Samsung Galaxy S7 edge battery life (Exynos and Snapdragon)

We published our in-depth review of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge earlier this week, and it was based on the Exynos version of the smartphone. We later got our hands on a Snapdragon version so we got a chance to compare the two in benchmarks, and now in battery endurance.

No matter the chipset, battery capacity of the Galaxy S7 edge is fixed at 3,600mAh - a generous amount. It is also a substantial increase over the S6 edge's 2,600mAh, not to mention the S6 edge+, which has a 3,000mAh power pack and a larger 5.7-inch display. In light of that, even die-hard removable battery supporters like us are willing to let it slide that the S7 edge's cell is sealed.

And that's even before we get to the fact that it charges very quickly, even if the S7 edge only supports Qualcomm's QuickCharge 2.0 standard and not the latest version 3.0. Samsung promises 0 to 100% in 100min for the S7 edge, and it's even more impressive just how rapidly those percentages climb from flat to 70% where charge speed starts to taper off.

Much like the company's last-year flagships, the Galaxy S7 edge is also capable of wireless charging with pads compliant with both Qi and PMA. Samsung will also sell you a fast wireless charging pad, which can fill up the battery nearly as fast as a cable will.

After we tested both versions, the summary goes like this. Number one - the Exynos-version is overall more efficient and outlasts the Snapdragon variant by a few hours in all three major tests and in Endurance rating. Number two - both are as good, or better than last year's S6 edge and S6 edge+.

Moving to the individual tests, the Galaxy S7 edge is good for about 24:30 hours or 22:30 hours of 3G voice calls, Exynos 8890 and Snapdragon 820 respectively. Difference aside, both perform noticeably better than the competition: Nexus 6P comes closest (20:50h), but the LG V10 (16:40h) and iPhone 6s Plus (15:51h) will have died long before either S7 edge pops up a warning.

Talk time

• Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 LTE
  46:44h
• Gionee Marathon M5
  38:07h
• Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro
  33:20h
• Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G
  33:19h
• Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
  32:54h
• Xiaomi Redmi 3
  32:53h
• Oppo R7 Plus
  30:46h
• OnePlus 2
  30:29h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
  30:29h
• Motorola DROID Turbo
  30:09h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM
  29:46h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE Dual SIM
  29:46h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE
  29:46h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
  29:46h
• Huawei Honor 5X
  29:40h
• Samsung Galaxy Note5
  28:34h
• HTC One (M8) for Windows
  28:34h
• Nokia Lumia 1520
  28:34h
• Samsung Galaxy Note 4
  28:31h
• Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE
  28:25h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
  28:23h
