Samsung Galaxy S7: overview, design, features and legacy

Design and hardware

The S7 retained a glass-and-metal construction with curved and flat-panel variants. It used a high-quality AMOLED display with high pixel density and offered models with different system-on-chip configurations depending on region. One notable change from the S6 was the reintroduction of expandable storage via a microSD slot, allowing users to add capacity with microSD cards. The device included a non-removable battery, a fingerprint sensor integrated into the front home button, and physical buttons for volume and power.

Features and capabilities

Samsung improved the primary camera with larger pixels and a wider aperture to perform better in low light while keeping a slim camera module. The phone supported water and dust resistance, making it more durable for everyday use. Other practical features included fast charging technologies, support for virtual reality accessories from Samsung's ecosystem, and an always-on display mode that showed notifications with minimal power draw.

Software and user experience

Out of the box the Galaxy S7 ran a contemporary version of Android customized by Samsung's interface, which provided additional settings, gesture controls and multimedia features beyond stock Android. Ongoing software updates during its supported lifetime brought security patches and feature improvements. Samsung also positioned the S7 to work with a range of accessories such as cases, chargers and its VR headset.

Variants, competition and legacy

The product family included the standard S7 and the larger S7 Edge with a curved edge display. It was widely compared with other 2016 premium smartphones and was noted for returning practical features that users requested after the S6. In retrospective assessments the S7 is often cited as a balance of design, camera capability and useful features such as water resistance and expandable storage, marking an important step in Samsung's evolutionary design between its earlier models and later generations.

Quick reference

• Category: High-end Android smartphone
• Notable features: expandable storage, water resistance, improved low-light camera
• Variants: standard and Edge (curved display)