Because your from europe, imessage is a big thing in usa.
Not sure why people say iMessage is such a big deal, I only ever text 1 person in my contacts as everyone else uses WhatsApp.
base 64gb, waterproof instead of "resistant", a decent stylus, iris scanner, OLED curved display, HDR ready, expandable storage, can use the VR headset (nothing similar for the iPhone), and a free Gear fit2 bundled!
The biggest example of stepping up their game is the screen to body ratio. if the iPhone 7 comes out with the same ratio as the 6 then its already antiquated, but then the 6 was already antiquated when it was released. You're right about ecosystem, apples ecosystem is a huge detriment for me, but others find it useful.
This thread is a bit inane though, why would you try to decide this before the ip7 is released?
In the US, it's a big deal. Most people still use SMS/MMS as carriers offer these as "unlimited" with most plans. So we don't have the need to use Whatsapp, etc. since SMS/MMS don't cost us anything extra. So the messages app on the iPhone offers a seamless platform for iMessage and SMS/MMS. I prefer using iMessage as 99% of the people I message/contact on a regular basis have an iPhone. And the biggest reason I prefer iMessage is it's ability to send high resolution videos and photos using that same messages app. I don't have to switch to WhatsApp or anything else just to send a video or photo. And MMS is crap when it comes to sharing videos and photos.. we, as a very large family with lots of kiddos, share lots of media, so having it all be high resolution is very nice. And when I am using android thus forcing an entire conversation with my family or friends who all have iPhones to SMS/MMS, it can get frustrating when sharing photos / videos because it is now sending over MMS instead of iMessage.
EDIT:
With that being said, I will likely give the Note 7 a try (I tried the Note 5 and wasn't a big fan). I can get a phone through my employer so I will likely get a Note 7 for work and then the iPhone 7 Plus (or 6SEPlus) on my personal line. And maybe eventually get away from iMessage and just sim swap with my work phone number/sim to whatever device I want to use for that day.
In the US, it's a big deal. Most people still use SMS/MMS as carriers offer these as "unlimited" at no extra cost with most plans. So we don't have the need to use Whatsapp, etc. since SMS/MMS don't cost us anything extra. So the messages app on the iPhone offers a seamless platform for iMessage and SMS/MMS. I prefer using iMessage as 99% of the people I message/contact on a regular basis have an iPhone. And the biggest reason I prefer iMessage is it's ability to send high resolution videos and photos using that same messages app. I don't have to switch to WhatsApp or anything else just to send a video or photo. And MMS is crap when it comes to sharing videos and photos.. we, as a very large family with lots of kiddos, share lots of media, so having it all be high resolution is very nice. And when I am using android thus forcing an entire conversation with my family or friends who all have iPhones to SMS/MMS, it can get frustrating when sharing photos / videos because it is now sending over MMS instead of iMessage.
EDIT:
With that being said, I will likely give the Note 7 a try (I tried the Note 5 and wasn't a big fan). I can get a phone through my employer so I will likely get a Note 7 for work and then the iPhone 7 Plus (or 6SEPlus) on my personal line. And maybe eventually get away from iMessage and just sim swap with my work phone number/sim to whatever device I want to use for that day.
Yeah we also have unlimited texts in the UK as standard on most contracts, we have for years but still most people choose to use WhatsApp instead.
Anytime I have a dilemma with choosing between smartphones, I download videos using TubeMate and loop those phone previews and reviews on my TV. I would study each phone weeks before I decide to get it. I study it like I already own the device. I haven't even gotten my Note7 yet and I already have so many ideas in my head what to do when I do get it. I already know which wallpaper I might use, launcher, and the icons theme pack.
Key is to listen to Mr. Mobile, Michael Fisher. Iron Man aka Captain2Phones and me share the same taste. He uses WP. I do too. He uses Android and isn't into iOS, I am the same way. He love Star Trek, I love Star Wars. We love to tinker. I tried 15 different phone brands out of 26 phones and six different mobile OSes. Expand a little like me and Michael Fisher. He has a great voice, btw. Did voice-over work. Witty sense of humor and very fair.
Watch as many videos especially reviews of each phone as much as you can. I might end up watching each review at least 5-10 times. Then measure the pros and cons. Figure out days before what you plan to use it for and why do you want it? Educate yourselves more with each phone with video reviews.