• Huawei G8
  27:44h
• Samsung Galaxy S5
  27:37h
• Sony Xperia Z1
  26:53h
• Huawei Mate 8
  26:45h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 active
  26:29h
• Motorola Moto X Play
  26:28h
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
  26:01h
• Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7
  25:45h
• LG G3
  25:38h
• LG G Pro 2
  25:37h
• LG G Flex
  25:19h
• Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
  25:16h
• LG G2
  25:15h
• Samsung Galaxy A7 Duos
  25:12h
• Samsung Galaxy A7
  25:12h
• BlackBerry Passport
  25:12h
• Huawei Ascend Mate
  25:12h
• Motorola Nexus 6
  25:03h
• Samsung Galaxy A8
  25:02h
• Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
  25:02h
• Alcatel Hero
  25:02h
• Oppo N1
  25:01h
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
  24:52h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
  24:29h
• Sony Xperia Z Ultra
  24:23h
• Oppo R7s
  24:03h
• Apple iPhone 6 Plus
  23:49h
• LG AKA
  23:20h
• Sony Xperia Z3
  23:13h
• Meizu PRO 5
  23:10h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE Dual SIM
  23:09h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM
  23:09h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE
  23:09h
• Oppo R7
  22:58h
• Samsung Galaxy S7
  22:57h
• Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
  22:42h
• Motorola Moto E (2nd gen)
  22:36h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
  22:32h
• Motorola Moto X Style
  22:23h
• ZTE Nubia Z9
  22:20h
• Huawei MediaPad 7 Vogue
  22:16h
• Samsung Galaxy Core LTE
  22:13h
• HTC One Max
  22:13h
• Lenovo ZUK Z1
  22:13h
• Nokia Lumia 1020
  22:13h
• Sony Xperia Z2
  22:13h
• Nokia Lumia 1320
  22:13h
• Sony Xperia C3 Dual
  22:11h
• Meizu MX4 Pro
  22:09h
• Yota YotaPhone 2
  22:09h
• Samsung ATIV SE
  22:05h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
  22:02h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note
  21:41h
• Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
  21:39h
• Motorola RAZR MAXX
  21:18h
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  21:02h
• Meizu m2 note
  20:55h
• Huawei Nexus 6P
  20:50h
• LG Optimus G Pro E985
  20:45h
• HTC One M9
  20:44h
• Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
  20:42h
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
  20:40h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
  20:27h
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  20:24h
• Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL
  20:22h
• Motorola RAZR i XT890
  20:07h
• Huawei Ascend Mate7
  20:06h
• Samsung Galaxy A3
  20:04h
• Samsung Galaxy A3 Duos
  20:04h
• Samsung Galaxy E7
  20:04h
• Oppo Find 7
  20:03h
• Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
  20:01h
• BlackBerry Q10
  20:00h
• OnePlus One
  19:56h
• Samsung Galaxy Grand 2
  19:55h
• Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 I9200
  19:54h
• Sony Xperia SP
  19:49h
• Samsung Galaxy S6
  19:48h
• Sony Xperia T3
  19:48h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
  19:48h

