samsung galaxy S7 is one of the most anticipated smartphones of the first half of 2016 with many useful features and . But not only Samsung regularly pleases users with interesting innovations and developments. Hence the question: is it worth buying the Galaxy S7 or is there something better? Due to the fact that for each buyer the concept of “better” is individual, we will not criticize any devices, but will only consider worthy alternatives to the new flagship from Samsung.
iPhone
Closest competitors Galaxy smartphones S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, respectively. In terms of functionality and performance, the devices are not inferior to each other - everything is at the highest level, in accordance with current trends and user requests. We will not dwell on design - this is a personal matter for everyone.
Let's go over the significant differences.
Firstly, representatives of the seventh line of Galaxy have acquired a slot for microSD flash cards, while the amount of internal memory of the basic version is 32 GB. "Apple" gadgets do not support interchangeable cards and limit the buyer's choice to several standard solutions. The principle is simple: if you want more memory, you pay more. In this regard, the smartphone from Samsung definitely wins.
The camera deserves no less attention - in Galaxy it works much better and better than in "apples". Plus, such a most useful option as moisture protection definitely adds points to the Galaxy S7 piggy bank!
Along with this, in accordance with the results of testing, all other things being equal, the iPhone lasts longer on a single battery charge than the new Galaxy. But is it worth overpaying for an extra hour and a half of battery life? You decide.
About younger brothers
They still keep their brand and do not lose their relevance, for which they deserve special attention. The key differences between S6 and S7 are as follows:
- S6 does not support flash cards;
- sevens have an Always On function - in standby mode, the phone screen turns off to save energy, while the status bar in the Edge modification can be made always active;
- the seventh series is equipped with high-quality moisture protection;
- S7 smartphones run the latest Android out of the box;
- in the seven, the camera was radically redesigned, which made it possible to increase the focusing speed, improve color reproduction and detail, and also get many other advantages;
- batteries of the seventh series have a higher capacity;
- "sevens" are characterized by much better ergonomics.
Along with this, the Galaxy S6 can be bought without any problems for 30-50% cheaper than the S7. What to choose - everyone decides for himself. these two devices!
For lovers of the unusual
There is a class of buyers whose representatives do not experience special financial difficulties and want, at the same time, to stand out from other users. We can offer such citizens to pay attention to the Blackberry PRIV model: the slider is traditionally equipped with a QWERTY keyboard, a high-quality AMOLED display with curved edges, as well as many interesting features.
Disadvantages: high cost, lack of official sales and warranty service.
Other alternatives
Among other devices, the declared technical characteristics of which allow us to classify them among the competitors of the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, we can note, for example, the following models:
- Nexus 6P;
- VivoXPlay5;
- Meizu Pro5;
- Sony X Performance.
Thus, if you wish, you can either choose a worthy alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S7 or give preference to the flagship from the South Korean manufacturer - the final decision is always yours!
P.S. In our opinion, Samsung S7 is still the best and uncompromising solution in 2016. Leave a like if you agree with us!
Samsung introduced the "flagship of a new era" - the Galaxy S8, which everyone knew about a couple of months before the announcement. Many unusual chips were expected from the Koreans, but, alas, in vain
The company has relied on a borderless display, design and feel of the device, without putting its performance and camera in the foreground. As far as the device better Galaxy S7? What can he oppose to the main competitors? Let's figure it out.
Against the background of the Galaxy S7
The novelty differs from the S7 primarily in design. The S8 has a more symmetrical case (except for the lower end, as usual, they couldn't mark the hole in the center there). The curved display is also sleeker than the S7 Edge. The location of the finger scanner paired with USB-C is also different. These are the main differences between S7 and S8. Oh, by the way, the Galaxy S8 is longer than the S7, but already in girth. The Galaxy S8+ is larger than the S7 Edge. However, the display of the upcoming smartphone has been significantly improved - this is the first mobile device in the world to support Mobile HDR Premium. In addition, a more powerful chipset was also installed (Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 instead of Snapdragon 820 and Exynos 8890). Alas, the characteristics of the main cameras and the battery remained the same. Judging by the first reviews, the image quality is not much different from the Galaxy S7, although the sensors used are slightly different, albeit with similar parameters. But the front camera was pumped up to 8 megapixels.
