The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge Review: Part 2
by Joshua Ho on July 5, 2016 8:00 AM ESTVideo Performance
Of course, the other part of the overall camera equation is video performance, which provides unique challenges for OEMs as things like encoder performance may have to run for a theoretically infinite amount of time as opposed to the burst workload that a single photo represents. Frames also have to be committed by a hard deadline rather than completing at some point in the future which means that there is a hard limit on the number of clock cycles that can be spent before moving on to the next frame.
Other than these basic challenges, it’s also important to be able to handle things like hand shake and other types of motion as people use their smartphones in dashcam applications or simply just walking around. As a result a good camera should be able to properly stabilize the video in all of these situations. In order to test this we rely on a simple side by side camera rig that holds both cameras pointed at the same object in order to see how the same subject looks on two different cameras simultaneously.
| Samsung Galaxy S7 Video Encode Settings | ||||
| Video | Audio | |||
| 1080p30 | 17 Mbps H.264 High Profile | 256 Kbps, 48 KHz AAC | ||
| 1080p60 | 28 Mbps H.264 High Profile | 256 Kbps, 48 KHz AAC | ||
| 4K30 | 48 Mbps H.264 High Profile | 256 Kbps, 48 KHz AAC | ||
| 720p240 | 76 Mbps H.264 Baseline | 256 Kbps, 48 KHz AAC | ||
To start with the basics we can look at the encodings used by Samsung for the Galaxy S7. For the most part there's nothing too interesting here other than the 720p240 encoding, which uses AVC's baseline profile rather than the high profile. I suspect we’re looking at a limitation of the Snapdragon 820’s encode blocks here rather than a deliberate decision by Samsung to use the baseline profile, as the high profile provides better quality compression in every scenario. Given that the Snapdragon 820 version of the Galaxy S7 also has a time limit for 4K video recording that the Exynos version doesn’t I suspect that Qualcomm’s encode blocks are just not as capable as those shipping in the Exynos 8890 and Apple’s A9 SoC, which is interesting given how hard Qualcomm has pushed for a focus on parts outside of the CPU or GPU on an SoC.
| 1080p30 Video |
Regardless of SoC, it seems that Samsung has chosen fairly sane encode settings for their video, so we can move on to 1080p30 output. Samsung continues to have issues with stabilization here, which is weird when you consider the fact that the HTC 10 actually has zero problems with the sort of jerky OIS reset behavior that I’ve come to associate with Android phones. However, the HTC 10 has less dynamic range here and less detail, although it doesn’t have very obvious sharpening halos the way the Galaxy S7 does. In fairness to Samsung, they are clearly ahead of the LG G5 here in terms of overall detail and dynamic range, as well as better wind noise removal.
Relative to the iPhone 6s Plus, the Galaxy S7 actually maintains its detail lead, but the iPhone 6s Plus is just clearly better at stabilizing the camera properly, which seems to be a combination of OIS and EIS. The Galaxy S7 does have a video stabilization setting toggle, but it doesn’t really help here and it’s turned off by default.
| 4K30 Video |
Moving on to the 4K30 output we see some interesting changes, likely brought on by the previously mentioned Snapdragon 820’s image processing deficiencies. The HTC 10 seems to have smooth motion by using EIS and OIS together for 1080p30, but when recording 4K30 it goes away and we’re left with the familiar jerky behavior that occurs when OIS hits its travel stop. However for some reason in 4K the HTC 10 has noticeably better dynamic range and resolved detail becomes on par with the Galaxy S7. Colors are also slightly more realistic as the Galaxy S7 overemphasizes the effect of the sunset resulting in a bit too much yellow in the sky and in general. The G5 might have slightly better detail than the GS7 here, but in general it just does worse in terms of color reproduction and dynamic range, as well as stabilization. There’s also a lot more wind noise that can be heard.
Relative to the iPhone 6s Plus, the superior stabilization of the iPhone 6s Plus is evident, and next to the iPhone 6s Plus it becomes pretty obvious that Samsung is just oversaturating some colors to try and get higher contrast. However, detail on the Galaxy S7 is slightly better when you look at a video frame by frame, but not really enough to notice in general. Wind noise is also better suppressed on the iPhone 6s Plus.
| Slow Motion Video |
In slow motion the Galaxy S7 does have better detail and higher frame rate than the HTC 10, but still over-emphasizes the effects of the sunset on lighting. Relative to the iPhone 6s Plus detail is better, but again colors are more natural.
