Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs. iPhone 6s Plus: The 2016 MEGA Phablet SMACKDOWN!!

Watch out! The King of the phablets is back! We pit the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 up against Apple's iPhone 6s Plus

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has been announced on August 2 proving most of the pre-launch rumours regarding its specs and features true. Most, not all, however, as there are a few things many were expecting that haven't quite materialised. Still, in many ways the new phablet is still shaping up as quite a force to be reckoned with, building as the Note series always does on the combined successes of the Galaxy S flagship and the previous Note model.

"More than 200,000 Galaxy Note 7 handsets have been pre-ordered in South Korea in just two days," reports Android Authority. "This number doubles the number of orders for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The news makes the Note 7 the most pre-ordered Galaxy phone in South Korea to date, a major win for Samsung in its home country. Furthermore, Strategy Analytics believes that the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are already Android’s most popular phones, both having already sold 13 million and 12 million units respectively. A little bit of extrapolation based on these pre-order numbers paints a very promising picture for Galaxy Note 7 sales."

Amongst the competitors to stack it up against there's one old rival that jumps to the front of the line; Apple. The firm is expected to launch a new batch of iPhone handsets in September, now only weeks away, which will include both an iPhone 7 and a larger iPhone 7 Plus phablet (which may be called the iPhone 7 Pro). The phablet model may be incremental overall, but it is also expected to have a few competetive features, such as a dual-sensor camera, masses of onboard storage, and a Smart connector port similar to the iPad Pro's setup which allows for a keyboard dock accessory. In many ways that will really be the device to compare to Samsung's latest and greatest, but in the meantime the firm's nearest competitor is the iPhone 6s Plus phablet launched in late 2015.

The iPhone 6s hasn’t had a good year by Apple’s usual standards. For the first time in Apple’s history, iPhone sales dropped in 2016. Now, this could be down to the iPhone 6s being a bit of a dull update or that people are simply holding onto their phones for a bit longer. Speaking personally, I think it is a bit of both — innovation has slowed in the mobile space, things have levelled out and most new updates feature incremental changes (3D Touch) that most people can happily live without.

Now, all this could change with the arrival of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, as Apple is apparently planning something very special for the imaging capabilities. Apple also knows that these iPhones NEED a big USP, as their physical appearance will not be all that different from the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s — Apple is switching to a three-year design cycle, apparently.

Still, Apple is a force to be reckoned with in the mobile space. It is Samsung’s chief opponent, really, so it stands to reason that comparisons will be drawn between the iPhone 6s Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, at least until the next iPhone rocks up, so without further ado, let’s see how they compare.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Apple iPhone 6s Plus: Specs

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Specs

• Dimensions/Weight: 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm/169g
• Display: 5.7in Super AMOLED EDGE, 2560x1440 pixel QHD, 518ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, HDR
• Onboard Storage: 64GB UFS 2.0
• MicroSD: Up To 256GB
• Processor: Samsung Exynos Octa 8890 (64-bit); Quad-Core 2.3GHz Exynos M1 "Mongoose" + Quad-Core 1.6GHz ARM Cortex-A53
• GPU: Mali-T880 MP12
• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
• Battery: 3,500mAh (Non-Removable), Quick Charge, Ultra Power Saving Mode
• Connectivity: Type-C USB, NFC, GPS, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band/Direct/Hotspot)
• Primary Camera: 12 MP, 1/2.6" Sensor Size, 1.4 µm Pixel Size f/1.7 Aperture Size, 26mm Focal Length, Dual-Pixel Phase Detection Autofocus, OIS, LED Flash
• Front Camera: 5 MP, f/1.7 Aperture Size,  22mm Focal Length
• Other: S-Pen Capacitive Stylus, IP68 Water And Dust Proofing, Fingerprint Scanner, Iris Scanner
• Colours: Blue Coral, Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium, Black Onyx
• Software: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (Android 7.0 Nougat Coming)

Apple iPhone 6s Plus Specs

• Dimensions/Weight: 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm/192g
• Display: 5.5in IPS LCD, 1920x1080 pixel FHD, 401ppi, "Ion-Strengthened Glass"
• Onboard Storage: 16GB/64GB/128GB
• MicroSD: None
• Processor: Apple A9 (64-bit); Dual-Core 1.8GHz "Twister"
• GPU: PowerVR GT7600
• RAM: 2GB LPDDR4
• Battery: 2,750mAh (Non-Removable)
• Connectivity: Lightning Port (USB Adaptor), NFC (Apple Pay), GPS, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band/Hotspot)
• Primary Camera: 12 MP, 1/3" Sensor Size, 1.22 µm Pixel Size f/2.2 Aperture Size, 29mm Focal Length, Phase Detection Autofocus, OIS, Dual-LED Two-Tone Flash
• Front Camera: 5 MP, f/2.2 Aperture Size,  31mm Focal Length
• Other: TouchID Fingerprint Scanner
• Colours: Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold
• Software: iOS 9.3.3 (iOS 10 Coming)

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Apple iPhone 6s Plus: Design

So first things first; design. Even without the tidal wave of leaks ahead of the Galaxy Note 7's launch there were a few educated guesses and reasonable assumptions we could've made about the handset's overall design ethos which have, once again, been proven completely true. It's pretty simple really; whatever the current-gen Galaxy S flagship for a given year looks like, the Galaxy Note for that year will more or less look like a big version of it and use a close approximation of the design language and production methods.

