Samsung Galaxy Note 7: The Ultimate Review

Only recently has the Samsung Galaxy finally surpassed it’s iPhone competitor. Especially with the Note 7, Samsung has really been bringing in the bacon when it comes to providing us with the ultimate smartphone experience. With the birth of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, this might arguably the best smartphone ever…at least for now. This phone definitely has a lot to offer. Do you think you’ll want a piece of the Note 7? Luckily for you, we’re going to be extensively reviewing the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, from inside and out, top to bottom you will literally know everything about this phone and what it has to offer you.

The Hardware Features

It’s a bit of a more recent discovery that phone manufacturers realized the fact metal and glass are a great team when creating smartphones. Samsung came through with a modernized look with the S6 thanks to this metal and glass construction. The design of the Note 7 is described to be a combination of the Note 5 and S7 Edge. Glass is on the front, glass is on the back and the metal is in the middle. This is like the most modern sandwich masterpiece of the century if you really think about it. The design is not only pleasing to the eye, but it is such a clean and sleek look for anyone to be holding this phone. The Galaxy Note 7 is the only phone that actually looks like this and it definitely feels like it’s worth when you’re holding it. There is no doubt in mind that this device is high-end and luxurious. You would be doing everyone a disservice to not care for this phone enough. The Galaxy Note 7 may just be the most attractive phone ever made.

When it comes to looking on the surface, you’ll notice that the typical ports are provided for you. There is a new USB-C placed at the bottom on the phone, to the left is a headphone jack while the speaker is placed on the right side. If you like to use the S Pen with your Note, you will notice it’s home and that there is a special design that only allows the pen to go in when inserted correctly. The typical volume keys are on the left and the power button is also right there. There is a small slot placed at the top of the phone and this is where you insert your microSD card for whenever you would like to use it.

The Note 7’s back camera is a stunning 12-megapixel camera that also made its appearance with the S7 Edge as well as the classic S7. This camera comes with an LED flash as well as a sensor. You get a 5 1/2 inch curved Super AMOLED Quad HD display as well as a sensor to scan your iris if you decide to choose this as the method to unlock this phone. The iris scanner gives you the ultimate security that your phone and privacy will be protected. The front facing camera quality, while at less than half the front facing camera at 5 megapixels, it is still a stunning camera to use for selfies.

When it comes to the techy stuff, the Note 7 holds a Snapdragon 820 processor, a whopping 64GB of storage that has the ability to be expanded as well as 4GB of RAM. And to top it all off, Samsung gave the Galaxy Note 7 capacity to survive through water. In fact, you can fully submerge it and everything will be okay. Tests in the rain and even in the ocean proved that the Note 7 would be able to handle any aquatic environment you put it in. It is important to point out though that it wasn’t specifically made to deal with salt water, even though it did the tests; you just need to make sure to rinse it off if you get any on it. There truly isn’t any other smartphone like the Galaxy Note 7; none are as strong or as beautiful.

Software Features

While the software that is used on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is named “Grace TouchWiz”, it can go by it’s shorter name of TouchWiz. It’s a clean and organized set up and you have a lot of freedom when it comes to squeezing in all the apps you want on your home screen with a flexible matrix. Samsung came through with their new software to handle Blue-light. This is very similar to the Night Shift we see on iPhones, but this feature cuts out blue light at nighttime to help ease the light exposure on your eyes. You can even set this up on a schedule so you never have to worry about setting it manually for the most part. It is said that the Blue-light software will help you out a ton and make it easier for you to fall asleep at night. Now that’s nice!

Of course that’s not all Samsung has to offer with it’s software, there is something called the Always on Display (AOD) that was featured with the Galaxy S7. This AOD can be used to show the notes taken with the S Pen, which also happens to have new features. Quickly magnify the screen and translate different texts when you are using the Samsung browser. You can even record the screen and save that recording as a GIF to share with your friends on social media.

With a tip as small as 0.7mm, the S pen is thinner than ever and comes with support for over 4,000 different levels of sensitivity that actually show when you create a sketch, making it look like you drew with a real pen. The Galaxy Note 7 is an excellent way to jot down notes with your S Pen and it has even been said to feel like a little notebook when put in your pocket.

