The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will return support for microSD memory cards. Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will return support for microSD memory cards Samsung galaxy s7 memory card slot

Specifications

• Android 6.0.1, TouchWiz 2016
• Display 5.1 inch, QHD-resolution, 576 ppi, SuperAMOLED, automatic backlight control, Always On function, different operating modes, Corning Gorilla Glass 4
• 4 GB RAM, 32/64 GB built-in, memory card up to 200 GB
• nanoSIM (there will be options for 2 SIM cards)
• Exynos 8890 chipset, 8 cores up to 1.8 GHz per core, MALI T880 MP12 GPU (Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 variant in some countries)
• support for LTE cat12/13 with software update, operator support is also required
• Front camera 5 megapixels, flash (screen), BRITECELL main camera, 12 megapixels, time lapse, slow motion, video effects, 4K video
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), HT80 MIMO(2x2) 620Mbps, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile hotspot, Bluetooth®: v4.2, A2DP, LE, apt-X, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC
• In-body wireless charging (WPC1.1(4.6W Output) & PMA 1.0(4.2W)
• 3000 mAh Li-Ion battery, extreme power saving mode, fast charging in one hour up to 70 percent
• Water proof, IP68 standard
• Dimensions - 142.4x69.6x7.9 mm, weight - 152 grams

Contents of delivery

• Telephone
• Charger (Fast Adaptive Charge) with USB cable
• USB adapter, microUSB-USB
• Instruction
• Wired stereo headset
• Clip for SIM tray

Positioning

In 2015, there was a reshuffle inside Samsung that affected the positioning of devices, the schedule for their release, and what the company does. In particular, they went on an experiment for flagships when they abandoned memory cards (Apple doesn’t have it, and no one complains!), They made the cases monolithic, and this scared many consumers away. The fact that two models appeared on the market at once - S6 and S6 EDGE, in the same case size, but one with a side edge, and the second without, confused the situation even more.

The very first sales showed that the fashion EDGE is in overwhelming demand, while the simple S6 is not so popular. The difference in demand did not affect the total sales volume, but rather their distribution in the S6/S6 EDGE pair. The shortage at EDGE was noticeable during the first three months, the company did not have time to produce matrices for them and was forced to start additional production.

But then something happened that was supposed to happen, the S6 with a flat screen took its toll, this device, due to the price, pulled over sales. For example, in Russia the cost of S6 is about 35 thousand rubles in the basic version, while a similar EDGE costs 10-12 thousand more. On the Russian market, it was S6 that became the most massive flagship on Android, one of the best-selling models from Samsung. I am sure that the same will happen with the S7 over time, this device has a long life cycle and over time and with price adjustments will gain more and more fans.

What is the beauty of this model? For me, the screen is always a priority in a phone, you get used to a large diagonal quickly, and it's hard to refuse it. Last year I had a pair of two phones - S6 EDGE and Note, then smoothly moved to Note 5 and EDGE Plus. It so happened that my choice settled on two flagships with a large screen diagonal. In addition to the screen, the main reason was the operating time, the “small” EDGE did not allow me to comfortably survive until the evening, despite the fact that it was the second device, in pair with the big Note. It is clear that my scenario of using the phone is different from the vast majority of people, I use smartphones to the fullest, I have different devices connected to them, a wireless headset, a hands-free kit and various sensors.

But many people use only one device and at the same time they do not want it to be large, they strive for compactness. In my opinion, the golden mean of the modern market is 5 inches, this is the vast majority of smartphones sold, about half of all devices in the world come out in this diagonal. And this is precisely the Galaxy S7, which offers the very golden mean.

Who is interested in this phone? First of all, these are those who change from the iPhone and strive to keep the body compact, but at the same time get more battery life and a better screen. Going from Samsung's previous generation of sixes doesn't make much sense, unless you've got extra cash and itching to see a model out there that's better in a lot of ways. Among the flagships, the S7 looks like a balanced solution, on the one hand, this is a typical price for the basic version (the most affordable flagship of 2016), on the other hand, the maximum technology and noticeably improved ergonomics of the solution. Despite my love for phablets, I now again consider the S7 as the second phone paired with the S7 EDGE / S6 EDGE Plus, as it is more compact and at the same time is not inferior to its older brothers in anything other than the screen size.

Design, body materials

Time passes, and yesterday's ideas of beauty evaporate like fog. Remember, until recently we considered thin devices with a thickness of one and a half centimeters, but this was some ten years ago. Exactly the same situation with what is considered a compact phone today, in my opinion, these are models with a diagonal of 4.5-4.7 inches, while the most popular are devices with a screen of 5 inches. And gradually people are switching to such phones, considering their size to be convenient, today this is the majority of smartphones on the market. The same S7 fits perfectly into the cohort of such devices, has a good size for them - 142.4x69.6x7.9 mm, weight - 152 grams.