Short and sweet reviews
The Verge
Engadget
Favorite phone reviewers
1. Michael Fisher
2. Android Authority esp Josh Vergara
3. DetroitBORG (nice, cool voice too)
I watch anyone from Erica Griffin, PhoneDog, PocketNow, Clove, TechRadar, C4ETech, TechnoBuffalo, and Android Central. I realized the Android-centric ones aren't really that biased since this is Android vs Android. I hate PhoneArena though. Xiaomi Mi 5 got a 7/10. LOL! Never liked PA reviewers. Not into written reviews from overrated Anandtech after you realize they are as biased to Apple as the morons from Gizmodo and BGR.
Michael Fisher knows best (a preview)
By many measures, if the iPhone wasn't an Apple device, it'd be considered a mid-ranger.
Most here just use what came on their phone, so that means either the default SMS/mms app or facebook. If you want to use something else, then you have to get other people to download the app, make an account, and have them logged in, which is pain especially when you can just send a text and they'll get it without any of the fuss.Yeah we also have unlimited texts in the UK as standard on most contracts, we have for years but still most people choose to use WhatsApp instead.
Only by people who put no stock into what actually makes a phone useful.....
If you go by a spec sheet, perhaps. but bigger battery doesn't mean better battery life. Higher MP doesn't mean better photo, more cores doesn't mean faster processor/better performance....
No need to register or even open up appstore to search for the app if you send invitations to your contacts within whatsapp. People are way to lazy.Most here just use what came on their phone, so that means either the default SMS/mms app or facebook. If you want to use something else, then you have to get other people to download the app, make an account, and have them logged in, which is pain especially when you can just send a text and they'll get it without any of the fuss.
And that's what's great about iMessage, there is no fuss. Lots of times I just go to send an SMS when it turns blue while I'm writing it and goes off as an iMessage. I didn't even know they were using an iPhone. No other messaging service is like that.
I agree here too, and I am also interested to see what Google brings with Allo and Duo.Base 64gb is great....its also the only option. I need far more internal, high speed storage than that. A microSD card is a poor substitute for built in memory. At that point, a 128gb, $1000+ iPhone is probably best. That being said, the new incoming SD card technology by Samsung will make this less of an issue. 64gb is a more than enough for most, is far better than 16gb or even 32gb as the base storage...period.
It is NOT waterproof. IP68 is water resistant. I work with some Samsung folks and they complain customers get this wrong constantly. You state this like its a negative. I work in a biology lab on fish, I own a pool, I go for long runs outside. This water resistance can be a phone saver.
Stylus - leave it to personal preference here....had a Note 5 and never used the S-Pen for anything other than messing around. Touche'
That iris scanner supposedly can burn your retinas. Faster fingerprint scanner is more ideal in my opinion - many times I don't want to be looking at my phone to unlock it. If this is about security, Samsung should fix the factory reset bypass first. No it can't. The same technology is being used for Windows Hello, and has been implemented in other sciences for a while. It won't replace the fingerprint scanner, but it will have its uses. For me, it will be great for the winter, and great for my job, where I constantly have gloves on and don't want to touch my screen.
OLED curved display - OLED is great, curved hasn't really provided any real advantages hence the curve getting smaller and smaller. But it does feel GREAT in hand and unless its a display device, you don't really have the burn in issues anymore so. I fully expect the rumors that Apple is gearing up for OLED next year to be true. That being said, having the best IPS LCD on the planet isn't too shabby....Agreed...oled is great and the curve makes it feel great in the hand. Honestly, the display on my ipad pro 9.7 is equally good, in a different way.
HDR ready - plays to Samsung's current base of users who love the more vibrant, unrealistic colors of their phones and TVs. I don't buy samsung TVs and I usually switch to the most color accurate mode for the phone so this does nothing for me. Absolutely not, completely wrong. I don't want to sound offensive, but you either didn't do your research or you just dismissed it because its not on the iPhone. This has nothing to do with Samsung, this is the future of displays period. Your TV, your theater, your moniter, your phone, etc. Its different from the ground up, and arguably more important to display tech than 4k. It allows dynamic colors and contrast to come through at a much higher level. This won't only be a technology implemented in display, this will be implemented in the cameras used to make movies. Its a really big deal.
