Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Lens kit and case initial impressions

Today I received my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Lens Kit in the mail :) Yay!

Just while playing, I mounted it on a tripod and took these pictures:

Standard shot with no lens on it other than the S7 Edge camera lens.

 With the telescopic lens.

With the wide angle lens

I'll have a ton more images as the days come. I'm going to do a complete review of it :) I just need the time!

LG G5 Time-lapse vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Hyper-lapse

Time Lapse and Hyper Lapse videos on the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and LG G5

The UI

The interface of the LG is always a pleasure. I really do think the that the UI is much cleaner and much more professional on the LG G5. They have been doing camera and video UI much better for the last few years - better than most other phones. The only other UI that I think can match or even surpass this UI is the Lumia UI way back when. Regardless, here is screen capture of the UI

Here is the UI of the Galaxy S7 Edge

The first option you'll notice between the two is that the LG doesn't have this "auto" mode. The Samsung is able to look at the video you're recording and slow down specific parts and speed up others. It actually makes a pretty cool effect. If you don't like it, you can turn off Auto and do it manually, just like the LG.

Both record time lapse and hyper lapse videos at 1080p by default. The LG can be lowered to other resolutions, but the Samsung cannot be changed. Why you can't is beyond me. Ask Samsung!

Regardless, here are the two clips on auto for the Samsung and Auto on the LG. These were about 12 or 13 minutes in real life.

LG

Samsung

Honestly, they are both great - but the auto is VERY good! I really enjoyed that. You won't see so much change in this video since clouds generally follow the same speed - but when walking around recording people or streets, it automatically slows down for parts and then speeds back up. I really enjoy that.

Wide Angle vs Standard camera on the LG

The LG can also record a time lapse with the wide angle lens which is just spectacular!

Here is the FOV of the normal sensor on the LG:

And here is the FOV of the camera with the wide angle lens:

You just get so much more out of the image with the 8mpx wide-angled lens, even though the corners are a little bit more distorted as if it were a fisheye lens. The end product is no less magnificent.

Here is a video of the wide angle time lapse.

Pros and cons to each:

LG:

+ Very good settings

+ Ability to lower resolution if desired

+ Wide angle hyper lapse is fantastic

+ Fantastic quality

+ Ability to choose speed

- No automatic slowdown or speed up

Samsung:

+ Very good auto setting will speed up the boring moments and slow down the action moments

+ Ability to choose speed

+ Fantastic quality

- Can't modify resolution

- No wide angle lens without the Galaxy Lens Cover kit, which I have on its way.

I'd say they are both very good devices, but the LG wins in this department, but Samsung very close by due to that auto mode.

Urban Armor Gear for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

I have always been a big fan of the Urban Armor Gear case line. It is always hard to find a fault with this line of cases. Let's see how the S7 Edge case holds up.


This case is not like your other Urban Armor Gear cases in the sense that it just protects. When Samsung came out with the S7 (flat version), UAG just had to find the right dimensions and put it together. With the S7 Edge though UAG had to really find a balance between protection and usefulness.

The Edge of the S7 Edge is both very useful and a big hindrance. Let's see how UAG designed the case to work in favor of the S7 Edge.

Firstly, let's talk about the design. The design is quite on par with the other designs - you have that modern design that really looks like it's very industrial and sturdy.

It features very well reinforced black rubber in the corners and hard plastic at the back.

As usual, the UAG line comes in a multitude of colors (sadly, far less than the iPhone lineup has). To check them out, click here. In this review I have the Magma colored case which is actually very nice. Over the years I always got the ICE color because it would really shine through devices which could change their back plate or color with a skin. I really felt like this time I wanted to keep my S7 Edge with 1 color and just get a colored case. Magma is certainly eye catching, isn't it? I also have a blue case on the way that my partner really wanted, so when it arrives next week I'll update the post with comparative pictures.

Going back to the review we can see that there is also a thick and raised rubber that surrounds the camera. I'm quite a shutter bug if any of you visit my other shootouts :
S7 vs G5 part 1
S7 vs G5 part 2
S7 vs G4

As I was saying, the rubber around the camera and LED flash has 0 effect or warping on the camera which is great news. A lot of other cases tend to move those borders around the camera and flash and when you fire up the flash it leaves some ghosting or artificial whitening to the image. Luckily this doesn't happen. Also, as you can see in the image above, there is an shallow widening of the rubber to accommodate a finger for those of us that actually use the finger heart rate monitor reader. Good stuff. That's some attention to detail that the Supcase didn't take into account, having to do some finger gymnastics to get a good read.