Ergonomics of the device is what we worked on day and night, the impressions of the model in comparison with the S6 vary greatly. This device fits in the hand like a glove. Compared to the S7 EDGE, by not having a bevelled front edge like it does, you feel the S7 is much more comfortable. No slippage in hand, lays down like it's always been there. Of course, these impressions are individual, someone may not like the device, it all depends on your habits and hand size. But it suited me perfectly. And most importantly, there are no difficulties in dialing a number with one hand on the go, this is quite possible without acrobatic numbers.

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S6 Edge

For Samsung in 2015, the redesign of the flagships was successful, now they are all built on a metal frame, have a back surface of Corning Gorilla Glass 4. In 2016, nothing changes, except that the glass on the front and back becomes 2.5D ( this is fashion and only, now all companies make such rounded glasses). Samsung, in order to position itself differently from competitors, calls 3D glass, for this they have a reason, no one uses such bends for Gorilla Glass 4 in their products.

As you can see, outwardly these smartphones completely repeat the flagships of 2015, it will be difficult to see the differences. Moreover, the same A-series of 2016 looks similar to these devices, only the colors will differ, due to them they will try to emphasize older models. But it is difficult in life to distinguish the saturation of the color of the case, to notice what kind of apparatus a person uses. A successful design, which is reproduced in a dozen models, quickly becomes boring. And, perhaps, it is this moment that will stop many, people will find that it will be difficult to stand out with the help of such an apparatus. As I see the situation, Samsung switched to a two-year design cycle, like Apple, but decided to play the opposite, that is, change the look of handsets not in the same year as Apple. This year, the iPhone 7 will get a different look, but the Galaxy S7 will resemble its predecessor.

From the point of view of color schemes, the black (Black Onyx) phone looks more interesting, the gold color is somewhat boring in the previous model. And most people order the phone in black or silver, it's also good.

In total, these colors are still available, but they will not appear in all markets at the same time.

Now a few words about dreams about a collapsible case. It is not and will not be in this model, the design itself does not involve replacing the battery yourself. But this can be done at any service center. The second point is water protection. Just like in the Galaxy S5, it returns to Samsung devices, and to all flagships. The protection standard is IP68, phones can be drowned, and nothing will come of it. There is impregnation of the components on the board with a special solution that repels water (it is used in Motorola phones), but the design itself does not allow water to get inside, there are special membranes on the speakers and microphones.

And this is how they protected the microUSB connector so that water does not get inside, and if this still happens from a blow, then there is a special controller that prevents a short circuit.

All metal surfaces have undergone additional anti-corrosion treatment. In the picture you see the painted parts, which are additionally protected from water.

We did an IP68 test and the phone passed it with ease. There are no problems with it, watch the video. I want to note right away that in order for the speakers to not sound muffled after water, it is necessary that the device is dry, this is a simple logic, which for some reason is not clear to certain people.

Pay attention to how the tray for the SIM card and memory card is arranged, it has a rubberized insert, which is lower than the top edge. As a result, dust from pockets quickly accumulates here, but it does not penetrate inside the phone. The peculiarity of its protection is affected. Someone may not like it from an aesthetic point of view, but there are no problems with this, since dust does not penetrate into the case, it cannot get there.

The case has grown slightly in size, both as a result of the larger battery in the S7 and a different frame design, made stronger to withstand serious drops (6013 aluminum alloy). I have absolutely no complaints about the resistance to drops for the latest generations of Galaxy. Immediately, the location of the components and parts of the phone was completely recalculated to ensure even greater survival and safety of the glasses that cover the screen and the back surface. There are no miracles in the world, and you can break any device, but users of the Galaxy / Note line know that they have very reliable devices that are difficult to break.

Of the minuses of the black version, I note the speaker grille, which is also painted black. The paint wears off in a few weeks in the pocket, white metal appears. In the golden color of the case, this is simply imperceptible, it seems that everything is correct, but here it is clearly visible. In my opinion, this is a clear drawback, but it cannot be called critical.

Overall, the S7 is very good in terms of materials and feel. Fits perfectly in the hand, good in pockets.

In order for the device not to heat up, a special cooling system was created inside. Look at her description.

Type of memory, RAM, memory cards

When Samsung started refusing to manufacture its flagships with memory cards, the company reasoned that the memory capacity of 32, 64 and 128 GB is enough in theory for any person. In practice, the company got confused in logistics, and 32 GB devices appeared first, then 64 GB, but 128 GB models turned out to be difficult to find, and few were produced. This is a fundamental difference from Apple, where you can buy a device with any amount of memory and they are always in stock. Therefore, the experiment inside Samsung was considered unsuccessful, and the groan of consumers turned out to be so loud that all Samsung top managers felt it.

Apparently, in order to please people, you must first take something away from them. This happened with memory cards, they were removed in 2015 and they realized what a mistake it was in 2016. Now memory cards are back in all flagships, you can use them in almost any size. The 200 GB card is recognized and works. Later, support for 2 TB memory cards may appear, there are no reasons not to do this, there are no technical restrictions.