The amount of RAM and flash memory has not changed either, although a modification with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage is expected for some markets. There are few differences in terms of software. In fact, Samsung just added Bixby personal assistant to its Android 7.0-based interface and simplified the shell a bit. Most likely, it will arrive in the near future on older smartphones. It turns out that smartphones do not have many differences. So the Galaxy S7 is still a great phone with a more convenient fingerprint scanner, but without an iris scanner and advanced facial recognition.
Against the background of LG G6
The phones are very similar in appearance. Even the stretched display has almost the same aspect ratio. But Samsung has it curved, while LG has it flat. Because of this, the G6 seems less attractive in appearance and less futuristic, but in terms of ease of control, it may even be better. In terms of characteristics, the LG G6 loses to the Galaxy S8, as it did not receive the latest chipset from Qualcomm, but in terms of cameras it turns out to be even more interesting. The double module with a very wide angle will capture more details and objects in the frame than Samsung flagship. The LG G6 is wider and heavier than the Galaxy S8, but offers a bigger 3300 mAh battery instead of 3000 mAh. Other differences come down to the shell, the Android version is the same.
Against the background of Sony Xperia XZ Premium
The Japanese flagship offers a more traditional design and body but comparable specs and a more advanced camera capable of shooting 960fps video. The device is closer in size to the Galaxy S8 +, has a smaller display and battery, but much more weight. On the plus side: more recent Android 7.1 and Sony proprietary software gadgets that improve images and sound. The display resolution is an impressive 4K and this is the first smartphone with such a screen and support for HDR. The Galaxy S8's display is grainier in comparison.
Against the background of Huawei P10 and P10 Plus
Although these Chinese devices do not offer curved screens, they have a huge number of colors and unusual finishes of the metal body. Huawei's main trump card is the Leica dual camera with a monochrome sensor and the presence of a portrait mode like the iPhone 7 Plus. Moreover, even in the front camera (by software). The displays in both cases are smaller than the Korean flagship, but the battery in the case of the P10 Plus is the largest of all competitors - 3750 mAh. There is an option for 6/128 GB of memory by default. The Chinese have their own shell, but Android is the same 7.0. They also have their own chipset - HiSilicon Kirin 960. Further tests will show how much it can compete with Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895.
Against the background of Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
At first glance, there is nothing to compare here. It would seem that the Korean flagship is far ahead. In terms of design, size and convenience of cases, Apple is definitely stuck in the past. The characteristics of the chipsets are comparable, Samsung has more RAM, but so far only Apple offers 256 GB of flash memory in a smartphone. The dual camera of the iPhone 7 Plus in some scenarios can give a more interesting shot, but in poor conditions. Samsung will likely shoot better again. The battery is also more impressive in the Galaxy S8. However, ideological preferences are important in this battle. The iPhone runs iOS, while the Galaxy S8 runs Android. Two completely different worlds that share the same applications. See what's closer to you.
Conclusion
All these smartphones are similar at the moment, as they offer similar characteristics. In addition, all devices have moisture protection of varying degrees of resistance, which further brings them together. Your choice should be based more on design preference and the need for a dual chamber. Of the presented devices, only Samsung and Sony do not have such modules. The price range of new products is also comparable and is in the range of 50-60-70 thousand rubles. The only exception is the iPhone 7 Plus, whose maximum version will cost as much as 80 thousand. Wait for the devices on sale and choose which one you like best.
The main competitor of the seventh iPhone, which entered the market a little earlier - the Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone - is very often cited by opponents of "apple technology" as a benchmark. But is he really that good? Both the authors of articles on well-known testing portals, and many users in the reviews do not agree with this. Let's listen to their arguments, brought together in our review.
