Samsung Galaxy S7 edge vs. Huawei P10 Plus: A 2024 Retrospective
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a balance of features and longevity, the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge emerges as the slightly better choice. Its superior endurance rating (87h vs 76h) and established software ecosystem outweigh the P10 Plus’s faster charging and marginally more powerful CPU.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA) | Huawei P10 Plus |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G935A, G935P, G935R | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G935A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2016, February. Released 2016, March | 2017, February. Released 2017, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm (5.94 x 2.86 x 0.30 in) | 153.5 x 74.2 x 7 mm (6.04 x 2.92 x 0.28 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 157 g (5.54 oz) | 165 g (5.82 oz) |
| - | Splash resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~534 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~540 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~76.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 81.5 cm2 (~71.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS-NEO LCD |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) | Kirin 960 (16 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Mali-G71 MP8 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo), TouchWiz UI | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | eMMC 5.1, UFS 2.0, or UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 20 MP B/W, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.7" |
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 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@60fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/4.1", 1.34µm | 8 MP, f/1.9 |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio (after SW update; operator dependent) | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 15W wired, QC2 Wireless | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3600 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3750 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black Onyx, Silver Titanium, Gold Platinum, Coral Blue | Ceramic White, Dazzling Blue, Dazzling Gold, Graphite Black, Mystic Silver, Rose Gold, Greenery |
| Models | SM-G935A, SM-G935P, SM-G935V, SM-G935T, SM-G935R, SM-G935U, SM-G935L, SAMSUNG-SM-G935A | VKY-L29, VKY-L09, VKY-AL00 |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | 0.64 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise-93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.9dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 76h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1633 (nominal), 3.456 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 64dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | - | GFXBench: 9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA)
- Superior battery endurance (87h)
- Immersive curved Super AMOLED display
- Wireless charging support
- Slower wired charging (15W)
- Older software version
Huawei P10 Plus
- Faster wired charging (18W)
- Leica-engineered dual camera system
- Potentially better multi-tasking performance
- Lower battery endurance (76h)
- LCD display lacks AMOLED vibrancy
Display Comparison
Both the S7 edge and P10 Plus boast excellent displays with a nominal contrast ratio of 1633 and a sunlight contrast ratio of 3.456, indicating strong visibility outdoors. However, the S7 edge’s curved screen is a defining feature, offering a more immersive viewing experience. While neither device specifies resolution, the S7 edge’s Super AMOLED panel is known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks, a characteristic absent from the P10 Plus’s LCD. The S7 edge’s display is likely to age better due to AMOLED’s inherent resistance to burn-in compared to LCD.
Camera Comparison
The P10 Plus’s dual-camera system, co-engineered with Leica, focuses on capturing detailed monochrome images alongside color photos. While the P10 Plus’s camera excels in low-light monochrome photography, the S7 edge’s camera, though single-lens, delivers consistently good results across various conditions. The S7 edge’s image processing tends to be more vibrant and saturated, while the P10 Plus aims for a more natural look. Without specific sensor size data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the S7 edge’s established reputation for reliable image quality gives it a slight edge.
Performance
The Huawei P10 Plus, powered by the Kirin 960, features an octa-core CPU (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) compared to the S7 edge’s quad-core Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo). On paper, the Kirin 960’s higher core count suggests superior multi-tasking capabilities. However, the Snapdragon 820, built on a 14nm process, is known for its efficient performance and thermal management. The P10 Plus’s 16nm Kirin 960 may exhibit more throttling under sustained load. The S7 edge’s Kryo cores, custom-designed by Qualcomm, offer a balance of performance and power efficiency.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge boasts an endurance rating of 87 hours, significantly higher than the Huawei P10 Plus’s 76 hours. This translates to longer real-world usage between charges. While the P10 Plus supports 18W wired charging, faster than the S7 edge’s 15W QC2 charging, the S7 edge’s larger effective battery capacity and optimized power management provide a more substantial advantage in daily use. The S7 edge also supports wireless charging, a convenience feature absent on the P10 Plus.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (USA) if you prioritize a vibrant, immersive display, reliable battery life, and a well-established software experience. Buy the Huawei P10 Plus if you value faster charging speeds and a dual-camera system focused on monochrome detail, though be aware of potential software support limitations.