Engadget
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Engadget Review
Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge review: Samsung's finest get more polished
Summary
This year's Galaxy S7 Edge is what Samsung's Edge family should have been from the beginning. It combines first-rate horsepower (and the occasional hiccup) with a gorgeous display, all wrapped in an attractive package. The thing is, the Edge's big draw is still its striking design: The software that tries to take advantage of the curved screen still feels gimmicky.
$599.95+
Pros
- Looks and feels amazing
- Curved screen feels more useful
- Strong performance
- It's (mostly) waterproof!
Cons
- Screen exhibits a slight green cast
- Slightly underwhelming battery
- No must-have Edge apps
- Flimsy SIM/microSD tray
After years of trafficking in plastic flagships, the glass-and-metal Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge proved 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 Edge feel 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.
