mAh battery, and the Pixel XL has a 3,450mAh battery, so you’d assume the Pixel XL would charge faster. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong to assume so.

In my own tests with wire charging for both phones (the Pixel XL utilizes USB Type-C charging while the S7 edge still holds on to micro-USB charging), the Pixel XL takes 128 minutes (2 hours, 8 minutes) to charge. The Galaxy S7 edge, in contrast, takes 100 minutes (1 hour, 40 minutes) to charge. The S7 edge, mind you, has 150mAh more battery but charges nearly 30 minutes faster, not a good sign for USB Type-C charging. Even the now-deceased Galaxy Note 7 took only 92 minutes (1 hour, 32 minutes) to charge with its 3,500mAh battery.

I expected the Pixel XL to charge faster than the Galaxy S7 edge, but I was surprised. And you will be too, should you purchase the Pixel XL. In charging, though, the numbers matter, and I’m giving the nod to the S7 edge.

Samsung pushes forward with wireless charging, Google retreats

The Galaxy S7 edge, as was the case with the Galaxy Note 5, has not only wireless charging but fast wireless charging that helps your device charge even faster when on the charging pad. Google once implemented wireless charging into its Nexus 5 and Nexus 6, for example, but decided against it for the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P. This year’s Pixels lack wireless charging as well, a sign that Google seems more content with abandoning wireless charging than returning it to its smartphone lineup.

I understand that for many, USB Type-C charging is the trend of wire charging, but it’s possible to keep USB Type-C charging and implement wireless charging. One need not be compromised for the other, so Google’s resistance to wireless charging in its last few smartphones seems out of place. I want charging options for my daily driver, so I’m going with Samsung’s Galaxy S7 edge here. Oh, and, yeah, I’ll be sure to throw my old Nexus 5 on my Samsung wireless charging pad to charge it up from time to time.

Samsung’s design brings added functionality you won’t find elsewhere

Google’s glass-and-metal design has been done, according to Google, to add an excellent back-mounted fingerprint sensor. Samsung placed a home button on the Galaxy S7 edge that didn’t encounter that problem, but Samsung has also incorporated a dual-edge display for more than just design – but to bring new edge functions that didn’t exist on flat-paneled smartphones.

These edge panels and functions don’t merely imitate the features and functionality of other smartphones but bring a new dimension to a new design. The Netflix edge panel (called Edge Flix) puts you one tap away from your favorite movies and TV shows, no matter what you’re doing on your smartphone, and the tasks edge lets you send an email or record a voice memo. The SoftKey Edge brings the one-stop-button-shop Assistant Menu to the edge panel lineup.

This isn’t to say that the Pixel XL doesn’t bring some functionality of its own that has been rare on many high-end Android smartphones. The nice gestures with the fingerprint sensor utilize the sensor for more than just the smartphone unlock, but the “app shortcuts” feature is Google’s take on Apple’s 3D Touch – and the landscape desktop mode draws heavy inspiration from the feature Apple brought to its iPhone 6 Plus two years ago.

The win in functionality goes to the Galaxy S7 edge, since its edge panels and tasks aren’t heavily derived from the work of others. You won’t hear buyers of other OEMs say “I have the same on my phone” when you buy the S7 edge.

Battle of the cameras

As always, great smartphones have great cameras, and that holds true with both the Galaxy S7 edge and the Pixel XL. I’m aware that mobile photography expert DxOMark has given the edge to the Pixel XL between these two 12MP rear cameras, but the close race between them and the one-point win for the Pixels show that these smartphones provide the best cameras you’ll get in 2016.

With that said, though, in my in-depth testing and comparisons between both phones, I’ve found that the Pixel XL  doesn’t have the yellow “tungsten” look of Samsung photos indoors, and the warm color tones they provide for human skin are commendable. The Pixel XL also has some really great camera performance outdoors and can capture scenes well at times.

And yet, the Pixel XL doesn’t have the consistent true-to-life colors of the Galaxy S7 edge. The Pixel XL takes great photos when it does, but it tends to wash out photos when it doesn’t. In contrast, Samsung’s cameras can be colder than the actual image or scene at times, but Samsung’s photos can never be said to “wash out” anything. I prefer that photos oversaturate at times than undersaturate, but I’m also opposed to warm tones in a scene that doesn’t support them.

The Pixels provide warmer tones than Samsung’s Galaxy S7 edge does at times, but the issue with the Pixels’ warmer tones is that they don’t match real life. The Galaxy S7 edge didn’t struggle with hot pinks, for instance, but the Pixel XL turned them to a “neon orange” color.

Greens on the S7 edge that look vibrant turn bluish with the Pixel XL at times, and even photos of reddish/pink roses turn into a light pink color on the Pixel XL. Gray gravel transforms into a “sunbaked brown” when taken with the sun in the background. Yellow dandelions look sunbaked as well, a sign that the Pixel XL “photoshops” and smooths over photos instead of trying to render an accurate assessment of the scene and/or object.

Samsung’s Galaxy S7 edge still holds its own well, despite the Pixel XL’s strength in indoor lighting at times and its photoshopping abilities. In the end, though, real life is appealing in its own way and, while having some photography touch-ups, doesn’t need the ultra-warm tones of the Pixel XL. The camera battle here goes to the S7 edge.

Samsung Pay vs. Android Pay

You knew it was coming. You can’t talk about Samsung’s and Google’s latest without talking about their mobile payment systems. Android Pay runs on NFC or Near Field Communication, mandating that stores have updated NFC terminals to operate.

Samsung Pay, in contrast, works whether or not your favorite local store can afford to upgrade and get NFC terminals or not. Samsung Pay runs on MST (magnetic secure transmission) and allows you to make mobile payments at traditional card readers. As you’ve likely heard it said, Samsung Pay works at about 90% of all stores. And, in my experience, that’s held true to this day.

Samsung has the winner with MST and Samsung Pay; after all, I shouldn’t be prevented from using state-of-the-art technology because the store I frequent isn’t as up-to-date. Samsung removes that barrier, which makes using the Galaxy S7 edge far more appealing. And yes, while I can still use the Gear S3 Frontier and my Pixel XL for Samsung Pay, Samsung Pay is one aspect of a great smartphone. I don’t want part of the Samsung experience but all of it, though your view on this may differ.

Conclusion 

The Galaxy S7 edge and the Pixel XL are both excellent smartphones, and I deem the Pixels the best of the pack behind the Galaxy S7, S7 edge, and S7 Active because of their fast updates, Daydream VR platform, and their more-than-competent 12MP cameras.

