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Competition
With the LG G5 and Xiaomi Mi 5 nowhere in sight for a Malaysian release, there is no meaningful competitor to the Galaxy S7 edge that deserves attention. Even the iPhone 6s Plus looks dated next to what Samsung has put together this time.
LG has taken the opposite approach from Samsung with its G5: it’s painting the new flagship as a “fun” and youthful product. The UI is colourful, with plenty of apps and features I don’t quite know what they were for, and just a little messy compared to Samsung’s more restrained approach. The “Friends” modular extensions is certainly a cool idea, but one that I fear may be nothing more than a short-lived one.
Xiaomi’s Mi 5 may prove the biggest threat to the Galaxy S7 edge. It’s exceptionally refined in design, wonderfully comfortable to hold, sports a similar hardware set – and costs half the price. That said, it remains to be seen when exactly Xiaomi will be bringing the phone to Malaysia.
The Nexus 6P may be considered the best Android smartphone last year to many people. The Galaxy S7 edge blows it out of the water.
And of course, there’s the iPhone 6s Plus. It’s physically larger than the Galaxy S7 edge, despite sharing the same screen size. Its design has spawned plenty of “inspired”-looking smartphones, making it look somewhat dated and ordinary. However the iPhone remains the most notable competitor simply because it’s the iPhone. It isn’t a coincidence that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are the most successful iPhones in the company’s history.
On top of that, none of these smartphones feature IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. If that’s important to you, it is definitely something worth considering.
Conclusion
The Galaxy S6 was a key moment for Samsung. It made people remember just what the company was capable of doing when it gets its act together. The S7 edge further reinforces this notion: it’s the best smartphone you can find today, period.
The best smartphone you can find today, period.
The Galaxy S7 edge has a unique design, powerful hardware, much better software, reliable battery life, and a winning camera. There are so many things Samsung got right with this phone, and it’s no wonder many in Malaysia and all over the world can’t wait to get one.
However, there are niggling issues that will frustrate some users. For me, it was the Edge Screen and the constant interruptions it caused when my skin brushed the curved edges. Maybe that’s why I’m more excited about what’s to come in the Galaxy Note 6.
Photography by Terry Bass. Some images shot in Snapshack.
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