The main models will be those that offer 32 GB of internal memory, while devices with 64 GB will not be very common. I think that there is nothing wrong with this, and users will choose just such solutions.

Since Samsung smartphones use fast UFS 2.0 memory, the company had to abandon the Android 6 proprietary function, combining memory cards and internal memory into a single array. This is necessary for those who are not going to use their memory card somewhere else, but only in one phone. The risks of this are quite large, if the memory card fails, you will lose most of your data, if not all of it, except for what is stored in the cloud.

As a result, Samsung decided to make an intermediate solution. You get 24 GB of space out of 32 GB, while 8 GB contains the system and space for working with external memory, for example, it is used as a buffer for video recording, cache and other system functions. But, as before, you can transfer most of the applications to a memory card without storing them in the internal memory of the smartphone. As a result, there are no de facto restrictions, you can use your smartphone as you please.

RAM has not changed in type, these are chips built on 20 nm technology, we first saw them a year ago. The peak data transfer rate is 3.2 Gb / s, which can be considered the maximum speed in mobile devices in the next year, or even a year and a half. The amount of RAM has grown to 4 GB.

The memory manager that appeared in the previous generation and caused complaints from many users that it unloaded applications from the memory remained. But we added an operating mode in which the latest applications are kept in RAM, unloading them only when necessary. That is, a sort of mixed mode has turned out: while memory is not required, applications hang in it, and as soon as it is needed, they go into the buffer.

But due to the speed of the processor, the load time for applications from the cache has been reduced by at least half, it seems that they are hanging in memory. Visually, and on sensations, this is a big increase in the speed of work in this aspect.

Chipset and performance

In 2015, Samsung abandoned the use of Qualcomm in their flagships, the processors were very hot and had many flaws. In particular, it was the Snapdragon 810, which Qualcomm was able to finalize only a year after the first samples. This processor, and Samsung's abandonment of it, crashed Qualcomm's stock and even caused a wave of layoffs and a reorganization of the chipset maker.

Until 2015, the prevailing stereotype said that the Exynos versions of the flagships were noticeably worse than their counterparts on Qualcomm. Often this was not the case, they were equivalent from the point of view of the average consumer. Qualcomm has traditionally had stronger LTE modems than in Samsung's own solutions. In 2016, the difference is leveled even more, as modems on Exynos also received an update and began to work better. Are they inferior to Qualcomm? I think yes. Do you notice this difference in real life? I think no.

The vast majority of countries will receive Samsung flagships on the Exynos version, and not on the Qualcomm 820. Operators who, for some reason, want to get the Qualcomm version, do so consciously and for their own reasons. Of the minuses of the Qualcomm version, I note about 10 percent less time in various modes, which, with the same performance, looks like a huge difference. Also, less integration of the Qualcomm chipset with the Samsung camera may affect the speed of the autofocus (but you probably won't notice it). The predominant version of the flagships will be the one that uses the Exynos 8890 inside.

Depending on the operator and / or the chipset used, the letters in the model markings will differ, the standard name is SM-G930. Let's dwell a little on this processor. So, it is made according to the 14 nm FinFET process technology, it has eight cores, as well as a new MALI T880 MP12 graphics coprocessor. In the graphics area, the processor is claimed to be 80 percent faster than the MALI-T760 and energy efficient by 40 percent at maximum load.

Among the interesting features of the chipset, I note support for LTE cat.12/13, which ensures data download at speeds up to 600 Mbps (a 1 GB movie can be downloaded in one minute if your operator supports these categories). Check out the infographic dedicated to this processor.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Exynos version shows better performance.

The S7 wins in the tests, it is the fastest device at the moment (my phones are on Exynos). Look at the test results.

I want to separately note that the new processor is very fast. In every sense, this is one of the best processors on the market, and at the same time it has good energy efficiency, reduced power consumption, which, together with other technical solutions, makes these models very interesting.

The phone also has an additional Exynos M1 processor, which is responsible for calculating movements. Devoting a separate, dedicated processor to this is justified. At the moment, S Health has an erroneous step count when moving in a car, shaking is perceived as walking. This oversight will be corrected in the coming months.

Display

The phone has a SuperAMOLED screen, 5.1 inches, QHD resolution. There is simply nothing better on the market, and the fact that all companies are trying to switch to AMOLED and are ready to buy screens outdated by several generations from Samsung only speaks of how good this technology is.

DisplayMate traditionally conducted a study of screens in S7 / S7 EDGE, and the result is quite interesting, the previous leader in the face of S6 EDGE Plus lost the crown, the latest generation displays were named the best screens in mobile devices, nothing better simply exists in the world. , it is quite detailed and thorough.

Let's focus on a few technologies, each of which is not obvious, but improves the use of these devices in everyday life. So, let's start with how the screens behave in bright sunlight. The S7 has no problems with this, no glare, no reflections, the brightness in automatic mode can be set to such a level that you will see bright and colorful colors, all screen content will be readable. But it depends on your preferences, however, more on that later.