At the same time, however, the security patches have proven problematic for me because, when the Pixel XL battery died on a few occasions, the November 5th security patch reverted back to the October security patch (which doesn’t bode well for the fast updates bragging right). Daydream VR and the Daydream View headset are a nice peak into virtual reality, but the Daydream View headset isn’t as user-friendly as Samsung’s Gear VR. Last but not least, Samsung provides battery modes, TouchWiz, faster wire charging than the Pixel XL, as well as a compelling design and unique functionality.

If I could choose one phone and leave the other at the store, I’d choose the Galaxy S7 edge.

What do you think? Do you own both, or one? If only one, which one? What made you pick that over the other?

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Daily Deal: Buy a new Gear VR for the New Year in just $60

Throughout the entire year we’ve brought you some fantastic deals on Samsung products as part of our Daily Deal program. This is going to be our last deal for 2016 and it’s a good one, particularly if you’ve been meaning to try out Samsung’s virtual reality headset. If you have been on the fence about picking one up, head over to Amazon right now and buy a new Gear VR for the New Year in just $60.

The Gear VR 2016 (SM-R323) is compatible with the Galaxy S6 series, the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge as well as the Galaxy Note 5. It’s marginally better than its predecessor and is also a bit more comfortable to wear. You obviously need one of the handsets mentioned above if you want to experience VR with this headset. The Gear VR 2016 normally retails for $99.99 but it’s available for a limited time only for $60. Go on, buy yourself a New Years present.

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Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge user manuals revised with Android Nougat changes

Samsung has confirmed that the Nougat beta program for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge is at an end, and the company has said that it will do its best to release the final update by the end of January. Samsung isn’t promising anything, but it certainly seems confident of meeting the provided time frame, as revised user manuals based on Android 7.0 are now available online for both devices.

The revised Galaxy S7 edge manual is available in English, Dutch, and German, while the S7 manual seems to have been updated only in English for the time being. The manual gives us a good look at the new user interface that will grace the two devices with the Nougat update, and our What’s New With Nougat series is what you should be reading to see the major changes that it brings to the S7 and S7 edge.

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Galaxy S7 Nougat beta program ends today, official release in January

We picked up a post on Weibo yesterday which suggested that Samsung might be ending the Galaxy S7 Nougat beta program soon. The company has released five versions of the Android 7.0 beta firmware for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge so far and it has now confirmed that the Galaxy S7 Nougat beta program will indeed be ending today.

Samsung has posted a beta notice for members of the program in the Galaxy Members app confirming that the program is going to end on December 30 at 24:00. The company thanks all of the members who showed interested in this exercise and promises to apply most of the opinions that it received during the course of this program in the official Nougat release.

After today, the company will not release a new beta version and will not provide any individual feedback related to “Error report” and “Suggestion” in the app. Feedback will only be managed via “community” from now on.

Samsung previously confirmed that the official release of Nougat will start from Android 7.1.1. The company promises to do its best to release the official version of Android 7.1.1 for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge in January.

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Rumor: Samsung will launch 2 Windows 10-powered tablets at CES 2017

It has been a while since Samsung launched a Windows-powered tablet and we have now received unconfirmed information that the company is going to launch two Windows tablets at the Consumer Electronics Show 2017 in Las Vegas next month. Not much is known about the tablets at this point in time.

One of the tablets is likely going to bear model number SM-W720 which suggests that it’s going to be a successor to the existing Galaxy TabPro S (SM-W700). The Galaxy TabPro S is a high-end Windows 10-powered tablet with specs that include an Intel Core M processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, 5,200mAh battery with fast charging support, 12-inch 2160×1440 pixel resolution Super AMOLED display, 5-megapixel front and rear camera, USB Type-C and more.

The second tablet Samsung is expected to unveil at CES 2017 is likely going to be the SM-W620. It’s possibly going to be a smaller version of the SM-W720 and might feature a smaller display and slightly less impressive specifications.

As previously mentioned, not much is known about these tablets right now but seeing as how CES 2017 is just a week away, we’ll find out for sure soon enough if they really are on Samsung’s agenda for the Consumer Electronics Show.

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Samsung to save 1 trillion won annually from FTC ruling against Qualcomm

The Korea Fair Trade Commission isn’t afraid to throw down the hammer when necessary (Samsung SDI became one of its victims during the Samsung C&T-Cheil Industries merger back in September) against those who seek unfair and unethical practices in business. According to the antitrust watchdog, Qualcomm has been found guilty of collecting 1 trillion won (around $825 million USD) in dishonest profit from both Samsung and its fellow South Korean rival, LG, each year.

The events surrounding this FTC ruling have to do with patents that the Commission says are unnecessary and have been charged based on smartphone prices instead of standard patent pricing. Qualcomm has also been found guilty of not licensing its modem chip patents in order to restrict its competition each year. The FTC made its decision after interviewing companies such as Intel, Nvidia, Apple, and even Samsung and LG regarding their agreements with Qualcomm.

While Samsung and rival LG will save 1 trillion won annually, there won’t be a drop in smartphone prices as a result. But, the FTC has shown that it isn’t afraid to make companies pay when their practices are called into question. We don’t know how this will impact Samsung and its relationship with Qualcomm (or whether this will have a direct bearing on the Snapdragon 835 SoC that’s headed to market for the Galaxy S8), but, as “a penny saved is a penny earned,” the same can be said for 1 trillion won.

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Samsung Malaysia confirms final Galaxy Note 7 update, set for December 31st

2 million Galaxy Note 7 devices worldwide have been returned as part of Samsung’s global recall, but slightly less than 1 million devices remain in the wild – a testimony to the resolve of some users to hold onto a phone despite the metaphorical handwriting on the wall. While US carriers have confirmed their final Galaxy Note 7 update release dates and are making good on them (T-Mobile is the first in the US), Samsung is still taking measures to reel in other Galaxy Note 7 devices from around the world. The latest concerns Malaysian Note 7 owners.

Samsung Malaysia has confirmed that 8,000 pre-order Note 7 units will meet their end on December 31st at 9PM. Samsung is sending out push notifications to all Samsung smartphones in Malaysia, with detailed information about the final update and what it will do to remaining Note 7s. In short, as is the case with the T-Mobile update two days ago, the Samsung Malaysia update will drain the phone’s battery to zero and disable its charging capabilities. Once this update is downloaded, the Note 7 will no longer reboot.