If you’re all about your phone’s security and your privacy, then you would be glad to hear about the “Secure Folder” software available with this phone. This utilizes the KNOX security platform and encrypts your photos, apps, videos, notes and more inside of your phone and unable to be seen by wandering eyes. As mentioned earlier, you have the ability to lock this phone with the iris scanner as well for the best protection yet. That has got to be one of the coolest features any smartphone has had yet!

All About the Iris Scanner

Even though the Lumia 950 was actually the first smartphone with an iris scanner, the Galaxy Note 7 brings on this stunning feat for you to utilize. Before activating this feature, you will need to do a registration (which shouldn’t take any more than 10 seconds) and make a digitalized print of your eyeballs. This information goes into an encrypted part, essentially a private section, of your phone. With the iris scanner activated, the only thing you need to do is open your eyes wide for the scanner to scan and your phone will be unlocked.

It has been reported that this feature usually works pretty fast most of the time, though there are some things you will notice. Sometimes your eyes may not be wide open enough, and you need to open them more while other times it will seem instantaneous. This feature also works if you are wearing your contacts, glasses, etc. Believe it or not, you can even use it while wearing sunglasses! This is because it utilizes infrared technology to work both day and night.

While this feature is not completely new, they have not made it possible to integrate with Samsung Pay just yet. You will, however, be able to use it for your secure folder. This is a fresh and fun feature, but if you are a person who is on the go and likes things to get done quickly, then you should just go with the fingerprint reader instead.

The Knox 2.7 Security

The Knox 2.7 software is the new security solution brought to you by Samsung. Many great features come with this measure and now with productivity and manageability in mind, you can get better protection for everything from your personal and work info. Your pictures and all can now be protected, and it is more convenient than ever.

What’s new with the 2.7 version of Knox is the newly added Control Flow Protection defense system. Because of software and hardware worth together to do anything, this sends requests to the kernel aka the entire system’s security, this is where attacks can be the most destructive to your phone. One of the sneakiest and most problematic attacks that kernel faces are Jump-Oriented Programming (JOP. Essentially this is where a hacker tries to access protected application information. The thing with Knox 2.7 is that the dangers of JOP attacks are now significantly reduced.

The integration with the iris scanner is what brings the security of this smartphone to an entirely next level and is even more secure than a fingerprint scan. Along with that, you get the Secure Folder, as we mentioned earlier. This folder is encrypted, and you have the ability to manage all of your private apps and files in one place. Simply set it up through the Settings menu to gain access of this feature.

Performance Level

If you have had an earlier version of the Samsung Galaxy before, then surely you must be familiar with a device using Snapdragon 820 software. The Note 7 actually doesn’t have 6GB of RAM while it may seem like it. As mentioned earlier, it holds 4GB of ram and it’s performance is just about as good as you would get with the Galaxy S7 as well as the Galaxy S7 Edge.

For those who are not as familiar with Snapdragon 820. A new feature they provide is the ability to support up to a surprising 600Mbps, which is much better than Snapdragon 810’s 450Mbps. It is also featuring LTE support that will help speed up downloads (up to twice as fast!) meaning you will not have to worry about waiting long amounts of time for your downloads anymore. Another new addition to Snapdragon 820 is that the way LTE and Wi-Fi work together is entirely revolutionized and more reliable than ever.

Thanks to Snapdragon 820, you will be able to get a better camera quality than ever before. The creator of the software claims the quality to be very similar to DSLR photography which helps a ton if you are an avid photographer, or even if you consider yourself to be an amateur of some sorts. The new height in camera quality is all thanks to the Adreno 530 GPU. With this new GPU you are getting a 40% lower consumption of power while getting that same amount into a faster performance.

Keep in mind that the Galaxy Note 7 may get a bit slow at times, though. Even with all the apps closed, it has been reported that there still may be a little bit of lag time when going to open up a text, unlocking the phone and when you decide to launch the camera. XDA Developer, Brandon, said this was an issue with an Exynos phone as well. This indicates more than anything that the probably cause of this is due to the software.

This isn’t an uncommon problem faced though as many who own the Galaxy S7 Edge report this problem as well. Most of the time, though, you will notice the phone is quite fast and reliable. The performance here has to be the only thing about this phone that keeps it from being pure perfection. Everything else you will find to be amazing, it’s just that the performance unfortunately comes up short a bit too often than we would like.