Disadvantages of the Samsung Galaxy S7, which are written in reviews and tests
Marky and fragile body
New design Samsung Galaxy S7 , in addition to visual advantages, as it turned out, it also carries disadvantages. The back panel is made of glass, which turns any fall of the smartphone into a potential headache with serious spending. And if the device falls on the asphalt with the screen down, get ready for very large expenses: screen repair can cost half the cost of the gadget.
At the same time, the glass case is constantly caught by fingers, which also does not add to a good mood.
Non-removable battery
Photo: tutmobile.ru
You cannot take the new Samsung with you on a trip to regions where there is no electricity. In the mountains, for example, or on a long hike through the forests. Or rather, you can take it, but the charge is only enough for one time, a replaceable battery is not provided here. You will not be able to urgently reboot the device in which case, it will not work and increase the charge by installing a more capacious battery.
Lack of Dual SIM
A common disease of all top smartphones of our time. The owner has to choose: either a lot of memory, or two SIM cards. A common slot for a SIM card and microSD significantly saves space inside the gadget, but such savings can hardly be considered justified.
You can not use microSD as built-in memory
It would seem that you are pairing two slots, so let the user at least enjoy the expansion of the smartphone’s memory! But no. In Galaxy 7, there is no way to use microSD cards as built-in memory. Such a function was used in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but for some reason they did not want to insert it into the seventh Samsung model. Alas, you will not be able to install games on a microSD card. And this significantly limits the functionality of the base models, where out of a modest 32 GB of internal memory, only 24 GB is available to the user, the rest is occupied by the operating system and God knows what else.
MicroUSB connector instead of USB-C
Photo: www.techwire.co.ke
Immediately make a reservation that this is a disadvantage only for fans of new technologies. USB-C, like the iPhone's Lightning connector, allows you to insert the plug in either direction and transfers data at a hell of a speed. But in the new model, the Koreans decided to remain conservative in this sense. The reason is simple: too many accessories manufactured by Samsung are tied to microUSB, and users are not yet ready to just drop everything and start using the new interface just like that.
Excessively power-hungry Always On feature
Photo: cdn03.androidauthority.net
This function looks beautiful, do not say anything. Its essence is that in sleep mode part of the display is active - notifications and a clock or calendar are displayed on it. It is both convenient and functional. Press releases from Samsung stated that the technology takes no more than 1% of battery capacity per hour. As it turned out, it was a marketing ploy. The authors of the review on hi-tech.mail.ru calculated: in various conditions, the rejection of the Always On function saves from 20% to 30% of the smartphone's charge.
Fast charging restrictions
Compared to the seventh iPhone, the Galaxy S7 has fast charging. However, when compared with the Galaxy S6, no major breakthroughs were noted. All the same Quick Charge 2.0 Qualcomm. Meanwhile, after the release of Quick Charge 3.0 (charging up to 80% in just 35 minutes), it was logical to assume that this Samsung technology uses in the Galaxy S7. But that did not happen. Fast charging is still intended only for emergency situations, and not for full-fledged work in case of need.
Disadvantages of Samsung Galaxy S7, which are written in reviews
Glass is scratched
Gorilla Glass does not delight users. And most of the complaints - to susceptibility to scratches. The owners of the new Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone compare it with previous models and come to a disappointing conclusion: S7 loses, for example, S5 two or more times in terms of resistance to external influences. And in the case, the "seven" looks poor.
Fingerprint scanner errors
Photo: www.icover.ru
Apple, having suffered, nevertheless brought the Touch ID fingerprint scanner to mind. But Samsung decided not to strain and used in new Galaxy S7 last year's module. Users immediately noticed that the unlock speed is no different from the Galaxy S6, and the number of errors when scanning a fingerprint even increased. In some cases, the smartphone needs significantly more time to process biometric information.
Bad headphones included
“They fall out of the ears”, “it’s impossible to move with them”, “cheap and unreliable”, “they transmit sound disgustingly” - these are just a small part of the complaints about the regular headphones that come with the Galaxy S7, which buyers indicate in reviews of the Samsung Galaxy smartphone S7. Marketers of a Korean company should think: maybe none is better than these?