That's definitely the case here, as the Galaxy Note 7 uses the same metal frame with glass front and back panels as the Galaxy S7 series, and follows very closely all the same visual cues such as punched speaker grilles, button design and placement, port shape and design, and so on. This is familiar terrirory, it is basically Samsung's current signature style in 5.7in phablet form. And, truth be told, is not massively different from last year's Galaxy Note 5 either, which in turn was based on the Galaxy S6 series flagship design, which was very similar to the Galaxy S7 series too. It all links.

But not wanting to sound too much like a complacent old git, I will say that even with the repetition of the design it is rather welcome; as I've said elsewhere this new metal and glass aesthetic is the best design Samsung has ever come up with - FAR better than the firm's old tacky plastic - so I'm glad it's not fading out prematurely. Long may it continue.

Plus, credit where it's due, there are some crucial differences in the design of the new Galaxy Note 7. Most importantly, it has followed the Galaxy S7's lead with the IP68 water and dust proofing, making it the first Samsung Galaxy Note device with this rugged durability feature suite. Just like the Galaxy S7, you can drop the Galaxy Note 7 in the bath and not freak out about it.

What's more, Samsung has actually done some clever jiggery-pokery to make the S-Pen stylus function on the display when wet, even if the phone's underwater. Neat. Another key difference is the presence of that EDGE display, y'know, the one with the curved edges along the sides, just like the Galaxy S7 EDGE. This isn't a first for the Note series, in fact the Note series is where this curvy display experimentation first started for Samsung on the fourth-generation Galaxy Note EDGE (a limited run variant of the Galaxy Note 4 with only one curved edge, not both), but it's been gone a long while and it's now seeing a triumphant, much more developed return here.

This does change the design somewhat from the Galaxy Note 5, with a curvy screen and a flatter back instead of the Note 5's inversion of this; a flat screen with a curvy back. Overall the Galaxy Note 7 is also a little more angular and squared-off than the Galaxy S7 series.

How does this compare to the Apple iPhone 6s Plus though? Rather favourably, to be honest. It'd be remiss of me to talk up Samsung's adoption of metal and glass design while failing to point out that, although a different aesthetic, Apple's long-standing metal and glass build is also something that looks fantastic and screams quality when you handle it.

So again, you won't hear me complaining about Apple's repetition of design on this phablet, indeed, what would we have the firm replace it with? Luminous yellow polycarbonate? I think not. No, there's nothing wrong with the look and feel here, but the reason I'd lean towards the Galaxy Note 7 coming out on top here is quite simply the waterproofing. Apple's had years to implement this kind of tech while everyone else has brought it to market, and its absence is rather glaring on such a premium brand that prides itself on useful, pragmatic features.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Apple iPhone 6s Plus: Display

Apple's behind on display tech, this is pretty well established now. Yes, sure, the firm's displays are adequate; they're nicely sharp and colourful enough for people to enjoy them without much complaint. But gone are the days where Apple could honestly claim it has the best screens on the market. The mere fact that the firm is looking to swap its current tech for OLED, possibly as early as next year and probably supplied by Samsung, should say something about its IPS LCD setups being outdated.

It also says something about where Samsung sits in the hierarchy. The Galaxy S7 series remains the undisputed KING of display tech for the entirety of 2016 thanks to the Super AMOLED tech it is carrying. The handset delivered the best performance in all display areas that count according to extensive tests and analysis by DisplayMate.

Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy Note 7's display panel is the very same Super AMOLED technology, sporting a QHD resolution much higher than Apple's for superior sharpness even on a larger diagonal. What's more, Samsung has added an HDR functionality similar to what is used in the firm's best TVs, which essentially offers even better colour and contrast settings. In short, this should be just about the best phablet display available bar none.

