Samsung note 7 4pda discussion. Briefly about impressions and prices

Twitter

Each new representative of the Note line is expected by the public with undisguised impatience, and then is subjected to the closest scrutiny. It's no surprise that the Galaxy Note 7 is no exception. A simple study of the technical characteristics of this smartphone makes the heart of any more or less advanced user tremble, but we decided to study its capabilities in the most detailed way, join us.

Oh yes. To everyone who was in bewilderment waiting for the Note 6 model and did not receive it, we remind you that the “six” was deliberately omitted by the manufacturer in order to bring all of its flagship Galaxy (Note and S lines) to such a “common denominator”.

Package is a solid black matte box. Like a theater from a hanger, solidity new Galaxy The Note 7 starts here, with the box.

Contents of delivery includes a key clip, pliers with replaceable stylus tips, a wired headset, a charging unit and a USB cable for it. Of particular interest here is a pair of adapters from USB-C to full-fledged USB and microUSB: connect a flash drive and use a third-party charger.

Design has not changed compared to its predecessors: we have a glass sandwich with a metal frame between the front and rear plates.

The glass is convex; in the company of curved side frames, it creates a wonderful effect of a screen literally floating in the air. By the way, these same bends here are not as strong as those of the same Galaxy S7 Edge.

Dimensions 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm, weight 169 g. It should be noted that for its rather large Galaxy screen The Note 7 feels like a fairly compact device.

Protection against dust and moisture complies with the IP68 standard; by the way, this is the first Note to receive such protection.

The standard colors - black, silver and gold - were diluted with a fresh blue version.

On the right we see a thin power key.

On the bottom edge we are greeted by the USB Type-C port, which is current this year, next to it is a microphone hole, an audio port, a speaker grille and an S Pen socket.

On the left are the usual separate volume control buttons.

At the top we see a tray for SIM and memory cards, and an additional microphone is located here.

The rear panel is curved towards the side edges, making it comfortable to hold the smartphone in your hands, despite its frankly large size. The arrangement of all elements is familiar from previous Galaxy models: there is a camera, flash, heart rate sensor and oxygen saturation sensor. All these elements have long been familiar to fans of the brand. The glass of the back cover, naturally, collects all possible fingerprints, but if you put it in order in time, it will look very solid.

On the front panel we see a standard set of sensors, supplemented by an infrared camera for reading the iris, an earpiece and a front camera,

Below it is a pair of touch buttons and a physical “Home”, combined with a fingerprint scanner.

Iris scanner was mentioned in almost all leaks regarding Note 7 and, as we see, they did not lie. However, using it is not so easy: if taking off your glasses is a simple matter, then contact lenses No one wants to pick it out a hundred times a day.

Thanks to the infrared camera, recognition works even in the dark, but in bright light there may be problems. If for some reason the iris is not recognized, you can confirm your identity using a fingerprint sensor or a digital password.

I have to admit, it works. new protection fall quickly and, for the most part, unmistakably, but you won’t be able to “fool” the sensor using a photograph.

In addition to unlocking the smartphone in general, the iris scanner can be used to restrict access to personal photos, recordings, or other types of files.

Fingerprint's scanner Let’s just mention it in passing; it’s not new to us. Everything works well here, recognition is fast and trouble-free.

S Pen, along with the device as a whole, received protection from dust and moisture, moreover, in such unfavorable conditions it will remain operational. But his improvements don't stop there. Thus, the pen has become more accurate and sensitive, now it “understands” twice as many degrees of pressure: 4096. Externally, the stylus has become thinner, the selection button remains in its place, and to remove it from the socket, you still need to use special button. Speaking of the slot, the problem with the incorrectly inserted stylus seems to have been solved forever: now it simply won’t fit reverse side. Fool proof, in its purest form.

As for how it works, the S Pen is fast and accurate, and text recognition works great. A screen magnifier (up to 300% magnification), quick translation (including from images) and the creation of GIF animation have been added to the previous functions. But S Note and Action memo have disappeared, now their functions are combined in the Notes application. Considering that the programs largely duplicated each other, we consider this the right decision, and we hasten to reassure all users of other Galaxy Note models: you can easily transfer previously created notes to the new application.

Screen has the same diagonal of 5.7 inches, unchanged for several generations Quad resolution HD (2560x1440), which gives a pixel density of 518 ppi. The SuperAMOLED matrix has also not left the smartphone, but now acts as a protective glass Gorilla Glass 5. If you are seriously interested in buying a Note 7, you have probably already seen that creepy video from the JerryRigEverything channel, where the author successfully scratches the glass with rather soft tools, which the same Gorilla Glass 4 did not succumb to. We, of course, cannot say that your keys will leave (or not) the same destructive scratches, but we still do not recommend risking the appearance of such an expensive device.

Well, what can we say about the quality of the display of a flagship smartphone? He's great. There is no fault here with the brightness, viewing angles, or color rendition. The Note 7 fully lives up to its status as a cutting-edge device.

An interesting feature of the screen is support for the HDR video format, which guarantees smoother color transitions and a wide dynamic range. However, for now this is only a theoretical possibility: there is practically no suitable content on the Internet.

As for the curved sides, random clicks does not happen on them, and SPen works fine in these areas.

The screen temperature settings are the same, but new - a blue filter has appeared (aka night mode) to make your eyes less tired. This mode is designed to operate on a schedule.

Let's also mention the Always On Display option, familiar to users from the Galaxy S7. Here it has become better and now shows notifications not only from standard applications, but also from third-party ones, which significantly expands the scope of an already interesting function.

Sound both from the multimedia speaker and from the headphones, is located on high level: detailed and loud. All kinds of effects and a seven-band equalizer are provided.

operating system Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, of course, will be updated to the latest “seven” as soon as possible, but for now the new shell, which is called Grace UX, is of interest.

The shell turned out to be minimalistic, lightweight and quite interesting. The icons in it are rounded, executed in deliberately simple lines and colors.

The curtain is now made in light colors, quick settings are called up in an additional submenu by swiping down, and the SIM card settings are also located here.

The settings menu has changed dramatically.

A search bar has appeared in the application menu.

We can’t help but mention the completely new Samsung service Cloud. Essentially just cloud storage, elegantly integrated into the smartphone interface. All Note 7 users will get 15GB of storage here. In addition to actually storing files, it can be used to backup data.

And, of course, it would be stupid to have curved edges, but not have software for it. Note7 provides Edge UI, with applications (new ones have been added to the usual list) or contacts placed on the side panels.

A little prank from Samsung - the main interface color will now match the color of your smartphone. However, if desired, this can always be easily changed in the settings.

Performance approximately equal on both versions of the smartphone. As we remember, there are two of them: one is based on the 64-bit Samsung Exynos 8890, the other is on the Snapdragon 820. The first processor is complemented by Mali-T880 MP12 graphics, the second - Adreno 530. Both versions have 4 GB of RAM, built-in - in the basic configuration 64 GB. Perhaps this would already be enough for almost any need, but here it is also complemented by a slot for a memory card. There is also a 6/128 GB option for the Chinese market.

In any of the above options, this is not just fast, it is a lightning-fast smartphone that can handle any of your requirements and tasks, be it applications, games, synthetic tests, augmented or virtual reality.

Be that as it may, the numbers in the benchmarks are amazing, and the final version that hits store shelves may be even better.

Interfaces presented with a standard set that is not worthy of close attention: LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2 and navigation systems GLONASS and GPS.

Camera the main one is equipped with a 12 megapixel module with f/1.7 aperture and Dual Pixel technology, phase detection autofocus and a single-section flash. Optical image stabilization is also provided. The camera is characterized by high operating speed, and this applies to focusing, launching and saving finished images.

