If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, 2016 has been a great year for flagship releases. So if you want to stick with the big two, Apple and Samsung, there’s certainly more than just one handset choice. Therefore, in this article, I’m going to explain how the iPhone 7 Plus compares to the Galaxy S7 Edge and the Galaxy Note 7.
iPhone 7 Plus design
Starting with the iPhone 7 Plus, Apple has redesigned its home button like it did with its smaller sibling. Gone is its mechanical nature, which has been replaced by solid state technology. The rumors about the handset’s looks where almost 100% accurate, meaning that it does look a lot like its predecessors. However, the inclusion of a dual-lens camera on the rear does make it stand out from all other iPhones.
Another feature, moreover, the lack of it, also makes the iPhone 7 Plus stand out from the crowd in this comparison. I’m referring to its lack of a 3.5mm audio jack. Apple decided to remove the 50-year-old tech and use the phone’s Lightning port to connect accessories.
The iPhone is quite similar in size the other two in this article at 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm, with a screen size of 5.5 inches. However, it is also the heaviest of the three at 188 grams.
Galaxy Note 7
The Galaxy Note 7 takes some distinct design elements from the other handsets in this comparison, and while it’s not an S-range handset, those elements do work well in a large handset. Being a Note, Samsung wanted to keep it looking distinctive, so it incorporated the Edge design into the Note 7. So what we finally hit the shelves a few months ago has been considered a masterpiece by many. As for how it compares to the iPhone 7 Plus, both handsets do have elements from previous handsets.
However, with the Note 7, Samsung has pushed on and created something unique, almost a hybrid design, while with the 7 Plus, Apple has virtually given up on creating something new, apart from the camera housing and moved antenna lines. The Note 7 measures 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm. If you look at the last number, 7.9mm, you’ll see the Note 7 is 0.6mm thicker than the iPhone 7 Plus, although the note 7 is 19 grams lighter than the iPhone 7 Plus.
Galaxy S7 Edge
Although the Galaxy S7 Edge is the oldest of the three handsets, it does not come as a disadvantage. Instead, this all-glass handset is a real looker with a curved back, and it was the best-looking handset on sale before the launch of the Note 7, in my opinion. In comparison with the 7 Plus, it’s generally accepted that Samsung has an edge (no pun intended) over Apple in design. So yet again, the iPhone comes off second best, or should I say, third best, for this comparison.
The Galaxy S7 Edge is the smallest of the three at 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm. Yes, it has the same screen size as the iPhone 7 Plus, but it weighs less and also has a larger width at 7.7mm.
iPhone 7 Plus vs. Galaxy S7 Edge vs. Galaxy Note 7 specs
While there are likely to be many similarities between the Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in specs, the fact that Apple uses a lot of proprietary technology in its own handsets makes it hard to compare. One such example is with chipsets; while both the Note and Edge use other Exynos or Snapdragon offerings, Apple uses its own tech. So unless you can test them side by side in the world, ascertaining which is the better one is difficult.
Final thoughts
While the two Samsung handsets win in the design stakes, it’s not so clear-cut with performance because Apple, with its A10 fusion processor, could have surpassed Samsung due to its raw power. Furthermore, with photography, the dual-lens setup of the iPhone 7 Plus is proving itself to be better in many different aspects. So watch this space. Apple may not have designed something new, but it certainly has created something competitive.