Now let's imagine the unimaginable. Many people use sunglasses in the summer, many of them have polarized lenses. The problem with most screens in portable electronics is that they are hard to see, especially in a normal, vertical orientation. The screen of the same iPhone 6/6s becomes darker than it actually is. Flip the screen to landscape orientation and it will appear lighter. Miracle? Just the arrangement of the elements.

The screen for the Galaxy S7 took care of this "little thing" and placed the polarizing filter at an angle of 45 degrees, so that no matter how you look at the screen with glasses, the picture remains bright. This is the first device on the market in which even such trifles for the screen have been thought out.

Another thing that has changed for the screens and appears for the first time in the S7/S7 EDGE is the personal auto-brightness setting. What does it mean? How can setup be personal and automatic at the same time? The answer lies in the fact that we are all different and perceive the brightness of screens, their colors and other parameters differently. Samsung has implemented an intelligent system that evaluates the level of ambient light and what lighting options we choose, which we consider a comfortable level for ourselves. And this data is used in order to subsequently adjust the backlight in a way that is convenient for you. It is enough to use both manual backlight adjustment and automatic for about one week, so that the phone understands what you like and works in automatic mode. I absolutely love this feature as it predicts what I want to see, what the brightness of the screen should be in different conditions.

The screen also has an Always On mode, when the time is constantly shown, as an option, a picture or a calendar, and you can choose topics in which these images will differ.

This is just a wonderful feature, because, unlike competitors, the picture is displayed in color, it is always visible, both at night and during the day, and is quite bright. For those who are afraid that this will affect the operating time of the device, on the S7 EDGE, 12 hours of display operation in this mode consumes from 1 to 2% of the battery (depending on external lighting conditions, the picture changes in brightness automatically). This is nothing, but you always have a clock in front of your eyes, and this sharply distinguishes this phone from all others.

Cameras - front and back

The front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, light sensitivity has been slightly increased. The screen itself can act as a flash. It is possible to improve complexion, remove artifacts on the skin, and at the same time correct the geometry of the face. Face enhancers will definitely appeal to girls.

But there is no intrigue here, everything is clear and familiar. The intrigue lies in what happened to the main camera, because in S6 its resolution was 16 megapixels, and in S7/S7 EDGE the camera suddenly became 12 megapixels.

The Galaxy S7/S7 EDGE uses the Sony IMX260 camera module (previously IMX240), which was created specifically for Samsung. On the Sony website, such products usually do not receive descriptions, moreover, they cannot be bought by other manufacturers.

I did not manage to find a sane description of the IMX260, and this is not so important, since the main innovations were explained during the presentation of the Galaxy S7. So, the company increased the lens aperture f/1.7 (f/1.9 a year earlier), while also increasing the pixel size to 1.4 microns, which makes it possible to get more information on the matrix. In Britecell, the pixel size is one micron, and it immediately turns out that this technology is not used in the IMX260, judging by the information that we had before. But everything is not so clear, let's try to figure it out.

To begin with, the S7 is the first device on the market that has focusing over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe matrix, that is, one hundred percent of the pixels are involved in phase detection autofocus.

But, perhaps, the most important thing is the increased clarity and brightness of the picture (although, to be honest, I don’t know which is better, the current flagships shoot very well). Here increased the possibility of shooting in the evening and in the dark. There are new scenes and plots, camera settings. Samsung was able to improve the camera, although it seemed that it was impossible to do so.

Photo examples

Comparison with S6 Edge+

S7 edge	S6 Edge+

For example, the “Food” mode has appeared, this is a kind of filter in which the background is blurred, note that on the left there is a picture without a filter, on the right - with it.

Ordinary	Food Mode

For video recording, a slow-motion mode has appeared, as well as a time-lapse, examples of which you can see in the video below.

And here is an example of a regular video on this camera.

From year to year, I say that Samsung flagships shoot better and better, they are very high quality. And I'm tired of constantly answering the question on social networks, what this picture was taken for. In S7/S7 EDGE, the camera has become even better, which makes these devices the undisputed leaders. Now the time has expanded when you can be guaranteed to get a high-quality picture, this is not only a day, but also twilight, evening. In short, the camera is, as before, one of the strengths of these devices.

extracurricular reading

Battery

Slightly increased dimensions are associated, among other things, with the battery capacity - 3000 mAh. The operating time of the device is always a combination of factors, in particular, the stability and optimization of software, the quality of components, and the power consumption of the screen. It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to consider the operating time in isolation from these parameters.

A typical scenario for using a modern smartphone involves running various programs in the background, not only browsing pages, but connecting a wireless headset, and so on. Everyone has their own use case, for example, I use phones to the fullest - I take pictures, listen to podcasts on a wireless headset, watch social networks, movies, web pages, receive mail from different boxes every fifteen minutes. My EDGE Plus lives with three to three and a half hours of screen operation from morning to late evening with about 70 percent backlight. And this is a good indicator. For many, the operating time of this device is an average of two days. Some manage to make it work for up to three days, and say that this is enough for them for active use. It should be noted here that the word “active” is different for everyone, everyone puts their own worldview into it.