Inconvenient interface for switching SIM cards
In those cases when users use not a microSD, but a second SIM card, they are simply indignant: why, well, why did the manufacturer decide to change the convenient SIM switching algorithm used in S6? Now, in order to switch from one SIM card to another, you have to delve into the menu and constantly remind yourself and Korean engineers that the best is the enemy of the good.
Is it all that bad?
Photo: img.tyt.by
The reader, who has not held the Galaxy S7 in his hands, may get the impression that this is some kind of terribly uncomfortable unit. Of course not. The "seven" has a lot of advantages. The Super AMOLED screen gets better with every generation. In S7, its resolution reached 2560x1440 pixels. The 12 MP camera is good because the size of each dot in it is 1.4 microns (the S6 had 1.2 microns). Therefore, the aperture ratio increased significantly, and improved optics further enhanced this effect.
Let's add here the fresh eight-core Exynos 8890 processor, Mali T880 M12 graphics and as many as 4 GB of RAM, of which 1.5 GB is constantly available to the user.
The battery capacity has noticeably increased: in the regular Galaxy S7 it is 3000 mAh (the same as in the top six with a diagonal of 5.7″!), in the Edge it is 3600 mAh.
And just a huge plus of the new smartphone from the Korean company was the minimum of third-party software.
Sales of the latest generation Galaxy S7/S7 EDGE have begun all over the world, they have arrived on Russian shelves, and the volume of pre-orders in Europe and Russia is breaking records. However, there are always those who choose alternatives and do not consider buying a flagship, especially from Samsung, justified. Any point of view has the right to life, so this article contains all the alternatives to the Galaxy S7 / S7 EDGE, these are the best devices that you can buy today or in the near future. You should not consider this material as unambiguously interpreting something in favor of a particular device, and this is not a comparative review, but a discussion of what is on the market, what are the pros and cons of each of the devices. I hope that this material will help you decide what you want to get from the phone and how to profitably invest your money, enjoying the smartphone.
In order to refresh in memory what S7 / S7 EDGE is, I suggest reading our materials.
Apple vs Samsung - image vs image
The age-old debate is whether Samsung has an image component or whether the luxury generation can only use Apple phones, because others are not glamorous enough. Here everyone has their own ideas about beauty, but looking at the TVs hung in the luxurious Majestic Hotel in the center of Barcelona, I don’t see the name of an American corporation on them at all. As well as in the bar on the roof of the hotel, the iPhone owners are approximately equal to those who use the Galaxy, and the two of us with the old Canadian look at each other affectionately, since we have a slightly different choice of smartphones, we are from a different sandbox. Moreover, it is no worse and no better than the one in which other people sit, this is their choice and their idea of beauty. I have several phones that I use depending on the situation, one of them is always Samsung, as I love taking pictures. But this is about performance, while Apple has always built its communications on the image and charged extra money for it. They were the first to popularize metal in the body of devices, although such phones were before, they managed to make it a vital necessity for everyone. They popularized glass as a screen protector. But since then a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, and today you will not surprise anyone with this, inexpensive Chinese phones have both glass and metal, not to mention the flagships of various companies. In this aspect, the Galaxy line, starting from the sixth generation, and the sevens are very similar to it, stands on a par and even wins in some way, as it has unusual design models of the EDGE series, they have curved screens.
And from the point of view of the image, it is precisely such devices that catch the eye, look unusual. However, Apple smartphones are perceived as a standard and have become a kind of uniform for certain social strata. Why not? It is almost impossible to distinguish the iPhone 6 from the 6s if you do not look at it and consider the devices. But this is a typical situation that is typical for Apple, the design is changed every two years, for the third.
You know, tastes differ, it's useless. Therefore, we must honestly say that if you do not like the Galaxy S7 / S7 EDGE, then you should not force yourself, it makes no sense. Do not convince yourself and others, choose what you think is right and beautiful. And this is not a matter of technology, functions or something like that, rather it is a matter of your tastes, and secondly - financial capabilities.