Expandable storage - see above, compromise performance = no go. I need at least 128gb for the stuff I use normally, I don't want half that to be stuck on a slower card. SD card is great for movies, music, photos, etc; all things you don't need high performance storage for. My SD card is a higher end one, that is quick enough for 4k video recording. That being said, for actual app storage, internal storage is the way to go...until the new SD technology comes.
VR Headset - I'm sorry but for me this is just so gimmicky.....I never used mine. Likely never will. I don't agree with Tim Cook at this point - I do think VR is a niche but we'll see where it goes. Sony' PlayStation VR makes a bit more sense because its centered around gaming with a much more powerful device driving content and graphics. Still I'm out on VR for now until I see something that makes it truly compelling. AR is more practical. Same here, its not my cup of tea yet, but its a neat thing none the less, with the gaming industry really making big advances here. Honestly, the hololense by Microsoft I find to be far more intriguing.
Free stuff - lol, yes so innovative to give away free stuff with the phone that isn't even out yet. Heck, carriers are BOGOing the device already too. Is this a bad thing? Don't complain when the consumer wins. This has more to do with trying to attract customers than anything else. I am pretty sure T-Mobile did something similar with the iPhone SE. Samsung has seen great success with their phones this year, and the Note 7 is being delayed in many countries due to the demand. You frame this like its an indication of a poor quality device.
Since the iP7 isn't out yet, I'm not going to argue what Apple has that Samsung doesn't at this point. I don't necessarily expect the 7 to be a huge upgrade, though I am excited at a few things (finally ditching a decades old technology in favor of something that provides much higher quality audio). I will say I do hope Apple ups the storage base only because it would likely increase the tiers offered and I would love a 256gb iPhone 7. I also hope Apple finally markets the iPhone as water resistant because the 6S was extremely close, but throwing the tag behind it gives Apple the liability. Other than those two things, I'd prefer better battery life over any of the stuff you mentioned. But hey, good for people to have options.
[doublepost=1471272174][/doublepost] I hope the iPhone 7 is a big improvement, I would love to be tempted by it. I don't agree on ditching the headphone jack, you have both, period.
Ya I agree with that - though its odd (maybe I'm just so used to it) but I've never found the iP# Plus hard to handle - even when compared to smaller Android phones with bigger screens. Perhaps its just the way its designed and, again, my hand is just used to it. But it would be nice for smaller bezels. Agreed. The note 7 is easier to hold, but I never found the Plus model to be problematic...but I have larger hands.
All signs point to Apple making a big jump in that area though - multiple well respected sources have confirmed Apple plans to release a bezel-less phone for the 10th anniversary. Would be nice to gradually get there but, it doesn't really affect my use of the phone and if they've got it in the works that's exciting.
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Also in iOS 10, iMessage is getting a ton of new features - even over and above the somewhat gimmicky special effects. Things like in line attachments for websites and music - you can actually preview the attachments there. Looks super nice and is extremely convenient.
TLDR? Don't randomly discredit legitimate features because you don't like them, or because you want to feel better about your choice. Just be happy with what you got.
Base 64gb is great....its also the only option. I need far more internal, high speed storage than that. A microSD card is a poor substitute for built in memory.
That iris scanner supposedly can burn your retinas. Faster fingerprint scanner is more ideal in my opinion - many times I don't want to be looking at my phone to unlock it. If this is about security, Samsung should fix the factory reset bypass first.
VR Headset - I'm sorry but for me this is just so gimmicky.....I never used mine. Likely never will. I don't agree with Tim Cook at this point - I do think VR is a niche but we'll see where it goes. Sony' PlayStation VR makes a bit more sense because its centered around gaming with a much more powerful device driving content and graphics. Still I'm out on VR for now until I see something that makes it truly compelling. AR is more practical.
Free stuff - lol, yes so innovative to give away free stuff with the phone that isn't even out yet. Heck, carriers are BOGOing the device already too.
It's not bad at all. I use adoptable storage on one of my phones, and the card handled everything I thrown on to it, including heavy games just fine. No hiccups whatsoever.
It would take something like VR or processing a video edit direct from the phone to notice any difference. Most of the apps that still refuse to store on internal, are because of security reasons, like some default, banking, financial, and password manager apps. But those take up very little space.
