Galaxy Note7 vs. S7 edge vs. Note5

Introduction

There can be no rivalry amidst Galaxies, but this has never stopped us from putting them against each other in all sorts of comparisons. It's what we call a shootout and this time, we'll be focusing on camera performance.

In this edition of our intergalactic shootout (it's certainly not our first), we'll be leaving three top Galaxy smartphones to battle it out - we've got the Galaxy Note7, the Galaxy S7 edge, and last year's Galaxy Note5. The trio was released within less than a year and is eyed by millions of fans. But this is a friendly battle, creatures from a single team fighting for the sake of increasing their reputation, if you would forgive us the Pokemon pun.

The three curved Galaxies here are all considered top of the line, even though the older Note5 features a slightly less powerful chipset. They are all beautiful though and capable in their own right and putting them against each other in a VS article would hardly produce a winner.

That's why we are taking those three into a friendly neighborhood shootout. We want to explore Samsung's achievements in the camera development over the course of the last 12 months and see where it leads us.

The Galaxy Note5 relies on a 16MP 16:9 camera with f/1.9 aperture and optical image stabilization. The Galaxy S7 edge and Galaxy Note7 switch the sensor back to a regular 4:3 one with 12MP resolution, but upgrade the setup with blazing-fast autofocus and an even wider f/1.7 aperture. The delay between the S7 edge and Note7 release gave Samsung an opportunity to refine the camera interface and possibly the processing.

Samsung Galaxy Note5	Samsung Galaxy S7 edge	Samsung Galaxy Note7
Primary camera resolution	16MP 5312 x 2988px 16:9 aspect	12MP 4032 x 3024px 4:3 aspect	12MP 4032 x 3024px 4:3 aspect
Primary camera sensor	1/2.6" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size, Sony IMX240 28 mm, f/1.9	1/2.5" sensor size, 1.4 µm pixel size, Sony IMX260 26 mm, f/1.7	1/2.5" sensor size, 1.4 µm pixel size, Sony IMX260 26 mm, f/1.7
Stabilization	Optical Image Stabilization	Optical Image Stabilization	Optical Image Stabilization
Focus	Phase Detection Auto Focus	Dual Pixel Phase Detection Auto Focus	Dual Pixel Phase Detection Auto Focus
Flash	Single LED Flash	Single LED Flash	Single LED Flash
Features	Touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection, panorama, Auto HDR, Manual mode, Virtual shot, Selective Focus, Live Broadcast, Slow-motion video, Hyperlapse video, Downloadable modes	Touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection, panorama, Auto HDR, Manual mode, Virtual shot, Selective Focus, Live Broadcast, Slow-motion video, Hyperlapse video, Downloadable modes	Touch focus, geo-tagging, face detection, panorama, Auto HDR, Manual mode, Virtual shot, Selective Focus…
Video recording	2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps	2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps	2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps
Video recording	Optical stabilization, digital stabilization (1440p and below), HDR, stereo sound rec.	Optical stabilization, digital stabilization (1440p and below), HDR, stereo sound rec.	Optical stabilization, digital stabilization (1440p and below), HDR, stereo sound rec.
Front camera	5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm, Auto HDR, Panorama 1440p@30fps, dual video call	5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm, Auto HDR, Panorama 1440p@30fps, dual video call	5 MP, f/1.7, 22mm, Auto HDR, Panorama 1440p@30fps, dual video call

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Conclusion:

We doubt any of these tests will make a Note fan get the S7 edge, because if you love the S-Pen, nothing can replace it. We wanted to explore Samsung's flagship camera evolution over the past few devices and see what got better and what not.

As it turned out Samsung just made a great camera even greater. The image quality is often on par across all three devices, but the processing algorithm is more sophisticated for brighter and sharper images. While there is an Auto HDR option on all devices, we're pleased to say that the Note7 hardly needs this mode. The dynamic range optimization Samsung has implemented does a great job of brightening up the shadows just when it's needed.

Even though it's not advertised in any way, it's there, and it works great when you need it. That's why it got our nod in this shootout - because it's a class-leading feature - not just among Samsung devices - but also most of its competitors as well.

The S7 edge has the same camera sensor and outs identical images when shadows are not involved. But even then - those are still brighter than the Note5's. The flash samples turned out a tad better with the S7 edge, too. Its colors come out warmer, but the difference is marginal at best.

Then there is the Note5, which may have a lesser field of view and the old processing algorithm, but you can't just write it off. The 16MP resolution spreading on a narrower FoV occasionally captures a lot more detail than the 7-series phones and thus can prove invaluable when you want to see even the tiniest details (such as in macro setups). And if the not-so-bright shadows are a concern for you, there is always the nice Auto HDR option for you.

   

Yes, the Galaxy Note7 won this shootout even if by a small margin. There were hardly any surprises along the way. If you want the best Samsung camera right now, it's the one on the back of the Note7. But this shouldn't stop you from considering the S7 edge or the Note5 - both flagships still offer best in class screens, designs, and performance. And some of the best images and videos, too.