For Malaysian customers wondering where to turn after returning their Note 7, you can look no further than Samsung’s own Galaxy S7 edge that brings a free Gear VR along for the ride (virtual reality headsets, alongside of the word “free,” are never a bad thing). Additionally, Samsung is beta testing Samsung Pay in the country - so new Galaxy S7 edge owners who take advantage of the free deal won’t have to wait too long before they can start paying with their new phone.

As of now, we continue to urge all Galaxy Note 7 owners to return their recalled phone and exchange it for another. We also have a list of six Galaxy Note 7 substitutes to guide your purchase decision.

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Galaxy A5 (2017) and A7 (2017) pricing leaks, A7 firmware and user manual online

How much will the Galaxy A5 (2017) and the Galaxy A7 (2017) cost? Between all the leaks that have given us details on Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy A smartphones, information on the phones’ pricing has eluded us. Rightly so, as pricing and availability are two valuable nuggets that don’t usually rear their heads before a device gets launched. But that isn’t going to be the case for the A5 (2017) and A7 (2017), as we now have the pricing for at least one market, thanks to an official Samsung ad for the two devices.

In Malaysia, where the A (2017) lineup will be announced on January 5, the A5 (2017) and A7 (2017) will be priced at RM1,699 and RM1,899, which equate to around $378 and $424. Those are pretty impressive prices for the features we’re expecting to see on the 2017 editions of Samsung’s Galaxy A devices, such as 16-megapixel front cameras and a water resistant design. Samsung Malaysia will also be offering a free Level U Pro wireless headphone for those who pre-order the devices between January 6th and January 15th, and it is likely the handsets will go on sale soon after the final pre-order date.

Firmware for the Galaxy A5 (2017) recently became available on Samsung’s (and our) servers, and we are now seeing a few Asian firmware for the Galaxy A7 (2017) making their way online as well. Over at Samsung Russia’s website, the user manual for the A7 (2017) is already available for download, so it sure looks like the Korean giant isn’t trying too hard to keep its newest mid-range smartphone under wraps.

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Exclusive: Samsung will launch wireless in-ear headphones with the Galaxy S8

We reported a few weeks back that Samsung might remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from the Galaxy S8, similar to what Apple, Motorola, and LeEco have done this year. Later, we reported that the company has multiple prototypes, and some of them do have 3.5mm headphone jacks. Still, the company might be pushing towards wireless audio. We’ve received information about the company’s plans to launch a wireless headset alongside its next flagship smartphone.

According to the information we’ve received, Samsung will launch new wireless in-ear headphones alongside the Galaxy S8. We’re not sure whether they would be bundled along with the smartphone or sold separately, but Samsung is surely looking to put out a product that competes with Apple’s AirPods. Whether or not these new headphones feature Harman audio remains to be seen.

We wish that Samsung sticks with a 3.5mm headphone jack for the Galaxy S8. We reviewed the Gear IconX, Samsung’s first completely wireless headphones, and found that it was a great concept but nowhere near an ideal solution to replace wired headphones. So it would be better if the company can show us proof (through its upcoming wireless headphones) that it is truly ready for a wireless audio future before yanking out the headphone jack from its smartphones.

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Daily Deal: Get 20% discount on 3.1-channel wireless soundbar from Samsung

It’s still not too late to get yourself a New Year’s gift, and a wireless soundbar can be a pretty good purchase. A wireless soundbar setup not only improves the audio experience in your living room but also keeps it pretty neat as there are no wires running down your carpet or floor. If you’re interested in adding a soundbar to your TV setup, have a look at this 3.1-channel wireless soundbar from Samsung which is currently being sold at 20% discount on Amazon.

The HW-K650 is a 340-watt, 3.1-channel wireless soundbar from Samsung, and it is currently being sold for just $397.99 on Amazon. This is a discount of 20% over its regular price of $499.99. It features six speakers (integrated into the soundbar), a built-in amplifier, and a wireless subwoofer. You can throw in two additional speakers (SWA-8000S) to convert it into a full 5.1-channel setup. Go ahead and click the source link to grab the deal before stock runs out!

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Themes Thursday: Five best themes from this week

We’re back with this week’s Themes Thursday! Out of dozens of themes released that were released this week for compatible smartphones, we’ve shortlisted five that you might end up liking.

Samsung has designed Field, Simple Desert, and Yellow Boat themes, and all of them are free to download. If you’re still in a Christmas mood, you should check out the cute Greeny Christmas theme pack. Too bad that most of the New Year themes are too flashy to recommend.

Which themes did you like from this week?

Field | Free

Greeny Christmas | Paid

Mountain – THENEW | Paid

Simple Desert | Free

Yellow Boat | Free

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Galaxy A7 (2017) launch nears as retail mode video appears

Samsung will soon unveil the new Galaxy A (2017) series. The company’s Malaysian arm has already sent out invitations for the launch event on January 5th which takes place a few hours before Samsung’s CES 2017 press conference. Official press renders of the Galaxy A3 (2017) and Galaxy A5 (2017) were leaked online yesterday. We’ve now come across the retail mode video for the Galaxy A7 (2017) so it’s evident that this handset is coming soon as well.

Renders of the Galaxy A7 (2017) haven’t leaked online yet but it’s only a matter of time before we get to see them as well. The retail mode video that we’ve found is a good indication that the Galaxy A7 (2017) is also going to be launched in the near future. One thing you’ll note in the video is that the camera is particularly highlighted so it appears that the high-end model of this series will be geared towards those who like to use their handset’s camera quite a bit. The video also points out that this new series is going to be water resistant.

Expect Samsung to confirm details about the pricing and availability of this handset on January 5th.

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Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners claim the camera lens is shattering without impact

Samsung is definitely under the microscope, and rightfully so after the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. Now, they could potentially have another problem on their hands. According to Digital Trends, a large number of Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge owners are reporting that the camera lens is shattering without any kind of impact and Samsung is refusing to cover these incidents under warranty.

Apparently, this has been an issue dating back to the launch of both devices. There have been ongoing complaints about this issue on Samsung’s community forums among users. Samsung has continually insisted that the lens can only break under physical stress and will charge customers $70 to fix the lens itself. Consumerist also reported yesterday of an incident that happened fairly recently with one of their readers. The reader claimed to have woken up to the lens shattered and described the look like a “miniature bullet hole.”

