iPhone 7 vs. Galaxy Note 7: Apple and Samsung's Flagship Smartphone Battle; Details and Specs Compared
How Would the New iPhone 7 Fare Against the Galaxy Note 7?
Apple and Samsung have been going at it ever since smartphones took over the mobile world. With the latest flagships being undoubtedly the most powerful these companies have dished out, let us see which between Apple's iPhone 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will emerge victorious.
Design and Build Quality
Apple currently refreshed its iPhones' design that started with the iPhone 6. A new all metal back design with visible antenna lines and a glossy front bannered the device. This gets rid of the previous segmented look of the iPhone, with the top and bottom back parts different in gradient as the middle where the logo rests. This design will continue with the iPhone 7, only with the antenna lines less visible as it outlines the contour of the device.
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The Galaxy Note 7 inherits the glass front and back of its predecessor, the Note 5. The more premium look veers away from the faux-leather finish of the Note 4, but is a lot more attractive to fingerprints and scratches. Both the front and back features a curved design, making the device easier to handle and grip. The edges have also been rounded, getting rid of sharp corners that plagued previous iterations.
Hardware and Performance
Comparing the iPhone 7's A10 chipset and the Galaxy Note 7's Snapdragon 820 basing only on their technical specs would be flawed. On paper, Apple's devices have always been inferior to that of its Android counterparts, even appearing with less RAM (3GB in the iPhone 7's case versus the 4GB of the Note 7).
However, the software optimization of iOS 10 takes a lot of credit with the smooth performance of Apple devices, to which the new iPhone fully utilizes. As the iPhones rely on the integration of its software and hardware, the Note 7 depends on the raw power of its hardware for optimal performance. We are yet to see the real life benchmarks and application of the new A10 chipset to fully grasp its processing power.
Both phones feature water and dust proofing. The Note 7, however, packs more with the S-Pen, an iris scanner, the dual-edge display, a Quad-HD Super AMOLED screen, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The iPhone 7, in a bold move, removes the audio jack from its design.
Software
The iOS 10 on the iPhone 7 and the TouchWiz UI on top of Android Marshmallow in the Galaxy Note 7 are totally different species of operating systems. The iOS 10 features the most customizable mobile UI yet in Apple's history. The new iMessage, Siri, and app integration features allow for a more personal touch and customizability.
The Galaxy Note 7 focuses on productivity. The S-Pen and Edge features give users a lot more to work with on their devices. Split-screen mode is also available, and with more RAM, more applications can stay open. These additional features ultimately add up to giving the best productivity level possible for its users.
Camera and Battery
Apple and Samsung are undoubtedly the reigning champions for the best camera in the mobile world. The iPhone 7 Plus' dual camera lens setup, allowing for a wider field of view if the situation calls for it. The Galaxy Note 7 boasts its low-light capabilities, producing some of the sharpest and most saturated photos of all time. Video capabilities of the iPhone have been top-notch though with the stabilization being in a class of its own.
For battery, the Galaxy Note 7 undeniably trumps the new iPhones. With 3500 mAh in its arsenal, the Note 7 can last a full day of light to moderate usage in a single charge. The new iPhone 7 will come with a measly 1960 mAh battery pack, with the iPhone 7 Plus donning a 2960 mAh one. However, power efficiency of its processors, along with software optimization, allow the iPhone 7 to stay somehow on par with the Note 7.
Conclusion
With the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus (or Pro) still unreleased, some of the aforementioned details and specs may still change. Despite of this, the iPhone 7 will no doubt compete head-to-head with the current Samsung flagship, which would be a welcome challenge for the Note 7 given the lack of competition it has now that it's on the highest tier of the smartphone arena.