For S7, I get a full day, from morning to evening, there are no restrictions here. The screen time with automatic backlighting is from 3.5 to 4.5 hours (brightness is 50-60%, which is quite noticeable, this is considered full brightness by competitors). It is the operating time that becomes one of the advantages compared to the S6 / S6 EDGE.

The video playback time at maximum brightness is from 13 to 14 hours on average (the radio module is not disabled).

The phone has two built-in wireless charging standards, you can use any. There is support for fast wireless charging. There is also fast wired charging - in 90 minutes you will charge the device to 100 percent. It takes less than half an hour to get half a charge. Many flagships from other companies can only dream of such a fast charging technology that saves you, even if you forgot to charge the device in the morning, it only takes a few minutes in the morning.

The most important improvement of the current flagships, and indeed of all 2016 models from Samsung, is the increased battery life. A gigantic work has been done here, and it should be noted. On average, they will work 1.5-2 times longer than previous devices of the same segment. The reason is the increase in battery capacity, but also the optimization of software and hardware.

A few words about the microUSB connector, which the progressive part of humanity has already decided to send to the scrap and is waiting for USB Type C. Personally, I am tired of carrying a second cable, I constantly forget it, and therefore some phones I only charge at home, where such cables are available. The value of Type C is still greatly overestimated, such a connector is needed by a small audience that considers itself technology enthusiasts. Therefore, it was not used in mass products. A gradual transition to it will begin in the fall of 2016, and even then, this is an issue that has not been fully resolved. Samsung has now considered that the compatibility of all accessories is much more important than the support of a fashion trend.

Speaking of AMOLED, Exynos and battery life. Meizu Pro 5 used this combination of components from Samsung to achieve maximum battery life in its flagship. Other companies are starting to learn from Samsung, it's becoming a trend.

USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities

Bluetooth version 4.2, it was created for the Internet of things and works great with various sensors. Otherwise, there are no special changes, new profiles have appeared, energy consumption has improved. Let me remind you that there is something interesting in the new standard.

Firstly, this is an extended range, which can reach several tens of meters, depending on the settings of the devices and how the manufacturer configured this option. Secondly, the IP protocol is used for addressing, that is, devices now have their own unique addresses and communication with many such devices is supported.

From the technical points, the interaction of Bluetooth and LTE has been improved, now within the same device the operation of these technologies is synchronized, mutual interference is not created (for our LTE frequencies it is irrelevant). Plus, Bluetooth devices can now access the cloud and transfer their results directly, bypassing the companion device, as was necessary before.

USB connection. USB 2.0 is used here, that is, the data transfer rate is about 20 Mb / s. These are not theoretical, but real results on devices. They may differ depending on the operating system and the computer you are connecting your phone to. Both up and down.

WiFi. 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac is supported, the wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember the selected networks, automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router with one touch, for this you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device's menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). Of the additional options, it is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears when the signal is weak or disappears. You can also set Wi-Fi to work on a schedule.

For 802.11n, HT40 mode of operation is supported, allowing you to double the Wi-Fi throughput (requires support from another device).

WiFi Direct. A protocol that aims to replace Bluetooth or compete with its third version (it also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). In the Wi-Fi settings menu, select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts searching for devices around. Select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in the file manager you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer the necessary files to them, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.

WiFi repeater.

It is impossible to write a review when you use the phone for a few minutes at the company's booth and this device is not your main one. Then there are materials that lack many "chips" that the manufacturer himself did not talk about, just as others did not find them. I am constantly working with the Galaxy S7, I have already discovered many “little things” that distinguish Samsung flagships from other Android smartphones and will later become part of Android itself. I want to talk about one of these chips.

Usually, when you turn on the hotspot on your phone, it instantly turns off Wi-Fi, you can’t use both at the same time.

On the Galaxy S7/S7 EDGE, I suddenly found that when Wi-Fi is turned on, it connects to the wireless network, but your hotspot does not turn off. There are two icons in the status bar.

Further - more and even more interesting. All phones connected to the Galaxy S7 start using its Wi-Fi connection instead of its mobile data connection. Until now, the Wi-Fi router scenario in mobile phones has never been used so widely.

Who might need it and why? For example, when traveling, I very often encounter a limit on the number of connected devices in hotels. With the help of the Galaxy S7 features, these restrictions on the number of devices are a thing of the past, now I am writing a text, and a dozen of my phones are hanging on one connection through the Galaxy S7 EDGE. And most importantly, I don’t need to waste time at all and enter my last name, room number and postal address on each one. Same story in restaurants, cafes, and other places where I can share my connection without having to enter Wi-Fi settings on each device. Cool? Undoubtedly.

Another question is that this function is not so necessary for the vast majority of people. At home, this is an opportunity to distribute your Internet to those corners of the apartment where your router does not finish off. At the same time, check whether it is worth buying a regular Wi-Fi repeater and whether it will work.