You have to pay for the image. In Russia, the price of iPhone 6s 16GB starts from 53,990 rubles, for example, such a price in Beeline. Official prices in the Apple branded store are higher, starting at 56,990 rubles.
This is noticeably more than 49,990 rubles for the Galaxy S7, which this device competes with. Of the serious disadvantages, if you are going to use the phone not only for calls, memory limitation. The most popular format is devices with a memory capacity of 64 GB, this is the optimal amount. The S7 has 32 GB of built-in memory, and there are also memory cards of almost any size.
Of course, if we're talking about image, you can buy an iPhone 6 and pretend you have the latest model. But there is no point in this, then you can buy the Galaxy S6 and also pretend that you have something new, reasoning is about the same order. Moreover, the difference in cost persists.
For the iPhone 6s Plus, prices start at 62 thousand rubles from the company's partners, in the company store - from 65,990 rubles. For S7 EDGE, the price is from 59,990 rubles, which is at the level of last year's prices, as if there were no fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate. But when we talk about the beautiful, commercialism should go nowhere, you need to choose what is closer to you.
Technologically, the iPhone has never been strong, this is an average solution with a large share of the fashion component, which you have to pay for. Average, good camera, little memory in the base model, rather dead battery and many other rough edges. But then everyone will know that you are like everyone else and you have an iPhone. Life is good and all that.
On the other hand, if your status rests only on the phone, then you have serious problems with your social position and who you are and what you do. It doesn't matter what you have in your hands, the image is formed from many components, and the phone does not play the most important role here. To paraphrase a classic, everything in a person should be perfect, both a car and a telephone.
For pragmatists, the iPhone has long become too expensive, as a result, they create a new image that the Galaxy is no worse in terms of perception, and they quite succeed. Therefore, I will not take any side in the question of who is better, iPhone or Galaxy, to each his own. This is akin to a dispute about who to choose - a brunette or a blonde.
In October, the seventh generation of the iPhone will appear, you can wait for it, hoping for a miracle and that the design, case materials will change a lot and new chips will appear. But I do not think that all this will happen, there are simply no prerequisites for such expectations.
Samsung vs Samsung - an old friend is better than two new ones
The price war that has died down in Russia has made the cost of the previous generation of Galaxy not just competitive, it is the lowest price for these flagships in the world. Therefore, when choosing between S7/S7 EDGE and, for example, S6/S6 EDGE/S6 EDGE Plus/Note 5, you should seriously think about what to buy. Let's describe the most serious differences between these devices, which can be considered fundamental:
- There are no memory cards in the 6 series, you are only limited by the phone's memory, the basic version is 32 GB;
- SuperAMOLED screens with QHD resolution, as in 7s, but do not have the Always ON function, that is, they are turned off in standby mode, the exception is the status bar in EDGE, which can be made always active;
- No protection against water, while in the 7 series the IP68 standard, that is, the phones will not drown even if they fall into the water;
- Android 6.0.1 is available on all devices, a single UI, but there are no additional chips on older models, for example, the Wi-Fi repeater function;
- The camera has been redesigned, the resolution has decreased to 12 megapixels, focusing speed and detail have increased, color reproduction has been improved, the camera on the sevens is the best on the market and shoots perfectly in the dark;
- The battery capacity is higher in the 7-series, which automatically means more runtime on a single charge.
By and large, those who say that the design of the sevens is not far from the previous generation are right. It's true, they are made in a single, easily recognizable style. On the other hand, in the hands of S7/S7 EDGE lie like a glove, ergonomics have improved dramatically.
We have a video comparing these devices, so check them out to get an idea of the differences.
Now the most delicious, about the prices. You can buy an ordinary, flat S6 for 35,000 rubles, in terms of price / quality ratio this device has no equal on the market, just a great purchase in every sense. The undoubted disadvantage is the lack of a memory card, but it is possible that you don’t need this, 32 GB is enough, because on the iPhone people somehow live with 16 GB. In principle, due to the difference in cost, these devices are from different price categories, but they are the same in terms of speed, quality of materials and other parameters. The main thing is that you do not lose much in the performance of the display, it is also one of the best.
