Samsung Galaxy S7 Active hands on
The world turned upside down last year with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S6, as the Korean company didn’t hold back from gracing the device with a brand spanking new design that people finally agreed was premium. As much as we were all delighted by this new direction, there was just one major thing that was shed in the process that the Galaxy S5 offered that its successor did not: a water-resistant construction. And that’s arguably what made the eventual Galaxy S6 Active unique from its sibling.
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Review
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Review
- Samsung Galaxy S7 vs S7 Edge
This year, however, they brought back water resistance to the Galaxy S7 – while also retaining the same premium design language that they’ve established. All of this will make anyone wonder what’s in tow for the forthcoming Galaxy S7 Active, that would differentiate it enough from Sammy’s prized flagship. Don’t worry, there’s more than meets the eye with this rugged one, so let’s quickly go over what this new phone in the Galaxy S7 family is all about.
Buy the Galaxy S7 Active now!
Design
The most distinguishable difference here is that the S7 Active features a design that’s substantially more rugged in nature. That shouldn’t surprise anyone, as it largely doesn’t deviate from the designs of previous Active devices. It’s not premium by the imagination – as the glass meets metal bezel design of the standard Galaxy S7 is replaced by one that’s mostly dominated by the same textured rear pattern we’ve seen before – accompanied by soft touch matte bumpers around the sides of the phone to absorb shock.
Speaking of shock, this phone doesn’t have the same fragileness of the Galaxy S7. Rather, the durable materials and tight construction employed here provides the Galaxy S7 Active with MIL-STG-810G specification. Not only is it able to withstand most drops, but the phone is built to withstand numerous environmental conditions – such as extreme temperatures, dust, low pressure/high altitude, and yes, full submersion under water. There’s really no need for a case for something like this, since you know, the phone itself acts like a protective case.
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While it’s not the prettiest in Sammy’s stable, it’s all about the utility with its design – so with that, most people can understand the reasoning for its particular design. Yes, it’s technically bulkier and heavier, making it a bit tougher to manipulate with one hand, but all of this is necessary in giving it that indestructible nature. How indestructible you ask? Well, we managed to drop it a few times from a height of 4 feet onto the pavement without any major impact to its operation or performance. Still, every phone does have its own breaking point but the S7 Active will survive a lot more than your average smartphone.
Display
The same display in the S7 is present here with the S7 Active, so that’s a 5.1-inch 1440 x 2560 Super AMOLED panel. As usual with AMOLED screens – especially the ones from Samsung – it’s detailed, sharp, produces some very iridescent colors, and offers exceptional wide angles. Everything about it seems to be on the same level as the Galaxy S7, including the new Always On display feature that keeps the time and some other relevant information on display at all times.
What’s different, though, is that the S7 Active benefits from being substantially more resilient to drops – meaning, it won’t crack if it’s dropped. The “shatter resistant screen” definitely holds up over most other screens, but we’re happy to notice that its visibility and clarity isn’t subdued or greatly impacted. Given that Samsung’s AMOLED screens have shown their superiority in terms of color accuracy and brightness potency, the resistance aspect of the display is merely icing on the cake.
Hardware
Before getting down and gritty with the usual hardware specifications, let’s quickly take note about some of the notable hardware additions/changes. The first being the addition of a fingerprint sensor, which is a first for the Active line. It’s something that has become expected amongst high-end phones of late, so the addition of it here gives the phone that contemporary status – enabling it for Samsung Pay – as well as another layer of security. It’s flanked between two other, rather larger sized physical buttons: the back and quick menu keys.
The thicker chassis of the phone isn’t just attributed to the extra cushion it’s packing to give it that almost indestructible nature, but rather, the mammoth 4000 mAh battery that’s stuffed inside. That’s one of the largest (if not largest) capacities Samsung has been able to cram into its smartphones, so that should aid the Active in having more longevity than the regular Galaxy S7. Additionally, you’ll find wireless and rapid charging in tow with the phone.
Now, this wouldn’t be an Active branded smartphone if it didn’t have the “Active” key, which is positioned above the volume controls along the left edge. Just as before, it brings up the “Activity Zone” to deliver on point information at a moment’s notice – they consist of the weather, temperature, barometer, compass, flashlight, stopwatch, and S Health. The button also doubles as a shutter key as well when the camera app is running, which is pretty handy when you’re trying to snap a photo under water.
