Samsung Galaxy S7 review: A refinement act

A refinement act

GSMArena team, 11 March, 2016.

Gallery

The TouchWiz gallery orders photos by time, but you can switch to folder-based Album view. Thumbnail sizes can be resized with a pinch gensture and the album selection pane on the left can be hidden.

TouchWiz Gallery - Samsung Galaxy S7 review TouchWiz Gallery - Samsung Galaxy S7 review TouchWiz Gallery - Samsung Galaxy S7 review TouchWiz Gallery - Samsung Galaxy S7 review TouchWiz Gallery - Samsung Galaxy S7 review
TouchWiz Gallery

Sharing options include wireless printing, Android Beam and Wi-Fi Direct, but no DLNA (or other way to send an image to your TV). Several image editing tools are available - from basic cropping, to collage making, to a more capable editor (which supports image correction, effects and drawing).

Viewing an image - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Image details - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Sharing options *Powerful editor - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Sharing options *Powerful editor - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Sharing options *Powerful editor - Samsung Galaxy S7 review
Viewing an image • Image details • Sharing options *Powerful editor

Music player with advanced EQ features

Google Play Music is the default player for your tunes on the Galaxy S7. The app has been treated to the material design a while ago, and its functionality remains unchanged - it can play your local files, as well as stream music from the cloud.

The Samsung sound enhancements are available, of course, you can access them from Play Music, too. They include the SoundAlive tool, which has an intuitive interface to tuning the equalizer (a manual 7-band equalizer is available for more knowledgeable users).

Music player - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Music player - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Music player - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Music player - Samsung Galaxy S7 review
Music player

Adapt Sound is even simpler. It tunes the EQ to your hearing and your particular pair of headphones by playing multiple frequencies and asking how well you hear them. Smart Volume automatically adjusts the volume of tracks from multiple sources.

UHQ sound resolution enhancer is available, Surround sound emulation and Tube Amp Pro simulator are onboard, too.

Equalizer and other settings - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Equalizer and other settings - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Equalizer and other settings - Samsung Galaxy S7 review
Equalizer and other settings

Video player

There is no video player app pre-installed and the Gallery handles the videos by default. It has full subtitle support and pop-up player.

Video player - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Video player - Samsung Galaxy S7 review Video player - Samsung Galaxy S7 review
Video player

There's an "Editor" option too though that may be overstating it - it just lets you trim the video. If you want a more capable video editor, there is such in the Galaxy Apps store for free, courtesy of Samsung.

Audio output doesn't disappoint

The Samsung Galaxy S7 almost perfectly matched the output of its predecessor with an active external amplifier. This is to say the smartphone delivered flawlessly clean output with just above average volume levels for an excellent showing.

Stereo crosstalk did increase a bit more compared to what the Galaxy S6 had, but output remained very solid when headphones came into play. Volume didn't drop either, so it was all very good and worthy of a modern-day flagship.

Anyway, here go the results so you can do your comparisons.

TestFrequency responseNoise levelDynamic rangeTHDIMD + NoiseStereo crosstalk
Samsung Galaxy S7 +0.01, -0.04-92.592.60.0027 0.0078-92.7
Samsung Galaxy S7 (headphones)+0.05, -0.05-91.992.10.0044 0.063-82.4
Samsung Galaxy S6 +0.01, -0.04-95.692.80.0024 0.0094-94.5
Samsung Galaxy S6 (headphones)+0.02, -0.05-92.691.90.0025 0.042-83.4
Sony Xperia Z5+0.01, -0.04-95.589.50.00330.012-94.8
Sony Xperia Z5 (headphones attached)+0.22, -0.24-95.189.50.00570.212-59.8
Apple iPhone 6s+0.03, -0.04-93.593.50.00160.0075-73.2
Apple iPhone 6s (headphones attached)+0.10, -0.06-93.893.90.00300.101-68.2
LG G4 +0.04, -0.07-93.493.30.0021 0.050-92.6
LG G4 (headphones)+0.93, -0.13- 91.491.90.013 0.244-50.4
Nokia Lumia 950+0.01, -0.03-91.391.20.00360.012-91.6
Nokia Lumia 950 (headphones attached)+0.59, -0.03-92.091.90.0110.316-63.9

Samsung Galaxy S7 frequency response
Samsung Galaxy S7 frequency response

You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.

Reader comments

  • Aronne Ronnie Farrug
  • 13 Dec 2023
  • gx8

Is the Samsung galaxy S7 compatible with my hearing aids Does it helps me when I receive a mobile call Because usually I cannot hear a thing with other mobiles. I await for your reply Thanks

  • Anonymous
  • 11 Jun 2023
  • 8mp

I'm using a Samsung galaxy s5 mini and this sounds like a good and cheap upgrade

  • CkeraL
  • 01 Mar 2023
  • 7Ce

I've had an S7 for 6 years or so and it still works fine - battery lasts a day + a night. Not many apps installed - mostly use phone/text/email, camera for photos and web browser.