As always, I believe that it is better to have additional features in the device that are not required so often, but when they are needed, you will be grateful for them than not to have such features. Do you need a Wi-Fi repeater function?

NFC. The device has NFC technology, it can be used with various additional applications.

S Beam. A technology that allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes to another phone in a few minutes. In fact, we see in S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring and authorize phones, but the second is used to transfer the files themselves. The creatively redesigned way to use Wi-Fi Direct is much easier than using the connection on two devices, selecting files, and so on.

Software - Android 6, TouchWiz and more

Inside Android 6.0.1, current flagships and two-year-old models will receive the same software, at the same time or a little later than the S7/S7 EDGE will go on sale. As before, this device has TouchWiz, but it has been heavily redesigned for the style of Android, and now the whole system is perceived as very airy and light, everything looks organic together. The speed of the UI is excellent, it flies, there are simply no brakes. Again, it all depends on personal perception, someone sees the brakes in what other people consider instantaneous.

There are a lot of features in the software, you will need to talk about them separately, which I did, read the full review and watch a video about this software.

Additional accessories

For these models, a new wireless charger will be available, it differs from the old one in that it has a 50-degree tilt and you can put your phone on it. There will be leather bumpers (leather back) as well as a case with two interchangeable lenses.

From what I managed to try, I will note standard book cases, including those with an LED screen. Look at the pictures of these accessories, then you can also watch the video where I explain and show you how they work.

Comparison with Galaxy S6

Samsung prepared an infographic showing why the new device is better than the S6, everything is very clear in it.

Impression

There are no complaints about the quality of speech reproduction, call volume, these devices are excellent, perhaps, their radio path quality is one of the best on the market. And this has long become a kind of mania, Samsung is finishing off what is already so good. However, as we saw in the review, they do this for many components of their flagships.

It is a thankless task to evaluate new devices by pictures or even photographs. In the case of the S7/S7 EDGE, it is doubly ungrateful. It seems to be the same materials, the same design, but you need to take the device in your hand to realize the difference. And it is not in favor of the previous generation. These devices need to be touched live and see how they work, how responsive the menu is, how the camera shoots, and it is advisable to do this at dusk in order to realize the differences.

We are accustomed to the fact that each new generation of Samsung flagships provides new technologies and sets the bar for performance, as well as what can be built into devices. Today these are the most functional solutions of all, but last year the refusal of memory cards upset many. Now this shortcoming has been corrected, and everything is back to normal. But they also added enhanced shock protection, IP68 protection against drowning. Plus, they increased the battery and optimized the system in such a way that the operating time increased by 1.5-2 times. All this together suggests that the models turned out to be not very successful, but super-successful.

The new camera module gives a great result, it's a breakthrough in a direction where no one expected major improvements. I did not expect that the difference would be visible in real life. And this is a serious claim to maintain its advantage in this area, other devices are approaching Samsung in terms of the photo part, but they still cannot catch up.

From an engineering point of view, these devices are small masterpieces, stuffed with the latest technology and made them work. What are the improvements in the display, which are not visible, but make our life better and easier. It is not superfluous to note that other companies, and primarily Apple, reach the use of such technologies only years later, they simply do not have the opportunity to do something similar. They are too far behind in development, and this can be seen in almost every piece of hardware. I have a very positive perception of the new flagships, and the fact that the previous generation dispersed well in Russia says a lot about the changed orientations of people during the crisis. The same S6, thanks to its affordable price, has become the most popular flagship, followed by the iPhone 5s 16 GB. The choice of a three-year-old model remains a mystery to me, but people see some sense in this. But everything is gradually changing, slowly and confidently, ordinary people are realizing what fast charging is in real life, what high-quality screens look like, and why Android gives freedom of use. I have no doubt that the seventh generation of Galaxy will be very successful, there are all the prerequisites for this, the devices turned out to be interesting.

The cost of S7 is 49,990 rubles, this is the most affordable flagship of the latest generation, the price has not changed compared to how the S6 came out a year ago. You can choose S7 EDGE as an alternative to this device.

Considering that the S7 EDGE comes out at a price of 59,990 rubles, this can be considered an additional payment for a larger screen, battery and a better image component.

The choice between S7 and S7 EDGE is obvious, I like the older model more, it looks more interesting. Another thing is that, perhaps, you are an adherent of more compact sizes.

But as a final word, I can say that Samsung has turned out models that are head and shoulders above the competition, and they are not just solid, they are the best on the market today. And without compromise.

The fact that the new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have a slot for memory cards certainly pleased many of their potential owners. Each of these smartphones comes with 32GB of internal memory, but a significant part of these gigabytes is occupied by the operating system, TouchWiz and various pre-installed applications, which the S7 and S7 Edge already have a lot from the start.

For example, in a 32 GB Galaxy S7 the user has access to about 22GB of internal memory, from which, after installing a few more "own" applications, only 15 gigabytes remain.