It's not worth expecting a fall in the price of S6/S6 EDGE due to the release of new products, they are already at a minimum level. The cost of EDGE, by the way, is 47,990 rubles, which is already close to S7.
The question here is what do you like more externally. But I would still sacrifice the curved edge, especially since on a 5.1-inch diagonal it is not as convenient as on large devices.
A serious test will be the choice between the usual S7 and S6 EDGE Plus, the second one costs 50 thousand rubles, and this is a very interesting price. I always vote for a larger screen size and a larger battery. But often people are looking for a compact device, and here you need to build on this and your needs. Considering the difference of 10 thousand rubles with S7 EDGE, the “old” model will do just fine on the market and will be sold even in large volumes.
Oddly enough, the main competition in terms of sales for the sevens will be the models of the sixth series, they are cheaper, for many their functionality is sufficient, and the price plays a primary role.
The Note line stands apart, it is higher class. You can look at Note 4 (very inexpensive for such a device in Russian realities, and it will last for a couple of years - there is a replaceable battery and memory cards), or you can look at Note 5 if you need a stylus and hate the curved screen in EDGE. But it makes no sense to directly compare them with the sevens, Note 6 comes to their base in the fall.
And I don't want to be like everyone else, I want to be special
There is a small but very valuable group of people who are not limited in funds, but they are sick of being like everyone else, they want to get something special, different from what the majority uses. Unfortunately, there are almost no high-quality alternative devices on the smartphone market, the big players somehow imperceptibly deflated and are far behind Samsung and Apple. However, one such device exists, the Blackberry PRIV.
A slider with a QWERTY keyboard, an excellent AMOLED screen with curved edges, an emphasis on data security and many small but interesting features. The maximum price on the market, the lack of official supplies and guarantees are all serious disadvantages. But they do not stop those who think differently from the majority. This is a real opportunity to stand out wisely and not lose in productivity and opportunities. Not such a good camera, but quite good. Read the review to understand what you lose and what you gain if you choose Blackberry PRIV.
Another option to stand out is to buy a Lenovo Moto X Force with a shock-resistant screen that can withstand falls from different heights. A good device, but there is no zest in it. For a big fan.
Another option to become special is to wait until the summer and buy Sony X Performance. The price is unknown, but it will not be low. As a result, you can get into trouble while you wait.
Pure Google without the nasty TouchWiz - geeks vote for Nexus
Technology enthusiasts always want to get something special, like new versions of Android without any add-ons. To do this, there is the Nexus line, which has not become popular over the years, but every time different companies release their own vision of inexpensive and functional devices. Stop, inexpensive Nexus were once at the dawn of their appearance, and now they are quite a match for flagships. For example, Nexus 6P (Huawei) can be considered a competitor for S7 EDGE. It has a very good camera, which in many respects is comparable to the S7/S7 EDGE. Inferior, but only geeks and meticulous users will notice it. Larger, more massive, a kind of male device, while the S7 EDGE is well suited for both men and women. Despite the screen size, it is quite compact, and the display itself is an order of magnitude better.
Of the minuses, I note the lack of memory cards, the basic version is 32 GB. The processor is from the flagships of the previous season (Snapdragon 810), this is important for enthusiasts, otherwise how will they measure virtual parrots, having previously cooled the smartphone in the freezer. Yes, and RAM is only 3 GB against 4 GB in the seven. In a word, a good device, but at a price of 45-50 thousand rubles it does not unequivocally outperform the usual S7, and S7 EDGE, although more expensive, is noticeably more functional, it has a lot of everything that geeks like so much (processor, IP68 protection, a bunch of new technologies and chips). And then you have to choose between waiting android updates with everyone, and so to get it fast, but sacrifice functionality and speed.
