While millions of Galaxy S5 owners may have been waiting for the S6 to appear, they may well decide to get the S7 instead.
We can expect the S7 to be an all-round better phone simply because of the latest technology that goes into it. However, there are many people who would gladly hang on to their S5 instead of upgrading.
The Galaxy S7 has all the features of the S6, only better. So, better camera, better features, bigger and better battery and even better water resistance. For those people who still like the S5 we’re going to take a look at the differences between the S5 and the S7.
The design
The Galaxy S7 looks similar to the S6 with only a few subtle changes such as a more rounded curve at the back and the edges. This makes it easier to hold and it’s thinner as well so great for smaller hands.
The G5 is all plastic and what makes it durable are the big bezels. The G7 comes in glass and metal and resembles a premium smartphone with these looks.
So, while the actual shape has only changed slightly, it’s what’s inside that has improved on the G7.
The specs
The S7 comes in a 5.1” 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD display while the S5 comes in a 5.1” 1920 x 1080p HD Amoled Display.
The S7 has an 8-dore Qualcomm 820 processor. It supports 4GB RAM. The S5 has Quad-core Snapdragon 802 processor and offers 2GB RAM.
The S7 has 32 GB storage while the S5 has 16/32 GB and has a slot for a micro-SD expansion option.
The S7 comes with an IP68 dust and water-resistant rating which is considerably higher than the S5. The S7 is water-resistant to 5 metres for over 30 minutes while the S5 is IP67 dust resistant and although it is water-resistant, this is only because of the flap covering the port. You won’t have a working phone if you drop it in the bath.
You will notice that there are no flaps over the ports and no additional thickness anywhere on the S7.
The S7 has a fingerprint scanner for extra security while the S5 has a swipe-based finger scanner.
The camera
The S7 has a new 12 dual pixel rear camera. It has an f/1.7 aperture along with OIS, while the S5 has a 16 Megapixel camera and 2MP front camera.
You will find that the S7 takes the most amazing pictures and video whether you are inside or outdoors. It has optical image stabilization and a very fast f/1.7 aperture. This makes for fast shutter speeds and a great autofocus.
The 12 Megapixel of the S7 is far advanced than the old 16 Megapixel on the S5.
The S7 has a sensor that’s much bigger. This means that it captures 95% more light (and in less time) than the S5. This makes for great shots at night as well as during the day.
Another feature of the S7 camera is that it has a great 5 Megapixel f/1.7 wide angle camera at the front to take perfect selfies.
The battery
The G5 has a decent battery of 2,800 mAh along with a Quick change 1.0 which meant it could recharge in about 3 hours. The battery of the S5 also lasted a decent amount of time.
In the two years since the S5 was introduced the processor, screen and software are all more efficient. The same 2,800 mAh battery now lasts longer. That being said, Samsung added a better battery to the S7, and it charges faster.
The S7 comes with a 3,600 mAh battery. It also has Quick charge and will recharge the phone from less than 50% in under 25 minutes. The phone will fully charge the phone in about 90 minutes. The S5 takes almost two hours to fully recharge.
Even with the bigger battery the S7 charges too fast. You can get away with the smaller battery because it charges so fast.
Prices and carriers
Obviously the S5 cost a lot less a few years ago, in fact it cost around $199 with a new 2-year contract. If your two-year contract is almost up, then many carriers will recommend that you upgrade to a newer model like the S6 or S7. Many carriers may not even want to work with you if you choose to keep the older models, so that’s a point worth remembering.
The S7 will set you back around $680, partly because of inflation and partly because you are paying for the very latest technology in the phone.
To sum up
What is important is that Galaxy S5 owners know that they have a replacement for their old phone – and it is a worthy replacement. The Galaxy S5 vs the S7 shows that you can have an upgrade which has more than you may ever need, as well as looking far better and performing well above par.
The S7 is better in every way. It looks better, has great battery life, a super camera, better screen, a premium IP68 rated and super-fast charging. There is really nothing to dislike about this new upgraded phone.
Generally speaking, the S7 looks very similar to the S5 which is a good thing as people love the style of the Galaxy range. The S7 however, has got the edge on the S5 with the metal design which is nothing less than classy and sophisticated.