It would be an understatement to say that the Galaxy S7 edge excels at video playback longevity, especially the Exynos version. With its 20:08h result, it stands at the all-time second spot among devices we've tested, behind the Gioniee Marathon M5 (monstrous 6,020mAh battery, midrange hardware).

The Snapdragon S7 edge is no slouch either when it comes to watching videos and calls it a day after almost 17 hours - yes, impressive, but still 3 hours less. Then again, the iPhone 6s Plus throws in the towel another 3 hours earlier (13:57h). The Nexus 6P (9:59) will need two full charges to match the Exynos S7 edge, and you better have two spare batteries for the V10 (7:30) if you're looking to keep up with the edges.

Video playback

• Gionee Marathon M5
  26:24h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
  20:08h
• LG G Flex
  19:57h
• Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
  18:36h
• Oppo R7 Plus
  18:04h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 active
  18:03h
• Meizu PRO 5
  18:02h
• Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G
  18:01h
• Samsung Galaxy Note 4
  17:52h
• Xiaomi Redmi 3
  17:50h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
  16:54h
• Motorola RAZR MAXX
  16:35h
• Samsung Galaxy J7
  16:22h
• Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
  15:03h
• Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE
  14:58h
• Samsung Galaxy E7
  14:57h
• Samsung Galaxy S7
  14:50h
• Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX
  14:17h
• Lenovo ZUK Z1
  14:14h
• Oppo R7s
  14:05h
• Huawei Ascend Mate7
  14:04h
• Apple iPhone 6s Plus
  13:57h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
  13:53h
• Xiaomi Mi 5
  13:52h
• Samsung Galaxy Note5
  13:51h
• Motorola DROID Turbo
  13:41h
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3
  13:32h
• Nokia Lumia 1020
  13:12h
• Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
  13:12h
• Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini
  13:12h
• HTC One Max
  13:11h
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
  13:08h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
  13:04h
• Motorola Moto E (2nd gen)
  13:04h
• Sony Xperia C
  12:53h
• Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260
  12:51h
• Huawei Honor 6
  12:51h
• Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
  12:51h
• Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
  12:45h
• Samsung Galaxy A8
  12:45h
• Meizu MX4 Pro
  12:41h
• Huawei Mate 8
  12:34h
• Nokia Lumia 1520
  12:31h
• Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
  12:30h
• BlackBerry Q5
  12:28h
• Sony Xperia C3 Dual
  12:22h
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
  12:21h
• Huawei Ascend Mate
  12:18h
• Sony Xperia Z2
  12:16h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
  12:12h
• Samsung Galaxy S6
  12:12h
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 LTE
  12:10h
• Motorola Moto X Play
  12:06h
• LG AKA
  11:54h
• Sony Xperia Z3
  11:47h
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
  11:38h
• Samsung P6800 Galaxy Tab 7.7
  11:37h
• Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL
  11:32h
• Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
  11:29h
• Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
  11:27h
• Huawei Mate S
  11:26h
• OnePlus One
  11:23h
• HTC One (E8)
  11:16h
• HTC One (M8) for Windows
  11:15h
• Apple iPhone 6 Plus
  11:15h
• Samsung Galaxy S5
  11:15h
• Oppo N1
  11:15h
• BlackBerry Q10
  11:15h
• Meizu m1 note
  11:09h
• Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
  11:02h
• Asus PadFone X
  11:01h
• Xiaomi Mi 4c
  10:47h
• Apple iPhone 6s
  10:46h
• BlackBerry Passport
  10:46h
• vivo X5Max
  10:44h
• vivo X5Pro
  10:41h
• Samsung Galaxy Note Edge
  10:41h
• Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
  10:38h
• Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM
  10:38h
• Samsung Galaxy J2
  10:35h
• HTC Desire Eye
  10:35h
• LG G Flex2
  10:35h
• HTC Desire 816
  10:34h
• Apple iPhone 5s
  10:31h
• HTC Butterfly 2
  10:26h
• LG G2 mini
  10:23h
• Nokia Lumia 735
  10:20h
• Huawei G8
  10:20h
• Apple iPhone 5
  10:12h
• Xiaomi Mi 4i
  10:11h
• HTC One (M8)
  10:11h
• Samsung Galaxy K zoom
  10:08h
• Samsung ATIV SE
  10:07h
• Sony Xperia M2
  10:04h
• HTC First
  10:03h
• HTC One
  10:02h
• Motorola Moto X
  10:01h
• Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
  10:01h
• Motorola Nexus 6
  10:01h
• Nokia Lumia 635
  10:00h
• Samsung I9105 Galaxy S II Plus
  10:00h

In web browsing we have the Exynos Galaxy S7 edge leading this improvised pack with its 13:32h result, but here the Snapdragon version (10:09h) doesn't have what it takes to claim silver - it's the iPhone6s Plus for a change (11:51h). The Nexus 6P and LG V10 are in their usual unimpressive form and in this test hover around the 8:30 mark.