For the 5-inch model, the competitor is the Nexus 5x (LG). Here I note a slightly worse screen and the absence of memory cards, versions of 16 and 32 GB. 2700 mAh battery, not the most productive (but quite powerful) processor - Snapdragon 808. A good device that did not go on sale at all, the basic 16 GB version came out at 35 thousand rubles, but for this money people chose the LG G4, which has a card memory. As a result, the cost today is 25 thousand rubles, while 32 GB costs 37 thousand rubles. This makes the device similar in cost to the S6 of the same type, but noticeably cheaper than the S7. The question here is who does it compete with, in your opinion, with the old S6 or the new S7.
Uncle Liao, who created his version of Galaxy for three kopecks
There are people in the world who firmly believe that they are being deceived, and if a large company sells something for three rubles, then the same product from a lesser-known brand will cost three kopecks. It is pointless to fight such misconceptions, everyone remains with their own opinion. The main thing is that you can choose any Chinese smartphone worth from 2,000 rubles as an alternative for sevens and then consistently prove that it is no worse. He will definitely have a screen, he can call and also works on Android. I don’t want to get into such a discussion, so I’ll focus on the most powerful smartphones from the Chinese, which theoretically can compete with S7/S7 EDGE.
Of course, you need to start with Vivo XPlay 5, on paper this smartphone simply tears everyone and everything, take a look at the characteristics:
- Body materials: metal, glass, plastic inserts
- Operating system: Android 5.1, Funtouch OS 2.5.1
- Network: GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TDD Band 38, 39, 40, 41, FDD Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8), DualSIM
- Screen: SuperAMOLED (curved at the edges), diagonal 5.43”, resolution 2560x1440 pixels, 541 ppi
- Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 652/Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
- Processor: Octa-core, 4 cores Cortex-A72 + 4 cores Cortex-A53 / Quad-core, 2 cores Kryo 2.15GHz + 2 cores Kryo 1.6GHz
- Graphics: Adreno 510/Adreno 530
- RAM: 4/6 GB
- Flash storage: 128 GB (UFS 2.0)
- Memory card slot: no
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi+ (ac/a/b/g/n) dual-band, Bluetooth 4.1 LE, USB Type-C connector (USB 2.0, USB OTG) for charge/sync, 3.5 mm for headset
- Main camera: 16 MP (IMX298), with autofocus and flash, f/2.0, video recording in FullHD
- Front camera 8 MP, f/2.4
- Navigation: GPS (support A-GPS), Glonass, Beidou
- Audio: two ESS Saber ES9028 DACs and three OPA1612 amplifiers in Xplay 5 Elite
- Optional: fingerprint scanner, FM radio, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor, function fast charging(Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0)
- Battery: 3600 mAh
- Dimensions: 153.3 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm
- Weight: 168 grams
Outwardly, this is a copy of S7 EDGE, with a simpler screen from Samsung, but it is also curved, there is no Always On function, as before. As well as additional modes of operation, less brightness and so on. But on paper, it is very, very good, but for the Chinese it is an achievement. This is an attempt to mix in one device everything that can be collected on the good market, and it is possible that the attempt is successful. The price of the “simple” version of this flagship is $560, the older version is $650. And here the question arises, who agrees to buy Vivo at the price of Samsung. I'm sure the sales will be discouraging.
The Chinese have other worthy devices, for example, Meizu Pro 5.
Diagonal 5.7 inches (competitor for S7 EDGE), AMOLED screen from Samsung (flat), their processor, as in the flagships of the previous year, not bad, but far from ideal, a 21 megapixel camera from Sony. The official cost of the 32 GB version is 40,000 rubles, 64 GB - 43,000, gray deliveries from 32 thousand rubles and more. This is a very competitive price (if we are talking about prices for gray devices). One of the most interesting models in the phablet segment, which can really compete with Samsung products. But due to the perception of Meizu, sales of this brand in Russia, only connoisseurs know and love these products, the number of which, however, is constantly growing.
And in the end I will tell
I admit that I wanted to add here a bunch of cheaper models from Chinese companies, including second and third tier manufacturers, but then I realized that it was pointless. They are simply worse and inferior in many respects, and the low price does not at all justify the absence of certain features and technologies. Let the buyers of these devices think that they saved money and bought devices no worse. It is quite possible that this is the case for them and their use cases. Immediately everyone tries on what is needed, how the smartphone is used and what you want to get from it.