Keller Rohrback, a Seattle-based law firm, is currently investigating the issue at hand and sent out a statement asking affected users to contact the firm to discuss any “potential legal issues.” Other than speculation, there is still no clear explanation on how the lens is shattering at random, and we here at SamMobile are hearing about it for the first time.

Have you experienced this issue? Let us know in the comments below.

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Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge Nougat beta program could end soon

Samsung has released five versions of the Android 7.0 beta firmware for the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, and it looks like the company could soon be wrapping testing. The fifth Nougat beta could be the last, according to a post on Weibo that was shared by a tester on Samsung’s beta community (found in the Galaxy Members app).

Does this mean the final version of Nougat could be rolling out soon? Not necessarily, as integration of the software on a device is followed by the certification stage, so we could still be a few weeks away from the official rollout of the update. Of course, it isn’t even confirmed if Samsung has finished testing, although at this point the company really should be hurrying things up and attempting to bring the latest version of Android to its customers at the earliest.

Nougat is shaping up to be one of the biggest updates for Samsung devices, and if you haven’t already, do check out our What’s New With Nougat series to find out what it brings to the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

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Samsung unveils its new CH711 curved quantum dot monitors just before CES 2017

After launching a couple of curved monitors earlier this year, Samsung is back again with some new models. The CH711 curved quantum dot monitor from Samsung features WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution, and comes in two screen sizes: 27-inch and 31.5-inch. Samsung claims that the CH711 has been designed for gaming and that quantum dot technology offers “vivid, visually stunning picture.”

The CH711 has a curvature of 1800R, and the company claims that it offers a better experience while watching movies or gaming. Samsung promises a “richer and more vibrant color from any viewing distance” from its latest curved gaming monitor. The CH711 will be released sometime early 2017, but it will be showcased at CES 2017 along with the CFG70 gaming monitor and the workplace-focused CF971. The company will showcase some of its flat monitors too, including the 28-inch UH750 with a super-fast 1ms response time and 4K resolution.

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Rumor: Samsung switching to software navigation keys with 3D Touch-like functionality for the Galaxy S8

We exclusively reported earlier this month that Samsung is ditching the physical home button on the Galaxy S8 for a better screen-to-body ratio. Bloomberg reported around the same time that the upcoming flagship smartphone from Samsung would feature a virtual home button for an ‘all-screen front’. Now, David Ruddock from Android Police has tweeted some more details regarding the navigation keys on the Galaxy S8.

According to David, Samsung has decided to ditch hardware navigation keys on the Galaxy S8. It appears that the company is finally switching to on-screen navigation keys with some 3D Touch-like functionality, which means that Samsung will use a pressure-sensitive screen. Soft keys are said to be configurable too. The fingerprint sensor has been allegedly removed from the front of the device, but its new place is not known yet. Synaptics recently launched the first optical fingerprint scanner for smartphones, and it is likely to be used in the Galaxy S8. However, no one is sure if it will be placed under the screen or at the back of the device.

It appears that Samsung is finally aligning its thoughts with Google’s regarding navigation keys on Android smartphones. However, we should take this information with a pinch of salt as nothing can be said for sure until the Galaxy S8 is officially unveiled sometime next year.

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Buy a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 from Best Buy and get a free 256GB memory card

With the holiday season and the year coming to a close, there is still deals to be had and last minute gifts to be purchased. If you or someone you know has Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint and is interested in a new Samsung smartphone, Best Buy currently has a great bargain. Customers who purchase and activate a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge on Verizon Device Payment, AT&T Next, or Sprint 24-Month Installment will receive a free 256GB memory card. Devices that are activated on T-Mobile do not qualify for the free memory card. The deal can also be had with 2-year agreements.

The 256GB memory card that is being offered for free with the phone purchase is a Samsung EVO+ microSDXC UHS-I Class 10 and usually carries a hefty full retail price tag of $249.99. Also included in the deal is the AT&T exclusive Galaxy S7 Active. There is no mention on when this deal will expire so jump on it before it’s too late.

Check out the Best Buy website for more details.

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Only a dual-camera Galaxy can make a Galaxy out of the dual camera

The dual camera setup on smartphones is becoming a trend, with a few manufacturers such as LG (G5, V20), Huawei (P9), and Apple (iPhone 7 Plus) having jumped into the race. And, with Samsung being the most dominant player in the Android scene, it’s natural to wonder if (and when) Samsung will ever enter into the dual camera competition with its rivals (perhaps the Galaxy S8 Plus will present such an opportunity).

The claim behind the dual camera setup is that, with smartphones getting thinner and lighter these days, a single lens cannot provide the optical zoom that could come by way of a second rear camera designed for it. Smartphone cameras should be as thin as smartphones themselves (few want a camera bulge as an acceptable design), and the key to that is to thin out the camera along with the smartphone. To do that, though, one either has to find a new way to stack sensors or eliminate some.

Optical zoom is a plus for photography professionals and quality photos in general, but it would require making smartphone cameras larger (thereby creating the dreaded camera bulge). Create a second camera that’s equipped with lossless zoom, however, and presto – you’ve got the perfect second camera that everyone wants. It is also the case that secondary rear cameras improve bokeh, that sexy blurriness that true photography lovers never stop loving. Better bokeh effects are all part of the appreciation of photography as an art form.

It’s an argument that appears to make sense, though smartphone manufacturers having already released dual-camera smartphones haven’t made the most or best of it. First, manufacturers have released secondary rear cameras that don’t perform as well as the primary rear cameras do; next, the camera quality of the primary rear cameras don’t perform as well as, say, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

If the primary rear cameras don’t perform well, what makes the consumer put any faith in OEMs to get the secondary rear cameras right? You can’t start a second garden, for example, and leave the first garden in shambles.

Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, though, are the best of the best this year in mobile photography, so it makes sense for Samsung to perhaps stick with a single rear camera for the Galaxy S8. The impression sent by the dual-camera-drooling crowd is that single rear cameras are “so 2015,” but Samsung’s “Galaxies” this year have shown that mobile photography for primary rear cameras has not yet been exhausted. I wish other manufacturers would take notes.

There will come a time though, when, like USB Type-C charging, Samsung will make a decision to step into the dual camera race. Only a dual-camera “Galaxy” can make a Galaxy out of the dual-camera, and I hold this view for a few reasons. Let’s look at them below.

First, a dual-camera “Galaxy” will make a Galaxy out of the dual camera because the secondary rear camera will have the same f/x.x aperture as the primary rear camera. Just look on the market, and you’ll see that most dual-camera setups have a secondary rear camera with a higher aperture than the primary one. Take the LG G5 from this year, for example: its primary rear camera has an f/1.8 aperture, but the secondary camera has an f/2.4 aperture.

