Samsung Galaxy S7 tips and tricks

Samsung has revealed its new flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S7, at this year’s Mobile World Congress. While on the outside it looks very similar to its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S7 is packed full of cool new features – making this a very exciting new smartphone.

If you’re eager to get hold of the Samsung Galaxy S7 then you don’t have too long to wait, with the handset going on sale on March 11.

In the meantime, check out our collection of tips and tricks to find out how you can make the most of the Samsung Galaxy S7 when you get your hands on one.

1. Game better part one

As we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s high-end flagship smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is packed with some of the latest and most powerful hardware around, and while this means apps load faster and we can take better photos, games we play on the Samsung Galaxy S7 will also look and perform better than ever before.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 supports Vulkan API, a graphics technology that enables a range of devices to run impressive 3D graphics. Because it’s a low-overhead API, this means that comparatively ‘weak’ hardware, such as smartphones, can produce amazing visuals that rival home consoles.

With the Samsung Galaxy S7 and other high-end smartphones supporting Vulkan, we should start to see a huge leap in mobile gaming graphics.

2. Game better part two

Gaming on the Samsung Galaxy S7 isn’t only improved by the device’s impressive graphics-handling chops, as it also comes with the excellent Game Launcher widget. Not only does this make finding and launching games on the Galaxy S7 quick and easy, but it also adds a number of features that ensures your gaming session isn’t interrupted.

For example, you can use Game Launcher to disable alerts while you play, so you won’t get kicked out of a game if someone rings you, or get distracted by a text message.

You can also lock the buttons on your phone when you play, so you don’t accidentally turn on the camera during a frantic action scene.

Sharing gameplay videos is becoming increasingly popular on PC, Xbox One andPlayStation 4, and Samsung has got in on the act by making it easy to record your gaming sessions on the Galaxy S7 and share them with the world, all through the Game Launcher – it can even use the front-facing camera to record your facial expressions.

3. Take a quick glance at your notifications

If you’re constantly taking out your phone and waking the screen to check the time or see if you have new notifications, then you’ll probably appreciate the new always-on screen of the Samsung Galaxy S7.

This lets you take a quick look at the time without having to fiddle about with your phone, and you can see any messages you get even when the Galaxy S7 is lying on your desk.

Samsung has worked hard to make sure this always-on display doesn’t come at the expense of battery life, with the manufacturer promising the feature will use less than 1% of the battery per hour.

Thankfully the Galaxy S7’s battery has been boosted to 3000mAh (from 2550mAh in the Samsung Galaxy S6), so this shouldn’t be too much of an additional strain – but if you don’t want your screen to be on all the time you can turn the feature off.

4. Use it when wet

Good news for those of us who live in rainy parts of the world – or who just like to use their phone while we’re in the bath: the Samsung Galaxy S7 has a waterproof design.

It’s got an IP68 rating, which means it can be dunked in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes, so you shouldn’t have to worry if you accidentally drop it in a puddle.

5. Take great photos in poor light

The camera on the Samsung Galaxy S7 has been given an overhaul, with the 12MP rear camera letting in 25% more light than the camera on the Galaxy S6.

This means photos you take in low light conditions will look better than ever. The camera app also comes with a new Motion Panorama mode, which enables you to shoot panoramic videos for some truly impressive results.

6. Faster photos

Samsung has also included its new Dual Pixel technology, which it claims makes the autofocus of the Samsung Galaxy S7’s camera faster than previous phone cameras.

Jargon aside, what this means is that you’ll be able to take photos of fast-moving subjects without any (or at least too much) blurring – ideal if you’re taking photos of people playing sports, for example.

In our time with the Samsung Galaxy S7 we found the quick autofocus allowed us to take impressively clear photos in difficult conditions – the hustle and bustle of MWC – which is great news for those of us who love using our smartphones to take photos no matter where we are.

7. Pay with your Galaxy S7

The Samsung Galaxy S7 comes with support for Samsung Pay, which enables you to pay for goods in stores by just using your handset with contactless payment systems.

With the Galaxy S7 featuring a fingerprint scanner it’s also a very secure way of paying for things, and with support for NFC, MST and Barcode technology you’ll soon be able pay with the Samsung Galaxy S7 at lots of places.

While Samsung Pay is making inroads in the US it’s been a bit slow in rolling out for the rest of the world, although Samsung has stated that it will be coming to the UK, and a number of other markets, this year.

It could be that before long we won’t even need to take our wallets out with us – our smartphones will be all we need to buy stuff.

8. Take 360-degree photos

While the main camera of the Samsung Galaxy S7 has seen some improvements, if you want to take some really impressive 360-degree photos you can do so with the Samsung Gear 360 companion device.

This spherical camera seamlessly connects to the Galaxy S7, enabling you to use the smartphone as a viewfinder for the Gear 360. Images you take on the Gear 360 will also be beamed straight to your phone.

Once the images are on your Samsung Galaxy S7 you can edit them, and share them online for everyone to admire.