The application interface has also been updated: now all controls are designed for swipes. The end result was intuitive and fast.

This module delivers excellent results regardless of the shooting conditions: whether it's a bright sunny afternoon, evening or dim room, the pictures remain detailed, with natural colors and complete absence noise

Video recording is carried out in maximum 4K, there is a slow-motion recording mode.

Front-camera The 5 MP camera with an f/1.7 aperture is not equipped with any special technological delights, but it also shows excellent performance and excellent pictures. The most interesting thing here is the video shooting: it is available in 2K quality.

Battery has a capacity of 3500 mAh. This smartphone is enough for a full day of battery life in mixed mode, that is, approximately 5 hours of screen or 14 hours of video.

There is wireless and fast charging; The smartphone charges from zero to maximum in an hour and a half.

It is impossible to ignore the new energy-saving mode, which, in theory, should extend the battery life of the device by 35 hours. Under the laconic names Mid and Max there are two levels of energy saving, and at each of them the user can make their own adjustments. Particularly interesting is the reduction in screen resolution in Mid to FullHD (1920x1080), and in “Max” to HD (1280x720). Until now, no manufacturer has resorted to this method to increase the autonomy of their devices, although third-party analogues exist and are actively used by users.

Accessories for Galaxy Note 7 are so varied that it is simply impossible to dwell on each item in detail. We will only mention a large number of cases, including those with external battery 3100 mAh and wireless charging, a pair of lenses or LEDs for notifications. The latter option is already familiar to us from previous versions, but with the new LED View Cover new opportunities for customization have appeared; it can also be used to accept or reject calls and control some programs, for example, an alarm clock or a timer.

And, of course, we haven’t forgotten about the new Gear VR virtual reality helmet; we just think that such an interesting device is worthy of a separate review.

Generally, Galaxy Note 7 is beautiful, what can I add? If the Note 4 and 5 models were rather treading water, then the “Seven” is truly a step forward. And it's not even about advanced technologies, which have always been present in “Nota”, and in pleasant little things: finally a curved screen, protection from dust and moisture, a compact body, despite the stable big screen, an improved stylus... And, of course, the iris scanner - Note 7 became one of the first “androids” with such an identification system and certainly the first famous one.

Are you interested in disadvantages? Well, the body here is soiled. Glass, you know.

Of course, like all good things, you have to pay for such delights, and a considerable price: in this case, about $900.

Samsung smartphones seemed to be in the lead. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge outsold the iPhone, and demand for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exceeded supply in some countries. But cases of battery explosions were a strong blow - Samsung had to recall the entire batch. We can only hope that this shortcoming will be corrected soon.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 - Reviews

But in almost every other way, the Galaxy Note 7 is a perfect smartphone with impressive capabilities. Let's take a closer look.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 design

If you put the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 next to the Galaxy Note 5, it will seem much smaller, despite the fact that they each have a 5.7-inch screen.

The S7 Edge is comfortable to hold, but even it falls short of the Note 7. It truly is one of the most comfortable smartphones we've ever tested.

The aluminum frame is so thin around the edges of the screen that it is difficult to notice, and only feels nicer to the touch than glass. However, there is a minus - the surface ceases to seem ideal as soon as it becomes covered with fingerprints, and in this case this happens very quickly. On silver and blue Samsung Note 7, fingerprints are visible a little less than on black, but this still remains a problem.

Even bigger problems arose with the fragility of the glass, which is easy to break and scratch, despite the protection of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Many YouTube videos demonstrate that the screen is scratched even by tools that should not have left a mark, for which Corning simply accused the testers of improper testing.

The IP68 degree of protection means that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone can not only be wet, but also generally dive with it under water, to an insignificant depth, but given the problems with the contradiction between the real fragility and the declared one, we do not recommend testing this in practice. In addition, the Galaxy S7 Active was also supposed to be waterproof, but during testing, this was disproved.

Amazing new S Pen

Samsung's S Pen stylus has been a delight since the first models, but the Note 7 is better than ever before. The pen supports 4096 levels of pressure - 2 times more than most other styluses. Artists will certainly be interested in this; the gadget becomes almost as sensitive and responsive to the slightest change in pressure as a professional instrument. The S Pen's 0.7mm tip is close to ballpoint pen standard and glides smoothly across the screen.

The Samsung Notes app makes it easy to download and find everything you've created or will create with the S Pen. When you create a new note, you'll have several style options available, one of which is designed specifically for artists. It also supports color mixing to make images drawn with the stylus look like real oil paintings. The pen also works when the screen is off - the note itself is entered into S Note, and this is very convenient when you need to quickly write something down.

When drawing, you can choose many different brushes, pencils and markers, which opens up a wide range of possibilities, although of course Samsung Notes is far from SketchBook Pro, and other professional drawing applications.

Samsung has thoughtfully added the PEN.UP application, which allows artists using the S Pen to share their creations on the social network of the same name. You can view their work, discuss the difficulties of drawing, and so on.

Like the smartphone itself, the IP68-rated S Pen is almost completely water-resistant, so in theory you can draw even underwater. In practice, this means that wet hands or accidental exposure to water will not damage the device.

Other new features include the ability to pin notes to the screen for quick access, create and share animated GIFs with Smart Select, translate text into 38 languages with Air Command. There is also a magnifying glass that increases the font size by 300% and the ability to erase everything with one click. All these S Pen features take the pen to the next level.

Specifications of Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Most flagship smartphones Android has nearly identical but still impressive specs, and the Galaxy Note 7 is no exception. He has the same touch screen SuperAMOLED with Quad HD resolution (2560x1440), the same as the S7 Edge, but the diagonal is 5.7 inches, which is about 0.5 centimeters larger.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 is the processor of the Note 7 we tested with 4GB of RAM, but other options are possible in other countries. In any case, it's as fast as the S7 Edge, and we didn't notice any lag even when we loaded the phone with heavy tasks.

High performance has been proven excellent results when testing benchmark: Samsung Note 7 received a multi-core score of 5231 in Geekbench 3, 2517 points in 3D Mark Slingshot and 40038 in Quadrant.

You can buy the Galaxy Note 7 with 64GB of storage, and it can be expanded via MicroSD cards up to 256GB, which should be more than enough. Like most latest phones Samsung Note 7 supports Samsung Pay.

Amazing camera on Samsung Galaxy Note 7

The same 12-megapixel rear camera and the 5-megapixel front camera that the S7 Edge has are also present on the Note 7. There is an additional front camera, but it is only used by the iris scanner.

Testing has shown that samsung camera Galaxy Note 7 is no worse, and in some ways better, than the iPhone 6S Plus. The pictures are of excellent quality and quite detailed in any conditions, in any lighting, and the camera itself focuses quickly. Achieve best quality succeeds very rarely.

Pro mode will allow amateur photographers to adjust ISO, adjust white balance and focal length, select color tone, and so on. At the same time, the interface is simple, and you don’t have to be a professional to understand it.

Battery endurance standard for a flagship

Note smartphones are known for their exceptionally long battery life, but the Galaxy Note 7 doesn't boast that, and has a standard 3,500 mAh battery that doesn't last long. For most users, a day will be enough to completely drain the battery; for more budget-conscious people, the Note 7 may last a little longer, which is not impressive.

However, the smartphone quickly not only discharges, but also charges - 30 minutes is enough for the indicator to fill completely. This to some extent compensates for the insufficient capacity, but does not waste time on daily charging.