Helping to power the phone is a quad-core 2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM and the Adreno 530 GPU. Much like anything brand new, out of the box, the S7 Active performs as you’d expect – snappy and fast. And given that it’s almost unchanged from the Galaxy S7, the S7 Active should perform handsomely when it comes to graphics processing. Storage amounts to 32GB with our particular unit, but it can be supplemented with the available microSD card slot.
Camera
In following tradition, the Galaxy S7 Active borrows the camera from the S7 – so that’s the same 1/2.6” 12-megapixel sensor with an f/1.7 aperture lens, phase detection auto-focus, OIS, and an LED flash. There’s also the quick launch function, too, that allows us to jump right into the camera app by just double pressing on the home button/fingerprint sensor.
Samsung Galaxy S7 vs Note 5 camera shootout: More Pixels or Bigger Pixels?
Most people are going to be inclined to believe that the camera’s performance will be close, if not the same, as the standard Galaxy S7. As an all-around device, you can absolutely believe that the S7 Active will take some stunning photos and videos. The only other thing worth mentioning here is how there are a few manual controls available now with video recording under “Pro” mode, which is something we haven’t seen before in a Galaxy. Adjusting parameters like shutter speed, white balance, and focus all on the fly are all now possible and it’s likely we’ll see this come to other Galaxy S7 phones in a future update, although it might take a while.
Software
Frankly speaking, there’s not a whole lot different with the TouchWiz experience here with the S7 Active, which is running on top of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The usual visuals are all there, so there’s nothing out of the ordinary. Some will like it, others will hate it, but there’s one thing we can agree about this most streamlined edition of TouchWiz to date – it’s incredibly powerful and comprehensive.
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Power users will love it, especially with its true multi-tasking experience with multi window, one-handed mode for easier handling, and all the other assorted smart gestures with the experience. Even though TouchWiz remains to be an acquired taste, it’s one of the last remaining few custom Android experiences that offers more depth over the stock experience.
Conclusion so far
Knowing that water resistance and storage expansion has been brought back to the Galaxy S7, some wonder if the Galaxy S7 Active will have some meaningful value over its sibling. That’ll undoubtedly depend on what you want in a phone. Being more ruggedized and all, the S7 Active will remain in working condition for much longer than the standard S7, since it’s been constructed to withstand some serious punishment – whereas the S7 has the premium design, but with more fragileness. Another thing to note is the larger size battery stuffed inside of the phone, which should propel it to last far longer as well.
Sure, the look of the phone won’t appeal to anyone, but if you place utility high on your list over most things, the Galaxy S7 Active will fit the bill – albeit, its price is $100 more than the standard S7 over on AT&T. That means you’ll need to fork over close to $800 to buy it outright, versus $700 for the S7.
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Review
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Review
- Samsung Galaxy S7 vs S7 Edge
The S7 Active is launching on June 10 from AT&T and will be available on AT&T’s new Next plans: for those wanting it on the standard Next plan, it’ll cost you $26.50 per month for 30 months but on the shorter AT&T Next Every Year, it’ll cost $33.13 per month over 24 months. What do you think of the S7 Active and are you going to buy one? Let us know your views in the comments below!
Buy the Galaxy S7 Active now!
Apple to Use Intel Modems in AT&T iPhone 7, Qualcomm Modems for Verizon and China
Multiple rumors have claimed that Intel will supply at least a portion of LTE and Wi-Fi modems for the iPhone 7 series, alongside existing supplier Qualcomm, and a new report offers a closer look at how the orders will be divided between the companies.
Bloomberg reports that Intel modems will be reserved for AT&T iPhone 7 models, and some other versions of the smartphone sold in other countries, while Qualcomm is said to remain a supplier of modems for Verizon and all Chinese models. The wording suggests that Qualcomm may retain orders in some other regions as well.
Choosing Intel’s part for an important role in the product that generates about two-thirds of Apple’s annual revenue may represent a calculated gamble by the company. Bringing in second-source suppliers is a long-established practice by device makers looking to make sure they’re in a better position to negotiate on price. However, analysts such as Stacy Rasgon at Sanford C. Bernstein have said that Qualcomm’s modems remain ahead of Intel’s offerings in performance when measured by how much data they can get from the network into the phone.
Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf previously hinted that the chipmaker would be losing modem orders from one of its major customers to one of its leading competitors, although it is reportedly still “retaining a major chunk” of Apple’s business rather than being dropped as a supplier entirely.
Taiwanese website DigiTimes recently reported that Intel would supply “up to 50 percent” of modems for the iPhone 7 series, while CLSA Securities analyst Srini Pajjuri told investors in March that Intel’s share of orders would be a “significant portion,” likely falling in range of 30 to 40 percent of production.
Apple is rumored to use Intel’s XMM 7360 LTE modem [PDF] with faster theoretical download speeds up to 450 Mbps and upload speeds up to 100 Mbps. Meanwhile, Qualcomm’s X12 modem is a likely candidate for the iPhone 7, with theoretical download speeds up to 600 Mbps and upload speeds up to 150 Mbps.
Both rumored Intel and Qualcomm modems would be capable of faster speeds than the MDM9635 chipset in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, which provides theoretical download speeds up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds up to 50 Mbps. However, real-world speeds are often slower due to network limitations.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: Intel, AT&T, Verizon, Qualcomm, LTE
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AT&T’s 5G Data Speeds Hit 10 Gbps in the Lab as Testing Expands
AT&T this morning announced that new 5G data tests are hitting the speeds estimated earlier in the year by the carrier, with results coming in at over 10 gigabits per second in some cases.
According to AT&T, the early tests show “positive signs” for customers in the future who would use the multi-gigabit speeds and low latency of 5G, which the carrier even hints as a possible benefit if included in self-driving cars. Overall, results from AT&T’s tests describe speeds that are “10-100 times faster than today’s average 4G LTE wireless connections.”
“We’ve seen great results in our 5G lab trials, including reaching speeds above 10 gigabits per second in early tests with Ericsson,” said Tom Keathley, senior vice president – wireless network architecture and design, AT&T. “Nokia is joining to help us test millimeter wave (mmWave), which we expect to play a key role in 5G development and deployment. The work coming out of AT&T Labs will pave the way toward future international 5G standards and allow us to deliver these fast 5G speeds and network performance across the U.S.”
In addition, the company announced today that Middletown, New Jersey will be joining Austin, Texas as a testing ground for the carrier’s 5G trial run. The small-scale tests help AT&T — along with partner Nokia — “simulate real-world environment scenarios” to see what kind of strain the service can handle before a wide launch. Labs are also being set up in Atlanta and San Ramon, California to begin software architecture work on 5G’s infrastructure.
As it stands, 5G is still a ways off. AT&T admits that the company — and any carrier interested in the new wireless technology — must wait for a new standards-setting process that is expected to be completed by a group of telecommunication associations, known as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, in 2018.
Following that, AT&T’s own 5G network rollout is expected a few years later in 2020, and Apple’s adoption is completely unclear in terms of which potential future iPhone would support 5G. Despite being so far off, AT&T hopes its tests in Middletown and Austin help introduce a “strategy for future deployment” of 5G once the standard becomes widespread.
Tags: AT&T, 5G
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Samsung’s rugged Galaxy S7 Active packs a huge battery
It’s that time of year again: now that Samsung’s latest Galaxy S flagship has been on the market for a while, it’s time for the rougher, tougher Active version to show up. The company has unveiled the Galaxy S7 Active, an AT&T-exclusive rugged edition of the standard S7 that’s built to take a bruising. As with the S6 Active, this isn’t just a regular smartphone with a beefier drop- and water-resistant case. This year’s model has a shatter-resistant 5.1-inch screen, and the battery jumps from the S7’s usual 3,000mAh to a massive 4,000mAh — you won’t have trouble making it through a day of hiking.
The innards are otherwise familiar. You’re still getting a quad HD display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, a front fingerprint reader, a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front shooter. It’s hard to complain, mind you, when the base S7 is one of the more powerful smartphones we’ve seen this year. Just be ready to pay a premium if you like the idea of a Samsung smartphone that can survive your outdoor adventures. The S7 Active will go on sale June 10th for roughly the same amount as the S7 Edge: you’re looking at $26.50 per month on the standard Next plan, or $33.13 per month on Next Every Year.