With a higher aperture, photos will come out less than stellar (in other words, they won’t have the appeal of photos with lower apertures). I’m looking for a smartphone with a dual-camera setup that doesn’t compromise lowlight performance on either rear camera, and a dual-camera Galaxy will do just that.

Next, a dual-camera “Galaxy” will make a Galaxy out of the dual camera by way of its megapixel count. Secondary rear cameras can provide a great “panorama” view of a scene, but their lack of sufficient zoom quality makes them a pain to use at this point. Megapixel count isn’t everything, but it helps to have photos that show greater detail because they have greater zoom than photos with a smaller (and reduced) megapixel count.

It just seems weird to me to see the primary rear camera of the LG G5 take 16MP photos while the secondary rear camera takes 8MP photos. I’m looking for a dual-camera Galaxy that will make taking photos with the secondary rear camera as fun and as quality as using the primary rear camera.

A dual-camera “Galaxy” will make a Galaxy out of the dual camera by revamping the panorama camera mode. The current implementation as it is on smartphones mandates you pan around the scene with your smartphone as the camera “stitches” each small scene together to make a large one. The scene, in the end, doesn’t come out cleanly. Perhaps the best way to make the most of a dual-camera setup is to provide a secondary rear camera that can capture the sweep of a scene without needing me to “manually pan around.”

Last but not least, a dual-camera “Galaxy” will make a Galaxy out of the dual camera setup by providing a 360-degree, VR mode that lets you take 360-degree photos without needing another camera. The goal of smartphone cameras has been to help DSLR users replace them with their mobile phone instead. While we now have 360-degree cameras such as the Gear 360, some users still want to do everything with their smartphone.

Providing a 360-degree, VR camera mode on an upcoming “Galaxy” will make a second camera relevant. I’m a believer that a secondary camera should do more than the primary camera. If the secondary camera only does what my primary camera does (and doesn’t even function as well), then a secondary camera serves no purpose).

It is for these reasons that I believe a dual-camera Galaxy, when Samsung chooses to unveil it, will make a Galaxy out of the dual camera setup. Current dual-camera smartphones are trying to figure out what purpose a secondary camera should serve, and, even then, provide questionable photo quality. Samsung’s 2016 Galaxy lineup is already making the case for the purpose of smartphone cameras. Now, Samsung need only add a secondary rear camera with VR capabilities and make secondary cameras rival primary rear cameras. In so doing, Samsung’s “Galaxy” would create a ripple effect throughout the smartphone world, and make a “Galaxy” out of the dual camera.

And the real significance of dual cameras is just what consumers are waiting on. A dual-camera Galaxy will give purpose to what is merely a hardware race for now.

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Galaxy A3 (2017) and Galaxy A5 (2017) official press renders leaked

You’ve seen many leaks and rumors about the upcoming Galaxy A (2017) series from Samsung and it’s now time to take a look at the official press renders of the Galaxy A3 (2017) and the Galaxy A5 (2017) that have been leaked online today. No renders of the Galaxy A7 (2017) have been leaked as yet but I have a feeling that they will surface in the near future as well.

The renders make it evident that Samsung has made some minor changes to the design of the new series. It’s considerably more rounded at the sides and it’s obviously that some inspiration has been taken from the Galaxy S7. The metal frame and narrow bezels add an extra flair to the design. As previously reported, the Galaxy A (2017) series will be available in four colors including black, gold, blue and pink.

The Galaxy A3 (2017) is said to feature an Exynos 7870 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It will feature an 8-megapixel front and 13-megapixel rear camera, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1 aside from its 4.7-inch 1280×720 pixel resolution Super AMOLED display. It may be priced at 379 euro.

The Galaxy A5 (2017) will be a bit better courtesy its Exynos 7880 processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It features a 5.2-inch full HD Super AMOLED display, 16-megapixel front and rear camera, NFC, LTE, Bluetooth 4.1 and more with a price tag of 479 euro. Both handsets will have IP68 water and dust resistance certification.

Samsung is likely going to announce the Galaxy A (2017) series at CES 2017 next month. Samsung Malaysia today sent out invites to the launch event for this series which takes place on January 5th, hours before Samsung’s CES 2017 press conference.

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More information surfaces regarding Samsung’s upcoming Exynos 8895 processor

Samsung will use its homegrown Exynos 8895 chipset in the Galaxy S8 next year, and the company has been testing it since past five months with clock speeds as high as 4GHz. It was also being predicted that the chipset would make use of ARM’s new Mali-G71 GPU. Now, more details regarding the Exynos 8895 chipset have surfaced.

According to a new report straight out of China, there would be two variants of the Exynos 8895 chipset: the Exynos 8895M and the Exynos 8895V. Both the chipsets would be made using the South Korean electronics giant’s 10nm FinFET technology. The chipsets would use a combination of four Exynos M2 CPU cores (clocked at 2.5GHz or 2.3GHz depending on the variant) and four Cortex A53 CPU cores (clocked at 1.7GHz).

Samsung is making use of ARM’s latest Mali-G71 GPU. The Exynos 8895M would feature a 20-core CPU, while the Exynos 8895V would feature an 18-core GPU. Both these chipsets would be compatible with faster UFS 2.1 storage, LP-DDR4x RAM, and a Cat. 16 LTE modem. The upcoming high-end smartphone chipset from Samsung would also be able to drive 4K content quite easily.

Samsung could also release a third variant of the Exynos 8895 chipset sometime in Q3 2017, featuring a newer Shannon 359 modem, which is said to be compatible with CDMA networks (useful for North American markets). In comparison, the Snapdragon 835 chipset (which is also being manufactured by Samsung using 10nm FinFET technology) is said to have CPU clock speeds as high as 3GHz. However, that doesn’t necessarily translate into better performance.

 

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Daily Deal: Save 48% on Samsung’s Level On wireless noise cancelling headphones

We’re back again with an exciting new deal for our readers! If you wanted to invest in high-end wireless headphones, you should definitely have a look at Samsung’s Level On wireless headphones. Right now, Amazon is selling them for just $129.49, which is a discount of 48% over its original price of $249.99. They also ship worldwide, albeit with an additional charge.

The Level On wireless headphones from Samsung feature active noise cancellation, and they come in four colors: black, blue, red, and white. These headphones not only look stylish, but they are foldable as well, so you can carry them with you easily. Apart from Bluetooth, there’s a 3.5mm jack for listening to music.

