LightBlog

mardi 2 août 2016

This is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Earlier this morning, Samsung finally took the wraps off its heavily-rumored smartphone, the Galaxy Note 7. With some killer new S Pen features, top-of-the-line specifications, an iris scanner and plenty of other enhancements, the Galaxy Note 7 might be one of the best flagship phones of the year. Join us as we go hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7!

Design

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-15

If you immediately get feelings of familiarity with the Note 7, you aren't far off the mark – this is the design language that basically started with the Galaxy S6 and has been the case ever since. Now, with the Note 7, design mostly takes the lead of the S7 and S7 Edge, though there are some refinements that actually make a world of difference.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(1-of-47)

Water resistance finally comes to the Note line, and it doesn't just help the body stay kicking when taking a dip; the S Pen gets the same benefits. This means that you get to take notes underwater, but we honestly aren't too sure when or why that might ever happen.

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-22

The designers of the Note 7 focused on symmetry, and it shows

The same dual glass panels are held together with a metallic skeleton that actually changes in hue depending on which color you pick. This time around there are curves on both sides of the phone, which greatly help with the handling and feel. Symmetry was a big deal to the designers of the Note 7, and it is something that definitely has to be held to be believed. The Note 7 has smooth sides despite there being a slight metallic ridge. And of course, the other main benefit of the curves is a slightly narrower phone all around, as the Note 7 definitely feels more comfortable for one handed usage and is noticeably less bulky than the Note 5.
Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(10-of-47)

Many of the other bits and pieces around the phone – the camera sensor, buttons, and ports – are all in the same places Samsung usually puts them. You'll find the power/standby key on the right, the volume buttons on the left, and the bottom houses the 3.5mm headphone jack, speaker grill, S Pen slot, and the USB Type-C port. The addition of a USB Type-C port would generally mean that Micro USB cords become immediately obsolete. That isn't totally the case, however, as an adapter for existing Micro USB cables will come in the box.

Display

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(32-of-47)

Many of the specs and internals can be described as a simple combination between the Note 5 and the Galaxy S7/Edge. Samsung included a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with the same color saturation that we've come to expect and the flagship standard of Quad HD resolution. And just like the S7/Edge, the Note 7 gets the Always On Display treatment, which has further usefulness now compared to its smaller, S Pen-less brethren. More on that later, though.

samsung galaxy note 7 vs galaxy s7 edge quick look aa-6

And yes, the curves on the screen mean that the Edge UX and its curvy features come on the Note 7. However, if you are familiar with how it worked on the S7 Edge, there are no changes to speak of in this new Note.

ux-edgeSee also: Galaxy S7 Edge Feature Focus: Edge UX6

Hardware

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(7-of-47)

Under that surface, we get the same processing package that's found in the S7, only now it will be powering a larger display with more capabilities. Depending on the region, the Note 7 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or an octa-core Exynos 8 processor. It's also backed by 4GB of RAM. This should still result in great performance, especially considering the new, streamlined version of TouchWiz in this version.

You get just one storage option with the Note 7

There are a couple of changes in the internals that may appeal to the power users. For starters, the Note 7 has 64GB of on-board storage. Full stop. No 32GB versions, no 128GB versions. There is microSD expansion up to 2TB though, in case you're worried about running out of space.
samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-17

The Note 7 also gets a big bump up in battery capacity this time around. It comes with a non-removable 3,500mAh cell that's pretty much in line with other larger devices. And as we mentioned before, USB Type-C will be the way to charge the Note 7. Samsung claims that the Note 7 can get a full charge in the time it takes the S7's smaller 3,000mAh cell to charge, too, which is quite impressive. The Note 7 also supports both WPC and PMA wireless charging standards.

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-13

So far, the Note 7's iris scanner is very impressive

Security takes on a new form in the Note 7 thanks to the new iris scanner. Though we have definitely seen iterations of eye scanning in the past, we were quite impressed with how well and how fast it worked on the Note 7. Glasses off, one can easily scan one set of irises to the phone. A disclaimer does mention that if glasses or contacts are on while unlocking, the iris scan can be disrupted.

Simply wake the device, swipe, and line up the eyes in the HUD-like elements that appear in the top third of the screen. Especially when lined up correctly, it takes close to no time at all for the lock screen to disappear. When done right, it might be faster than the fingerprint reader – and it does make some sense that when you're already looking at your phone, it should unlock as easily as possible.

Camera

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(44-of-47)

We weren't able to get any samples from the camera package, but the experience should be incredibly familiar. That's because both cameras on the Note 7 are the same as what can be found on the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. It comes with a 12MP rear camera with an f/1.7 aperture, along with dual pixel technology that should help with autofocus and low-light performance. 

