We compare the HTC 10 and Samsung’s Galaxy S7, two of the biggest flagship Android phones of 2016, to see which is the best for you. Here’s our Galaxy S7 vs HTC 10 comparison review and video.
HTC 10 vs Galaxy S7: At a glance
| Phone | HTC 10 | Samsung Galaxy S7 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 161g | 152g |
| Screen size | 5.2-inches | 5.1-inches |
| Screen resolution | 2560×1440 | 2560×1440 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 820 |
| Storage | 32/64GB + microSD | 32/64GB+microSD |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproof? | No | Yes |
| Quick Charge | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Cameras | 12MP, 5MP | 12MP, 5MP |
HTC 10 vs Galaxy S7: Specs and features
The HTC 10 and Galaxy S7 share a lot of common tratis, as you’d expect from top-of-the-range Android smartphones. They both pack Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 820 processor, for instance, to provide super-smooth everyday performance (although the S7 also comes in an Exynos flavour in some regions). Their screens are almost identical when it comes to size and resolution and both phones boast capacitive keys and a fingerprint sensor housed beneath the display.
Even the basic camera specs are the same, with a 12-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel selfie snapper built into both the HTC 10 and the Galaxy S7.
Read next: HTC 10 vs HTC One M9, should I upgrade?
However, once you actually boot up and play with the phones, you’ll notice some immediate differences. For a start, HTC has worked closely with Google to provide a slick Android experience on the HTC 10, with no app duplication or other untidy features. You get the Blinkfeed interface, which combines your preferred headlines with your latest social notifications, and HTC’s snazzy new Freestyle desktops, which allow you to place apps, widgets and stickers absolutely anywhere on the screen.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy S7 features the Touchwiz overlay, which adds all of Samsung’s own apps and services – that means some duplication (e.g. two browser apps) and lots of software that you’ll only use if you’re invested in Samsung’s ecosystem. Of course there’s full Gear VR support, which gives you an impressive variety of VR experiences, using the S7 itself as the screen.
Design-wise, the HTC 10 is the more rugged of these two phones, offering up an impressively sturdy metallic frame that can tolerate extreme temperatures as well as scuffs and drops. The Galaxy S7 is more attractive with its glass and metal materials and aesthetically pleasing curvature around the edges, but it’s also more fragile. That said, the Galaxy S7 is water-resistant up to 1m so can handle a quick plunge, whereas the HTC 10 is merely splash-proof.
HTC wins the battery life showdown, offering well over 24 hours of use on a single charge, along with Type-C USB charging and support for Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0. The Galaxy S7 features the old USB 2.0 port, plus Quick Charge 2.0 which takes roughly 20-30 minutes longer to achieve a full charge.
And while the cameras can capture the same amount of detail, there are some big differences – such as the laser-focus on the HTC, which offers slightly faster image capture, and the Galaxy S7’s wider aperture lens, which captures slightly better low light photos. Take a look at our HTC 10 camera vs Galaxy S7 camera review for more info.
Read next: Galaxy S7 camera review
HTC 10 vs Galaxy S7: Our video comparison
Leave a Reply