Modern smartphones are predictable. That's the biggest problem with them. Yes, they are plenty powerful, but their predictability makes them boring. Apple has faced the problem for years. Every new iPhone model is followed up by a 'S' model, which looks identical, but brings a new innovation to the table. After last year's impressive redesign of the Galaxy S6, Samsung has basically refined the design of its flagship smartphone. But that also means the phone isn't exciting. The Galaxy S7 feels more of an 'S' update, that too a muted one. It certainly fails to impress. Here's why:
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While the Galaxy S7 is an utterly handsome phone, it looks and feels like its predecessor. It is not a big break from what Galaxy S6 users already have. That's the big problem.
Undoubtedly, Samsung has refined the design which has enabled it to add IP68 levels of water resistance and also a microSD card. It has also managed to reduce the size of the rear camera bulge and also has recessed the home-button fingerprint scanner.
However, in the scheme of things from a visual perspective these are minor changes.
No pressure sensitive display
The Galaxy S7 was widely rumoured to come with a pressure sensitive display. By as is the case with rumours, there often is a lot of smoke. The truth was revealed at the launch as there is no iPhone like pressure sensitive display in the new S7. Even the S7 Edge doesn't have it.
Perhaps, Samsung couldn't make an AMOLED display with such a high resolution, but whatever be the case, many will be left disappointed.
No reversible port
With the iPhone having the reversible 'lighting' connector for the last 4 years and now most high-end Android phones having the new USB-Type C port, it is perplexing that Samsung didn't opt to add the new USB standard to the Galaxy S7.
The Galaxy S7 was even rumoured to have the port, but Samsung seemingly felt that the port hadn't reached mass usage and it also needed to retain compatibility with the Gear VR, which is being given away as a gift with Galaxy S7 pre-orders.
When you buy a flagship smartphone, it is always good to get future proof technology. MicroUSB isn't going to be cutting edge in a year or two, it's going to be USB Type C.
No key innovation
The main problem is that in front of the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S7 feels like a tepid update. The S6 was lauded for its design and boasted of a camera that beat the iPhone. The S7 improves things further by adding old favourites like water resistance and a microSD card slot, but it offers nothing new. It has nothing ground breaking. The S6 was the first phone to have a dual-edged display and with its camera for the first time an Android phone had a lead over Apple's iPhone. Now that the bar has been raised, one expected Samsung to raise it further, which clearly hasn't happened.
Not even a 'S' update
Every iPhone 'S' model has introduced a new technology which has become standard issue for smartphones. Apart from the 3GS which was purely geared at speed, the iPhone 4S added a digital assistant, the iPhone 5S added a fingerprint scanner and the iPhone 6S has added a pressure sensitive display. All these are things that we get on modern smartphones.
The Galaxy S7 adds no such new feature. If anything it is bringing back old features. The Galaxy S7 feels like the Galaxy S4 because both the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S6 brought major redesigns and their successors were measly refinements.
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