Galaxy Note 7 is the first Samsung smartphone to use a USB Type-C connector for charging. If you have older MicroUSB devices, you can connect them using the included adapter. Additionally, it is compatible with the new virtual reality headset, the Samsung Gear VR.

Like other Galaxy smartphones, the Note 7 offers wireless fast charging, which takes longer but is quite convenient.

Data protection and iris scanner

Samsung took protection from unauthorized access very seriously, equipping the device with both a fingerprint sensor and an iris scanner. In the settings you can select one of the options, both, or disable.

Iris retinal scanners are notoriously finicky. On previous phones, you had to hold the device close to your eye and wait for a scan, and if you wore glasses, you had to take them off. And all this only under certain lighting.

But in this case, we have an iris scanner, which, although it works similarly, is less demanding on lighting and does not require a close distance to the eye. You will only have to take off your glasses during setup; in the future, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 scanner will be able to recognize your eye behind the glass. In bright light, Iris still has problems, but less so.

Testing has shown that in practice setting up the scanner is not as easy as advertised, and it was unable to authenticate the eye for a long time. In theory, you just need to bring your smartphone a moderate distance from your eye, after which the scanner will scan your iris in a split second and the screen will be unlocked. In practice, it may turn out that the device does not recognize the iris, and you will have to bring the Note 7 closer or further away. Or move it to the side. Or open your eyes wider. All this takes time, and if you do this dozens of times a day, it’s downright annoying.

One could say that this is an option for those who use a smartphone less often, but greatly value information. However, what will a business person look like when he brings a large smartphone shining into his eye several times in a row?

Samsung says the Galaxy Note 7's iris scanner is harder to fool than its fingerprint sensor, and can also be used with wet hands. However, such protection sometimes turns out to be extremely reliable - not only attackers, but also the rightful owner will not have access to the data.

Thankfully, the fingerprint sensor is fairly reliable and secure enough, and the iris scanner can be disabled, so we don't consider it a drawback.

Improved and updated TouchWiz

After a few much-needed changes from previous versions, the latest version of the TouchWiz UI is simply stunning. Samsung betrayed her more than modern look, improved colors and added volume. There are no more old cartoon icons, and there is no longer that design that made it embarrassing to go into the settings menu - almost everything has been updated and improved.

There are many great Samsung apps available, including Notes, Pen Up, S Health, S Voice, Secure Folder, and Samsung Plus.

Those who use the S Pen should try Pen Up and Notes, while S Health will help you lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

Secure Folder is an application for those who want to ensure confidentiality of their files. It makes documents, notes, drawings and even applications encrypted, and will not allow strangers to gain access even if the smartphone is unlocked. For each such file you will need to use a fingerprint or iris scanner.

The Samsung Plus app will make it easier to provide services to customers, including recording video and audio responses to customer requests.

There are many more applications for every taste that can make life easier for almost every Note user.

Software updates

Samsung apparently didn't care too much about regularly updating its smartphones with latest versions Android software. However, the company now assures that everything will be different with the Galaxy Note 7, and all its programs will receive timely patches every month. They also promised that the Android 7.0 Nougat OS itself will be updated regularly.

Warranty for Samsung Galaxy Note 7

The warranty on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is valid for 1 year, and covers both manufacturing defects and accidental damage. To have your device repaired or replaced, you must take it to an authorized service center with your receipt or other proof of purchase, indicating the date of purchase, the product serial number, and the retailer.

It's important to note that replacing the two curved glass panels can be expensive, although Samsung still hasn't announced the exact amount. If you are afraid of damaging them, it is worth purchasing an extended warranty for $100, which also covers such cases.

Bottom line

The Galaxy Note 7 is Samsung's best smartphone of 2016, and it's as stylish as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and as feature-rich as any other in the Note lineup.

However, if you don't need the S Pen and iris scanner, there's really no compelling reason to buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 over the S7 Edge, which is cheaper but just as good in almost every other way.

pros

Stylish and practical design.
New user interface.
Multifunctional S Pen stylus.

Minuses

Battery explosion hazard.
It quickly becomes covered with fingerprints and cracks easily.
But again, we note that there is, although insignificant, the risk of a battery explosion.

New Samsung Galaxy Note 7 – video review

If you find an error, the video does not work, please select a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

If samsung manual will receive a dollar for every smartphone that explodes, then this money may well be enough to plug the $3 billion budget hole into which the Korean giant has sucked itself. Late at night, Samsung announced that it was completely stopping production of the Note 7 line. And this after the company recalled millions of fresh flagships in September, whose batteries spontaneously caught fire and exploded. Samsung is now asking you to turn off your Note 7 and return it back in a special box. Considering the impossibility of repairing it, we believe that they will go straight to the dustbin of history.

The thing is, Samsung could ask people to just take out their batteries, but it can't. The company itself glued them to its phones.

And this problem is not limited to Samsung. Although they were the ones who were caught red-handed, the explosions lithium ion batteries are not uncommon. These batteries are found in everything from smartphones to electric cars, and they are highly unstable. Given the constant temperature stress, such a battery can easily overheat and explode. But equipment manufacturers insist that there is no replacement for the lithium-ion battery. It's glued to the phone on your coffee table, it's built into the tablet your little boy is fiddling with, it powers the laptop in your backpack.

Engineers from Fixit disassembled the Note 7 a few days after its release and came to the conclusion that removing the battery from it is akin to brain surgery. With the difference that the head does not have the property of exploding on the surgeon’s table. To get to the Note 7's battery, we had to quickly remove the back cover to avoid burning our fingers from the hot air, then pry up the glass to pull out a pack of innards before we got to the gadget's tiny battery. While performing such manipulations, we simultaneously prayed to the pagan gods and kept a bucket of sand and a fire extinguisher ready. When Note 7s started exploding en masse, journalists asked me if I was surprised. No, I'm not surprised at all.

Why do batteries explode?

As mentioned above, lithium-ion batteries power literally everything around you, even e-cigarettes. Which, by the way, also explode. Their main advantage is the lightness and energy efficiency of lithium, which is wonderful for equipment manufacturers, because no one today wants to carry a half-kilogram brick in their pocket. But they are terribly fickle.

A lithium-ion battery uses two electrodes as positive and negative terminals, dispersing lithium ions between them during charging. Energy is released due to the collision of these ions, which float in opposite directions. If the electrodes suddenly come into contact, a release of energy occurs. This is why there are separators inside batteries that keep the electrodes away from each other.

According to Samsung's report for Bloomberg, the Note 7's main design flaw was the pressure the design puts on the battery cell. As a result, the positive and negative poles collided with each other, releasing excess heat. The result is a big explosion. And there will be more and more such explosions because Manufacturers are using 90% of the potential of lithium-ion batteries, while continuing to insist that this will not affect the safety of gadgets. In turn, buyers want bigger screens and more powerful processors, but refuse to sacrifice battery capacity or slower charging for this.

The industry's obsession with thin gadgets requires thin batteries, so manufacturers are increasingly using lithium polymer batteries. It's incredibly thin and comes wrapped in a flexible case that looks like the foil from a cigarette pack. This means that such a battery weighs less and is easier to pack into the phone case. But this also means that you are carrying a miniature bomb in that piece of foil. And then you insert it into the body of the smartphone, which the person will hold near his face.

Recycling and the planet

The guys from Samsung were much better prepared for this misfortune a couple of years ago, when any buyer could safely remove and replace the battery on their Galaxy S5, rather than watch it burn out like a Roman candle. In those days, the Korean giant was an ardent advocate of replaceable batteries (according to at least, in words), and habitually trolled Apple in his advertising, saying that iPhone owners live near walls with sockets, while Galaxy S5 users can insert a new battery into the phone at any time. But over time, the company changed course, became more like Apple and also glued the battery to the insides of its flagship. And now they are blowing on him.

