Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge First Look

Samsung at its Galaxy Unpacked 2016 event on Sunday unveiled the latest Galaxy S7 (seen above) and Galaxy S7 Edge premium Galaxy smartphones at the side-lines of MWC in Barcelona, Spain. We managed to get some hands-on time with the smartphones at the trade show, and you can check out our First Look video.

Considering the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge haven't been the best kept secrets of recent times, the newcomers did pack some surprises. One of the biggest additions in the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge is the hybrid dual SIM (available in some regions). Both the phones support expandable storage via microSD card (up to 200GB).

(Also see: Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge Top 7 Features: Always-On Display, Dual Pixel Camera, and More)

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge differ mainly in their screen sizes and battery capacities. The curved edges on the S7 Edge are more than just a novelty this time, as Samsung has taken better advantage of them. In addition to the People Edge, you also get Tasks Edge, which lets you quickly access frequently used apps and even speed-dial your favourite contacts. A few more Edge screen widgets such as Yahoo News Edge and ESPN Edge will offer snippets of information in the future.

The new phones debut Samsung's new 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide f/1.7 aperture and Dual Pixel technology for faster shutter speeds and quicker auto-focus. You can also quickly launch the camera by double tapping the home button. The cameras sit almost flush with the phones' bodies, and the bulges of the previous models are now nearly non-existent.

To refresh specifications, the Samsung Galaxy S7 features a 5.1-inch QHD Super Amoled display while the Galaxy S7 Edge packs a 5.5-inch QHD Super Amoled display. As rumoured previously, both phones now sport an Always-On display which will let users check notifications, time, and date without having to wake up the device. Both will be available in two storage variants: 32GB and 64GB.

The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are powered by an Exynos 8890 octa-core (2.3GHz quad-core + 1.6GHz quad-core) SoC or Qualcomm Snadragon 820 quad-core (2.15GHz dual-core + 1.6GHz dual-core) SoC, depending on the regions. Both will feature 4GB of RAM.

(Also see: Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge to Launch With Exynos SoC in India)

The Galaxy S7 packs a 3000mAh battery while the Galaxy S7 Edge includes a 3600mAh battery. Both phones feature fast charging technology. Both the models support NFC and MST payment technologies, house a fingerprint sensor and have IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

We already know that Samsung will release the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge in 60 countries in its first wave starting March 11. Stay tuned for more coverage live from MWC 2016 and for more details on the new Samsung Galaxy S7 series, be sure to find us at Gadgets 360.com.