 While there is added weight and width to the device, it's rather minimal.
The S7 E weighs 157 grams without a case, and with the UAG case it goes up to 192 grams, which isn't much. The Supcase went up to 213 grams.

 As you can see in this image the entire edge is very readily available. You lose absolutely no functionality while using this case.

One of the good points that I was talking about is that this case adds a little thickness to the sides. When I use the S7 Edge without using a case, I often touch the sides of the screens by accident and it opens apps or does functions that I didn't want it to do. With a case that adds a little thickness to its sides you avoid a lot of these issues. Now if you compare this case to other cases, you still have that awesome feeling of the infinity display in your hand - in other cases it feels a little more like a case with the sides, but this removes from the beauty of having a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge with those gorgeous edges! The UAG case keeps those edges nice and clean. Galaxy

If you take a look at the front of the case you can see that there are lips on the top and bottom to raise the case from a table if you place it on top. This is a must have for any case with such an expensive case and device! 

I have a few other cases that cost practically nothing that would protect my device from absolutely nothing other than a casual scratch that would have been caused by entering or exiting my jeans - but if you often place your phone face down on the table you'd better have a case that raises the screen off the table! Also, the added rubber keeps it from sliding off the table (fantastic for airplanes and tray tables on trains or buses). 

These rubber pads are, of course, also present on the back.

 Ports are open and exposed, but this is a waterproof phone, so it doesn't matter. Speaker phone and microphones don't get muffled. Port sizes are also very generous so you can use basically any micro USB cable and headphones. This compatibility issue is something of the past. 

OK, any bad things about this case? Of course! There are always drawbacks. If you drop your phone with this case on any corner or on the back it'll probably be OK with this case on it. But what about the sides? Since the case actually starts below the edges, that would leave it vulnerable.  Just something to keep in mind.

So would I recommend a UAG case? Of course! This is one of the BEST cases you can get for your device! It's about 30,00 euros on Amazon, and 35 USD with free world shipping if you buy it directly from their website. The price is right on target for the quality of the case and design, but is it for everyone? No. It's pretty noisy, and actually detracts from the beauty of the device. But then again, ANY case that actually protects the device will. Just something to take into account. :) It's a VERY good case and I highly recommend UAG to everyone. My partner uses it at the gym every day because we all know which case will protect it if it falls. 

+ Very stylish

+ 4 colors to pick from

+ Very VERY well designed 

+ Lighter than other solutions, but heavier than minimal solutions

+ It doesn't raise my screen protector (BestSkinsEver, case friendly)

+ Very easy to put on and take off, but it won't fall out!

- Kind of expensive if you don't spend money on cases

- The sides are more exposed than other cases, but this also allows you to enjoy the infinity display

- Shipping times take a while to Europe. I have tried both direct from Amazon (1 week delivery), and directly from UAG took about 2 weeks. 

Link directly to UAG

Here are some more pictures. Enjoy

Supcase Unicorn Beetle case for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Hello everyone! And welcome to another one of my reviews. I just wanted to tell everyone about the Supcase Unicorn Beetle case. I got this off of Amazon for 19€ from Amazon Spain.

But is it a good case? Let's find out!

This has to be ONE OF my FAVORITE cases if you're looking for top level protection for a low price - but there are a lot of compromises.

 This a dual layer case. This means that you have to first insert your phone in the section of the left and then you have to fit it into the section to the right. This is how it gives you so much protection. First, it is suspended in the left plastic frame. After you insert it into the right silicone and rugged plastic you get a dual layer case.

As you can see in this image the top ear speaker and all the sensors are completely exposed but they are also protected from drops. This case also adds a lip to the phone so that if you were to place it screen down on a table the phone would clear the table considerably not having to worry about scratches while sliding it around on the table. It shouldn't slide around regardless due to the fact that the case is also rubbery, so it should stand its ground on an airplane tray table or your own glass table.

 There are also some rubber feet on the back of the phone as well to avoid sliding around.

 I do believe that Supcase stole some of its inspiration from the UAG case (here's a shot from my upcoming UAG case)

It's hard NOT to see the similarities in design, right?