In general, lithium battery fires are not unusual. Since 2002, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 40 different products due to battery fires. And all because they can be dangerous not only for people, but also for the environment. From the point of view of a waste recycler, such a battery is a complete nightmare. It is difficult and dangerous to dispose of, and it is also expensive. You need to remove it from the case very carefully, with your own hands (but the glue gets in the way). The price of each device includes only a few dollars of budget for recycling, which turns their disposal into an unprofitable activity. Therefore, manufacturers are constantly trying to cheat.

In addition, when processed, it can burn your workplace. Accidentally puncture it when removing it and it will burst into flames. Put it in the shredder, everything around will glow with a blue flame. With so many reasons to be careful, it is not surprising that lithium polymer batteries are only transported by air.

The CEO of a large waste disposal company recently told me that he deals with battery fires once a week. For example, last year a landfill in Pennsylvania burned for about two days due to an exploding battery. This was the third fire of this level in the last two years. And this is not a problem of irresponsible recyclers, this is a problem of irresponsible manufacturers who continue to glue tiny bombs into their smartphones, chasing profit.

Specifications

Android 6.0.1, Grace UI
Display 5.7 inches, QHD resolution 2560x1440 pixels (518 ppi), SuperAMOLED, automatic adjustment backlight, Always On function, different operating modes, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
4 GB RAM, 64 GB internal memory, memory card up to 256 GB
nanoSIM (there will be options for 2 SIM cards, then the memory card in the combined slot will not be available)
Exynos 8890 chipset, 8 cores up to 1.8 GHz per core, MALI T880 MP12 graphics coprocessor (in some countries there is an option for Qualcomm Snapdragon 820), 14 nm
LTE cat12/13 support with software update, operator support is also required, default LTE cat.9
Front camera 5 megapixels, flash (screen), BRITECELL main camera, 12 megapixels, time-lapse shooting, slow-motion, video effects, 4K video
IP68 dust and water protection
Latest generation fingerprint sensor
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), HT80 MIMO(2x2) 620Mbps, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile hotspot, Bluetooth®: v4.2, A2DP, LE, apt-X, ANT+, USB 3.1, NFC
Wireless charging built into case (WPC1.1(4.6W Output) & PMA 1.0(4.2W)
Battery Li-Ion 3500 mAh, mode extreme energy saving, fast charge in one hour to 70 percent
Dimensions – 153.5x73.9x7.9 mm, weight – 169 grams

Contents of delivery

Smartphone
Wired stereo headset
USB adapter Type C to microUSB
Charger (Fast Adaptive Charge) with USB Type C cable
USB Type C to USB adapter
Instructions
SIM tray clip

Positioning

The attentive reader must wonder where the sixth generation of Note went, because a year ago in August we discussed the Note 5, and now there is an unexpected jump to number seven. There are two reasons for this decision; it is difficult to say which of them prevailed; I think their contribution is equal. Firstly, the Galaxy line has always been one generation ahead of the Note, since they did not appear at the same time. These models are released with a difference of six months, usually the Galaxy appears in March-April, the Note in late summer-early autumn. And it turns out that there is a significant gap between them. But the main thing is that the later Note model has an index one less. For example, after the appearance and start of sales of the Galaxy S6 of all variants, Note 5 was released six months later, which for some buyers created confusion and created the perception of this model as something “old” that did not correspond to a flagship. The market for the Note line has long gone beyond the circle of technology enthusiasts, so, oddly enough, this factor plays a role. It would not be amiss to recall that technologically Note has always been superior Galaxy line, remained the most powerful smartphone from Samsung for at least six months.

Since 2016 both Samsung lines are becoming the same in numbers, now the models will be released with the same index, so in 2017 the Galaxy S8 will appear, and later the Note 8 will be released. And if for the Galaxy this will be the eighth generation of the device, then for the Note only the seventh, but consumers are very concerned about this issue will not be.

The second reason is indirect, but it plays a role for marketers. Apple is releasing the seventh generation iPhone on the market in September, which means Samsung is also leveling out the difference in perception; both companies now have the “identical” generations of devices. Is it good? In principle, this does not matter for the majority; this is again a nod to part of the audience who understands absolutely nothing about phones, but judges who is cooler by the numbers. There are quite a lot of such people on the market, this is especially true in Latin America, Mexico and countries in that part of the world, partly in the USA.

In August 2015, when Samsung showed the Note 5, it became clear that the future of the Note line was in doubt; the company decided to make the S6 EDGE+ the main device, and sell and promote the Note on a residual basis in most markets. It came out at the end of the year, that is, with a delay of several months, did not have the same support, it seemed that they wanted to quietly get rid of the Note line. Already in January, it became clear that such steps by Samsung caused a very sharp reaction from buyers; they did not want the Note line to disappear and demanded that, as before, this line not only exist, but provide devices with the best engineering solutions. By the time the Galaxy S7/S7 EDGE was announced, Samsung had already decided that they would return everything to its previous place and the next Note would become one of the key models for the company.

The positioning of this device looks simple - this is the most powerful model from an engineering point of view, which has a large margin of safety. It is curious that various forums are still discussing the issue that the Note 3 is so good that there is no point in replacing it with older models. It is clear that this is not entirely true, but in the perception of a significant number of people, the previous models of the Note line are not at all outdated and are in demand. For example, when I travel, I often use Note 4 without experiencing any problems, it’s quite modern smartphone both in terms of speed and version of Android (worth 6.0.1). Over the past two years, this model has not suffered much; it may well live for at least another year, providing comfortable work. There are almost no models on the market with such a long life cycle that would not become obsolete.

For those who are looking for the very best device, devoid of compromises, this model offers just such an option. But, again, unlike previous years, the difference in technology with the same Galaxy S7 EDGE is uncritical or unnoticeable for most buyers; many perceive the changes as cosmetic and not worthy special attention. In some ways this is true, in others it is not.

Like any flagship from an A-brand, Note 7 is priced accordingly, however, we’ll talk about this separately at the end of the material. Let's first look at the main points associated with this device and talk about impressions from long-term use.

Design, dimensions, control elements

With comparable sizes, the differences in the ergonomics of the S6 and S7 were striking, the second fit into the hand like a glove, and the first, compared to its background, was perceived as a half-finished prototype. Having mastered this trick, Samsung engineers were able to repeat it in the Note line, new flagship It fits perfectly in the hand, although I didn’t have any particular complaints about the previous one. But the body was made narrower, and due to this and the beveled edges, it fits better in the hand. Many people who criticized the Note line for its size, having tried the S7 EDGE, somehow became attached to it, saying that this device is excellent in ergonomics. It was this that was used as a prototype when creating the Note 7. The dimensions of the Note 5 are 153.2x76.1x7.6 mm, the Note 7 is 153.5x73.9x7.9 mm. The different thickness of the case is not felt, but the fact that it is narrower is immediately clear. At the same time, a slightly smaller size does not cause any loss in performance.

Compared to Galaxy Note 5

Very often I hear that people consider certain phones to be slippery. With Note 7 there is no such problem anywhere, except for water. Climbing into the Atlantic Ocean to photograph the swirling waves, I got some great photos, but the wave easily knocked the phone out of my hands, sending it on its final voyage. It is interesting that for a day and a half it was possible to observe on the map how the device moved along the coast, the signal from it passed through from time to time. I suppose that sometimes he was lifted from the bottom by a wave, and then he managed to transmit his coordinates. But it was not possible to find him in the water. The conclusion is simple - when going into the water with Note 7, hold it tightly or use a case so that the device does not drown.

