Galaxy S8 Plus vs. Galaxy S7 Edge: Which Samsung smartphone has the edge?

If Samsung’s stylish curves have seduced you and you like big screens, then you’ll be looking at the new Galaxy S8 Plus with longing in your eyes. If you’re due an upgrade it may just tempt you to bite, but what if your budget is a bit more limited, or you snagged an S7 Edge last year? Is the new S8 Plus worth the extra cash? After all, the S7 Edge isn’t exactly hard to look at, and it’s no slouch under the hood, either. If this is proving to be a dilemma for you right now, then join us for a closer look at the specs, as we pit Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs. Galaxy S7 Edge in a battle for your affections.

More: Samsung Galaxy S8 rumors and news leaks

Specs

Galaxy S8 Plus

Galaxy S7 Edge

Size
 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.89 x 0.32 in)
149 x 72 x 7.62 mm (5.85 x 2.85 x 0.30 in)
Weight
 6.1 ounces (173 grams)
5.54 ounces (157 grams)
Screen
 6.2-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED
5.5-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED
Resolution
 2,960 x 1,440 pixels (529ppi)
2,560×1,440 pixels (534ppi)
OS
Android 7.0 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat
Storage
 64GB
32/64GB
SD Card Slot
Yes
Yes
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (U.S.)
Samsung Exynos 8895 (International)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (U.S.)
Samsung Exynos 8890 (International)
RAM
 4GB
4GB
Connectivity
Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, GSM, CDMA, HSPA+
Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, GSM, CDMA, HSPA+
Camera
 Front 8MP, Rear 12MP with OIS
Front 5MP, Rear 12MP with OIS
Video
 2,160p 4K HDR
2,160p 4K UHD
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, heart rate, proximity sensor, iris scanner
Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, heart rate, proximity sensor
Water Resistant
Yes, IP68
Yes, IP68
Battery
 3,500mAh
3,600mAh
Charger
 USB Type-C
Micro USB
Quick Charging
Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
Yes, Qi and PMA
Yes, Qi and PMA
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Black, silver, orchid gray, coral blue (international), gold (international)
Black, white, gold, silver
Availability

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

DT Review
First take
4 out of 5 stars

The world of smartphones is always moving forward, and newer is generally better in the performance department. That’s certainly the case with the Galaxy S8 Plus, which sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor in the U.S. or Samsung’s octa-core Exynos 8895 in some international markets. The Galaxy S7 Edge has the older Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 or the Exynos 8890. The newer Snapdragon 835 chipset is smaller, faster, and less demanding in terms of power. It also enables faster charging and better download speeds. In short: The new processor is significantly better than the old one. Both phones sport 4GB of RAM, so there’s nothing else to separate them here.

Winner: Galaxy S8 Plus