Samsung Galaxy S7 Active vs S7 Edge: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were flagship powerhouses, but the Active and Edge models offered distinct experiences. The S7 Active prioritized durability, while the S7 Edge focused on premium design and a curved display. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone still holds up today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The S7 Edge wins on design and display, offering a stunning curved screen and generally better camera performance. However, the S7 Active boasts superior durability and slightly better battery endurance. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities: style and features versus ruggedness and longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy S7 active	Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 - G935FD, G9350
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - G935F, G935FD, G935W8
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G935F, G935FD
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2016, June. Released 2016, June	2016, February 21. Released 2016, March 11
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame
Dimensions	148.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (5.86 x 2.95 x 0.39 in)	150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm (5.94 x 2.86 x 0.30 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM (G935F, G935W8)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G935FD)
Weight	184.8 g (6.53 oz)	157 g (5.54 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) MIL-STD-810G compliant	-

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Resolution	1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density)	1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~534 ppi density)
Size	5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~64.3% screen-to-body ratio)	5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~76.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED	Super AMOLED
	Always-on display	-

Platform
CPU	Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo)	Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) - G9350Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Mongoose & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) - G935FD, G935F, G935W8
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) - G9350Exynos 8890 Octa (14 nm) - G935FD, G935F, G935W8
GPU	Adreno 530	Adreno 530 - G9350Mali-T880 MP12 - G935FD, G935F, G935W8
OS	Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat), TouchWiz UI	Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo), TouchWiz UI

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal	32GB 4GB RAM	32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS	12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm	5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX	4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	No
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2	Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
	ANT+ S-Voice natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)	-

Battery
Charging	15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)	15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)
Music play	Up to 110 h	Up to 74 h
Stand-by	Up to 384 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 32 h (3G)	Up to 27 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3600 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Camo Green, Titanium Gray, Sandy Gold	Black, White, Gold, Silver, Pink Gold, Black Pearl, Coral Blue
Models	SM-G891A	SM-G935F, SM-G935FD, SM-G935W8, SM-G9350, SM-G935S, SC-02H, SM-G935K, SM-G935L, SM-G935R4, SCV33, SM-G935X, SM-G935VC, SM-G935D
Price	About 360 EUR	About 330 EUR
SAR	0.92 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body)	0.56 W/kg (head) 0.66 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.32 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body)	0.26 W/kg (head) 1.43 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB	Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -92.2dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 96h	Endurance rating 92h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.439 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 72dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB	Voice 70dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 71dB
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 2487Basemark X: 32362	GFXBench: 8.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy S7 active

Exceptional durability and water resistance
Slightly better battery endurance
Rugged design
MIL-STD-810G certified

Less visually appealing display
Bulkier design
Potentially less refined camera

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

Stunning curved display
Premium design
Slightly better camera performance
More vibrant colors

Less durable than the Active
More fragile design
Slightly shorter battery life

Display Comparison

The S7 Edge's defining feature is its stunning curved display, offering a more immersive viewing experience and a unique aesthetic. The S7 Active has a standard, less vibrant display, prioritizing durability over visual flair. The contrast ratio is similar, but the Edge's screen is noticeably more visually appealing.

Camera Comparison

The S7 Edge generally has a slight edge in camera performance, thanks to potentially better image processing and slightly improved low-light capabilities. Both phones capture excellent photos and videos, but the Edge's images often exhibit more detail and vibrant colors. The Active's camera is still very capable, but not quite as refined.

Performance

Both phones share the same Snapdragon 820 chipset (or Exynos 8890 in some Edge variants), delivering smooth performance for everyday tasks and gaming. The Edge's Exynos variant might offer a slight edge in raw processing power, but in real-world usage, the difference is minimal. Both phones handle multitasking well.

Battery Life

The S7 Active boasts a slightly better endurance rating (96h vs 92h), suggesting it might offer marginally longer battery life under typical usage. However, both phones are aging, and battery health will vary significantly depending on usage and age.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active? Users needing a rugged, drop-proof phone for outdoor activities or demanding work environments. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge? Those prioritizing a premium design, vibrant curved display, and a slightly more versatile camera system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the S7 Active waterproof?

Yes, the S7 Active is IP68 rated, meaning it's dustproof and waterproof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

❓ Which S7 has the better processor?

Both phones primarily use the Snapdragon 820. Some S7 Edge models use the Exynos 8890, which offers a slight performance advantage, but the difference is minimal in most scenarios.

❓ Are replacement batteries available for these phones?

Yes, but finding genuine or high-quality replacement batteries can be challenging. Third-party options are available, but their reliability can vary.