They're not groundbreaking, and that's OK.
Galaxy S7
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Critic 10 Reviews
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Type Smartphone (Android) Camera yes Internal memory 32 GB Screen size 5.1 inches
From $649
Galaxy S7 Edge
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MoreEngadget
Critic 10 Reviews
Users 2 Reviews
Not yet scored
Type Smartphone (Android) Camera yes Internal memory 32 GB Screen size 5.5 inches
From $749
After years of trafficking in plastic flagships, the glass-and-metal Galaxy S6 and S6 Edgeproved Samsung still knew how to make jaw-dropping phones. Ah, but there was a rub -- a few of them, in fact. The expandable memory slots were gone. Neither phone was waterproof. The S6 Edge's flat back and slim sides felt awkward. Curvy screens aside, both phones were identical. The shortcomings were few, but they were notable.
Rather than start anew, Samsung's designers instead set about refining last year's formula, smoothing rough edges and making the new S7 and S7 Edgefeel meaningfully different. Spoiler alert: It worked, and anyone even considering a new Android phone needs to consider owning one of these things. And yet, for all the polishing Samsung has done, these S7 siblings fall short of game-changer territory -- this is a year of careful, logical upgrades.
Engadget Score
Poor
Uninspiring
Good
Excellent
KeyPros Improved style and ergonomics Top-tier performance Beautiful screen It's (mostly) waterproof!
Cons Camera can be a mixed bag Slightly underwhelming battery SIM/microSD tray is flimsy
Summary
Another year, another Galaxy S. While the new S7 isn't as dramatic a departure for Samsung as the S6 was, it benefits immensely from a year's worth of refinement. It's more powerful, not to mention even more beautiful than the S6, but Samsung hasn't attained perfection just yet. That said, the company has come pretty damned close: A more consistent camera and more modest power consumption would have made this great phone one for the history books.