Samsung's also borrowed its own Always On display feature from the Galaxy S7, running the display in a low power mode even when the phone is asleep to display the time, date, and some notifications. If it's anything like the S7's setup it will barely sip the battery at all, and Samsung has added specialist Note functionality to allow you to scribble notes and doodles on the Always On screen which the phone will save for later.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Apple iPhone 6s Plus: Hardware

Some were expecting an upgraded processor from the Galaxy S7's Exynos 8990 octa-core setup, as well as a sizeable 6GB of RAM, but sadly neither has occured. The Exynos 8990 has returned and still packs 4GB of RAM; not that this is anything to sneeze at, again it's the same hardware from the Galaxy S7 and that has continued to be one of 2016's better performers.

How does this compare to the Apple iPhone 6s Plus with its Apple A9 chipset? Well to an extent it's apples and oranges (pardon the pun) in the sense that so much is dependent on the hardware and software optimisations; Apple has finely honed iOS and its app ecosystem to its purpose-built dual-core CPU, while Samsung's Exynos chip is all dialled in for Google's latest version of Android. So although on paper there is apparently quite a difference, in actual use both phones are going to be somewhat comparable.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 7, however, is using a chip with a bit more top end grunt, and slightly more modern technology, which should mean it's a bit better future proofed for forthcoming applications and software changes as time progresses. The A9 will still be relevant for some time to come too, but may start to show its age a little sooner, and it is about to imminently be replaced by whatever the iPhone 7 is sporting (presumably the A9X CPU from the iPad Pro).

On the battery side of things, the iPhone 6s Plus' 2,750mAh cell is not massive as phablets go, but somehow Apple has managed to squeeze some excellent performance out of it and it bowled over KYM's Richard Goodwin during his review - he still rates it as one of the best phones for battery from the year so far; a rather exclusive club to be sure. That said, the Galaxy S7 also demonstrated some impressive battery life despite a smaller cell, and we think this is likely due to similar optimisation work. The Galaxy Note 7 has a much larger 3,500mAh cell (though smaller than the anticipated 4,000mAh) which, assuming a similar level of optimisation has been achieved, should produce some spectacular results. Naturally time will be the test of this as reviewers start to get hands-on with the phone for extended periods.

Apple still has its well-implemented TouchID fingerprint scanner for unlocking the handset and operating Apple Pay, while Samsung has its own fingerprint scanner in the Note 7's home key. Samsung has now added an iris scanner to the front of the Galaxy Note 7 as another biometric option.

On the storage side of things Samsung has only revealed a 64GB option for the Galaxy Note 7, but it does support microSD cards up to 256GB. However, there's no word yet on whether, like the Galaxy S7, the Note 7 may not support Android's native Adoptive Storage feature to utilise card storage as onboard space for applications. Another caveat is that the phone does not support the UFS card standard, meaning Samsung's latest batch of ultra-fast read/write UFS cards will not be compatible. Apple has a far wider range of onboard storage options ranging from 16GB up to 128GB (though omitting the 32GB option) but as per Apple's usual it does not support external card memory.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Apple iPhone 6s Plus: Camera

One area where Apple's phones have been consistently getting better and better, even with what are, overall, incremental models, is the camera tech. Apple takes a very softly, softly approach with its camera hardware but the results are difficult to argue with. In many ways the firm was a bit ahead of the curve with its modest but careful optimisation of imaging configurations, something that has now been adopted by the wider industry with more attention given to aperture sizes, pixel sizes, sensor sizes, autofocus tech, and stablisation, rather than just ramping up the megapixels.

The iPhone 6s Plus' setup is very impressive in terms of image and video fidelity, easily in the top five of current smartphone flagships. It is also slightly better than its smaller iPhone 6s counerpart thanks to the inclusion of an OIS module.

With that said, Samsung has really been pushing the boat out in recent years, the camera experience is consistently superb. The Galaxy Note 7 features the same imaging hardware as the Galaxy S7, including a super-wide f/1.7 aperture, much wider than Apple's f/2.2 setup, and a BIG 1/2.6" sensor size, both ideal for letting in more light. It also has OIS, but in addition uses the S7's advanced dual-pixel phase detection autofocus, which was a first for Samsung and is some of the fastest autofocus tech available.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is OFFICIAL: 6GB of RAM + 128GB Storage Model Coming To CHINA!?

Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 is FINALLY official. Here's everything you need to know about the Galaxy Note and when you can buy one

Samsung has just announced the latest instalment in its Android-based Galaxy smartphone range; the 5.7in Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phablet. The device has been the talk of the town for many months now, but has finally been unwrapped at a special event in New York on August 2. It’s fast becoming a cliche to say this in tech journo circles, but it’s true nonetheless that there are not many surprises with the official announcement following a long trail of rumours which have revealed, mostly accurately, near every detail of the Galaxy Note 7.

Samsung’s next BIG THING will be the Samsung Galaxy S8, which is scheduled for launch inside early 2017 in its usual spot. However, in 2017 there is a MASSIVE potential curveball on the cards and it goes by the name of Samsung Galaxy X.