Compared to iPhone 6S Plus

Compared to Moto Z

One of key features All Notes up to five had collapsible cases and the ability to change the battery yourself. Unfortunately, this device has a monolithic body, the battery can only be replaced at a service center, which, however, is not a problem, the procedure is standard and takes a few minutes. Of course, if there is a service center near you. We’ll talk about the battery separately, I won’t get ahead of ourselves here, although for many the phrase “battery in Note 7” already evokes a certain associative series.

Just like the S7/S7 EDGE, water protection has been added and the IP68 standard is supported. You can take your phone for a swim, drop it in water, and in most situations it won’t hurt. Watch the video to see how the S7 behaves in a tank of water.

Just like for the S7/S7 EDGE, they used advanced protection technology when the connectors detect whether there is water in them and refuse to charge when it is detected. But, unlike the S7/S7 EDGE, the screen coating has been redesigned (the glass is the same Corning Gorilla Glass 4+, also called Gorilla Glass 5 for the rest of the market), and now presses are more accurately recognized when the screen is wet.

But that’s not all, the S Pen has become smaller, but now it can work both in water and under water (why the second is needed is a big question for me, but perhaps someone will find a use for this technology).

The slot is retractable, there is space for a microSD memory card, and a combined slot (either two SIM cards or a memory card). It is possible that in some markets Note 7 will be promoted as DUOS, then the inscription on the case will say so. But structurally these devices do not differ in any way, they are the same.

Four body colors, a familiar design that doesn’t surprise you in any way. Blue devices are not supplied to Russia.

The most popular color is black (Black Onyx), it accounts for the majority of sales in all countries of the world, it also led in pre-orders in Russia, which is approximately 80% of the total volume. I also like this color and chose it. The gold color (Gold Platinum) is easily soiled, hand marks remain on it, and they are clearly visible indoors. Silver (Silver Titanium) is not so easily soiled, but it is unique and will not suit everyone. Oddly enough, the blue device looks good, it is a little livelier than the similar color in the Note 5.

From external changes– replacement of the microUSB connector with USB Type C. The S7 EDGE prototypes were equipped with the same connector, but at the last moment they abandoned it, considering that no benefits could be obtained from its use. In this model it is installed, it is USB 3.1 (not 2.0), that is, the data transfer speed will be maximum.

Among the minuses that migrated from the previous generation to Note 7, I would like to note the painting of the metal mesh of the speaker; over time (about six months of completely careless treatment) it will begin to peel off. In the photo you can see my S7 EDGE.

The same thing awaits Note 7, the process has not been changed in any way, although the company knows that this problem exists. The second weak point is the fingerprint sensor, which is covered not even with Corning Gorilla Glass, but with plastic. After 4-5 months, the plastic wears off and an ugly stain appears, like the one on my S7 EDGE. The same thing awaits Note 7.

These two shortcomings are very frustrating, as they age the device and make it a little sloppy after six months, especially if you look closely and not just glance at it. In the same Apple iPhone, the button with the sensor is covered with sapphire, which guarantees preservation appearance. Why Samsung can’t do exactly the same is beyond me.

Compared to Galaxy S7 Edge

Unlike Note 4, which uses a system of three microphones, this device has only two of them, they are located at the ends. The noise reduction system works perfectly during a conversation, the missing third microphone removed from the recorder the ability to record a conversation at a round table when there are several interlocutors, but the “Interview” mode remains, it works decently.

On the front side there is a proximity sensor, light sensor, iris scanner, as well as a 5-megapixel selfie camera, all above the screen. The central key is mechanical, with a fingerprint sensor, it works by touch. For some reason, this key is often pressed in a pocket; its size has been changed compared to the S7 EDGE. Although this does not always happen and does not happen to everyone, it has happened to me in certain situations. But in general this does not create a noticeable problem.

Display

The display has a diagonal of 5.7 inches, QHD resolution 2560x1440 pixels (518 ppi), this is the latest generation SuperAMOLED. Back in the days of the S6, it seemed to me that it would be difficult to improve much in screens, but Samsung defies these expectations every time. So, just like in the S7/S7 EDGE, an Always On mode has appeared, when a clock and icons about missed events are shown on the screen. The logic has been slightly changed; now, in addition to notifications about calls and SMS, you can see icons different applications, including colored icons. Another point is that if you write a note on the screen, then by clicking on its icon on the Always On display, you will see this note, which is convenient.

The algorithm for working in the sun has been changed; the device produces more natural colors. In general, we can say that Samsung took its ideal screen of the previous generation and made it even more colorful and better. Plus you can change color scheme at your discretion, giving you a wide range of colors. Or adapt the screen to automatic mode. The algorithm for learning your preferences has become a little more intelligent, it learns faster than that, what kind of backlight and in what situations and programs you prefer.

Display Mate tested the Note 7 screen and called it a work of art and the best screen among all mobile devices, you can read their full debriefing.

And I would like to dwell on a few points. Firstly, the brightness of the backlight when automatically adjusted has increased to 1000 nits, which gives a very bright and clear picture in the sun, no other phone can do this, including the S7/S7 EDGE. In bright sunshine in camera mode this is clearly visible.

Secondly, a video enhancement mode has appeared, in fact it is an HDR mode for videos where this option is not initially available. But if you want to watch HDR-encoded videos on your phone (HDR mode from 4K TVs), then you can do this; this option is supported for the first time on a mobile device. Of course, for most, this will be another feature that they will never get acquainted with, and here Samsung is running ahead of the steam locomotive. But we can say for sure that in the future other companies will use the same approach. At the moment, there is practically no content that can be viewed using this option.

From the point of view of the quality of the screen and picture, the ability to customize it for each specific person, this is the best device on the market, which has no direct competitors. The flagships of other companies are good, but they do not perform equally in all lighting conditions, but here you get the maximum possible both in the sun and indoors. In a word, this is truly a work of art.

Now a few words about the side faces; the curvature of the bend for them was changed, and this made it possible to ensure that there were noticeably fewer false positives. They didn’t bother me on the S7 EDGE, but sometimes they happened; here there are an order of magnitude fewer of them.

You can find out how the side edge works, what you can do with it and what applications to install.

Now let's look at the new generation of protective glass - Corning Gorilla Glass 5. A video has appeared online in which, using tools calibrated to the Mohs scale, a person showed that at level 3 you can scratch the new glass from Corning, while the fourth generation It was scratched only at level 5-6.

Corning refuted these words, pointing out that the scratch resistance of the glass remained at the same level as the previous generation; its resistance to falls was changed (survival in 80% of cases when falling from 1 meter 60 centimeters). This is true, and it is extremely difficult to break the device, but it is possible if desired. This device crashed after a dozen falls from such a height.

There is no reason not to believe Corning or the author of the video, but it turns out to be a very contradictory situation. Is the screen scratched or not? In our video, for comparison, I scratched both the S7 EDGE and Note 7 with a knife, and in the end I scratched the S7 EDGE. Does this prove anything? Absolutely nothing. For example, in a pocket with sand, both the first and second ones are guaranteed to be scratched.

