The S7 and S7 Edge both have Quad HD Super AMOLED screens with 2,560 x 1,440-pixel resolution, but the S7’s screen is much smaller at 5.1-inches versus the 5.5-inch screen on the Edge. Thanks to the curves, though, the Edge doesn’t feel like it’s 5.5 inches, and is very comfortable to hold. If extra screen space matters to you, get the Edge
Other than size, there’s no difference between the two displays. Both support the Always-On display feature, which is really cool and helpful for those of you who like to know the time at all times. We enjoy the curved edges when viewing most content, including movies, but some have complained about the edges being bothersome while watching YouTube. We recommend you look at it in a store before buying.
Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge
Special software
Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge
Special software
The main motive for buying the S7 Edge over the regular S7 is that the edge is useful. If you love big screens, but also want to be able to use your phone one-handed, the Edge is for you. The Edge panels give you quick access to your favorite apps, contacts, and shortcuts for specific actions in Samsung apps. You can also add edge panels with news coverage and more. The more popular Edge phones become, the more app developers will make cool and useful Edge panels. Using the regular S7 after using the S7 Edge feels disappointing. You miss the edge after you’ve gotten used to having it. It also looks stunning when viewing pictures, videos, and other media on your device — though, again, the edge does seem to bother a minority of people. This year, the Edge is worth it.
Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge
Unlocking and updates
Neither Galaxy comes unlocked in the States, so be aware that you’ll have to get the phones with a specific carrier. Depending on your carrier, you may get a ton of bloatware pre-installed on your device that you can’t remove. Our Verizon review units, for example, have nearly 10 uninstallable Verizon apps on them. The regularity of software updates is another thing you should consider when buying a phone. Both devices run Samsung’s TouchWiz on top of Android, so updates are likely to be somewhat delayed, and some carriers will hold them back even longer.
Slow software, firmware, and security updates are essentially unavoidable with most Android phones. The only Android phones that are regularly updated are likely Google’s Nexus phones. We recommend the Nexus 6P.
Winner: There are no winners here
Comfort
The main question you need to ask yourself is pretty basic: Do you like the edges or not? Most people agree that the curved edges on the Galaxy S7 Edge are absolutely stunning, but others prefer the more traditional look of the standard S7. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so it’s entirely up to you whether you like the curves or not. However, there are some other things to consider when weighing the Edge against the regular S7. One of the biggest is comfort.
Last year, we were not a fan of the S6 Edge, because the sharp metal frame around the slim edges dug right into our hands when we held the device. Many users complained that the edge design just wasn’t comfortable. Samsung fixed the issue with the S7 Edge by adding curved glass to the back of the device. Much like the Note 5, the S7 Edge curves right into your palms, offering better grip and comfort. The Galaxy S7 feels great in the hand, too, and it is smaller than the Edge. The S7 measures 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, while the Galaxy S7 Edge comes in at 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm.
Related:10 cases and covers to protect your shiny, new Galaxy S7
That said, the S7 Edge is remarkably slender and petite for a phone with a 5.5-inch screen. It’s significantly smaller than the iPhone 6S Plus, which also boasts a 5.5-inch screen, and it’s not much bigger than the regular S7. In our view, this means you’re getting more screen with little size tradeoff.
Both of these phones are comfortable and easy to operate one-handed, though they are both slippery fingerprint magnets because of their glass backs. In that regard, they’re tied.
We’re giving the win here to the standard Galaxy S7. Though both are comfortable, on the S7, we’ve had fewer issues accidentally touching the side of the screen and bringing up menus.
Winner: Galaxy S7
Durability
When it comes to durability, both phones are a glass-filled nightmare, but the S7 Edge is the one you don’t want to break. That one-of-a-kind dual-edge screen will likely be damn expensive to replace, though Samsung hasn’t confirmed a price. The back panel is curved, too, so you’ve got a double whammy if you break either glass panel. Although the S7 is equally fragile with its curved glass back, at least the front glass is not curved. It shouldn’t be quite as difficult or expensive to replace if you only damage the front, so bear that in mind if you’re a butterfingers. The two phones are waterproof (IP68), though, which is a plus.
Regardless of your choice, buy a case!
Winner: There are no winners here
Price
Both the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge come in gold and black color options, but if you opt for the Edge, you can get the stunning silver version. The Galaxies are currently on sale in the United States, Europe, Singapore, Australia, and South Korea. In the States, the retail prices are between $620 and $695 for the S7 and between $720 and $795 for the S7 Edge, depending on your carrier and how much storage you want. The Edge is pricier by $100, so if cost is of concern, be aware that you’ll pay more for that curved screen. Here’s the pricing at the big four carriers:
AT&T: The Galaxy S7 costs $695 or $23.17 per month for 30 months, and the S7 Edge goes for $795
or $26.50 per month for 30 months.
T-Mobile: The Galaxy S7 costs $670 or $27.92 per month for 24 months, and the S7 Edge is $780 or $32.50 for 24 months.
Sprint: The Galaxy S7 costs $26 per month for 24 months, and the Galaxy S7 Edge costs $30.50 per month over 24 months.
Related: Samsung Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5: Which flagship phone belongs in your pocket?
Winner: Galaxy S7
Winner: Galaxy S7 Edge
Overall, we prefer the Galaxy S7 Edge. It’s more attractive to look at and use, has better battery life, has a bigger screen, includes useful edge software, and is just about even with the Galaxy S7 when it comes to every other spec or feature. It’s more attractive, more innovative, and in the end, it’ll be more useful. That edge panel makes a big difference if you use it to its full potential, and the edge will only become more useful as more developers get involved and create apps for it.
The differences between the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge are not vast, however. Both phones have the same specs with the minor exceptions of screen size, battery capacity, and the dual-edge screen. Price is another factor, though paying $100 more for the Edge is small potatoes, given what it provides.
The Edge offers something different that no other phone offers and it seeks to solve the problem of one-handed use on a large-screened phone in an interesting and intelligent way. Now that it’s comfortable to hold and Samsung’s opened up more pixels to edge panels, the Galaxy S7 Edge is the phone to buy.
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