Why’s it a curveball? Simple: the Galaxy X — which is believed to feature multiple models — will be the first commercial handsets that are completely flexible, meaning you will be able to fold and flex them. Samsung has been developing this tech for years, and in 2017 it will finally be ready for public consumption.

How the Galaxy X will effect the Galaxy S8 remains to be seen. Will it replace it? That doesn’t seem likely given how much sway Samsung’s Galaxy S brand commands in today’s mobile space. What’s more like is that it will be a side-brand like the Galaxy Note series. But if the rumours ring true and the Galaxy X is a truly flexible handset the reaction from consumers could be HUGE.

I mean, the status-quo of mobile design hasn’t really changed since 2007, save for the advent of ever-larger displays. The Galaxy X and the technology behind it stands to seriously shake things up on the mobile front by showing consumers that they can have phones that change shape, flex and roll-up. I mean, just think about that for a second — it’s HUGE. And, importantly, it’d give Samsung a huge marketing advantage of Apple and pretty much everybody else in the space.

Interestingly, it seems the Galaxy Note 7 may be indicating a product shift for Samsung; it's the first Galaxy handset with a curved EDGE display that isn't explicitly named with the EDGE moniker bolted on the end and, what's more, it has been launched solo, without a flat-screen alternative model, like the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7 series. This has been enough on its own to get punters speculating about the possibility that all future Samsung flagship models may be single-model launches with a wholesale shift to curved EDGE displays, and without the need anymore to flag the feature in the naming convention, as it's now a familiar fixture for Galaxy fans. Following the launch of the Galaxy Note 7, some new info gives further weight to this line of thought, Samsung's head of mobile, Dong-jin Koh, spoke to the Korea Herald during an interview in New York after the Note 7 event, where he said, "Samsung has considered that it would make the edge display as the identity of the Galaxy S smartphone lineup if the company can provide consumers differentiated user experience through software and user-friendly functions (for the curved screen)."

However, with the Galaxy X waiting in the wings with an innovative new form factor, we are left to wonder how long the fixed-curvature of the EDGE display will be around before fully flexible and folding OLED phones dominate the Samsung Galaxy portfolio.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 6GB RAM & 128GB Storage Model A Reality?

Some pundits were a little shocked during the Galaxy Note 7 announcement when it emerged that Samsung was only revealing one storage variant for the phablet with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. Recently there's been a push for higher storage models on flagship phones, with Apple raising its onboard storage up to 128GB, and with a phablet device with a focus on productivity, many expected the Note 7 would follow suit. There were also heavy rumours ahead of the launch for 6GB of RAM inside the Note 7.

Well, now following the launch, there's some evidence that a 128GB model with 6GB RAM may indeed exist. Chinese certification authority TENAA recently updated its listing for the Galaxy Note 7 with a 128GB memory and 6GB RAM variant, and if it's being certified in this way then it's pretty certain it will see a release. But the big question there is when? And perhaps more importantly where? So far it has only appeared on TENAA making us wonder if it will be limited to distribution in China. Only time will tell if a wider circulation will occur.

Yet more evidence has emerged on August 9 that China, at the very least, will be getting a 128GB storage/6GB RAM Galaxy Note 7 handset. This time it's a carrier network preparing to launch the new model, complete with pricing. Emerging via Chinese blogging and social network channels (Weibo) insiders with an unnamed Chinese network leaked details that pre-orders will start on August 26 and the phones would go on-sale on September 2, with the price set at 6088 yuan ($912), versus the 64GB/4GB RAM model at 5688 yuan ($853), a small difference in price which, frankly, doesn't sound at all realistic. Still, that doesn't mean the new model isn't real and isn't coming to China pretty soon - but the big question remains; will this be a China exclusive? We hope not, and if so it is a stupidity of similar proportions to the Galaxy Note 5 getting a limited distribution last year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Design & Display

First and foremost is the fact that it is indeed called the Galaxy Note 7 not the Galaxy Note 7 EDGE (and not the Galaxy Note 6) in spite of also having an EDGE display with curved sides, just like the Galaxy S7 EDGE...but bigger.

It’s a Super AMOLED setup (no surprise there) with a QHD resolution just as tipsters predicted. You may recall DisplayMate studied the Galaxy S7 EDGE’s display technology and found it to be the best on the market bar none, on all fronts including brightness, sharpness, contrast, lowest reflective-ness, and more – it would appear Samsung has transferred that very same tech to the larger format. On top of that, Samsung has also borrowed some tricks from its 4K TV business, namely an HDR mode which allows for more vivid colour and contrast presets.