In more than a month with my device, and handling it very carelessly (carrying it with keys, throwing it in the sand, and so on), it received small, unnoticeable scratches on the screen, and this only happened after spending time at the beach. In all other situations, the screen performed no worse than that of the previous model. People who worry about the appearance of small scratches that are visible only close up, cannot be felt with a finger, and do not in any way affect the quality of the picture display, surprise me. I'm sure that they try to pay for insurance to replace the bumpers on their cars if there is a small, barely visible scratch. Forgetting that the bumper is designed to be covered with scratches and serve as protection. I don’t want to convince anyone, but I’m sure that after two or three years of using the phone, no serious problems with its screen in terms of scratches will appear. The problem is very far-fetched and akin to iPhones bending in their back pockets; there is no practical sense for consumers. For those who worry and shake about their screen, there are mineral glass stickers that will protect the display. But I think that gluing protection on protection is stupid, it’s the same as wrapping a suitcase at the airport in film in order to preserve its appearance. The only task of the film is to prevent thieves from getting into your suitcase, but preserving the appearance of the suitcase is a utopia. Although different people have different views on this issue.

Memory, RAM, memory cards, chipset, performance

Initially it was assumed that this device would receive 6 GB of RAM and a new memory distribution mechanism would be used depending on the load. But it was decided to abandon this and leave this technology for 8th or even 9th generation devices. At the request of Google, since the company did not have time to make the necessary add-ons in Android and wants all flagships to receive this opportunity within one year.

The total amount of RAM is 4 GB. This is enough for all tasks. The memory type has not changed, it is LPDDR4 (10 nm process technology). Very often, people complain that after booting the smartphone, a small amount of RAM is available, which shows a complete ignorance of the issue and how memory is distributed in Android. Occupied memory does not in any way affect system performance or the ability to perform certain tasks. Therefore, the very parameter of how much memory is occupied is useless for assessing anything; it says absolutely nothing.

The minimum amount of pre-installed memory becomes 64 GB, plus microSD memory cards of any size are available (Samsung guarantees memory cards up to 256 GB). They say that some operators will sell 128 GB versions, but this is exotic; the vast majority of devices will be 64 GB.

Now a few words about chipsets. The device comes in two versions, for the American market and a couple of operators outside it - on Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (maximum frequency - 2.3 GHz, a bunch of virtual parrots in Antutu). For most of the world, the device will be released on the Exynos 8893, the frequency here is up to 2.7 GHz, with less heating and longer operating time, plus better implemented camera and energy saving algorithms. The difference in operating time between these chipsets under the same load can reach 20-25 percent. Of course, it all depends on your scenarios for using the device, but, nevertheless, this is a fairly noticeable difference. The presence of a version from Qualcomm is a tribute to the American market and the choice of operators.

The performance of the solution remains high; this is one of the most powerful smartphones, as you can see if you look at the results of synthetic tests. They do not reflect real productivity in life, and that is enough for anyone to see. No slowdowns, slow work or anything like that.

Battery

Battery capacity – 3500 mAh. It was assumed that Note 7 will receive new type The battery is the same as in the J7 2016, but at the last moment the company changed everything back; the same battery is used as in the Galaxy S7 EDGE, albeit with a slightly smaller capacity. Apparently, the rejection of new technologies is due to the fact that the Note 7 as a whole decided not to stuff them with them, but to save them for subsequent devices. However, some technical solutions Note 7 still has them; they have not been seen before.

So, in energy saving mode, for the first time you can change the screen resolution, for example, switch from QHD to FullHD, which will reduce the load on the graphics subsystem and give you a plus of 15-20% of operating time with the same characteristics (screen brightness, all programs running, etc.). d.).

If you look at the performance of the device in this mode, it will increase slightly.

This is an interesting way to extend the operating time of your phone, and at the same time choose the screen resolution that you are comfortable with and that you consider sufficient. In my opinion, most consumers will stick with the native QHD resolution, but some may choose something else. Other manufacturers do not yet have this option, since it requires complex integration of OS software and display.

Now let's look at the operating time of commercial devices. Everything here has not changed in any way compared to Note 5, this is a day of work, in the same modes and under the same load. It turns out that with average backlight you will get (automatic adjustment) 3.5-4 hours of screen operation and a full day of work. Video playback at maximum brightness is about 13 hours.

It's a pity, but a miracle did not happen, and the device is quite comparable to the same S7 EDGE, this is a confident day of work under load. If we talk about those who save money and squeeze everything possible out of their phone, using a not very bright backlight, then you can achieve two days of reliable work in mixed mode.

Just like before, there is fast charging, it has become a little faster (half charge in 25 minutes). Wireless fast charging (WPC/PMA) is supported.

Battery fire, Note 7 replacement and worldwide recall

I'm sure you've heard many times about Note 7s exploding. A separate material is devoted to this, which describes the causes and consequences, as well as the company’s actions to replace devices free of charge.

The situation with the defect is unprecedented, and Samsung did not waste time on trifles, but stopped sales of the device around the world, and those who had already bought the phone were offered a free replacement with devices from the new batch, with a different marking. Moreover, if we talk about Russia, then all those who bought gray devices can exchange them for PCT for free, the company will do this starting from the second half of September.

Devices from the batch with potential defects were not delivered to Russia, so those who received their phones as pre-orders can use them. Or they can replace them with new ones starting next week. All new batches are released with updated labeling, devices from the first batches have been withdrawn, and they will not be on the market in any form. The media story around flammable Note 7s is greatly inflated, while this problem can only be encountered in the USA or South Korea and with a certain procedure (first you need to burn the charge controller non-original charger). Considering that only updated devices will go on sale, there is no particular problem; it concerns only the first batches. Surveys show that there are no mass refusals to purchase Note 7, moreover, from pre-orders in Russia, less than 2% of buyers refused, which speaks for itself. Another thing is that in Russia, as an apology for postponing delivery dates with the phone, they give a set of accessories in addition to Gear Fit 2.

The trail of media history will continue to follow the Note 7 for a long time, but it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sales of the device. Only a month and a half was lost, which was spent on the exchange; then sales will proceed as usual.

Iris scanner

One of the key changes is the iris scanner; this method allows you to unlock the device without touching it. The operation of the scanner reminded me in ideology of what we saw on the Lumia 950/950 XL. Whether you are wearing glasses or not, there is no difference, look at the device, and it recognizes your iris and unlocks. This takes less than a second. This method is error-free and works very quickly, it can compete with a fingerprint. The downside is slightly higher energy consumption, but you have to pay for convenience, right?

If testing this technology in Note 7 shows that it is interesting to the public and in demand, then it may appear in the S8/S8 EDGE. Although it is possible that this will be one device, and not two models.

S Pen - pen capabilities, new programs and styles

At the Note 7 presentation they talked a lot and in detail about the updated S Pen, I’ll try to highlight the most important points. Let me start with the fact that most people consider the S Pen to be an additional and practically unnecessary thing; they very rarely use the stylus built into the case. On the other hand, there is a creative minority that is accustomed to pens, loves to draw, and they, on the contrary, do not let go of the S Pen, create beautiful drawings, sketches, in a word, constantly use the stylus. These two categories of people will never be able to understand each other, they have too much different tasks and needs. Unfortunately, I never learned to draw something other than stick-stick-circle, and ultimately a little man, so I consider myself to be among the majority without any special artistic talents.

For me, the S Pen is the ability to leave a quick note, write on the screen, without even unlocking the phone. This is very useful in meetings when you need to remember something and don't need to write it down in a notebook. Short notes on the run, which are also synchronized with the cloud.

But perhaps the most important thing is the ability to take a screenshot of a page that does not fit on the entire screen. The function appeared in Note 5; it has come in handy more than once for me to show certain things and instantly send them as one file, rather than torn pages.

Another important point– this is the ability to take a screenshot anywhere on the screen and immediately draw something on it, cut out a piece. It's also interesting for those who work with graphics and the like.