Therefore, the ability to add more memory due to a micro-SD card (up to 200GB, by the way), where you can “merge” all the photos, videos and programs, comes in handy, moreover, literally on the very first day of using the smartphone.

For if you leave all sorts of Asphalt 8, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Altos Adventure and other equally popular and exciting software products in the desired range in your smartphone’s own memory, then regular 32GB ends in the blink of an eye.

In general, 200GB on a card (or even much more democratic 64GB) eliminates the problem of lack of space for mobile applications in the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge forever (or for a long time). We leave the system and pre-installed programs on the built-in 32, and we “throw” all the software from Google Play onto the memory card. Fortunately, this procedure in the new S7 is extremely simplified and does not take much time.

So, in order to move certain applications from the built-in memory to the MicroSD card in Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones, we do the following:

• install the existing microSD card into the appropriate slot and open " Settings » smartphone;

• then we tap "Device" -> "Applications" -> "Application Manager" ;

• in the list, select the application that needs to be moved to the memory card, tap on the name;

• further in the window Application Details" In chapter " Memory "Press the button" Change «;

• in the menu that appears, select " Memory card " and then - " Further to start the app migration process. More or less like this:

After completing this procedure on the memory card, the freshly transferred application should start and work as usual. But a couple of nuances remain.

Firstly , if the card is turned off, then a mark will automatically be added to the icons of all applications that are installed on it in the menu, indicating that they are left on the SD. And, of course, without a memory card, you cannot run all these applications in your Galaxy S7.

Secondly , if after transferring to a memory card any of the applications began to work worse and / or slower, then in this case it can be moved back to the built-in memory of the smartphone. You are already familiar with the transfer procedure.

In 1956, the IBM 350 appeared, the first disk in the world. It was as big as a vending machine, cost more than a house, and only held 3.75 megabytes - the size of one MP3 song. Today, 60 years later, a smartphone can store several thousand times more data and still fit in a jeans pocket. Technology development does not stand still.

Free space, one way or another, as usual is not enough for many users, and this becomes a problem. The memory of smartphones is constantly packed with gigabytes of applications, music, photos and videos. That's why many mobile device manufacturers, including Samsung, LG and HTC, still allow you to expand the internal memory using microSD cards. Using one of these cards is an easy and fairly cheap way to add free space to your Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, LG G5 or HTC 10.

There are a huge number of microSD memory cards available on the market from different manufacturers, and they all have different specifications. Finding the best one for your gadget can be very difficult, so we decided to collect the most interesting ones and tell you a little about them.

1. SanDisk Ultra 200 GB

Our first recommendation is the 200GB SanDisk Ultra. A card with such a large amount of memory, of course, is not exactly cheap, but you can store on it, for example, an impressive 10,000 songs in FLAC format. The read speed is 90MB/s and the write speed is 40MB/s, which is good enough for 4K video recording, but not quite in line with its price category.

2. SanDisk Extreme Plus UHS-I U3 Memory Cards

They aren't the fastest microSD cards on the market either. The company recently announced a line of UHS-II cards that are capable of up to 275MB/s read and 100MB/s write. Impressive, but not everything is so simple here. Modern smartphones cannot take full advantage of the UHS-II standard. That's why you should opt for the slower, cheaper SanDisk Extreme Plus. These cards can hold up to 128 GB of data and have read/write speeds of 95/90 MB/s.

3. Kingston UHS-I U3

The Kingston brand is known in the market for the reliability of its products. Its memory cards offer write speeds of up to 80MB/s, which is more than enough for burst shooting and 4K video recording. What's more, they come with a lifetime warranty. The 128GB U3 model is available for $85, but if that's too much for you, you can look at the smaller 32GB and 64GB options.

4. Lexar High-Performance 633x

Lexar has its own UHS-I U3 memory cards that are capable of 90/80MB/s read/write speeds. Already now you can purchase options with memory capacities from 16 to 128 GB, and a model with 200 GB should appear on store shelves very soon. All models are equipped with USB 3.0 card readers. Prices start at $15 for 16GB and $79 for 128GB.

5. Samsung PRO+ U3

Samsung has its own line of microSD cards, and the top model among them is the Samsung PRO+. The manufacturer promises data transfer at a speed of 95/90 MB/s, which is actually excellent. For 128 GB, you will have to pay $ 89, while 64 and 32 GB will cost $ 50 and $ 25, respectively.

6. Patriot EP Pro 32/64 GB

Patriot's fastest memory cards are the EP Pro, which read data at up to 90MB/s and write at 80MB/s. They are available at $30 and $50 for 32GB and 64GB models.

7. PNY Pro Elite 64GB U3

PNY offers its own alternative in this class of microSD cards. The 64GB Pro Elite U3 offers 95MB/s read and 90MB/s write. You will only be able to find one model with 64 GB and it will cost $50.

Results

This was our list of the best memory cards for Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge and other smartphones. Yes, these cards offer high transfer speeds and for many users this may be too much. However, in order not to feel the drop in performance of the devices themselves, which have very fast internal memory, you need to use high-quality microSD cards.