Source: AT&T
AT&T’s prepaid GoPhone plans get 1GB of extra data
AT&T definitely isn’t being stingy with data on GoPhone these days. In the wake of healthy improvements over the past year, the carrier is raising its data caps by 1GB across the board as of May 27th. If you’re on the $45 plan, you’ll get 3GB of full-speed data to play with instead of 2GB; roll with the $60 plan and you’ll get 6GB instead of the current 5GB. You’ll still get $5 off your bill if you agree to automatic refills, to boot. While this isn’t the absolute lowest price you can pay for gigs’ worth of data (just ask T-Mobile users on the coveted $30/5GB plan), it’s a solid bargain if you need unlimited calls and texts at the same time.
Source: AT&T
AT&T streamlines its smartphone installment plans
AT&T’s current Next installment plans are a little bewildering, to put it mildly. Do you want to trade in at 12, 18 or 24 months? How about a downpayment and installments for 28 months? Mercifully, the carrier knows what a mess it made. As of June 9th, it’s streamlining its installment plans to give you just two choices. The first, Next Every Year, is for habitual upgraders: you can get a new phone every 12 months if you agree to a 2-year payment plan. The regular option, just called Next, lets you upgrade every 2 years if you’re willing to make payments over 30 months.
In both cases, you can soften the month-to-month blow by trading in your old device or making a down payment. And of course, this only applies to installment customers unwilling to spend extra. You can still buy a phone outright or pay things off if you want to upgrade on your own terms.
The slimmed-down options could be crucial for AT&T. Most of its rivals already have simpler plans. T-Mobile, for instance, splits you between a regular 24-month plan or the 12-month Jump On Demand plan (with 18 months of payments). Just be aware of the lock-in for the standard Next plan — those 30 months of payments could feel like an eternity.
Source: AT&T
Apple sued (again) for violating force touch patents
You probably haven’t heard of Immersion, but it’s a company that does two things well: haptic technology and hiring lawyers. The company is already suing Apple, claiming that the iPhone 6/6S and Apple Watch’s force touch violate several of its patents. Now, the company is doubling down, firing another legal broadside against the Mac-maker for the same thing, although weirdly, AT&T has been roped in too. According to 9to5 Mac, the reason that the phone company is included is because, wait for it, it sells Apple products. We’re too polite to point out that Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint exist, but we imagine it won’t be long before they’re added to the case.
Unlike the first lawsuit, which was filed back in February, Immersion has widened its scope to include the force touch that’s included in the MacBook’s trackpad. It’s also been reported that Immersion is pushing for a full-blown jury trial to determine just how much Apple will have to pay out in compensation. It’s all such a sad way to watch two former friends come to blows after pledging to work together back in the good old days.
Via: 9to5Mac
Source: BusinessWire
AT&T will give you up to a $650 credit to switch to its network
AT&T announced today a new promotion for helping new customers switch over to AT&T and also announced a new Buy One Get One deal.
The offer is similar to that of other carriers: AT&T will give you up to $650 in credit to switch over to its network, though like everyone else, it requires you to foot a hefty amount of money upfront first.
To take advantage of AT&T’s offer, all you have to do is purchase a qualifying smartphone on an AT&T Next plan and port your number over from Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile. Next, you’ll trade-in your old smartphone in-store or online and get a store credit or AT&T Promotion Card in the amount of your smartphone’s trade-in value. Next, you submit the final statement (bill) from your current carrier online, and then AT&T will send you a Visa card in the amount of the Early Termination Fee or the balance of your device on your final bill, minus the trade-in value of your smartphone.
AT&T is offering the same offer to its Direct TV customers, only they’ll get to sign-up for AT&T’s new Unlimited data package.
The carrier is also offering a Buy One Get One promotion to both new and existing customers, an obvious move of trying to get people to sign-up on its Next program. It’s similar to the Samsung BOGO promotion the carrier is currently offering, but offers a lot more variety in choosing a device.
To take advantage of the BOGO, both smartphones must be purchased on AT&T Next, and the second smartphone must be a new line and purchased specifically on AT&T Next 24 (the 24-month lease). Both smartphones must also be added to a qualifying data plan. Then, after three bill cycles (or less) AT&T will start to sprinkle that $650 credit throughout the 24-month lease of that new line.
These are definitely some nice promotions for those that are already looking at switching over to AT&T’s network. but it’s largely a move to get people signed up on its device leasing program, AT&T Next. While AT&T is offering that $650 credit, there are a bunch of other hidden fees thrown in the mix that aren’t seen on the surface.
Anyone plan on taking advantage of either of these promotions anytime soon?
source AT&T
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