Meanwhile the overall design (as leaks already showed) is very similar to the Galaxy S7 series though a little more squared and angular in places - it’s available in silver, gold, or black colour options too, and there's also the new "blue coral" colour which features gold trim instead of silver.

Naturally it also has a cavity in the base holding the S-Pen stylus, which Samsung says is even more precise than before with a "ballpoint-like" experience, as well as offering a bunch of new software features and capabilities (which we’ll cover in more detail later). Just like the Galaxy S7 series, the Galaxy Note 7 is also IP68 water and dust resistant, the first Galaxy Note series device to be given this type of protection, better yet the stylus also functions underwater. Dimensions are 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm and it weighs 168g – impressively light for the size of this phone.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Hardware

The fingerprint scanner Home key has returned again, but as leaks showed we now have an iris scanner built-into the phone’s frontage. This allows you to unlock the handset by lining your eye up inside some on-screen circles, but otherwise works pretty much like existing biometric security. As with the fingerprint scanner, Samsung is opening this up to app developers.

As per the pre-launch leaks, the handset features Type-C USB (with quick-charge support) and packs 64GB onboard storage for the base model, with microSD card support for up to 256GB of external memory. One fly in the ointment is that the microSD support doesn't include the new UFS format, with Samsung itself having recently launched a whole range of UFS microSD cards - the UFS format is much quicker for read and write speeds, so we can't help but feel Sammy has shot itself in the foot here. The internal memory, however, is UFS 2.0.

The processor, keeping with Samsung’s usual MO, is region-dependent, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor doing the business for the North American and European markets (and indeed, most other places) while Samsung’s Asian home region has the firm’s own Exynos Octa 8990. That means pound-for-pound its on the same level as the Samsung Galaxy S7 series rather than being an incremental upgrade, as it was expected it might feature the latest Snapdragon 821 and Exynos 8993 chips, but still, regardless, it's still tons more powerful than the last Galaxy Note.

Either way, they’re 64-bit chips, though each model has 4GB of RAM onboard, NOT the 6GB many earlier rumours claimed!

Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Software & UI Features

The software package has received a bit of a visual overhaul, it’s running on top of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (expect a Nougat update to follow between now and end of Q1 2017 we’d imagine!) with the firm’s own UI over top, but as with the Galaxy S7 the overlay has been stripped down and tidied considerably compared to Samsung’s past.

Despite this, the Galaxy Note series has always been about productivity, and maximising the potential of that big display combined with a pressure-sensitive stylus. Split-screen and windowed multitasking capabilities are still present and correct alongside several other now long-standing Galaxy Note features such as superb handwriting-to-text recognition and built-in cut, copy, and paste functions.

The Air Command radial menu has been tweaked to include three new functions too, all of them previously rumoured and fairly self-explanatory; Translate, Magnify, and Glance. The first two are pretty obvious, allowing you to translate text and magnify portions of the screen via the S-Pen, however, the third, Glance, is another multitasking feature allowing users to quickly see previews of an application by hovering over a thumbnail, and also enabling quick switching between said apps. There's also a handy gif-creator if you're into that sort of thing.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Camera

In terms of imaging, well it’s a similar story to previous Galaxy Note handsets; the series isn’t known for being particularly groundbreaking when it comes to photography, or at least not in terms of capture. Photo manipulation via the stylus features remains, however, pretty unique thanks to the built-in scrap-booking capabilities.

Previously the Galaxy Note series has tended to rely on utilising similar (often identical) imaging hardware to its contemporary Galaxy S flagship counterpart (as with many other features such as display and processor tech, of course) and this is largely the case here too.

The phone follows the Galaxy S7’s lead in sticking with current trends for down-rated megapixel ratings, a more conservative 12MP primary and 5MP secondary affair, but with other aspects of the sensors improved; larger sensor size, larger pixel size, wider apertures, better focus modules, and so on. It has the Galaxy S7's f/1.7 aperture size and an optical stabilisation (OIS) module.

The Galaxy Note 7 has the same dual-pixel phase detection autofocus as the Galaxy S7, which is insanely fast improving both the utility of the Samsung imaging experience, but also the image quality as less detail is lost in the process.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Battery

The battery is a sizeable 3,500mAh setup, which although impressive is not quite the 4,000mAh behemoth many rumours claimed. Still, as with the rest of Samsung’s premium range in recent years, the Galaxy Note 7 has been stuffed with battery saving software and hardware optimisations just like the Galaxy S7 - which offered some of the best battery performance so far this year - and there’s an Ultra Power-saving mode for when you really need it.

Samsung has also implemented the Galaxy S7’s Always On display feature which allows you to see the time and some notifications even when the phone is asleep, at very little noticeable cost to battery life. You can also take notes on the Always On display in standby mode.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Release Date, Price & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will be available for pre-order starting from August 3. The actual release date is scheduled for August 19, and all major carriers — both here, in the UK, and the US — will be carrying the handset.