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-21

The front-facing camera is 5 megapixels at the same aperture with a wide-angle view. Samsung has also streamlined the camera app to make for better one-handed use. You can swipe left and right to switch between modes and filters, and swiping up and down will switch between the front and back cameras.

S Pen

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-19

The Note 7's S Pen looks and feels largely the same as before. It now measures 200mm in length, which is about the same size as a standard ball point pen. It also weighs 3 grams, making it very easy to use.

No, the S Pen can't be put in backwards

And before you ask, the S Pen cannot be put in backwards. Any attempts to do so will be stopped by the clicky top that keeps it from getting past the SA in SAMSUNG. There definitely won't be any more broken S Pens due any such design oversight.

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-7

The S Pen has also been given a few enhancements that make it a better writing companion than ever before. For starters, Screen Off Memo, the feature that allows you to take a quick note on the blank screen without unlocking the device, is getting a major enhancement. You'll now be able to pin your Screen Off Memo to the Always On Display so you can see it even when your phone is in standby mode. 

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-9

A few extra features also come to the already robust capabilities listed in the Air Command menu. Accompanying a quick shortcut to the Notes application and Smart Select, users can now use the S Pen to translate words from and to up to 71 languages. This can only be done on a word by word basis, but we were told that this functionality will expand over time.

Another nice, albeit rather simplistic, addition to the Air Command menu is Magnify. This new feature provides a small square of up to 300% magnification so that parts of the UI can be easier seen.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(29-of-47)
 

Smart Select also gets a new Animation Capture feature with the Note 7 that we actually might use quite often. Essentially, this is a GIF creator that provides a frame of custom size for capturing any part of the screen for up to 15 seconds of motion. Any non-DRM content can be made into an shareable GIF, which leverages the same easy way of sharing that Smart Select already provided.

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-8

And finally, speaking of the Notes app, it is now the de facto and consolidated home for a lot of functions that used to take up up to four spots in the app drawer – S Note, Action Memo, Scrapbook and Memo. The Notes app is now home to all of these capabilities and gives the user a ton of tools to type, write, paint, draw, and save notes that can be shared in Samsung's own PEN.UP sharing network or through any other means one might desire.

Software

samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-16

Finally, as we alluded to before in talking about the camera app, the software experience in the Note 7 has been streamlined. For the most part, TouchWiz still looks and feels like it always has, but that is primarily true when looking at the home screens. A uniformity can be found throughout the menus and the settings, as much of TouchWiz has been given a lighter, almost white color throughout with text and icons providing the accent color.

We really like this newer, cleaner version of TouchWiz

The changes are, so far, noticeable enough to make TouchWiz feel fresh. After digging around in the settings, you'll also find a device manager that can help keep the phone in clean and fast working condition, including a battery saver that can make the display output resolutions as low as 720p.
samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-3

Samsung's TouchWiz is also getting some more security-focused features. A new addition to the software experience is something called Secure Folder, which lets you store away apps, files and even accounts for safekeeping. You can unlock and gain access to the Secure Folder by entering in a PIN, password, pattern, fingerprint or even your iris.

Specifications

  Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Display 5.7-inch Dual-edge Super AMOLED display
2560 x 1440 resolution
518ppi
Processor Quad-core 64-bit (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual) Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or
Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8
RAM 4GB, LPDDR4
Storage 64GB
MicroSD Yes, up to 2TB
Cameras Rear: Dual Pixel 12MP sensor with OIS, f/1.7 aperture
Front: 5MP sensor with f/1.7 aperture
Battery 3,500mAh
Fast charging
WPC and PMA wireless charging
Connectivity WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
MU-MIMO(2x2) 620Mbps
Bluetooth v 4.2 LE
ANT+
USB Type-C
NFC
Location (GPS, Glonass, Beidou)
Sensors Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, HR
Sensor, Iris Sensor, Proximity Sensor, RGB Light Sensor
Software Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
Colors Silver, Gold Platinum, Blue Coral, Black Onyx
Dimensions and weight 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm
169g

Gallery

Pricing and thoughts at a glance

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(14-of-47)

Overall, the package of the Note 7 feels as robust as ever, which has always been the charm of the Note line. While it might be construed that the Note 7 is simply a stylus-toting version of the Galaxy S7 Edge, it's hard to deny that some real thought has been put into how this phone could provide at least that little bit more to users who want the most advanced bleeding edge Samsung smartphone.

The Galaxy Note 7 will be available for pre-order on August 3, and will be made available for all on August 19. Users can choose from four different colors – Silver, Gold Platinum, Blue Coral, and Black Onyx – and a brand new Gear VR will also launch with it, complete with USB-C compatibility and an adapter to put Micro USB-clad Galaxy smartphones in its updated body.