Samsung claims that its Level U wireless headphones can last up to 11 hours on a single charge with active noise cancellation turned on and 23 hours if the feature is turned off. They’re perfect if you travel a lot to work or if you’re a frequent traveller. If you don’t want to miss this deal, click on the source link below before stock clears.

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Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro gets its TENAA and Wi-Fi certification

The upcoming Galaxy C5 Pro has officially been certified in China by TENAA with the model number SM-C5010. The handset has also received its Wi-Fi certification today so it has completed two important regulatory steps before it can be officially launched. With this piece of news, the rumored January unveiling inches closer to certainty.

Previous reports have the Galaxy C5 Pro sporting a Snapdragon 625 processor and at least 3GB of RAM. Specs listed by TENAA show the device containing a Snapdragon 626 chipset combined with an octa-core CPU, an Adreno 506 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. On top of that, it will also have a 5.2-inch Full HD display (1080 x 1920 resolution), come pre-installed with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and be fueled by a 3,000 mAH battery.

The handset will also have a slim frame weighing in at a mere 6.95mm. Lastly, there will be matching 16-megapixel rear and front-facing cameras. The Galaxy C5 Pro is expected to be unveiled next month alongside the Galaxy C7 Pro and will likely be launched in Gold, Pink, and Dark Blue colors

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Samsung trails Apple in most holiday phone activations

Not having a new flagship smartphone on the market this holiday season appears to have dented Samsung’s chances of taking advantage of the holiday shopping frenzy. The Galaxy Note 7 could have done wonders for the company’s bottom line had it not been discontinued on account of being a fire hazard. Perhaps that’s a big reason why Samsung is found to be trailing behind Apple in second place for the most phone activations this holiday season.

Data from analytics firm Flurry shows that iPhones accounted for 44 percent of all new smartphone activations during the holiday season. Samsung came in second place with 21 percent. This shows that the iPhone continues to be a sought-after gift during the holidays but Flurry does point out that things are looking up for Samsung as well. It notes that Samsung is “slowly growing in popularity throughout the holiday season, up 1 percent from last year.”

In the absence of the Galaxy Note 7, the Galaxy S7 remained the most popular handset for Samsung, and rightly so because the company has been pushing its 2016 flagship hard to make up the losses from the Galaxy Note 7.

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Samsung Smart Switch update brings Nougat, Windows 10 Mobile support

Samsung is making another one of its proprietary apps compatible with Nougat today: an update is now rolling out to Smart Switch with support for the latest iteration of Android. The update also brings support for Windows 10 Mobile; a previous support had brought compatibility with Windows Phone 8.1, and those running what could be the last version of Windows Phone should now be able to transfer their data to a new Samsung device.

The Smart Switch update is available from Google Play and Samsung’s Galaxy Apps store; go ahead and download it from the store of your choice. You can also download the APK from our APK section to sideload the latest version.

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New Samsung audio products will be showcased at CES 2017

Samsung today announced its new lineup of audio visual products that will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show 2017 next month. The products include Samsung’s new H7 Wireless Speaker, a new soundbar and a new UHD Blu-ray player. The company says that this new lineup features innovative devices that reflect a total paradigm shift for the company as it’s entered around simplistic and sleek design with enhanced integration across multiple devices.

“This year, we focused on the audiophile who wants a single, simple solution that not only fits their lifestyle, but that simultaneously delivers an unparalleled home audio experience,” said Jurak Choi, Senior Vice President of Samsung Electronics.

Samsung’s proprietary Ultra High Quality audio technology is highlighted across the entire lineup. It enables 32bits of rich sound from any source that provides 8 to 24bit sound. The technology is capable of upscaling audio sources to 32bit output for wired and wireless connections. 32bit sound provides a listening experience that’s closer to the original recording than existing HD audio.

Samsung’s new H7 Wireless Speaker promises stunning sound quality packaged in a premium design and intuitive user experience. It offers 32bit ultra high quality sound with a bass response of 35Hz. The compact speaker has sleek, contemporary metal finishes with a retro exterior. The wheel control allows for an intuitive user experience, turning the wheel not only adjusts the volume but also enables users to select their favorite playlist from a supported music streaming service.

The new MS750 Soundbar is the first soundbar from Samsung to embed subwoofer performance into the primary unit, it also supports UHQ 32bit audio. Superior up-firing capabilities and vertical tweeters with upmixing technology promise a deeper sense of immersion. It can be paired with Samsung’s Smart Remote Control as well. The MS750 Soundbar has a one body design that can easily be mounted onto the TV with one simple connection.

Samsung’s new M9500 UHD Blu-ray player features Bluetooth Wireless Streaming Support and Samsung Smart Remote integration. This HDR-optimized device also offers a new Private Cinema Mode which transfers TV audio to personal Bluetooth headphones. It automatically sets TV screen and audio to the optimal level by analyzing the content source being played, such as DTS-X, HDR or Atmos.

All of these products will be showcased by Samsung at the Consumer Electronics Show 2017 next month in Las Vegas.

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Galaxy S8 may get the S Pen as an external accessory

The S Pen stylus is limited to Samsung’s Galaxy Note lineup but if a new report out of China is believed, that might change in the near future. Samsung’s Galaxy S series has never come with an integrated stylus like the Note series handsets do. The report claims that one of the prototypes of the Galaxy S8 did have an integrated stylus but Samsung has decided against it. The company is now said to offer the S Pen as an external accessory for its next flagship smartphone.

Offering support for a stylus makes sense, particularly when you consider the possibility that the Galaxy S8 Plus might feature a 6-inch display. It would firmly be in phablet territory as the Galaxy Note 7 had a 5.7-inch display, so a stylus would come in handy on the Galaxy S8 Plus. It’s unclear right now how much the external stylus is going to cost for the upcoming flagship.

Samsung adding S Pen support to the Galaxy 8 is going to leave many Note fans concerned. There have already been rumors that perhaps the company might ax the Note series after the spectacular failure it suffered with the Galaxy Note 7. There’s no reason to assume the worst right now, Samsung may just be adding S Pen support to the Galaxy S8 to make up for the fact that there won’t be a new Note handset for almost a year. Even the company itself has hinted that there’s going to be a Galaxy Note 8 next year.

We’ve reported previously that Samsung is testing multiple prototypes of the Galaxy S8 which is why there are conflicting reports about the next flagship. We should have a clear picture of what to expect from the Galaxy S8 in the coming weeks. Rumor has it that Samsung will conduct a separate event next April in New York to unveil the Galaxy S8.