Something useful will also tell you about the ability to recognize text in pictures, that is, you save everything that you photographed or took a screenshot of, not just as graphics, you can extract text from there. This is an indispensable tool in my work.

New feature- it is a translation individual words, in this mode you set the direction of translation and you can spy on any words that will be shown immediately. The Google engine is used, the function is pleasant for those who study or constantly correspond in different languages, not always having a dictionary at hand.

The fact that the S Pen began to work underwater, in my opinion, is nonsense. It is unlikely that scuba divers will use a phone while diving, and even at a depth of two meters it will simply leak. But the fact that you can write in the rain is a real application scenario that is easy to imagine.

The pen has physically become a little smaller, the recognition accuracy has increased, as before, 2048 degrees of pressure are taken into account. The S Note app now has a drawing mode where you can mix colors, something that was not there before.

In the first batches of Note 5, out of the blue, bloggers created problems that the stylus could be inserted with the wrong end into the connector. It is unclear how drunk you need to be to do this, but then the design was changed. In Note 7, trying to insert the wrong end of the S Pen will do nothing; the pen simply will not fit into the slot.

I can’t say that I use the S Pen very actively, sometimes it happens that I don’t take it out for several days, sometimes a couple of times a day I draw something on screenshots, cut out pictures. But I can say for sure that it helps me quickly complete routine tasks that I encounter from time to time. There is simply nothing like this in other phones. Handwritten text recognition has become noticeably better, but, in my opinion, this is not as convenient as simply typing text on the keyboard, although perhaps someone thinks the opposite. I am sure that there are fewer and fewer people writing every year. And therefore, the S Pen is not so much for writing as for performing tasks in which the stylus is difficult to replace with a finger.

Camera

Formally, these are the same cameras that we saw in the S7/S7 EDGE; in fact, the image processing algorithm has been improved; the difference is not dramatic, but it is there. Autofocus works instantly, however, it was like that on the S7 too. Due to increased productivity, image and video processing is many times faster. Just as the image stabilization algorithm has changed, it is sharper when shaking. This is one of best cameras on the market, I would like to compare it separately with the iPhone 7 Plus, but we will do this in October. In the meantime, you can see examples of photos and videos from the device. Due to the updated screen, photos on it look noticeably better than on the S7 EDGE, but this is precisely the effect of the image on the display; on a PC you will not find the difference, or it will be minimal.

The front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, and light sensitivity has been slightly increased. The screen itself can act as a flash. It is possible to improve complexion, remove artifacts on the skin, and at the same time correct facial geometry. Girls will definitely like these facial enhancements.

Sample photos

I think that the photographs speak for themselves; in terms of camera quality, the Note 7 is in no way inferior to the best solutions on the market, and in many ways surpasses them.

USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities

Version Bluetooth 4.2, it was created for the Internet of Things and works great with various sensors. Otherwise, there are no significant changes; new profiles have appeared and power consumption has improved. Let me remind you that there are some interesting things in the new standard.

Firstly, this is an extended range, which can reach several tens of meters, depending on the device settings and how the manufacturer configured this option. Secondly, the IP protocol is used for addressing, that is, devices now have their own unique addresses and communication with many such devices is supported.

From technical points, the interaction between Bluetooth and LTE has been improved, now within one device is coming synchronization of the operation of these technologies does not create mutual interference (for our LTE frequencies not relevant). Plus, Bluetooth devices can now access the cloud and transmit their results directly, bypassing the companion device, as was previously necessary.

USB connection. USB 3.1 is used here.

WiFi. The 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standard is supported, the operation wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember selected networks and automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router in one touch; to do this, you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). From additional options It is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears when the signal is weak or disappearing. You can also set up Wi-Fi on a schedule.

The 802.11n standard supports HT40 operating mode, which allows doubling throughput Wi-Fi (requires support from another device).

Wi-Fi Direct. A protocol that is intended to replace Bluetooth or begin to compete with its third version (which also uses Wi-Fi version n for transmission large files). On the menu Wi-Fi settings select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts searching for devices around. We select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in the file manager you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer to them necessary files, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.

Wi-Fi repeater. Usually, when you turn on an access point on your phone, it immediately turns off Wi-Fi; you cannot use both at the same time. Here, as in the S7/S7 EDGE, it is possible to distribute your Wi-Fi to other devices, look at this in the video.

NFC. The device has NFC technology, it can be used with various additional applications.

S Beam. A technology that allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes in size to another phone in a few minutes. In fact, we see in S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring up and authorize phones, but the second is used to transfer the files themselves. The creatively redesigned way to use Wi-Fi Direct is much simpler than sharing a connection on two devices, selecting files, and so on.

Grace UI and Note 7 interface features

Starting with Note 7, Samsung switches to an updated Android interface, it was named Grace UI. The ideology remains the same - to provide the simplest and easiest interface possible, which will be similar to regular Android on the one hand, but will provide many improvements on the other hand. Unlike the previous year, many of the changes are directly related to the hardware capabilities of the devices, which makes them interesting. Let's take a closer look at what has changed, what the system looks like and what it allows the user to do.

Main screen, curtain and settings

At first glance, nothing has changed, except for the rendering of icons, the drop-down curtain and other small elements. Many people perceive these changes as cosmetic, although they are not, and they are more serious in nature.

The first thing that catches your eye in the settings menu is the delicacy of the fonts and the larger amount of information that fits on the screen. If in the previous version of the interface large, bright icons were considered simplicity, then here functionality and the ability to show more information. Those who advocate simplicity will be unhappy, but in fact this approach is more convenient; you don’t need to scroll through screens to open the necessary menu items.

At the top of the list we put “connections”, in this section you can manage all wireless interfaces phone, for example Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC. If previously it was possible to set the visibility of a device to others only when one or another function was activated, now there is a general switch, you can activate it, and then the smartphone will always be visible in searches. Please note that switches become the main element in the list, and tooltips also appear that describe each menu item. This is very convenient and makes working with the phone easier.

Among the features of the device, I would like to note the combined loading of large files, both cellular network(LTE) and via Wi-Fi. The file is split into parts and loading is faster. You can also find MirrorLink here, where you can cast your phone's screen to other devices.

When using two SIM cards, you have the opportunity to choose the main one for calls and also which card the Internet will be used from. On the other hand, when making calls you can select the card from which you are calling, the interface is very simple and clear.

In the Sounds section, you set up vibrations and ringtones for various events. There are also sound effects and equalizers, they work for any application on the phone. That is, you can customize everything as much as possible for yourself.

In the “Notifications” section, you select programs that can update their statuses in the curtain or send messages about events; you can immediately turn them on or off, and customize their behavior.

The “Display” section allows you to select the screen operation mode, this is the color scheme, which is adjusted according to four options, night reading mode, when the blue color changes so that your eyes don’t get tired. Traditionally, you can choose the font size, its style for system menus, also download new fonts. There are settings for a curved screen.

Icon frames, main menu presentation, and much more can be customized here. In practice, most of the settings are done once, and many don’t even change anything, since they are happy with everything.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that you cannot take screenshots in the “Themes and Wallpaper” section, now there is such a security policy. The company is trying to protect the developers of this content. You can install both themes and separate sets icons for all applications, which allows you to change the look of your phone as you please.

Watch the video about Grace UI, which discusses in detail all the features of the updated interface.