With respect to pricing, this is what we know so far: 

US	August 3	August 19	AT&T: $880; T-Mobile: $849; U.S. Cellular: $834	Blue, black and silver
UK	August 16	September 2	£578-£631*	Blue, black and silver

If you'd like to pre-order tha Galaxy Note 7 you can do so HERE. 

And in case you were wondering, Samsung has published this handy infographic showing just what is new in the Galaxy Note 7 compared to its predecessor:

The OnePlus 3 Specs & Hardware Detailed IN FULL: 2016's FLAGSHIP KILLER Lands

OnePlus' third handset emerges as the...OnePlus 3! Here's EVERYTHING you need to know -- release date, specs, price

OnePlus is perhaps one of the best success stories in recent years. The Chinese start-up came out of nowhere a few years back and is now one of the most visible brands in the mobile space.

Its first handset, the OnePlus One, took the internet by storm, garnering A LOT of attention off the back of OnePlus’ dynamic and unique approach to marketing, whereby they spent barely anything, focussed online, and built up a HUGE following in the run up to the handset’s release.

OnePlus followed the OnePlus One up with the OnePlus 2 and now, 12 months later, the company is back with its most refined handset to-date: the OnePlus 3. And this is exactly what it needed to do as well because 2016’s Android space is one hell of a competitive place; everybody turned up with their A GAME this year.

We’re big fans of OnePlus here at KYM and below is a bunch of reasons, news and updates about the OnePlus 3 that will no doubt get you excited about this handset too; because, let’s not forget: no one is doing what OnePlus is doing right now. The company is pretty much unique in the space. And in today’s marketplace that is a very special thing.

OnePlus 3 Android Updates

Blimey that was fast. No less than four days after confirming the plans on its official web forum, OnePlus has pushed out its promised update for the OnePlus 3 designed to improve and optimise RAM performance and add an sRGB mode for the display, plus, it has been revealed, there are a few other tweaks as well. OnePlus said it would deliver the update in response to criticism and reports that RAM management was lacklustre - video evidence had emerged that showed the Samsung Galaxy S7 EDGE, with 2GB less RAM, was much faster thanks to RAM effiiencies. The 396MB update, which brings Oxygen OS up to version 3.2.0(build designation: OnePlus3Oxygen_16_1607012342) is now rolling out to OnePlus 3 units and introduces the following changes (via):

• Enabled sRGB mode in developer options
• Improved RAM management
• Improved GPS performance
• Enhanced audio playback quality
• Updated custom icon packs
• Fixed some issues with notifications
• Improved camera quality/functionality
• Fixed some issues in Gallery
• Latest Google security patches
• Fixed bugs in Clock/Music apps

Update: ARGH! We spoke to soon! According to a statement from OnePlus on July 5 the firm has pulled the 3.2.0 update due to reports from users that many were experiencing new issues after installing the software build. The original plan was to complete the rollout in 48 hours, but the firm has been forced to backtrack and pause further updating, OnePlus said that some users had encoutnered problems with the update process but has not yet disclosed what kind of performance issues the update may cause once installed.

"Due to some reports of issues while upgrading, we are temporarily stopping the rollout to investigate. We will start back up as soon as possible," the firm said in an edit to its original announcement post on the company forums.

As of July 27, OnePlus has revealed its plans for yet more software updates and performance improvements, bringing the software up to OxygenOS 3.2.2. The build will be pushed OTA starting from today, and amongst other things adds an NFC toggle button, and fixes a bug which puts the phone into silent mode.  In addition, the fingerprint scanner will automatically be disbaled if  the phone detects it is in a pocket or bag, preventing a noted behaviour where the button would pick up incidental touches by other objects and would drain battery power. OnePlus says it has also improved battery optimisation for Android's Doze mode with regard to notifications.

Here's the changelog:

• Improved notification management in doze.
• Addressed alert slider/silent mode issue.
• Disabled fingerprint sensor while in pocket.
• Added NFC toggle in quick settings.
• Improved noise cancellation in video recording.
• Updated 4K video recording codec.
• Added latest security patches and various optimizations.

The OnePlus 3 essentially represents the Chinese OEM kicking its plans for world dominance into the next gear; the firm came out of nowhere a few years ago with an innovative approach to marketing and consumer interaction, an intriguing distribution model, and a handset with a relatively low price combined with decent specs. Over time it's become apparent that this was an experimental, testing-the-water phase, and now with the launch of the OnePlus 3 we're looking at the kid gloves being taken off.

Why's that? Well the limited number, invite-only distribution model has been cast aside - OnePlus has ramped up production of the OnePlus 3 to offer many more units to eager consumers, and it has teamed up with Amazon to sell the phone exclusively via the world-leading online retailer's webstores.

