Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review: Look elsewhere in 2018

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review: Display and Edge screen

As for the display, Samsung is sticking to the tried and tested. There’s no sign of 4K here (which would be daft, let’s face it); instead, the S7 Edge has “only” a 1,440 x 2,560 display. As usual for Samsung handsets, this uses Super AMOLED technology, which means it looks vibrant, colourful and in-your-face.

Given Samsung’s previous record with smartphone screen quality, it’s no surprise that the Edge’s display performs brilliantly. Under the scrutiny of our X-Rite i1display Pro colorimeter and with auto-brightness switched off, the brightness range runs from 1.7cd/m2 at its dimmest to a maximum of 503cd/m2; both are highly impressive results.

What’s different here is that Samsung is finally taking advantage of the OLED technology’s strengths by implementing an always-on display. This displays the time and recent notifications on the screen, even when the phone is on standby, and there’s a selection of different designs to choose from, including several different clock types, calendars and images.

The difference between this and always-on screen modes on other smartphones – most notably the Motorola Moto X line of handsets – is that it’s actually on permanently. There’s no need to wave your hand at it or nudge the phone to get it to turn on. It’s always there, gleaming out at you.

And then there’s the Edge screen. This first appeared on 2014’s lopsided Galaxy Note Edge, when Samsung endowed it with all sorts of fun capabilities. Samsung scaled things back last year with the S6’s Edge screen, which didn’t do an awful lot, but this year it’s back to full strength.

Drag a finger lightly over the screen’s rounded shoulder to access a double column of contact shortcuts, newsfeed streams and even a series of handy tools – the ruler makes a comeback here, accompanied by a control that allows you to toggle torch mode on and off (and increase or decrease its intensity), and there’s also a compass.

Interestingly, these Edge screens are no longer contained within the Edge as they were on the original Note Edge. Instead, they emerge from it, spilling over onto the main surface of the screen, making it both more readable and more useful.