Gaming component, Vulkan API

At the Note 7 presentation, special attention was paid to the gaming component and they repeated, like a mantra, the words about Vulkan API, which improves graphics in toys. Since the S7/S7 EDGE demo, Need for Speed: No Limits, Vainglory has been used to reinforce these words. This game demonstrates the difference in graphics from the regular version. Unfortunately, we can stop at this game; at the moment, game developers have not yet created their masterpieces for the cross-platform Vulkan engine, this will take time. By the time such games appear, and this will take a year or two, or even three, there will be no need for a phone. Therefore, it is impossible to consider the Vulkan API as a certain advantage, it does not exist or it exists only on paper. In real life, you gain nothing from the fact that this API is supported.

Samsung Cloud – cloud storage from the company

Let me remind you that along with Note 7, the Samsung Cloud service was born, you are given 15 GB in the cloud, and photos, videos, contacts and SMS are automatically uploaded there, everything is synchronized between your different devices. You can choose to sync over Wi-Fi only. Unfortunately, there is no client for the web; you can only view photos from supported devices. Firmware has recently been released for S7/S7 EDGE with support for the updated gallery and thus Samsung Cloud.

After the files are downloaded, for some reason they are shown in the gallery albums at the very beginning, sometimes they start to double. Crooked and crooked again. I had to go into file manager and downloaded files can simply be transferred to another location to save them.

Another point that caught my attention. When you upload your photos to the cloud, their quality deteriorates, but this is not shown to you. That is, in the information they show you that the photo file weighs 4 MB, in reality it can be half that size! This is a compressed copy that has full version on the server, but they don’t show you this or warn you. If you have an Internet connection and for a small number of pictures this is not a problem, they are quickly downloaded from the cloud, and it seems that they are on your device as they were originally. But when there are a lot of photos, there is a long wait.

How much I like the idea cloud service, I don’t like the implementation of Samsung Cloud so much, at the moment it is very crooked, poorly described at the level of ideology and what happens to files, it is clearly inferior to solutions from other companies. The only plus is the initial integration into the phone software. Having inquired about the plans for the development of this service, I heard a lot of interesting things, they know about the errors and plan to gradually correct them, but no one knows how quickly this will happen.

Impression

By volume Samsung speaker Galaxy Note 7 is on par with the S7/S7 EDGE, there is only one speaker and it is located at the end - it is very clear and loud, the device is clearly audible in different conditions. We can say that the sound is one of the loudest and most pleasant devices from the company. The vibration alert is average in strength, there are no achievements here. The quality of speech transmission during a conversation in different conditions is excellent; in difficult areas where the signal is weak, the device copes well with this, there is a noticeable improvement in this parameter compared to the S7 EDGE.

U Samsung It turned out to be a flagship for the phablet market, and as such, Note 7 is one of the best devices. The previous generation Note 5 put many off due to the lack of memory cards and, to a lesser extent, the non-separable case. In the current Note 7, memory cards have returned, which means people have switched from previous models, for example, Note 3/4, to this device. To a lesser extent, they will switch from Note 5, since the model is still relevant and its users will obviously wait for a reduction in prices for Note 7, and will not buy it at the start of sales.

There are actually two devices on the market that can and should be compared, these are the iPhone 7 Plus and Note 7. They are very similar in form factor, metal chassis design and selected body materials. A comparison of the two flagships deserves a separate, large material, so I’ll focus here on the advantages of the iPhone 7 Plus that can attract consumers:

A new two-camera system, which in theory improves pictures (which needs to be tested in practice, but in advertising it sounds very cool, we’ll have to see how it turns out in reality);
Design, image component of the iPhone.

Among the relative disadvantages is the lack of a 3.5 mm jack in the iPhone, the need to buy adapters if you want to listen to music and charge the phone at the same time. I am sure that such people will be a minority - those who feel the need for this.

Traditionally, the Note line has an advantage over all in having the S Pen. If you understand how to use this pen, then you have the greatest opportunities for both creativity and work. She's comfortable. Another thing is that many people do not need it due to the absence of such a need. Therefore, realistically assess how important this factor is to you.

Both devices are protected from water (IP68 in Note, IP67 in iPhone), the Note's display is noticeably better for different situations, but the iPhone also has an excellent matrix, which looks no worse indoors, gives a comparable picture, which is, of course, subjective, and someone may disagree with this. For me, the lack of fast charging in the iPhone is critical; it ties my hands. As well as the lack of wireless charging, which can be convenient in different situations. To some extent, the iPhone acts as a catch-up to the Galaxy/Note line, adopting many of the features of these devices, which is normal. If you go over the top without going into details, you will get, plus or minus, the same impressions from these two devices, but digging into the details, you can find out a lot of interesting things. This includes the number of branded accessories for each model, and other aspects. Everyone will choose based on their preferences, I like the Note line, since in practice it has been proven from previous generations that the camera is better in most situations, all settings and capabilities are more flexible, there is more memory out of the box and there are memory cards that give you unlimited space . In a word, this is an eternal struggle between different approaches, I choose freedom in everything, in particular, I don’t need a computer at all to work with Note, as well as with any other Android smartphone.

With a price of 68 thousand for the iPhone 7 Plus and 65 thousand for the Note 7, they can be considered the same in this aspect. Complete equality of price and price segment. The first sales of the iPhone 7 Plus will begin on September 23, but the device will be widely available on shelves in mid-October; the Note 7 will be relaunched after the sales halt at approximately the same time. All indications are that both models will sell in comparable volumes in the first quarter of sales, and then, as in the past, the Note line will go up. Unfortunately, all of Apple's Plus models are not in great demand, this has been the case in the past, and there is no indication that this year will change anything.

In the Samsung line, the direct competitor to the Note 7 is the S7 EDGE, released six months ago. The price of this model is 60 thousand rubles (official retail), on the gray market - 48-50 thousand rubles. Almost the same filling, a screen with more rounded edges, a slightly more compact body. The screen is excellent, but inferior to Note 7, the camera is not so different, they are of the same level. Memory capacity in S7 Edge is only 32 GB versus 64 GB in Note 7.

Many, not considering the S Pen important for themselves and choosing a slightly smaller size, after the announcement of Note 7, began to purchase the S7 EDGE, finding it more convenient. As a user of both smartphones, I can say that at first glance this is so. But in reality, the Note 7 is more convenient for me, the grip is better, the screen is not much, but larger, and at the same time it behaves much better in the sun and outdoors. The operating time is approximately comparable, if you do not use any tricks and settings, but use it head-on. If you set up your phone correctly, you will save about 15-20% on the Note 7, but is this necessary? I don't think it's necessary.

People often compare flagships with Chinese ones at two or even three times less price. Don’t deceive yourself, each product has its own price, and even when buying a famous Chinese product, you always do not get this or that opportunity. You choose a worse screen, lack of the same protection against water and much more. There are two top devices on the market today – iPhone 7 Plus and Note 7, you can and should choose from them. Models from other companies lag behind them in many characteristics, and most importantly, in terms of perception, they have little image.

At the end of the review, it is simply necessary to make a remark about flammable batteries, despite the fact that we talked about this above. Since the beginning of October, Note 7 with a different battery design has been going on sale all over the world, so you can safely buy them, they have different markings, and later I will post the corresponding photos here. Is it worth buying the device now? In principle, this can be done if you find where to buy it, since Samsung has suspended sales worldwide. But you definitely shouldn’t take risks and buy devices from the USA, as well as Asia. The media story surrounding the “explosions” is greatly exaggerated and largely distorts real situation business I’m not sure that rushing to choose a flagship is beneficial; it’s better to wait for the new wave of Note 7 to appear and take the device from there. At the moment, I've been using the Note 7 for over a month and I can say that this is my main device. The device turned out to be very polished, working well and balanced. However, this can be understood from the review.