Battery Life

You will notice that the Galaxy Note 7 comes with a 3,500mAh battery, very similar to the one that is found in the Galaxy S7 Edge. This is an unexpected and weird decision on Samsung’s end considering that the Note 7 has a much larger display. You will notice that there is less juice when using this phone. If you are consistently on your phone throughout the day using the GPS, checking emails and updating your social media, then you are definitely going to find yourself needing to regularly charge your Note 7 even before your day is over. Though this is pretty much a bummer, it’s not too big of a deal. You just need to proceed with caution and always bring your charger with you wherever you go so you can get in a quick charge whenever you need to.

Though the battery life is a bummer, there are still some ways to combat this problem thanks to the help of Samsung. There is a power saving mode (Mid) that can really help you out by extending the battery life for an additional 2 hours. How doe sit do this? It chooses to show the display at 1080p instead of it’s typical Quad HD quality. There is also another feature, called MAX, and this can help extend the life as much as 23 hours by turning off all functions aside from the core necessities. This is amazing for emergency situations.

While the battery life is considered another not so perfect feat of the Galaxy Note 7, surely the pros outweigh the cons here. Other features such as the Adaptive Fast Charging feature helps with getting an optimal charge in a matter of 60 minutes. This is more than convenient and helps when you are in quite a rush and don’t have enough time to get a full charge in. You will also find that the wireless charging pad is just about as efficient as the typical wire charger.

Camera Features

When it comes to the camera modules on the Galaxy Note 7, the are the same as the S7 and the S7 Edge. However, the difference here is the software has changed. With this new software, Samsung has made it easier to switch between the selfie camera (front-facing camera) and the regular camera, and all with the swipe of a screen. Swiping left and right will also get you access to the filters and camera settings. You will notice that everything here is for the most part pretty neat and organized.

Without a doubt, the camera quality you get with the Note 7 is amazing. You can record videos in 1080p that will come out crisp and clear with the audio being just as good. As mentioned earlier, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was made to withstand water. When taken out for a test on someone’s vacation, they found the phone would work great while walking and swimming in the ocean for still pictures, but when it came to videos and full submersion, the video wouldn’t record anything as it would stop recording. Even when taking into account Samsung’s suggestion of removing the S Pen, this still was a problem.

Thanks to the implementation of Snapdragon 820 as the Note 7’s stationary software, there are many camera improvements that simply can’t be ignored by this upgrade from the Snapdragon 810. Like previously mentioned, the quality of your pictures will be comparable to that of a DSLR camera which is pretty much a huge deal. Thanks to the GPU upgrade, you are going to be able to reap the benefits of new rendering, compression and compositing techniques. You also get video support at 60fps of 4K HEVC. That’s pretty impressive.

Everyday Use

Like with any typical smartphone you get the basics; a clock with alarm capabilities, notes, a calendar you can schedule with, lock screen abilities, text and call capabilities, Google Play store access and so much more. It’s super easy to customize this phone to your liking and get the most out of your Galaxy Note 7. You can use the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with the following carriers; at&t, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless.

With the Galaxy Note 7, you’re going to be able to get so many things done with the way things are in this fast paced work life. There are many different tools you can use to make the integration of your business and life easier. Work smarter whether you are in a classroom or at a business meeting. It’s easier than ever to be on the top of what you need to tackle with the security of your data is private, everything ranging from work to personal.

With access to the Google Play store, there is no reason you wouldn’t be able to download any apps you would like to help make your productivity higher or you want to have access to all the popular social media platforms. With the Always on Display, it’s easier than ever to check your notifications, calendar, the time and so much more just by simply looking at the stand-by screen.

One of the most convenient features that Samsung offers is Samsung Pay. With this you have the ability to store your credit cards, debit cards, gift and membership cards in one place; all in your phone. This takes away the hassle of having to dig around your purse or wallet ever again. This method of payment is accepted almost anywhere that takes credit cards. Not only is it extremely easy, but it’s also safe. Samsung Pay has several layers when it comes to security so your personal info stays safe.