We hope you liked our first look at the Galaxy Note 7! We still have the same feeling of excitement that we always get with new Note phones, and that's because Samsung has done a great job at refining an already great smartphone, rather than creating a new one from the ground up. If this is truly the complete package, it just might be the shining example for the now unified '7' series of Galaxy phones.



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/2aKnGGp
via IFTTT

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 officially announced: everything you need to know

Samsung's Galaxy Note series is one of the most iconic smartphone lines of all time. Not only do they come with great specifications and features for power users, but this is also the area in which Samsung decides to innovate a bit more than usual.

Now, after weeks of leaked photos, specs and renders, Samsung has officially taken the wraps off its latest flagship phone, the Galaxy Note 7! It has a curved screen, some killer new S Pen features, top-of-the-line specs and many more surprises you'll want to check out, so be sure to read on for the full rundown on this new handset.

A history of Samsung's Galaxy Note series 6Related: A history of Samsung's Galaxy Note series: Big phones, big business77

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 design

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(27-of-47)

It seems as though Samsung didn't really start focusing on design until a couple years ago with the launch of the S6 and S6 Edge. The days of plasticky, faux-metal materials are completely gone, and it's clear that the company is still choosing to stick with a more premium look and feel for their Note line. The Galaxy Note 7 looks like a Samsung device through and through; it's comprised of glass front and back panels and has a frame made of aluminum. There's one major design change with the Note 7, though, and it's pretty clear if you're looking at it head-on. It sports a curved display, just like the S7 Edge (we'll talk more on this later).

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(33-of-47)

Love it or hate it, the curved display is here to stay

Above the display sits a front-facing camera module and speaker, and below you'll find a home button/fingerprint sensor setup flanked by Samsung's oddly placed back and recent apps keys.

The power/standby key sits on the right side of the device, the volume keys on the left, and the bottom sports the 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port, speaker grills and S Pen slot. Yes, you read that correctly – the Note 7 sports USB Type-C! While that would normally mean all of your standard Micro USB cords would become instantly obsolete, Samsung is including an adapter in the box. Around back, the Note 7 is nearly indistinguishable from the back of the Note 5. There's a squircle camera module towards the top in the center of the device, with the LED flash/HR sensor sitting to the right. Samsung also decided to keep the beloved curved edges on the back of the phone, which makes it much easier to hold.

And just like the S7 and S7 Edge, the Note 7 is waterproof. Samsung also says you'll be able to take notes underwater, if you're in to that sort of thing.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 specifications, software and features

  Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Display 5.7-inch Dual-edge Super AMOLED display
2560 x 1440 resolution
518ppi
Processor Quad-core 64-bit (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual) Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or
Octa-core Samsung Exynos 8
RAM 4GB, LPDDR4
Storage 64GB
MicroSD Yes, up to 2TB
Cameras Rear: Dual Pixel 12MP sensor with OIS, f/1.7 aperture
Front: 5MP sensor with f/1.7 aperture
Battery 3,500mAh
Fast charging
WPC and PMA wireless charging
Connectivity WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)
MU-MIMO(2x2) 620Mbps
Bluetooth v 4.2 LE
ANT+
USB Type-C
NFC
Location (GPS, Glonass, Beidou)
Sensors Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, HR
Sensor, Iris Sensor, Proximity Sensor, RGB Light Sensor
Software Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
Colors Silver, Gold Platinum, Blue Coral, Black Onyx
Dimensions and weight 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm
169g

Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Note device without the latest batch of top-of-the-line specs. It sports a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a Quad HD resolution. And because the display is of the dual-edge variety, the Note 7 comes with all the Edge UX features we know and love. If you're unfamiliar with what the Edge UX software suite has to offer, be sure to check out our S7 Edge Feature Focus video, along with our full S7 Edge review for all the details.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(26-of-47)

Samsung has also brought another feature from the S7 line to the Note 7: Always On Display. With the Always On Display feature, you'll be able to see the time, your calendar and much more at a quick glance.