And rivals should be worried. They should be worried because OnePlus has also dialled up on its spec-to-price ratio offering a metal-build, premium-grade, flagship-level spec smartphone at a MID-RANGE price point - a mere £309 for the base model.

OnePlus handsets are cheaper than ones from nearly everybody else, but they have specs, design and features to go toe-to-toe with the best of them. The company saves cash by virtue of its corporate composition; it doesn’t spend millions on marketing, it controls the production and amount of its phones and, most importantly, it has built a hugely strong community around its brand.

We won’t know how much damage the entry of the OnePlus 3 will do until a few weeks after its release, but given the hype around the handset and the fact that it is significantly cheaper than 99.9% of Android phones today, it is very likely the OnePlus 3 will make HUGE waves in the Android space during 2016/17.

“JD.com is China's largest online retailer,” reports Phone Arena, “and is one of three selling the recently unveiled OnePlus 3 in the country over the internet. The company held a flash sale today for the new "flagship killer," and the phone sold out in just under ten minutes. The number of units offered was not revealed, but we can tell you that the phone was priced at the equivalent of $379 USD.”

OnePlus is really drilling down on this handset as well. The company confirmed that it will no longer sell its OnePlus X, a smaller, more cost effective phone that didn’t seem to catch on quite as well as its bigger brother, the OnePlus 2.

The OnePlus One sold well. The OnePlus 2 broke the million mark. But it is the OnePlus 3 that will put the firm on a similar footing to some of its larger peers in the Android Kingdom. The hype and interest around this phone should equate to very impressive sales and now that we know what the phone is all about, BIG sales seem even more likely — even more so when you factor there is NO invite system anymore.

So what’s the OnePlus 3 all about? Let’s take a look at what was announced shall we?

OnePlus 3 Soft Gold Goes On Sale July 26

OnePlus has now announced on its forums that the "Soft Gold" OnePlus 3 will land at retail (via Amazon, of course) on July 26 in the US. It will land "in other regions" (including Europe) on August 1, however, so not too long to wait. OnePlus describes the new colour variant as not "your typical gaudy gold smartphone".

"We’ve toned the color down for a light, elegant look. To complement this more low-profile take on gold, we went with a subtle texture reminiscent of holding fine, silky-soft sand." There's also an accompanying video.

However, the blurb states that this colour edition is in "limited" supply, but there's a hint that there will be multiple production runs so don't stress too much if it sells out before you can nab one. Naturally the spec and feature list is exactly the same as all other OnePlus 3 handsets, this is purely a different colour and finish.

OnePlus 3 UK Price Hike Incoming Off Back Of Brexit & Falling Pound?

If you were planning to buy a OnePlus 3 then some new info may give you pause for thought. According to a statement the firm posted on its own webpage, the handset may see a price hike in the UK in response to shifts in the economy, specifically the dropping value of the pound, since the announcement of the result of the Brexit EU Referendum. With the British public voting to leave the EU, and the government and markets in dissaray, OnePlus said there was a "worrying downward trend of the GBP."

To clarify the situation, OnePlus said, "Our margins have always been thin, and our expenses are mainly in USD. This being the case, sudden drops such as the one that the Pound has recently experienced could have a direct impact on our prices."

"If you’re thinking of buying, we recommend doing so sooner rather than later," it added. The current price tag remains £309.

OnePlus 3 in RED In The Works

The OnePlus 3 is now readily available without invite from OnePlus. Available in two colours at present — Graphite, and the upcoming Soft Gold version — but it looks as if OnePlus could be adding in another variant as well. And that variant is a RED one.

As you can see, the OnePlus 3 in red looks rather dashing. The image was picked up on Chinese social networks but it is unclear when it will be made officially available — if at all. Red is OnePlus’ signature colour after all, so the inclusion of it into its most recent handset’s bodywork isn’t all that odd.

The handset was also spotted on OnePlus’ webpage, adding further weight to assertions this variant will drop very soon. It has since been removed, making us think it was A) a mistake, or, more likely, B) an self-made leak designed at testing reactions to a red version and getting a bit of free press in the process.

Either way, we’re sold. So hurry up and make it official, OnePlus!

OnePlus 3: Design

OnePlus' previous handsets; the OnePlus One, OnePlus 2, and OnePlus X, have all seen the manufacturer experimenting with a range of materials, including ceramic, and interchangeable backs made from everything from wood and bamboo, through to Kevlar, leather, and even denim. A full metal build, however, has been absent from the firm's line-up, and given the current lay of the land in the mobile market that's clearly something which needed addressing. Enter the OnePlus 3, the first OnePlus flagship crafted into a premium aluminium unibody.

