Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge goes up against the new ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe. While both smartphones look the part of a premium device – the S7 Edge uses a metal and glass construction, and the Deluxe uses an all-metal design. They also share many internal components, making this a great matchup. These two devices do have a few things in common that we will take a look at now, and then later we will look at each device to try to determine a winner of this specification comparison.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and the ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe do have a quite a bit in common, and this starts with the physical measurements, although the slightly larger ZenFone 3 Deluxe does weigh in 13 grams heavier. Both devices use a Super AMOLED display – 5.5-inch on the S7 Edge and 5.7-inches on the Deluxe – but use a different resolution. Both devices use the same 64-bit Snapdragon 820 (US version of S7 Edge) processor and the same Adreno 530 GPU. They both have a 64GB variant, and they both offer expandable memory via a microSD card. Both have great camera areas but go about it in a different manner. Both have Hi-Res audio for earphones for exceptional sound. Both have a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the device as well as authorizing mobile payments because they are both running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. The devices have a non-removable battery with quick charge features. The S7 Edge and ZenFone 3 Deluxe have the usual suspects – WiFi, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS, NFC, and a USB port – microUSB on the S7 Edge and USB Type-C v3.0 on the Deluxe.
Please take a careful look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details. After that, we will look at each device in greater depth and point out some of its pros and cons. From all of this information, we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge retains the metal and glass design from the Galaxy S6 Edge series along with its dual curved display. The curved screen is beginning to lose some of its ‘wow’ factor, but it is still a beautiful looking display. How does this aging premium smartphone hold up to the new ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe and its all-metal design? Let’s look and see just how they compare to one another.
The Galaxy S7 Edge sports a 5.5-inch QHD Super AMOLED ‘always-on’ display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 577 pixels-per-inch (PPI). The dual curved edges are not there to just be beautiful – they do offer some functionality. There are two processors used in the Galaxy S7 Edge – in the US, you will get the newest Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor with dual cores clocked at 1.6GHz and dual cores clocked at 2.15GHz – the same one found in the ZenFone 3 Deluxe. Around the rest of the world, you will get Samsung’s Exynos 8890 octa-core processor with four cores clocked at 1.6GHz and four cores clocked at 2.3GHz. The 820 processor uses an Adreno 530 GPU, and the Exynos 8890 uses the Mali-T880 MP4 GPU. The Galaxy S7 Edge packs 4GB of DDR4 RAM and offers 32GB of UFS 2.0 memory, with expansion up to 200GB via a microSD card.
Samsung made significant changes in the camera area – rather than giving it more than the 16MP as found in the Galaxy S6, they lowered it to a new Dual Pixel 12MP sensor. Samsung increased the aperture to f/1.7, included faster phase detection autofocus (PDAF), auto HDR, and retained the OIS. The Galaxy S7 Edge uses a 5MP wide-angle lens with a larger f/1.7 aperture and Live HDR for its front-facing camera (FFC.) This combination allows for excellent low-light selfies and video chatting. Samsung did increase the battery size to a larger non-removable 3600mAh battery and included quick charge and quick wireless charging as well.
The Galaxy S7 Edge incorporates an always-on display to help conserve battery life and uses dual curved edges that do provide some functionality. When it comes to mobile purchases, you also have the option of using Samsung Pay just about anywhere you can swipe a credit or debit card. The S7 Edge packs a heart rate monitor, oxygen saturation sensor, and quick wireless charging. The Galaxy S7 Edge is IP68 certified water and dust resistance. The S7 Edge measures 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm, weighs in at 157 grams and is available in Black, White, Gold, and Silver, costing about $790.
ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe
While ASUS’ new family of ZenFone 3 devices has some impressive specs – We are looking at the ZenFone 3 Deluxe as it has the best processor and specifications of the group. It comes with 6GB of DDR4 RAM and 64GB or 256GB (coming later) of faster USF 2.0 memory just like the S7 Edge. The new ZenFone 3 Deluxe is made entirely from metal and ASUS even built the antenna into the frame, so there are no lines on the back. ASUS changed just about everything with their new models – different outside material, the brand of processor, more RAM, new and faster UFS 2.0 memory, better camera. For a real flagship smartphone, the only thing I can fault ASUS with is the absence of the QHD display.
The ZenFone 3 Deluxe sports a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED FHD always on display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 386 PPI – not the QHD display of the S7 Edge. ASUS also used the new 64-bit Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor with a dual-core clocked at 1.6GHz and a dual-core clocked at 2.15GHz. The Adreno 530 GPU will handle the toughest graphics thrown its way. There are two versions – a 6GB DDR4 RAM with 64GB of memory or a 6GB DDR4 model with 256GB of memory that we will arrive at a later date. Both versions have room to expand 128GB via a microSD card, and both models are using the new and faster UFS 2.0 memory like the Galaxy S7 series.
ASUS really designed a great camera area by using a Sony sensor, 23MP ASUS PixelMaster 3.0 camera, that comes with a sapphire crystal lens cover, an aperture of f/2.0, dual LED flash, and even a 4-axis OIS for greater stability. The FFC is an impressive 8MP snapper with an 85-degree wide-angle lens for selfies or video chatting. A 3000mAh non-removable battery powers the ZenFone 3 Deluxe, and it utilizes Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for unlocking the device as well as authorizing mobile payments.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe has an extra 2GB of RAM over the Galaxy S7 Edge. It comes with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and has ASUS’ own ZenUI 3.0 running over the top. It measures in at 156.4 x 77.4 x 7.5mm and weighs in at 170 grams. The colors available are Titanium Gray, Glacier Silver, and Sand Gold, and it will cost about $500 for the 6GB/64GB model – no pricing yet on the 6GB/256GB variant, it will certainly cost a lot more.
…And The Winner Is…
The Final Word
Okay, despite the beauty of the dual curved QHD display on the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, the heart rate monitor, the oxygen saturation sensor, IP68 rating, Samsung Pay and wireless charging, I am picking the ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe as the winner of this competition and saving myself, $290.
The ZenFone 3 Deluxe is a well-built device, nice to look at and comfortable to hold. It may not employ a QHD display, but it does use a Super AMOLED display as the S7 Edge for high contrasts. It uses the same processor, the same GPU, more RAM and both use the faster UFS 2.0 expandable memory. It uses the newer reversible Type-C connector for charging and data transfers. It sports a fingerprint sensor and NFC for Android Pay or other mobile payments.
Both devices are top-notch and if you can live with an FHD display and no Samsung Pay, than save yourself some money and get the ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe.
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