There's just one storage option available with the Note 7

Depending on the region, the Note 7 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or an octa-core Exynos 8 processor, and backed by 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM. Even though there are other devices out there with much more than 4GB of RAM, this still should be more than enough to handle graphic-intensive games, multitasking and more. The Note 7 also comes in just one storage option – 64GB – though it does support microSD expansion up to 2TB.
samsung galaxy note 7 hands on aa second batch-20
  • HTC 10 VS Samsung Galaxy S7 ...
  • Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge vs...
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Revie...
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 Review
Because Note devices are usually on the bigger side of the smartphone size spectrum, they usually offer up good battery life. The Note 7 sports a 3,500mAh non-removable battery, which is 100mAh smaller than the S7 Edge's battery and 500mAh larger than the S7's. It also comes with fast charging capabilities, and Samsung says it can actually achieve a full charge in the same time it takes to charge the standard S7. Pretty impressive stuff. Of course, the Note 7's fast charging capabilities extend to both wired and wireless charging (WPC and PMA).
Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(44-of-47)

The Note 7 has just about the same camera optics package as the S7 and S7 Edge, which isn't a bad thing at all. It sports a 12MP dual-pixel sensor with optical image stabilization and an f/1.7 aperture. The cameras on the S7 and S7 Edge are some of the best on the market right now, so the Note 7's camera will likely be right up there with the best. It also comes with a 5MP front camera sensor and an f/1.7 aperture.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(32-of-47)

All in all, Samsung did a great job at streamlining the software experience this year

In terms of software, the Note 7 runs Samsung's customized TouchWiz interface atop Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. It still looks a lot like previous versions of TouchWiz, though Samsung says the experience has been streamlined this year. Much of the interface now sports a light colored or white color scheme, and more of the colors throughout the entire user interface now match. It seems as though Samsung is trying to simplify the software experience on the Note 7, and that's very clear when looking at the revamped camera application. The stock camera app is now much more simple to navigate; you can swipe left and right to select different modes and filters, or up and down to switch between the front and back cameras.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(46-of-47)

Of course, it wouldn't be a Note device without the S Pen. Before we get into the software details, let's first talk about the S Pen's design. It weighs only 3g and measures 200mm in length, which is the length of a standard ballpoint pen. Thankfully, there won't be an S Pen debacle this year, as the Note 7's S Pen can't be inserted backwards.

Samsung continues to offer compelling S Pen features that make buying a Note device more and more appealing

Samsung continues to offer compelling S Pen features that make buying a Note device more and more appealing. It still comes with the same bevy of standard S Pen features like Smart Select and Screen Write, but a few things have changed this time around. For starters, the Notes app now consolidates Action Memo, Memo, Scrapbook and S Note applications into one. In addition, the Air Command menu now includes a magnifier, as well as an easy way to translate text in up to 71 different languages.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(29-of-47)

Another big addition to the Note 7's S Pen functionality is that Smart Select will now let you capture a 15-second GIF that can be easily shared to other services. So, if you'd like to take a small recording of a YouTube video, you can easily share that with your friends. This GIF-taking feature adheres to DRM rules, so if you can't already take a screenshot of something, you won't be able to record it either.

That handy Screen Off Memo feature is still here, which, in case you're unfamiliar, allows you to take a quick note on the blank screen without unlocking the device. This time, though, you can pin a note to the Always On Display, so you'll be able to see it even when your phone is in standby mode.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(19-of-47)

The rumors were right - the Galaxy Note 7 has an iris scanner

The Note 7 also has some new security features that you might like. For starters, Samsung included an iris scanner this time around. It uses the infrared scanner on the front of your device to search for your eyes. In our brief testing period with the iris scanner, it's been quite fast. Samsung does note, however, that you'll want to remove your glasses or contact lenses, otherwise the device might have a hard time recognizing your eyes. You can also choose to register only one iris, if you'd like.

One other cool feature: if you'd like to keep anything hidden from prying eyes – photos, apps, anything – you can now store it in the new Secure Folder. This new folder is password locked, so only you can get into it.

New Gear VR for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Samsung Geat VR hands on 3

Since Samsung has finally made the switch to USB Type-C with the Note 7, the company is also launching a new Gear VR headset. This new version comes with a bigger touchpad that's no longer recessed, so navigation and gaming will be a little easier now. It's field of view has also gotten a bump up to 101 degrees, up from the 90 degrees in past Gear VR headsets. Samsung will also make an adapter available for Micro USB smartphones like the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge, Note 5 and S6 Edge+.

  Gear VR for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Dimensions 207.8(W) x 122.5(L) x 98.6(H)mm
Weight 345g (312g without front cover)
Field of view 101°
Sensors Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Proximity
Colors Blue Black
Compatibility USB Type-C and Micro USB port connection to the Galaxy Note 7, S7, S7 Edge, Note 5,
S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 pricing and availability

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-7-hands-on-first-batch-AA-(39-of-47)

Like what you've seen so far? The Galaxy Note 7 will be available for pre-order in Silver, Gold Platinum, Blue Coral and Black Onyx color options from Wednesday, August 3, and will be made available to all on Friday, August 19. Pricing details still haven't been revealed, but we'll be sure to update you as soon as we hear anything.


So what are your thoughts? Will you be picking one of these up as soon as you can? Let us know what you think in the comments!



from Android Authority http://ift.tt/29VqFw3
via IFTTT