While the handset looks very different from previous editions, there's no getting round the fact that it also mirrors design features from rival OEMs. Most prominently the HTC 10. Still, if you're going to imitate something at least pick something that looks good, right? The OnePlus 3, derivative or not, is one hell of a striking bit of aesthetic design. The phone is cut from a single block of aluminium too, so there should be no creaks and groans when operating it. Exact measurements are 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35mm and it weighs in at 158g on the scales.

The display is a 5.5in Optic AMOLED panel with a 1080p resolution (more on that later) and is protected by Gorilla Glass 4 reinforced glass. Below this is a fingerprint scanner for Android Pay and secure access. The bezel around the display is tiny as well at just 7.75mm and OnePlus has kept the button configuration for the volume rocker and alert silencer the same.

OnePlus 3 "Soft Gold" Colour Option On Hold Until July

Gooooooooooollllllddddd. Yes, it's all the rage in the smartphone world, but OnePlus took to Twitter to confirm that the "Soft Gold" color option for the OnePlus 3 will not be available straight away. Nope, it's being delayed until July apparently. At present, if you go to the OnePlus store you'll only see the "Graphite" edition, but Carl Pei responded to consumer questions on the bird-themed social network saying the golden colour would come "some time in the later part of July". As well as being the "gold" option, "Soft Gold" is also the only edition with a white front fascia, while the "Graphite" grey/silver metal model has a black front fascia. We have a feeling OnePlus anticipated the gold/white version being more popular and is delaying it in order to produce more units.

OnePlus 3 Display

The display, if you’re being picky, is the one area where the OnePlus 3 falls short of its Android peers. The panel is a 1080p setup, which gives you around 401ppi — the same as the iPhone 6s Plus, but way behind the likes of the HTC 10, Galaxy S7 and LG G5.

I say picky because 1080p displays don’t really bother me all that much; they’re friendlier to batteries, still pack enough punch and are for the most part still very much fit for showing most content crisply and cleanly — even when a lot of handsets now use QHD panels.

OnePlus 3 Camera

OnePlus has leveraged Sony’s IMX298 sensor for its OnePlus 3, bringing a 16MP sensor with 1.12µm pixel size to the 2016 Android phone party. You also get Optical Image Stabilisation, an f/2.0 aperture and phase detection autofocus, making this one hell of a competitive setup given its exceptionally low £309 price tag.

Like other BIG Android flagships, the OnePlus 3’s camera also packs in plenty of features: auto HDR, something called Dynamic Denoise - a noise reduction technology - raw image file support, 4K video at 30fps and 720p slow motion at 120fps are all present and accounted for.

The front-facing shooter, a Sony IMX179 this time, is an 8MP setup with 1.4µm pixels and an f/2.0 lens, which should equate to very good performance, especially in low light.

OnePlus 3: Specs & Hardware

THIS is where the OnePlus 3 REALLY comes into its own. You get 6GB of RAM as standard. That’s right: SIX! Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 CPU, up to 64GB of storage, dual-SIM support, all the usual LTE modems and Wi-Fi features, a 3,000mAh battery and a very compelling camera setup, both on the front and back.

And you get ALL that for just £309. I know, that’s more than the OnePlus 2 and WAY more than the OnePlus One. But just look at what you’re getting here — this is a hugely impressive phone and it costs £40 less than Apple’s 4in iPhone SE, which is effectively a 2012 iPhone 5s on steroids.

OnePlus 3 Release Date & Price

The OnePlus 3 will be up for sale from the OnePlus website from June 14. It will cost £309 and THERE IS NO INVITE SYSTEM. Alternatively, if you're looking for a BARGAIN, you can pick up the OnePlus 2 direct from Amazon for just £249 RIGHT NOW. 

“The invite system has a special place in our history,” said OnePlus on its official blog. “When we first started out, our team was incredibly small. We had no idea what the demand of the OnePlus One would look like. We also weren’t fans of flash sales, where there’s a risk of everything selling out immediately, forcing fans to wait indefinitely. To address this, we designed the invite system to give customers a chance to purchase a phone as soon as we had inventory ready.”

Since then OnePlus has grown as a company, both in terms of size, market presence and, no doubt, financial clout. For this reason — and likely a few others it hasn’t mentioned — OnePlus is now able to operate outside its safety-net invite system. And this is VERY good news for those eager to pick up the new handset right away.

“With the OnePlus 3,” OnePlus added, “we’re officially saying goodbye to invites. It’s a big step for us as a company, our fans, and fellow tech enthusiasts. After sending out millions of invites over the past two years, it’s hard to not think back to the early days and how far we’ve come. We’re proud to have reached a point where we feel confident in making our new device available without invites from day one.”