It can be argued that the Galaxy 7s have no direct competitors in terms of their capabilities. On the other hand, it all depends on how much you demand certain functions. It is possible that the same protection against water is not important for you and you do not need it. By varying the parameters and what you need specifically for you, you can choose a device that suits your needs. Do not force yourself and buy what you do not like. If you are sick of the Samsung brand, then leave it to others, there are many alternatives described above from which you can choose a decent device. I would be glad if you also give your alternatives in the comments and can, using facts, show what is so good and cool about them, how they outperform S7/S7 EDGE.
The products of the South Korean electronics giant Samsung are traditionally popular among domestic consumers. Smartphones are no exception.
The South Korean corporation confidently occupies a leading position in Russia. So, according to the results of surveys by the research organization OVI, in 2015, just over 20% of respondents named Samsung as the most popular brand. Japanese Sony and American Apple took second and third places, respectively. Even the combined result of both corporations falls short of the Koreans: firms won 9.6% and 9.5% of the vote, respectively.
A slightly different result is shown by price aggregators: according to these services, in the category mobile devices most often, users are looking for the iPhone 5s. However, Apple is followed by Samsung again, among whose products the Galaxy S3, S4, S6, as well as A-series devices are in demand. Sony and Lenovo devices have to fight for third place.
According to MTS reports, among the mobile devices connected to the network, the leading positions again go to Samsung: 26% of the subscribers of the red-and-white operator use its handsets. The closest competitor of the Koreans, Apple, is 10% behind: iPhones are used by about 16% of Russian MTS subscribers. Other providers operate similar data. Samsung confidently takes the first place, Apple and (which is strange, given that the brand has already left the market) Nokia are fighting for the second.
If we analyze the data of dealers and retailers, they also testify to the leading positions of Samsung. On average (comparing data from different companies), the share of South Korean smartphones in the market is about 25% in quantitative terms or about 30% in monetary terms. As in the rest of the world, Samsung's main competitor is Apple.
However, it is worth noting that recently the purchase of goods abroad, as well as the resale by small entrepreneurs of "gray" devices imported from China, have become popular. Therefore, it is not easy to estimate the real size of the share of sales of each of the world famous brands.
Reasons for the popularity of Samsung in Russia
Samsung takes the leading position in sales of smartphones not only in Russia, but throughout the world as a whole. The exceptions are countries such as China, where the situation is very complex and confusing due to the presence of a huge number of brands.
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The main reason for customer loyalty in relation to Samsung can be called a wide range of models. Among smartphones from South Korea, there are both inexpensive handsets with a basic level of functionality and flagships, the capabilities of which are significantly superior to Apple technology.
The second reason for the high level of popularity is the value for money. Samsung smartphones although more expensive than Chinese devices with similar hardware, they are distinguished by a more solid build of the case, fewer bugs in the software. There are no problems with warranty service either. Yes, and user support: many Chinese do not have it at all, and owners of "galactic" devices may well rely on firmware updates.
The third factor is the good name of the company: everyone knows about Samsung, for sure, everyone once had a device (smartphone, vacuum cleaner, TV, refrigerator or microwave) from this manufacturer. And the world-famous brand is trusted more than a little-known company from China.
Conclusion
Samsung has been holding the title of the most popular smartphone manufacturer in Russia for more than one year. In 2015, even during the crisis, the market saw a slight increase in sales of cellular devices of this brand. It is possible that this trend will continue in the future. Given the benefits, buyers often turn a blind eye to the slightly higher price compared to competitors, knowing that they are getting a reliable and high-quality device.
However, the growing popularity of devices from the PRC, as well as the continuous improvement of the culture of production in China, the improvement in the quality of devices from the Middle Kingdom, poses a threat to Samsung's position. Competitors are unlikely to be able to inflict an irreparable blow to the Koreans, but they are quite capable of “biting off” a particle of the market.