The superb
looking Galaxy Note 7 is here. Are the high hopes that this device has drummed
up over the past few months justified - is the question of the moment. Also a
matter of speculation is how the Note 7 is different from the uber-popular Galaxy
S7 by Samsung. Let’s get to the nitty-gritty of the matter right away.
Note: There is no Galaxy Note 6
bridging the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung moved directly to the
Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 after the Galaxy Note 5 in 2015. This was done to unify
the numbering protocols among the two popular series of Samsung - the Galaxy
and Note series.
A Comparison of
Design among the Galaxy Note 4, Note 5, and Note 7
The Galaxy Note 5 from Samsung is 171 g compared to the
heavier Note 4 which is 176 g and the lighter Note 7 at 169 g. The Note 5 measures
153.2 x 76.2 x 7.6mm, smaller than the Note 4 which is 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5mm,
but larger than the Note 7 which measures 153.5mm x 73.9mm x 7.9mm.
The Note 4, easily recognizable as a generation in the Note
series is nevertheless more refined than the earlier Note series. Both the Note
4 and Note 5 come with the S Pen Stylus. The familiar rectangular build of
these earlier Galaxy Notes finds a new direction in the Note 7 where Samsung
has innovated in terms of the design.
The Galaxy Note 7 features dust and water resistance and the
design of the new device seems to have been influenced by the Galaxy S7. The
curved glass is similar to the S7 while the shape is still very much like the
earlier Notes.
All these three Notes have fingerprint sensors. What
distinguishes the Note 7 is the iris scanner that comes with it.
A Comparison of
Cameras among the Galaxy Note 4, Note 5, and Note 7
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 offers a main camera with 8x
digital optic zoom and auto focus - with up to 4K video recording. Both the 5
megapixel front camera and the 16 megapixel rear camera have an f/1.9 aperture.
The Note 4 similarly features the 16 megapixel rear camera,
auto focus, and 4K video recording. The front camera, however, has a resolution
of only 3.7 megapixels compared to the 5 megapixel rear camera of the Note 5.
The Note 7 features the same cameras as the S7 Edge and
Galaxy S7. This means a 5 megapixel front camera and a Dual Pixel 12 megapixel
rear camera. Both cameras have an aperture of f/1.7. Like its predecessors, the
rear camera has auto focus and 4K video recording. In addition it has auto HDR.
In Conclusion: The
Evolution of the Note Series
The Note 7 is the newest device in the evolution of the Note
series. The water and dust proofing, redesigned S Pen, and curved glass
distinguish it from its earlier counterparts. The camera is much better too.
There are newer and more exciting software functions in the
Note 7. In addition there are improvements in hardware as well - the micro SD,
USB Type-C, and the improved battery capacity are some of the advances that
take this series of devices to the next level.