Physical Features

The Galaxy Note 7 is available in 3 different colors; black onyx, blue coral and silver titanium. As you can probably tell, all of these colors look amazingly modern and sleek. The Note 7 has a 5.7” AMOLED screen to give you a bold and bright display. Samsung is proud to say that they provide you with the slimmest smartphone body they’ve ever had yet. Of course, everyone loves a super-slim smartphone that can also perform up to the mark.

Though the phone itself is quite large, the design was made so it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The specific dimensions of the Galaxy Note 7 is 6.04” in height, 2.91” width and an amazing 0.31” in thickness. It weighs 169 g which is nice and lightweight for easy usage. The regular display resolution is Quad HD which is a 2560 x 1440 p experience. You also have the ability of enjoying your videos in UHD 4K aka 3840 x 2160, the highest quality provided yet.

Galaxy Note 7 Accessories

Obviously you get the phone itself, an S Pen with replacement tips and a removal tool, a charging box and USB-C cable, 2 adapters for USB-C to regular USB as well as microUSB, and a pair of headphones. You have the option of choosing from many different accessories to enhance your Galaxy Note 7 experience. We will go a little more in-depth about each accessory and what it has to offer you.

Fast Wireless Charging Box, Pad or Stand

If you want to charge your phone faster than with the standard charger that comes with the Note 7, you can get yourself a wall charger that can help get your phone charged faster than ever. However, if you don’t like to deal with wires that much, then getting yourself a fast wireless charging pad or stand would give you a lot of convenience. You can choose between the pad, which you simply lay your Note 7 on, or the stand where it will hold your phone upright while it charges.

Level On Wireless PRO Headphones

Some of us are truly music heads and can’t go a day without listening to great music. Enhance your listening experience with the Level On Wireless PRO Headphones that are not only awesome because they are wireless, but also provide you with active noise cancellation and UHQ audio. This gives you some of the cleanest and clearest sounds you can get, no matter what you may be listening to. These headphones are a bit pricey, but definitely worth it if you care about the quality of sound you are listening to. It’s easy to integrate these headphones by simply using the Samsung Level APP which offers features of it’s own.

Gear IconX

Now that wires are becoming an old thing and wireless is the way to go, you can use these wireless headphones for easy and cable free listening. Steam music whether it be from your phone or smartwatch. You can even use the music player that is built in so you don’t require a phone in order to listen to your songs while working out. You get up to 4GB in music storage and you can even track your activity and heart rate. These headphones are easily controlled by tapping on the outer part where you can switch through songs and even take calls.

Gear S2 Classic Smartwatch

This smartwatch could do a lot for you while also being a nice, comfortable fit. The navigation is quite simple and the design is just straight up classy. It features a leather strap and can easily be customized to show off a clock face that fits you and your style. With it’s circular interface, you can easily access different apps and widgets and this doesn’t block the display either. Because it is compatible with your Galaxy Note 7, you’ll be able to see your phone notifications right on your wrist. You can charge this watch wirelessly as well, just like your phone. Keep track of your heart rate, steps and more when it comes to being physically active with the S Health app. Looking to bring your smart technology experience to the next level? Then you definitely need to consider the Gear S2 smartwatch.

Gear Fit2 Smartwatch

If you are all about staying fit and active, then this is the smartwatch for you. Easily track steps, calories burnt and so much more with this watch. You can even use the GPS tracking feature to map out your runs and see where you’re going. It’s not even necessary to notify this watch when you’re active because it will simply sense it. Just make sure you choose the appropriate activity mode; these include anything from strength training to yoga and much more. You can even store songs on this watch so you can listen to them while you work out. Integrate the watch with your phone to get notifications and even text/call back with the convenience of not reaching for your phone. Being water resistant, you never have to worry about sweat build up and you can wash it too. This watch has so much to offer, so you definitely need to check out this watch for yourself.

Pricing and Conclusion

So with all these amazing features, you can be that you won’t get this smartphone without putting a nice dent in your finances. With a price tag of $849.99, the Galaxy Note 7 does more than follow through. This is arguably the best smartphone in the market and it will definitely be worth every penny. When it all comes down to it, if you’re willing to pay the price then you’ll be able to enjoy this smartphone easily. However, if your budget isn’t quite up to par, then you’ll have to wait until the prices drop on this bad boy. Hopefully you found our extensive Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review to be very useful as well as informational.