http://www.tmonews.com/2016/02/t-mobiles-askdes-unboxed-the-samsung-galaxy-s7-while-underwater/
Most likely going to preorder the s7 edge tomorrow.
We can debate it all we want, android vs android, or iphone vs galaxy; but it truly appears Samsung has finally made the android phone we always knew they could.
Design: The feel and premium construction is able to match or rival anyone on the market. I honestly think the note 5 is the best designed phone on the market, and the s7 looks to improve on that. Maybe you don't like glass, or prefer the larger bezels and home button of the iPhone....that is fine. But an unbiased observation would be that the design of these phones are second to know, internal bias aside.
Camera: Many argued the s6 was the best last year, and its only getting better.
Screen: The best in the business, internal preference aside.
Battery life: Looks to be class leading, we will see.
Operating System: Android M. Again, internal bias aside, the operating system is just as good as iOS. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Storage: 32 gbs for the US. I would prefer 64, but I have found 32 to be plenty, especially if you can expand it will a microSD card. SD cards are cheaper then internal storage, and great for handling the biggest consumer of space; media. If you need more then 32 gbs for apps, and you honestly use/play that many apps/games in a day...then this phone may not work for you.
Price: iPhone level pricing, with the specs and design to back it up. The s7/s7 edge gets cheaper when one looks at microsd pricing vs storage upgrades on the iPhone.
CPU: More powerful then the normal user will be able to utilize.
Graphics: Adreno/Exynos GPU combined with Vulcan API will allow these phones to do whatever the developers can throw at them. This is similar to was we see with Metal on iOS
Extras: Always on display, waterproofing, wireless charging, fast charging, samsung pay. Included VR if you order early enough.
What can you find wrong with it?
Touchwiz? Put on an alternative laucher, theme, etc....and don't forget about the extra features most people do enjoy, that touchwiz provides. I LOVE stock android, but touchwiz doesn't really affect me.
Updates? Yes....but people need to understand the nature of Android updates. Google releases the software, then the OEM do. Rather then judging how long it takes Samsung, after "Android X" is released, to push out the update to their phones, it should be judged on how long do the flagship Samsung phones go in between updates. For example, if Samsung pushes out the latest version of android to the Galaxy S6, edge, and note 5 now, as they are....we are looking at a 1 year gap of time for the s6 models, and less for the note 5. That is the equivalent or better then Apples release cycle. Apple's method is still superior; because Samsung phones may lag behind on security updates, etc. This can be blamed on the carriers as much as Samsung itself. But the big update is what the average consumer cares about, and Samsung is doing fine (recently) in this area. Samsung has done poor in the past, but they seem to be doing better recently.
Honestly, Samsung is big enough to say screw you to the carriers, and go the method Apple does with its iPhones and relationships with carriers.
Anyway, the purpose of this scattered, long-winded post is to try and communicate that the s7/s7 edge are exactly what the market needs; a android phone that surpasses the present iPhones, and should be able to go toe to toe with the next generation. Competition breeds innovation. This will only push apple and other OEMs to do better, and vice versa.