In video performance overall, the Galaxy S7 is respectable for an Android device, but next to the iPhone 6s Plus it’s not really the greatest. Even the HTC 10 has better color reproduction, better stabilization in 1080p30, and better audio. Overall I’m not really blown away by the camera on the Galaxy S7. I’m not sure how most people came to their conclusion that the Galaxy S7 is the best Android camera, but I suspect that the logic behind it may not be a sound heuristic. The Galaxy S7 is the fastest Android camera by far, but the results it puts out are not necessarily the greatest. The HTC 10 is actually better than the Galaxy S7 in a number of cases, although not necessarily all the time and is let down by its focus and capture latency. The G5 is just flat-out better in still photography, but worse in video. Like the HTC 10 it's somewhat slow as well, but only when compared to the Galaxy S7. If I had to weigh everything together I would argue that the HTC 10 and LG G5 are at least the equal of the Galaxy S7, although this is after both devices have had numerous OTA updates through the months since release. I suspect that at launch there may have been bigger deltas, but after release everything has basically evened out. The iPhone 6s Plus is still the most well-rounded, but this is basically on the basis of video performance in 4K and 1080p60. If these things don't matter the HTC 10 is the next best thing in my eyes due to the more natural post-processing, but if you don't worry about these things the Galaxy S7 is fine.
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invinciblegod - Tuesday, July 5, 2016 - link
Apparently by your metric nothing can ever be compared to an iphone. "You can't compare a Lexus to a Mercedes, that will be BIAS!!!" The only thing annoying about this site is the complainers who have no valid arguments screaming BIAS.retrospooty - Tuesday, July 5, 2016 - link
How about when the iPhone 5s came out. Any other flagship gets 1, maybe 2 article. That day the iPhone 5s had 14 articles on it... 14 articles. That in itself shows the bias and that continues to this day, even after Anand left to go work at Apple. Reading the article above I see it clearly. Reading their iPhone reviews I see it clearly. There is an obvious reluctance to say anything negative about Apple and an obvious reluctance to say anything glowing about a product that competes with Apple. If you dont see that at Anandtech you simply arent paying attention.michael2k - Tuesday, July 5, 2016 - link
15? I can only find 9 articles for the 5S spread across 5 days, and one appears a month later.They had a hands on, and a video of the hands on, rather than combining the two. They had their announcement article as well as an availability article; they could have combined those as well. They also had separate articles on camera, battery, and CPU that could have been combined with the review.
That said, that isn't a sign of bias, that's a sign that Apple articles pay the bills. People read them and generate the prerequisite clicks necessary to get page impressions.
retrospooty - Tuesday, July 5, 2016 - link
It is possible it was hte iPhone5 release date... But it was 14. I recall it, because I commented after 11 that they had 11 bloody articles already and then 3 more came afterward, all that same day. That includes the main articles and the pipeline articles. Not sure how they archive them and that isnt the point. The point is the site is clearly biased. I remember you as well m2k, you are an old timer at this site as well and a well known apple defender. You are the target market and you are right , that is where their money lies. The only thing you are not right on is the bias it shows. When the site is reluctant to say anything too heavily negative about Apple and too positive on competing products, its a bias and this site has it, and has had it for many years now even years before Anand wen to work for Apple (if that isnt a clue already). If you dont see it, you simply aren't looking.michael2k - Tuesday, July 5, 2016 - link
There is something wrong with you if you think of people as with you and against you (Apple defender, Apple biased, etc). Yes, this site does favor Apple, they get a lot of coverage.You think it is wrong, yet the article lays out some of the reasons why they get so much coverage. Look at the CPU performance and you see that the 820 and Exynos both struggle to hit the top of the charts. Anandtech has performed multiple reviews over multiple iPhone releases to explain why that is the case; it isn't bias, it really is that Apple made a remarkable series of CPU designs.
We also see the same thing doesn't occur in the GPU, but we did have multiple articles talk about the PowerVR because sometimes Apple did have a range topping SoC. As previously discussed, the user base reads these CPU and GPU articles.
You can look at sales figures to see why Apple gets more attention than Samsung. In three days the iPhone 6S sold 13m units. In three months after the launch of the Galaxy S7 sold 25m units. There are really many more people reading the iPhone articles; that is the bias of the world, not the site, you're working against.
