Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Is An Upgraded Galaxy S7 Edge With A Smaller Battery

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 has finally launched, and the handset definitely gave a good impression to many consumers who tuned in to the South Korean tech giant’s Unpacked event yesterday. Unfortunately, there seems to be a part of the device that will not sit well with Galaxy S7 Edge owners who want to upgrade to the Note 7.

Just like what the rumors and speculations claimed, the Galaxy Note 7 debuted with an advanced biometric feature that scans the eyes of the user to unlock the phone. This iris-scanning technology is one of the noteworthy features of the device, alongside the other advanced specs and features and the main selling point, which is the S Pen, according to Pocket-lint.

On the whole, the handset is much like Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Edge, a variant of the Galaxy S7 that debuted just this March. Looking at the Note 7, it does come with similar specifications as the S7 Edge. Both devices have 4GB of RAM, a microSD card slot that can accommodate up to 256GB add-on memory, a 12-megapixel back camera, a 5-megapixel front shooter and an IP68 certified waterproof body.

As for their differences, the Note 7 has a larger 5.7-inch quadHD display, while the S7 Edge sports a 5.5-inch quadHD display. The former has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection, while the latter has Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

Though both handsets have dual-curved display, the Note 7’s curved screen is more pronounced and with less sloping than the screen of the S7 Edge, as pointed out by CNET.

Other features the Note 7 has that the S7 Edge does not are the USB-C charger port, the S Pen and its new software features, the iris scanner and the Coral Blue variant.

Meanwhile, if there is one aspect of the Note 7 that outwardly disappoints, it is none other than the battery pack it houses. Despite the large build of the Note 7, it only comes with a 3,500mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. On the contrary, the S7 Edge has a 3,600mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery.

Not only is the difference in battery size disappointing, the choice to use Li-Po over Li-Ion is also upsetting as Android Authority points out that the latter is better than the former because it has a higher energy density and is more affordable to manufacture. The only advantage of the Li-Po battery over the Li-Ion is the fact that it is thinner.

Nonetheless, when the Note 7 is not compared with the Galaxy S7 Edge, it undeniably has the makings of being a best-selling handset from the South Korean tech company.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 7 started on Wednesday, Aug. 3, and consumers can expect the device to land all major U.S. carriers by Aug. 19, according to The Verge.