The 5.7-inch display is curved at both edges, making the unit slimmer in the hand and not like a phablet at all. The dimensions of 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm make it barely bigger than the S7 Edge and actually smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus.
Samsung has used curved metal on the rear which meets the curved glass of the display, giving the Note 7 a premium feel from the outset, and the 169g weight is reassuring without being cumbersome.
The Note 7 comes in four colours – Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium, Black Onyx and Blue Coral – and with 64GB of onboard storage, but this can be increased due to the Micro SD slot that supports cards up to 256GB.
See: Best Samsung Galaxy Note 7 deals
Inside the Galaxy Note 7
This is the first Note to feature curved edges on both sides of the screen, and we have to say that we’re fans of the idea. Samsung has worked hard to pare down the bezel area to the slimmest it’s ever been, and this means you get a terrific 5.7-inch Quad HD (1440×2560) Super AMOLED display, but in a form factor that sits comfortably in the hand. If it ever slips out of your grasp though, the Gorilla Glass 5 panel should hopefully survive the impact. One feature Samsung has imported from the S7 is an Always-On display. This shows you the time and a few notifications even when the screen is turned off but without sapping your battery life.
Inside the Galaxy Note 7
One of the most defining features of the Note series is the S-Pen. This lightweight stylus is a great way to navigate through the software, highlight area you want to save, and of course writing notes. On the Note 7 Samsung has further enhanced the S-Pen by reducing the tip from the 1.6mm variant that accompanied the Note 5 down to a much finer 0.7mm. The pressure sensor level has also been increased from 2048 to 4096, all of which makes note taking and drawing a more presice experience. Oh, and it’s waterproof now too, so you can write on the screen even when submerged.
Inside the Galaxy Note 7
Much like on its smaller brethren the Galaxy S7, Samsung has ensured that the Note 7 comes with an IP68 rating against Water, Dust, Dirt, and Sand. This means the device can be submerged in fresh water down to a depth of 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes. As we mentioned earlier, the company has also managed to make the S-Pen waterproof, so you can still use it when the device is underwater. This makes it possible to operate the Note 7 fully while having a shower, taking a dip in a stream, or when caught out in a rainstorm. Bear Grylls would no doubt approve.
Inside the Galaxy Note 7
While the Note 7 features a finger print scanner in the Home button, it also offers the additional security feature of an Iris scanner. To use it you simply position the device where it can see your eyes (two on-screen circles help you do this) then the Note 7 will unlock in much the same way as it would with your fingerprint. The Note 7 achieves this through the use of the front camera and an LED sensor which scan your eyes. It’s a bit quirky, we admit, and not always accurate, but when it works it is very cool.
Inside the Galaxy Note 7
Ah, the battery. It probably didn’t escape your notice that when the Note 7 was first released it was almost immediately recalled after reports began to surface about units catching fire and even exploding. This was down to a small batch of unsafe batteries that had somehow found their way into the supply chain. Samsung has since replaced all units in the UK with ones containing safe batteries. The new units are a step up from the 3000mAh Note 5 models, offering an increased capacity – 3500mAh – plus both fast- and wireless charging.
Inside the Galaxy Note 7
The Note series has long been known for its excellent cameras and the Note 7 does nothing to spoil this trend. A Dual Pixel 12MP unit with Optical Image Stabilisation adorns the back of the device. This uses a fast f/1.7 aperture lens and large 1.4um pixels to capture images that are sharp and bursting with rich detail. Alongside the standard range of auto modes there is also the option to control everything yourself in the Pro mode, but perhaps the most impressive feature is the ability to refocus an image after you’ve taken it via the Selective Focus mode. Video catpure is offered up to UHD 4K (3840×2560) and there are modes for Slo-Mo and Hyperlapse as well as several others. The front camera is a slightly less capable 5mp unit, but due to its f/1.7 aperature and wide angle it’s perfect for high quality selfies and HD video.
Inside the Galaxy Note 7
The engine room of the Note 7 contains many of the chips and sensors found in the Samsung Galaxy S7, after all, if it ain’t broke. The main silicon is a Samsung Exynos 8890, which contains a 2.3GHz Quad (Custom Core), plus a 1.6GHz Quad Cortex A53. These are matched with a Mali T880 MP12 GPU and 4GB of Samsung LPDDR4 SDRAM. Assisting these are controllers for NFC, LTE, WiFi, and a range of sensors that include an accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geo-Magnetic, Proximity, Light, and of course the aforementioned units for your fingerprint and iris. The device really is packed to the gills with technology, which explains why it’s such a powerhouse, albeit in a surprisingly compact form. Check out our full Samsung Note 7 review for a more detailed look Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.
