Mobile Technology

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge vs. Nexus 6P

View 31 Images
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (left) and Huawei/Google Nexus 6P
Always-on display
Camera aperture (rear)
Battery
Build
Physical camera launch shortcut
Camera megapixels
Color options
Processor
Curved display
Dimensions
Display resolution
Display size
Display type
Fast charging
Fingerprint sensor
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (left) and Huawei/Google Nexus 6P
Liquid cooling
MicroSD
Mobile payments
OIS
Charging/data port
Starting price (full retail)
RAM
Release
Removable battery
Storage
Water resistance
Weight
Wireless charging
Software
Gear VR support
View gallery - 31 images

Last year we thought the Nexus 6P made for an enticing alternative to Samsung's more expensive Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge+. But is the (still cheaper) Nexus a good choice next to the new Galaxy S7 edge? Let's line up their features and specs.

Size

Dimensions

The Nexus 6P is 5 percent taller and 7 percent wider than the Galaxy S7 edge. The Nexus does give you a bigger screen (we'll get to that in a minute) but will also take up quite a bit more space in hand and pocket.

The Nexus is 5 percent thinner, but the Edge has a curved back (and curved front) so its thickness measurement is somewhat deceiving, only counting its thickest point.

Weight

Weight

The smaller Galaxy S7 edge is 23 percent lighter. The Nexus is still far from a heavy phone, but weight isn't one of its killer features.

Build

Build

You get a fully premium phone either way, either glass (back) and aluminum (frame) on the Galaxy, or an aluminum body with that unique glass bar on the Nexus.

Colors

Color options

Since we reviewed the Nexus 6P, Google and Huawei launched a new gold color option.

Display size

Display size

The Nexus 6P's screen is more than 7 percent bigger.

Display resolution

Display resolution

Both handsets have ultra-sharp Quad HD resolution, which gives the smaller Galaxy S7 edge a slight pixel density advantage.

Display type

Display type

The Galaxy and Nexus each use an AMOLED display panel.

Always-on display

Always-on display

Samsung gave its 2016 flagships always-on displays, so you'll see things like time, date and recent notifications even when the phone is sleeping.

Curved display

Curved display

Living up to its name, the Galaxy S7 edge has a dual-curved display that slops off along its horizontal edges.

Battery

Battery

The S7 edge's battery is slightly bigger (higher-capacity), but there are too many other factors involved in battery life to draw any conclusions from this alone. Stay tuned for our real-world benchmark.

Fast charging

Fast charging

You'll get quick-charging capabilities in both handsets.

Wireless charging

Wireless charging

Like last year's Samsung flagships, the S7 edge supports wireless charging.

Removable battery

Removable battery

You can't swap out either handset's battery.

Charging/data port

Charging/data port

You'd think this would be the other way around, with the 2015 phone using the older micro-USB and the 2016 phone the newer USB Type C. But Google and Huawei were quick to adopt the new standard and Samsung decided to hold off on USB-C this year (we're guessing to maintain compatibility with the next category).

Gear VR support

Gear VR support

Sure, there are lots of (usually very low-end) Google Cardboard headsets you can use with the Nexus 6P, and after that initiative likely graduates into Google VR (or whatever it's called) later this year, the Nexus 6P will be a good candidate to use with those headsets.

But today far and away the best mobile VR – in terms of both hardware and software – is the Samsung Gear VR, which the new S7 edge plays nicely with. It's trailing a bit behind the best PC-based VR headsets, like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, but still a great entry-level virtual reality machine.

Liquid cooling

Liquid cooling

Likely designed with the Gear VR in mind, the S7 series has a liquid cooling system inside, as Samsung further distances itself from the absurdly short playtimes (before overheating) in the first (2014) Gear VR Innovator Edition.

Camera megapixels

Camera megapixels

One of the Galaxy S7's marquee features is its improved low-light photography. Check back soon for hands-on impressions.

Camera aperture

Camera aperture (rear)

This is one factor (along with pixel size) playing into the low-light improvements in the new Galaxies.

OIS

OIS

Somewhat controversially (well, controversial if you're an Android nerd), Google and Huawei left Optical Image Stabilization out of the Nexus 6P. Jittery caffeine addicts, proceed with caution.

Physical camera shortcut

Physical camera launch shortcut

Samsung's double-tap camera launch shortcut is back with the GS7 edge. Similarly, you can launch the Nexus 6P's camera app by double-tapping its power button.

Processor

Processor

The S7 edge should be the faster phone (trust us, it's a screamer) with its one-generation-newer Snapdragon 820 CPU.

If you live somewhere other than the US, China or Japan, though, you'll get an octa core Samsung Exynos 8990 in its place.

RAM

RAM

The S7 edge also adds an extra GB of RAM.

Storage

Storage

If you live in the US, all you'll see for the S7 edge (and the smaller S7) is 32 GB internal storage. Thanks, US carriers, for deciding we didn't need those other two options. Who needs choice, when you have such wise and benevolent telecom companies to make decisions for you?

MicroSD

MicroSD

Fortunately the Edge has expandable storage, to make it much easier to get by with 32 GB (which is still double what Apple gives you in its entry-level iPhones).

Water resistance

Water resistance

The Galaxy S7 edge is water resistant, and it uses an internal seal so its charging port can stay open (unlike Samsung's 2014 flagship, which used a plastic port cover).

Fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensor

Both smartphones have fingerprint sensors, but the Galaxy's is in its home button (just like last year's models) while the Nexus' is on its backside, just below the camera.

Mobile payments

Mobile payments

While the Nexus supports the NFC-based Android Pay (which requires special equipment to be installed at a retailer, much like Apple Pay), the Galaxy uses Samsung Pay, which works with most standard credit card readers.

Software

Software

The Galaxy runs Android Marshmallow with a fat slice of Samsung's TouchWiz UI gooped on top, while the Nexus runs pure (stock, without any customizations) Marshmallow.

Release

Release

The Galaxy S7 edge is set to officially launch this week, while the Nexus has been around since October.

Starting price (full retail)

Starting price (full retail)

While the Galaxy should win on raw power, camera, that sexy curved display (if that's your thing) and extra bonuses like water resistance and wireless charging, the Nexus still makes a compelling case for some shoppers at nearly US$300 cheaper. And if you live, breathe and worship at the altar of stock Android, then it's probably going to be your pick no matter what categories it fell behind in.

For more on each phone, you can hit up our hands-on with the Galaxy S7 and full review of the Nexus 6P.

View gallery - 31 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
2 comments
nubwaxer
i'd say for the price the nexus is just as good as the s7.
TyraPereira
Nexus 5X, 6P, 6 and more is now on sale only at NexusPhoneOffers:com