As you know, inside all variants of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, a “paired” tray is used, which initially allows you to install either two nano-SIM SIM cards, or one SIM card and a MicroSD card. In some cases, this can create certain inconveniences, since the owner of a smartphone may want to use both two cards of cellular operators and the possibility of expanding the memory at the same time - after all, the built-in 32 Gb may not be enough, and more "capacious" variants of the Samsung Galaxy S7 are still does not release.

However, the craftsmen noticed that the contacts of the microSD memory card and the second SIM card are in different places, so if you wish, they can be combined - and nothing prevents them from working simultaneously. That's how this guide came about.

Important: you carry out all the manipulations described below at your own peril and risk, we do not bear any responsibility for possible damage that you can cause by using the instructions below! The chances of damaging the SIM card are greatest, and to a lesser extent, the MicroSD memory card.

Also, keep in mind that a MicroSD memory card modified by the method described in the instructions can no longer be used with most card readers and other devices.

Actually, the instruction

What you need

1. Nano-SIM SIM card
2. MicroSD memory card
3. Torch
4. sharp scissors
5. Double sided tape or superglue
6. Some free time

1. Determining the correct position of the SIM card

First you need to determine the correct position of the SIM card in the tray. Cards of different operators may have different contact configurations. The author of the original instruction performed operations on SIM-cards of operators U Mobile and Maxis (Malaysia). On the one hand, all SIM cards have a key (cut corner).

U Mobile

Maxis

2. Detaching the SIM card chip from the base

Any SIM-card consists of a plastic base and a microchip with a contact pad glued to it. Gently heat the SIM card from the opposite side (where the plastic is), usually it takes from 30 seconds to 1 minute. After that, carefully separate the chip with the pad from the base. As an auxiliary tool, you can use a sharp knife or razor blade.

Actually, this is the most dangerous part of what needs to be done. Just in case, it's good to have a spare SIM card just in case. Or you have to go to the office of the mobile operator.

3. Cutting the SIM card for installation on MicroSD

Now you need to carefully cut the contact pad of the SIM card to fit on the MicroSD. Usually it is required to shorten it by 1-2 mm on each side.

4. Fix the SIM card to MicroSD

The most exciting stage is fixing the SIM card on the surface of the MicroSD memory card. This can be done using double-sided tape (then in which case the memory card can be “released”) or superglue (this option is less preferable, since if you damaged the SIM card chip, it will not be easy to separate it from the memory card). For correct placement, refer to the measurements taken in the first step.

P.S. We won't be surprised if some telecom operators will soon start offering ready-made options of this type.

5. Place the Modified MicroSD in the Tray

Now it remains to place the modified MicroSD card in the tray, and the last one in the smartphone.

If you have done everything correctly, it will be something like this:

Initial instruction in English.

It would seem that it is difficult to buy a memory card. We decided on the required volume, found a good offer and bought it. It is because of this approach of users that some manufacturers flagship smartphones with expandable memory. If you have a microSD card handy, take a look - how much is written on it. This information will help you make the right choice.

This is the question to start with. Imagine that you have bought a new modern flagship smartphone with memory card support, for example, LG G4. Such a smartphone should easily cope with all tasks, but suddenly you notice that the camera and other applications of your smartphone do not work as fast as you expected. This is possible if you are using a memory card that is not fast enough, where photos are saved and from which your applications take data. However, nothing prevents you from paying a little attention to the issue and choosing the memory card with which the smartphone can please you all the time.

What is the difference between SDHC and microSDXC?

When buying a memory card, you should pay attention to these large four letters, but the difference between these two standards is only in the amount of data supported. SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) allows you to store up to 32 gigabytes of data, while SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) can handle 64 gigabytes or more. The problem is that not all devices support SDXC cards and such a large amount of memory. Check the information about the capabilities of your smartphone before buying a memory card for 64 or 128 gigabytes.

What does the memory map class say?

MicroSD memory cards can be class 2, 4, 6 and 10 and this is something you should really look into. These numbers indicate the supported data transfer rate, and while a microSD memory card can write data at a minimum of 2 MB/s, a Class 10 memory card operates at a minimum of 10 MB/s. It's not that hard. It is important to understand that we are talking about the minimum write speed, and with good memory cards, the data reading speed can reach up to 95 MB / s.

What does UHS mean?

Another piece of memory card information you might see is UHS-1 or UHS-3 compatibility. Such microSD memory cards began to appear in 2009. In theory, a UHS card can support data transfer rates up to 321 MB/s, but you should focus on the minimum speed: 10 MB/s for UHS-1 and 30 MB/s for UHS-3. In fact, if you plan to use the card in a smartphone, you should not focus on this, smartphones do not support UHS.

What else is important to know?

It would be nice to get a memory card from one of the trusted manufacturers, such as SanDisk, or Kingston. It is also worth paying attention to the cost. If you suddenly find a suspiciously cheap memory card, you should be wary of it.

According to AndroidPit