Web browsing

• Gionee Marathon M5
  30:51h
• Huawei Mate 8
  17:05h
• Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G
  16:41h
• Sony Xperia E4
  16:40h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 active
  16:25h
• Xiaomi Redmi 3
  15:11h
• Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet LTE
  15:05h
• Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
  14:52h
• Sony Xperia Z5
  14:35h
• Meizu MX4
  14:06h
• Huawei Ascend Mate7
  13:53h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (E8890)
  13:32h
• Huawei P8
  13:32h
• Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
  13:26h
• Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
  13:14h
• HTC Butterfly 2
  13:11h
• Meizu m1 note
  13:05h
• Huawei Honor 6
  12:59h
• Meizu PRO 5
  12:51h
• Xiaomi Mi 5
  12:50h
• Sony Xperia C
  12:45h
• Motorola Moto E (2nd gen)
  12:42h
• Nokia Lumia 1520
  12:40h
• Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
  12:37h
• HTC One (M8) for Windows
  12:31h
• HTC Desire 700 dual sim
  12:30h
• HTC One (M8)
  12:29h
• Apple iPhone 6s
  12:27h
• Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos
  12:18h
• ZTE Nubia Z9
  12:18h
• Samsung Galaxy A8
  12:18h
• Sony Xperia T2 Ultra
  12:17h
• Sony Xperia Z3
  12:03h
• Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
  11:55h
• Nokia XL
  11:54h
• Motorola Moto X Play
  11:52h
• Apple iPhone 6s Plus
  11:51h
• Sony Xperia Z3+
  11:51h
• HTC Desire 816
  11:48h
• Sony Xperia C3 Dual
  11:47h
• LG G2
  11:42h
• Samsung Galaxy A5 Duos
  11:36h
• Samsung Galaxy A5
  11:36h
• Meizu m1 metal
  11:33h
• Sony Xperia E4g
  11:32h
• Sony Xperia Z2
  11:32h
• Motorola DROID Turbo
  11:31h
• Sony Xperia E1
  11:30h
• HTC One Max
  11:20h
• Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
  11:20h
• Sony Xperia ZR
  11:20h
• HTC Butterfly S
  11:07h
• Asus PadFone X
  11:07h
• LG G2 mini
  11:02h
• Samsung Galaxy Note 4
  11:01h
• Nokia Lumia 1320
  10:58h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
  10:56h
• Samsung Galaxy S6
  10:56h
• HTC Desire 510
  10:53h
• Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual SIM
  10:52h
• Microsoft Lumia 532
  10:52h
• Motorola Moto G 4G
  10:52h
• Microsoft Lumia 950 XL Dual SIM
  10:50h
• Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
  10:50h
• Lenovo ZUK Z1
  10:46h
• Samsung Galaxy Note5
  10:43h
• Oppo R7 Plus
  10:39h
• LG AKA
  10:38h
• Huawei Honor 7
  10:38h
• Nokia Lumia 830
  10:36h
• Apple iPhone 6
  10:29h
• Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
  10:25h
• Meizu MX4 Pro
  10:24h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE
  10:23h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE Dual SIM
  10:23h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM
  10:23h
• Nokia Lumia 630
  10:18h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE
  10:14h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
  10:14h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM
  10:14h
• Microsoft Lumia 640 XL LTE Dual SIM
  10:14h
• BlackBerry Passport
  10:12h
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
  10:12h
• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (S820)
  10:09h
• BlackBerry Q5
  10:04h
• HTC Desire Eye
  10:02h
• HTC One (E8)
  10:02h
• Huawei G8
  10:00h
• Huawei Honor 5X
  10:00h
• Nokia Lumia 635
  10:00h
• Apple iPhone 5s
  9:58h
• HTC One
  9:58h
• Apple iPhone 5
  9:56h
• Meizu m2 note
  9:54h
• Samsung Ativ Odyssey I930
  9:54h
• Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
  9:52h
• Sony Xperia M2
  9:48h
• Sony Xperia E3
  9:48h
• Samsung I9190 Galaxy S4 mini
  9:47h
• OnePlus One
  9:46h
• Huawei Mate S
  9:43h

The Always On display feature was always going to be a battery drainer, no two ways about it. Samsung's claim that it would cost you 1% per hour seems about right and it does leave a huge impact on the overall endurance rating. That's because our proprietary score also includes a standby battery draw test, which we carried out with the AOD off and then once again with AOD on. These results are not featured in our test scorecard but are calculated in the total rating.

The Galaxy S7 edge (E8890) did splendidly with an Endurance rating of 98 hours - that's the amount of time the S7 edge would last on a single charge if you use it for an hour of 3G calls, an hour of web browsing, and an hour of video playback each day. Under the same use scenario, the Galaxy S7 edge (S820) gets an 87h Endurance rating.

A drop by about 30% in the rating follows if you turn on the Always on display Finally, if you want to use the Edge feeds, which require the screen to keep the capacitive sensors on, you will lose in the whereabouts of additional 7 hours.

However, and that's really important, the detrimental effect of all these additional features will be of much less significance the more you actively use your phone. Playing games, watching videos, surfing the web - any actual use that has the display on and the processor ticking at anything but idle will deplete the battery much faster than any always on clock or calendar ever can.

The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.