Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Everything You Need to Know

While Samsung’s Galaxy flagships are widely considered its mainstream high-end phones, the company’s Note series is all about achieving the maximum of everything. Last year, Samsung got some sense and set out to make the Note more acceptable to the normal crowd. The new Note7 picks up where the last one left and is a phone which is both easy on the eyes and powerful without feeling like a monster.

The display, which used to be one of the most polarizing aspects of the Note years ago, is now seeing a major update namely in the form of a standard curve, available in every Note version. It has the same size (5.7-inch) with the same panel (Super AMOLED) and resolution (QHD) but also supports HDR, the first for a smartphone.

Samsung’s quest for attention doesn’t end there. The Note7, quite literally, wants your gaze with an integrated iris scanner on the top of the phone. It can also be used for payments, Knox or for securing files. There’s always the trusty fingerprint scanner for added security, too.

Finally the boyhood dream of unlocking technology with fingerprints and eyes is complete.

As mentioned before, it is still a powerhouse, Samsung just channels the power with grace. There is an option to get a Snapdragon 821 or an Exynos 8890 chipsets, with 4 GB worth RAM and 32 or 64 GB worth UFS 2.0 storage. However, the microSD card is back which was a bummer in last year’s model was.

The Note7, just like the Galaxy S7 is now gaining water and dust-resistance. The Note series has never been waterproof but it will give you an extra peace of mind if you are the adventuring type. Even the S-Pen is waterproof and supports underwater writing because of course.

Of course, no Note phone is ever complete without the complimentary stylus and Note builds on that, too. The new stylus tries to emulate a ballpoint-like experience with a smaller 0.7mm tip and is more sensitive than ever. It can be used to translate words or zoom while hovering or create GIFs.

The Note7 also ditches the microUSB for USB Type-C for good, meaning after going even microUSB 3.0 earlier, Samsung might finally have the best connectivity option. The phone has a large 3500 mAh battery, which is non-removable but supports fast-charging.

The phone will be available black, silver, gold and a new Blue Coral addition with gold accents and blue elsewhere. The only major weak point could be Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, which in all likelihood will be upgraded. Samsung has retouched Touchwiz to bring it closer to Google’s Material Design philosophy.

In a final twist, Samsung pulled off a Microsoft and skipped the Note6, to align it with the existing Galaxy line. Lastly, in a few markets you will get a 256 GB microSD card or a free Galaxy Fit band as a part of the deal, though you’ll have to spend more for the VR headset

Here are the full specifications of the Galaxy Note7:

 Samsung Note 7:

• CPU: 64-bit 2.3 Ghz quad-core Exynos M1 + 2.3 Ghz quad-core Cortex-A53
• GPU: Adreno 530/Mali-T880 MP12
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821/Exynos 8890
• OS: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with Touchwiz
• Supported Networks: 2G, 3G, 4G LTE (Cat.9)
• Dimensions: 207.8 x 122.5 x 98.6 mm; 169 grams
• Display:
  •  5.7-inch curved 2.5D Super AMOLED with QHD (1440 x 2560 pixels) resolution
  •  Gorilla Glass 5, Always-on Mode
• Memory:
  • RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4
  •  Internal: 64 GB UFS 2.0
  • Card slot: yes, by up to 256 GB
•  Camera:
  •  Primary: 12 MP dual-pixel with LED, OIS, phase-detection AF, f/17
    • 4K video at 30fps, slo-mo HD at 240 fps, HDR
  •  Secondary: 5 MP, f/1.7, HDR
•  IP68-certified for water and dust-resistance
•  Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 LE, Wi-Fi ac, Type-C, NFC
•  Battery: 3500 mAh, non-removable, fast-charging
•  Iris and fingerprint scanning
•  Colors: Silver, Black Onyx, Gold Platinum, Blue Coral
•  Price: $770