The Galaxy S7. Image source: Samsung.
I am disappointed in Apple (AAPL 1.62%). After a monster iPhone 6/6 Plus cycle, the company released the iPhone 6s/6s Plus. These phones had a number of interesting enhancements over the prior generation (the A9 chip is a first-rate piece of engineering and 3D Touch is quite the technological feat), but given how poorly they're doing in the marketplace, it simply wasn't enough of a leap forward to get customers truly excited.
As a technology enthusiast (and, frankly, an Apple product enthusiast), I bought both the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus. The iPhone 6s is (and will remain) my work line, while the iPhone 6s Plus is what I use on my personal line.
However, following the launch of the Samsung (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF) Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, I plan to sell my iPhone 6s Plus and replace it with the Galaxy S7 Edge that I have preordered. Here's why.
It's all about the display and the camera
The iPhone 6s Plus has a decent display, but it's hardly class leading these days. Many of the Android flagships on the market today have better displays and the latest crop of devices announced at Mobile World Congress 2016, including the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, only extend that lead.
The S6 already had a superior camera to the iPhone 6s/6s Plus (which were, frankly, lazy efforts on the camera side of things), and what Samsung has done with the S7 should -- just as it has on the display -- leave the iPhone 6s/6s Plus further in the dust.
At first, I found myself lamenting that I'd have to wait another six months or so before I would be able to get my hands on a large iPhone with a significantly improved display and camera. That's a really long time in technology.
However, after sitting here frustrated about this fact, I realized something: I don't have to wait for the next iPhone in order to get my hands on a phone that might have best-in-class displays and camera; I can just put a preorder in for the Galaxy S7 Edge and get what I'm looking for now.
I still prefer iOS/Apple ecosystem, but the S7 Edge should tide me over
I like iOS; I like it a lot. If I had to own just one smartphone, I would probably just suck it up and wait for the iPhone 7/7 Plus in order to get what I'm looking for.
However, both the display and the camera on a smartphone are extremely important to me, which is leading me to give the S7 Edge a try.
To be blunt, I don't think Samsung's TouchWiz user interface is very good (stock Android is substantially better) and just about all of my paid apps reside on iOS, not on Android. However, since I use my phone primarily to surf the web, take photos, and play the occasional free-to-play game, and since I'll still have my iPhone 6s handy, I think I'll be fine.
Step it up, Apple
I want Apple to deliver something truly breathtaking with the iPhone 7 and there's every indication that future iPhones should be quite impressive. If the iPhone 7 is truly the game changer that I hope it will be, then I'll gladly sell the S7 Edge that arrives at my doorstep on March 11.
If the iPhone 7 can't make the S7/S7 Edge look obsolete, then I'll have to seriously think about moving the work line to an Android device (be it from Samsung or another vendor) as well.