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Samsung’s contract chip manufacturing business expected to post 10% sales growth

According to a new report out of South Korea, Samsung’s foundry business is likely to see sales growth of more than 10 percent this year even though its major client Apple has halted orders. The Korea Economic Daily reported today that sales could cross $4 billion this year, and if that really is the case, it would account for 40 percent of the total revenue of System LSI, Samsung’s non-memory chip business division.

Samsung’s contract chip manufacturing business has been buoyed by upbeat sales and recent reports suggest that Samsung might actually be considering spinning off the foundry business to ensure that it’s in a better position for future growth.

The business division largely relied on Apple as it started supplying application processing chips for the iPhone since 2007. Apple recently started placing orders with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and thus Samsung’s business suffered slowing sales. Apple only sourced processors from TSMC for the iPhone 7 and this forced Samsung to diversify its clientele which now includes the likes of AMD, NVIDIA and Qualcomm. Samsung has reportedly signed a deal with Tesla to manufacture chips for its self-driving cars as well.

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New Samsung patents rethink the smartwatch

Samsung has had a significant measure of success with the Gear S2 and now, the Gear S3, but the most recent quarter estimates for 2016 show that Samsung only sold 400,000 Gear S2 smartwatches. Of course, the Gear S3 sales figures are not yet in to determine just how successful the Korean giant may be with its latest smartwatch that takes something good and makes it even better, but it goes to show that analysts are not all that positive about smartwatches as a whole (not just Samsung’s Gear series).

Well, Samsung always has a plan. The company known for its experimental ideas that think outside the box isn’t one to sit idle while analysts ponder whether or not a product will become a global hit. The latest in the company’s experimental ways involves two new patent applications rethink the smartwatch by giving them a purpose beyond “just being smartwatches.”

In the first patent application, Samsung rethinks the idea of smartwatch bands. Smartwatch bands for the Gear S2, for example (and now Gear S3) can be interchanged, so Samsung has decided that the wristband or watchband could be used to control features and functions on-screen. A new patent shows a wristband or strap being pushed to the left or right to bring up the weather, time, distance, heart rate, and so on. The same wristband or wrist strap could also be used as a joystick for gaming motions when worn around the neck (I’m thinking this idea would be perfect for Samsung’s VR agenda here).

The second patent application pertains to the flexible display patent the company was awarded one month ago that involves the use of an artificial muscle that would make the display bendable and subject to invincibility. This new patent takes that idea and applies it not to a tablet-like device but to a bracelet that can be worn around the arm. We’ve seen a foldable smartphone prototype a few weeks back, but this patent would make the foldable smartphone a smartphone/wearable hybrid.

As is always said, Samsung may never bring these ideas to market, but Samsung is always thinking of ways to encourage greater market product adoption. Its research and development investment is a tell-tale sign as to why it remains at the top of the market.

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T-Mobile rolls out final Galaxy Note 7 update, first to do so in the US

Samsung has been working with carriers worldwide to disable the Galaxy Note 7 and put the phone to rest permanently, and we’ve seen network access removed from the device in places such as New Zealand, Australia (which started on December 15th) and Canada (the update disables WiFi, cellular, and Bluetooth capabilities), with the possibility that the Korean giant may even disable the last 10% of Note 7s still out in the wild in its home country. Here in the US, though, the only information made available recently has been the final update release dates for US carriers AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. T-Mobile said it would release the final Note 7 update on today, December 27th, and Magenta is finally making good on its promise.

The final Note 7 update from T-Mobile comes in at version N930TUVU2APL2 and will provide an on-screen notification that the phone has been recalled and needs to be returned to the carrier. Additionally, this update will also prevent the device from charging altogether. Keep in mind that Samsung has already sent out an update to limit the charging capability to 60 percent; this update will remove charging completely. 

T-Mobile is the first carrier in the US to push forward with the death update for what was, in many respects, the best smartphone of 2016 and the most perfect smartphone the market has ever seen. AT&T will kill its holdout Galaxy Note 7s by way of the death update on January 5th. Sprint will kill its remaining Note 7 smartphones by releasing the death update on January 8th. Verizon, who at first said it would not disable the Galaxy Note 7 because of its utility for traveling customers over the holidays, has now clarified its earlier statement and plans to release its death update on January 5th.

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Exclusive: Samsung to use Bixby voice assistant in all native apps on the Galaxy S8

After bringing some valuable information regarding the Galaxy S8 over the past few months, we are back once again with more exclusive information regarding the device. As we all know, Samsung acquired Harman and Viv a few weeks ago. Even though the company might not end up using Harman audio in its smartphones just yet, it definitely has plans to use some of Viv’s artificial intelligence in its upcoming flagship smartphone.

According to the information that we’ve received, Samsung will use Bixby (powered by Viv’s intelligence) in almost all the native apps that would come pre-installed on the Galaxy S8. Unlike S Voice, Bixby will be much more advanced, and it will work system-wide. For example, it might be come in handy inside the Gallery app where you can ask Bixby to show you pictures and videos that satisfy particular criteria (similar to Google Photos and or Apple’s Photos app in iOS 10). S Voice is likely to be replaced by Bixby in the Galaxy S8.

Samsung recently confirmed that the Galaxy S8 would feature a digital assistant, and the company even provided some details about what it would be capable of. Bixby will be able to offer answers and actions based on the context, much like Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri. However, it remains to be seen how Google will react to Bixby. Samsung will also update most of the native apps with a new UI so that they all have a similar design. Another important update regarding the software on the Galaxy S8 is that the status bar will always be visible, so you won’t have to swipe twice to access notifications and quick setting toggles.

It is being expected that the Galaxy S8 will be announced sometime in April 2017, a delay of two months compared to Samsung’s usual release cycle. It might feature a 2K Super AMOLED display with curved edges and possibly 5-inch and 6-inch screen sizes, an improved rear-facing camera, a front-facing camera with autofocus, an optical fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port, and a slick design. There is a high possibility that the Galaxy S8 won’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, although there is nothing confirmed at this point in time.

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It took an exploding phone for Samsung to do what it should have done ages ago

Until the Galaxy Note 7 became a fire hazard, Samsung has had two flagship lineups on the market since 2011, when the original Galaxy Note came out as a larger, more powerful upgrade to the Galaxy S2. Every year, the company introduces its newest hero device, in roughly four different color options. But as we regularly see, Samsung never makes it a point to make all those color options available in every market. The same goes for the higher storage models of Galaxy flagships, although the lack of storage options has never been a huge problem as more than one storage variant is mostly a new thing in Samsung’s smartphone lineup.

