The Samsung Galaxy Note7 that was unpacked yesterday, came with a variety of new and improved features such as the S Pen, Iris scanner, expandable memory, etc. These new features have definitely placed the note as a benchmark device in the phablet range of mobile devices. However, what we want to know is, which of these new features do you like the most?
Here are 11 major highlights of the device:
Iris Scanner
Security is an important feature for mobile phones and Samsung’s latest solution, the iris scanner, has arrived on the Galaxy Note7. The phone quickly recognises your iris pattern using a Samsung proprietary algorithm that is able to map the design of the iris and convert it to a digital signature. The device is also able to unlock within seconds, and is just as fast as using a fingerprint scanner. Iris scanner can also replace passwords for websites when using the Samsung Internet browser.
New S Pen
The new Galaxy S Pen that comes with the device, is not only water and dust proof along with the device itself, but also brings new features to boot. It can now record GIF’s and tie’s in with Google to translate the language immediately. This can be very helpful especially when travelling.
Expandable Memory
Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 now features expandable memory after having that function removed from the Galaxy Note 5. Samsung had listened to the public and re-introduced the feature with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge flagship devices, and has now brought it to the Galaxy Note7. The expandable micro-SD memory slot can support up to 256GB of expandable memory.
Dual SIM
Samsung had introduced Dual-SIM as a standard feature on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge variants, subsequently it has ported across this to the Galaxy Note7 as well. Though this feature might not have as high a demand from European nations, in Asia, the dual SIM is a popular feature due to call rates on different carriers.
Water and Dust Proofing
The Galaxy Note7 has an IP68 Water and Dust proof rating, which is the same as the Galaxy S7. Though there were reports of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge versions of the phones having problems with the water proofing feature, the new device does come with the same. In theory, this feature would allow the phone to survive up to 30 mins in 1.5m of water without it failing.
Knox Integrated Security
Samsung Knox is the new integrated security solution for the Galaxy Note7 where images, files and notes that are private can be automatically transferred to a Secure Folder. This folder would then require a form of verification before granting access to the files stored in there. The folder can also be ‘hidden’ from the home screen, thus preventing others from trying to gain access. The benefit of the secure folder is that your private images wont be accidentally revealed to anyone when they swipe away from the image you are displaying to them. Knox also safeguards the device from potential threats by integrating the security at the chip level.
Improved Cameras
The rear camera of the Galaxy Note7 is a step up from the previous Note 5’s 16MP camera. Using the same camera with dual pixel technology as found on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, the new camera is able to have clearer and more vibrant images over the predecessor. The front shooter also comes with a reduced aperture and thus will be able to grab better wide angle shots.
Bigger Battery
The Galaxy Note7 comes with 3500mAh of battery, which is a 15% improvement over the Note 5’s 3000mAh battery. Though this is still closer to the battery on the Galaxy S7, the device should be able to perform better due to the better battery management and better RAM management that is found on the device.
USB Type-C
For the Galaxy Note7 Samsung has used a USB Type-C connector for the charging port, however, the device does come with a USB adapter to fit conventional cables found today as well as for data transmission from one device to another. Given that the device uses a USB Type-C connector, it is able to charge faster and even transmit data faster than the Galaxy Note 5.
Improved Performance
Performance is a key component for new devices as they are tasked to handle heavier computing loads as apps are bringing new adaptability to mobile devices. For those purposes, the Galaxy Note7 comes with a Exynos 8890 or a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset which supports a 2.3 GHz quad + 1.6 GHz quad-core processor which is 31% more powerful than the Galaxy Note 5’s 2.1 GHz quad + 1.5 GHZ quad-core Exynos 7420 processor. The New Note7 also features 4GB or RAM, which is an improvement over the 3GB found on the Note 5 and should deliver smoother performance.
Samsung Cloud
In conjunction with the Galaxy Note7, Samsung has also launched a free 15GB of cloud storage space for customers. This has been included despite the device having expandable memory added to it. Cloud storage, according to Samsung, would help make life easier as sharing of files and documents is more convenient. Tell us which Note7 feature are you excited about the most by taking the poll, and feel free to leave a comment to tell us the reason.