retrospooty - Tuesday, July 5, 2016 - link
" if you think of people as with you and against you" Where did I say anything like that? I am simply pointing out a bias - not about taking sides. Like I said, if you are looking for unbiased reviews, Anandtech is no longer the site to check on. If you already like Apple and aren't looking to change, and you want in depth articles on Apple products, its a great site. If you want somewhat less than complete articles on say, Samsung products 4 months after launch, it's a good site too. Get the point? You and I are both pointing out that the site has become Apple-centric. You just like it because you are an Apple fan - not that there is anything wrong with that. ;) I do not like it becasue I am a fan of tech in general, so the site I "grew up on" has sold out to clickbait. Anandtech from 1997- (maybe) 2012 wasnt like that. It used to be about the tech. Now it's about the clicks and catering to one particular companies products. If you dont see that, then you are the new target audience and are happy with it. No worries dood.fanofanand - Wednesday, July 6, 2016 - link
The bias is obvious. Josh spent several months with an iPad Pro before he could give it his review, I am not aware of him spending that kind of time with any other devices being tested. I think the Apple fans are dwindling in number, maybe people are figuring out that electronics aren't their friend, nor are the corporations that make them. I can't recall seeing anything negative said about any Apple product reviewed here since......ever. There's your bias, the implication that any product from a particular corporation is flawless. Retro I have read your comments for years and have always been entertained. Seems you don't post as often anymore :(retrospooty - Wednesday, July 6, 2016 - link
Thanks... Yeah, I dont post too often because I dont come here too often anymore due to the issue being discussed. It's just not about the tech anymore its about the clicks and the money.akdj - Monday, July 11, 2016 - link
You guys are hilarious.The extent that this crew has gone to improve the objective testing and measurements, the two part, in depth and all encompassing review of the s7/s7 (both variants; SD/Exynos) and the well written and 'time spent' using the devices put a WHOLE helluva lot more 'meat' in to the review & their conclusions.
As an ambidextrous user of both Android and iOS, I usually skip gens of Android and trade out annually for the latest iPhone. I still have my Xoom and the first iPad. The Nexus 7 & iPad 2 as well as a Note 4 and S6 Edge, I have the 6s+ as well and I enjoy all of them as smartphones. That said, and as an owner since day one ... I have too come to the same conclusions year in and out. iOS especially when you figure in its ecosystem of apps/& cross platform development so you're able to also enjoy the experience on your tablet ...an area Android STILL hasn't figured out compared with the iPad & Surface ...as well as Apple's understanding of SoCs and performance characteristics, updates, post purchase support and resale values ...you're truly insane (doing/buying the same thing while expecting different results) with your declarations of bias and conclusions about other sites that rushed their review out four days after it dropped. Insane!
The review clearly and objectively presents a whole lot of inarguable data and 'author time' spent with the piece they're reviewing.
If you go back and read Apple reviews, any of them, you'll find areas of the review favoring Android implementation or design. From the display and cameras to the 'off the shelf' SoCs everyone with exception of Samsung is using to power their devices.
Apple simply knows WTF they're doing and speaking from experience now nearing a decade using both - iOS and their dual/tri-core silicon designs, speedy memory(storage) and phenomenal memory management to keep battery longevity up as well as camera tech and understanding the whole 'package' - radios, security, durability, support and the largest library of software in history because developer monies ....how do you convince yourself the same bullshit year in and year out? Is that TechCrunch/Giz or CNet "review", in your opinion and published just hours or a couple days after release and minus the measurements and time spent somehow more 'valid' in your opinion? I honestly can't believe how the ignorance and blatant disregard for these amazing reviews you can read for free and than hide behind your goofy screen name and keyboard to bash the author who's soooo much more intelligent and knowledgeable than you, ALL of you will EVER be when it comes down to reality and mobile development
It also seems the masses agree. Apple sold 1/2 as many 6s & + models in 72 hours as Sammy did in three months, and it was the biggest 'down quarter' Apple's had since the iPhone dropped. Same thing on the tablet front. I also own each iPad including the two sides of Pros. Anand's reviews on both are incredibly spot on.
*I own and operate a business and have been waiting for the day iPad would replace the laptop or AIOs we use in the field. They are always connected, durable, reliable, and maintain incredible stamina when 'live'. I'm not blowing smoke as I have been extensively testing them and Air2 was the one ....even if a bit small. The 12.9" iPad Pro/256 is the best piece of gear I've ever purchased and at 1/2 the price of a MacBook Pro or Surface Pro - I'm saving money and don't have pre-event concerns about wifi access.
My take as an S6 Edge owner and reading the two reviews of the S7, I'm happy to skip that gen of Android. While I'll still purchase a Note 6/7 or S8 - it's not for pleasure but support and knowledge ...as iOS clearly and not subtly blows Android out of the water with the perfect phone -tab/lap or desktop integration and aggregation using Handoff ....there's a continuity that exists both vertically and horizontally that can't be matched. Period.
To argue and piss and moan about free and well written journalism is fruitless. Just. Go. Away. I can't understand why you would still be here, with the "Apple Bias" so prevalent. Like last year and the year before that, and the year....
Serious, those of you that still enjoy Android, this is a great phone. Just maybe not as great as Gizmodo or TchCrnch reported the day after it was released ;) --- and may NOT be the best Android choice for others.
Savanah - Tuesday, July 5, 2016 - link
I heard iphone sales are an all time low. Are you suggesting Apple is still selling more iphones than Samsung is selling their Galaxy series?