Apple, on the other hand, handles this perfectly. Every new iPhone becomes available in every color and storage option on the first day in every market where it goes on sale, and while it’s natural that some of these color and storage variants go out of stock due to high demand, Apple ensures that it puts them all out on the market. Yes, this can be attributed to the fact that the Cupertino company has only a single new iPhone (and, since 2014, two new iPhones) to sell an entire year, but it is nevertheless a good thing when it comes to consumer choice.

Sadly, it took an exploding phone – and the huge task of making do with a single flagship the entire year – for Samsung to do what it should have been doing for many years. Soon after ending production of the Galaxy Note 7 and announcing a global recall, Samsung announced that the Galaxy S7 edge would soon be coming out in Blue Coral, the attractive and extremely popular new color that was introduced with the Note 7. Initially, it looked like the Blue Coral S7 edge would be exclusive to a few markets, but we are now seeing the new color option appear in different markets with each passing day.

Then came the new Black Pearl S7 edge with 128GB of storage. We thought it would be exclusive to South Korea, but it has already gone on sale in India and should be making its way to other markets in the coming weeks. There are still a few countries where Samsung hasn’t launched the new color options, but it has certainly opened up availability to a wider audience than it had before the Note 7 was confirmed to be a ticking time bomb and taken off the shelves.

Why doesn’t Samsung always put every color option up for sale right on launch day? Well, the biggest reason we have heard is that the decision is taken based on consumer preference for a particular color in different markets (for example, India and Dubai were one of the few markets where the gold Note 7 was launched instead of the Blue Coral variant). Going by consumer preference certainly makes sense – it wouldn’t be a good financial decision to, say, launch the white variant of a flagship in a country and then see it sitting on store shelves because a majority of the consumer base prefers its smartphones in one of the other available colors.

I completely understand Samsung’s reasoning, but I think the company has been rather unfair with its customers. If I’m paying top dollar for a flagship smartphone, shouldn’t I be able to choose from every paint job (or storage variant) available? It doesn’t matter if the masses prefer a particular version – those in the minority with different tastes should also be catered to when it comes to spending upwards of $800 on a product. Why should a consumer in one market not have access to options available to consumers in other markets? We’re all paying a similarly high price, and it’s time Samsung started treating everyone equally.

The Galaxy Note 7 fiasco has caused a lot of problems for Samsung, but I can’t help but feel that the incident has also brought with it something positive. Right now, it’s the fact that Samsung is making more color options for the Galaxy S7 edge available to more people, even though the move isn’t useful for anyone who has already bought the device. The regular Galaxy S7 would also benefit from the same – the S7 edge might be more popular, but shouldn’t those opting for its flat sibling also get the same treatment?

Maybe the company is using the “one step at a time” notion here, but it would be great to see Samsung taking a leaf out of Apple’s book (one that actually matters) and making available every  color option in each and every market where its future flagship smartphones go on sale. You know, make it a trend instead of doing it only when the need arises.

What do you think?

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2017 Galaxy A series teaser further confirms water resistance, CES 2017 announcement imminent

Just three weeks ago, we reported that the Galaxy A (2017) series would have IP68 water and dust certification along with USB Type-C charging and 16MP cameras (matching that of the Galaxy C9 Pro). Well, a new teaser suggests that the Iran launch was right on the money.

Samsung’s Galaxy A series teaser has been leaked by Samsung Mobile Malaysia featuring the words “It All Begins With A. Hold Your Breath” with small water drops and a small water stream to the right and “Something ‘A’ waits you” #A2017liveunplanned” at the bottom of the teaser. Swimmers hold their breath under water, and the water droplets themselves are nothing short of a surefire giveaway as to the water-resistant nature of the Galaxy A3 (2017), A5 (2017), and A7 (2017). Leakster Roland Quandt revealed that the Galaxy A (2017) unveiling is “a CES thing,” indicating that Samsung will unveil these three devices at CES 2017 in January — which will arrive in a matter of days.

Aside from water resistance, we know that the Galaxy A5 (2017) will feature a 5.2-inch Full HD display, 1.9Ghz octa-core Exynos 7870 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 16MP front and rear cameras, a 3,000mAh battery, and come in four colors (including the famous Note 7 Blue Coral color). The A7 (2017) will feature a 5.5-inch, Full HD (1920 x 1080p) Super AMOLED display, Samsung’s Exynos 7870 SoC, 16MP front and back cameras, and launch with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on board. The Galaxy A3 (2017) will have the same Exynos SoC as the A5 (2017) and A7 (2017) but feature 2GB of RAM as opposed to the 3GB of RAM of the A5 (2017).

CES 2017 is only a few days away, so the time is not long.

Are you glad to see water resistance come to the Galaxy A series? Are these phones worthy of recommendation from their specs? What specs are you most excited about?

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Daily Deal: Save 51% on the Samsung Level U Pro Bluetooth headphones

Samsung’s Level U Pro Bluetooth in-ear headphones can be bought on Amazon for $48.65. The Amazon listing mentions that you’re saving about $51.34, which is 51 percent off on the original asking price of $99.99.

While Bluetooth headphones aren’t exactly rare in nature, finding a good one can always be tough. If you’ve been hustling to get your hands on a decent set of wireless headphones without spending a bomb, your search ends right here.

Unfortunately, only the Black version is available at this price, while other colors are slightly more expensive. These models are worth a look if you don’t mind spending an extra $10 or so for a different color. The headphones ship globally with a $10-12 shipping fee levied for such shipments.

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Samsung sending out another Nougat beta for the Galaxy S7 edge

Following last week’s Nougat beta update for the Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung has now started sending out another update for the smartphone with some minor stability enhancements on board. The update is currently being sent out in the UK and South Korea; the changelog doesn’t show too many changes, so don’t expect any shiny new features here.

However, it is specified that the update fixes the intermittent rebooting issue, which we have faced on our handsets at SamMobile. As usual, this particular update is only sent out to the customers who are members of the Galaxy Beta program. This is a closed beta-testing program designed to weed out any flaws with pre-release software before a widespread commercial release. For more details on Nougat for the Galaxy S7 edge, check out our What’s New With Nougat series, and feel free to let us know should you find anything substantially different or new with the latest beta.

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