I'm glad you said "supposedly", cause that's complete nonsense. Iris scanning does no harm to the eyes.
The security bypass you are speaking of really is not a bypass. You can't do it with out wiping the phone clean. And even then, you won't be able to use Google or Samsung services if you didn't disable security. Probably can't register finger prints again neither.
You just shot yourself in the foot, by saying you never used VR. And AR is not more practical, it's much harder to implement and will probably require better specs than VR to make it somewhat realistic.
I'm damn sure not complaining about getting a $200+ 256gb memory card. Or the choice of a Gear Fit 2 or 1 year Netflix. Apple won't even through in the $99 Pencil with the iPad Pro, which is one of the main reasons to get one.
This has been the crux of Apple apologists for a long time. Because Apple isn't doing it, it's not important or doesn't matter to them.
I am quite literal when I say some people won't fully understand or appreciate certain features until Apple does them. And that's unfortunate.
I agree here too, and I am also interested to see what Google brings with Allo and Duo.
I'm going to regret replying here. My replies are above, in bold.
TLDR? Don't randomly discredit legitimate features because you don't like them, or because you want to feel better about your choice. Just be happy with what you got.
I should fix that - I used my VR once, didn't see the benefit so it never came back out of the drawer until I sold it. Won't be getting one with my Note 7, nor would I buy an Apple designed one unless it did something vastly different than current options do.
And I'm sorry, but complaining about not giving away a product is not an argument. Great that Samsung does that - usually when you give stuff away it's either because you recognize a flaw or need or want to entice people to buy a product that is otherwise not enticing enough on its own.
Personally I'd buy the Note 7 regardless because it's not a daily driver so the storage isn't as big a concern. I agree, it's nice they throw it in there though because if I was using it as my main device, I'd HAVE to get one.
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I've used every Samsung flagship phone of the last 2 years. There's nothing there "pushing the envelope" of what I can do on my smartphone. I didn't do anything new, it didn't make me any more productive. They're just nice(ish) phones. After having had all Samsung different device types, I do believe the Note is their best and look forward to it.
But to me, the difference is just in software. There's no more I can do with a Samsung phone and I have to fit it into my device lineup rather than have it just fall into place. I'm tech savvy, it's not difficult. But it's just not an iPhone and that's what I prefer.
My gripe is simply the other way - Apple's not pushing camera tech, yet Samsung went "backwards" on the MP count and started improving on the things Apple had already been focusing on. Apple doesn't push battery tech, yet their smaller batteries get better battery life. Apple isn't pushing display technology, yet the iPhone consistently has the best IPS LCD there is and the 9.7 iPad Pro was rated best mobile display ever by Display Mate (cinema SRGB accuracy, True Tone). Apple isn't pushing performance, yet their dual core chips routinely outperform the best Snapdragons on the market. Apple isn't pushing durability yet they use space grade aluminum and a Corning glass co-developed by Apple and Corning that's stronger than GG4. Apple isn't pushing software, yet 3D Touch give you trackpad like capabilities with shortcut menus and a selector/cursor. Not to mention things like iMessage, Continuity, iCloud backups....
I haven't even mentioned anything rumored like a dual camera system, contactless wireless charging, a new, better version of Bluetooth, moving away from outdated connectors like the 3.5mm audio jack in favor of lightning for full lossless playback, a completely bezel-less phone....probably missed some.
Again, we're all for preference. But don't tell me Apple isn't doing anything. Your argument against me goes the same way. Just because you don't find certain things useful or exciting doesn't mean they aren't worthwhile or innovative.
I pre ordered the Note 7 last week, can't see any reason for the iPhone 7, so in jumping ship.
You can always jump back if Apple gives you reason enough to.
Please show me where I told you Apple isn't doing anything.
As for the rest of it, it's not worth sifting through your apologies. Samsung went back to a 12 MP camera that allows for better low light photos (which went on to have the best rated camera) and you're complaining? Isn't this what you wanted Samsung to do? I remember your posts. All these calls for Samsung to stop throwing everything at the wall. Become more focused like Apple, you said! And so even when they do this, you complain that they're taking things backwards.
Sorry, your reputation precedes you.