 Regardless of the design, we can see that the edge corners are exposed all the while being protected, which is good. They do not have any negative effect on the actual usage of the screen or the edges. Everything is very usable still - you can tell that they spent a lot of time and R&D on this device case so every little feature is still accessible. Kudo points for you, Supcase. :)

One thing to note about this case is that most Supcase Unicorn Beetle cases come with a screen protector attached to the front, but this design didn't. Right now manufacturers are having a hard time creating screen protectors for the S7 Edge because of the curved display. Just keep that in mind. This case doesn't lift up the screen protectors since your device sits IN it rather than wrapping the case around it.

The weight on the other hand of this case is actually A LOT. It makes the phone much heavier.

Weights for the S7 Edge:

• 157 grams -  No case at all (and just a screen protector on)
• 213 grams - With the Supcase Unicorn Beetle + the same screen protector on mentioned before

That is pretty substantial - but I guess for the dual layer protection you're getting it's all right. But I am telling you, it feels like a brick now - so heavy!

Even though it may look like the corners are extra protected, I don't believe they are any thicker than any other part of the rim of the case.  I could be wrong, but just by looking at it inside, it does seem this way. Regardless, it does feel very substantial and protected.

The charging port and 3.5mm jack are protected with a silicon flap. This is a very good idea for those phones that aren't waterproofed, but I don't think it's 100% necessary for the S7 Edge since it is already waterproof.


On the downside of these flaps, I feel that they're very rugged - they put a lot of pressure on the micro usb charger when plugged in and also the 3.5mm headphone jack. It's probably nothing, but you can feel the resistance it is putting up while plugging it in.

 Buttons are plenty tactile and clicky. So no issues here!

The ring around the camera lens and LED doesn't affect your shooting abilities at all, yay for that! Some cases do give you a ring while shooting with the LED.

How about how easily it comes out of your pocket? It slides right out! The rubber is a very smooth rubber so it doesn't grab onto the inside of your pocket like silicone cases do. While on the topic of your pocket, it does add some thickness to your device (of course). Which means that it'll mark your inside pocket a little bit more, too ;). So bulging phone outline is way more noticeable than without a case FOR SURE. 

Heat - I never felt my phone warm to begin with, and so with the case I didn't feel it either. While using the fast charger, normally the S7E gets warm, or maybe even warmer than normal but never hot. In the case you are bound to notice that it doesn't get as warm. This is probably because the layer between your hand and the phone is so thick that you won't really feel the heat! That's good and bad. Good because you won't feel the heat, and bad because the heat will be trapped inside the case and will take longer to dissipate. 

In the end, the design is nice, it is rugged and it will protect your phone very well despite adding all that weight I'd say it's a keeper!

Here are some photos comparing it to the S7 Edge Urban Armor Gear case, coming up in the next review.

I'd say give it a go! It's only 19,00 euros and it really does protect your device well

+ Very good protection

+ Protection for money
+ It feels VERY solid in hand, and the weight is something that I like personally, but I can see why it might defer some people

+ Nice design

+ Screen protector friendly

- A little hard to remove from its case

- I don't like the pressure the flaps put on the plugged cords, but I'm sure it won't be a problem. No one has complained about this yet, but it's still something to watch out for in the future! So it goes in this category.

- Heavy - but it gives a sense of solidity and strength

LG G5 vs Galaxy S7 Edge: Decisions, Decisions...

Well, I sent back the first LG G5 because it had some defects that I didn't like.

• Not flush SIM tray.
• Unaligned magic slot
• Battery life was very sub par
• Bubbles under the paint

Now I have a new G5 that is in perfect condition :) I'm a happy camper! 

I think on a device that costs as much as this one does you should expect and actually get a device that's perfect. In reality, the LG G5 costs roughly the same as the S7E if you price hunt a little. 

I really like both phones. The G5 feels like a traditional phone that's very light. The S7E feels like a piece of art. I wouldn't dream of using either of these phones without a case. For the G5 I have a UAG case, which in my experience have been the best bang for the buck, and for the S7E I have a UAG case and a Supcase Unicorn Beetle case which really makes the phone feels ultra protected, as does the UAG case. But when I publish my case reviews you'll see the difference between them.

Well, one of my most favorite things to do is to really look at the cameras. This is where I am most interested, and I am REALLY having a hard time deciding. Each device has it's own strong points and weak points...

Photography is really important to me, and I think the G5 offers better options, but I am also worried about build quality over time...  The Galaxy S7 Edge, if you take care of it, offers superb build quality... and a very very fast camera. 

Today I'm taking both cameras out and I'm going to review both shooters with 100% automatic modes, only focusing manually in a secondary shot. 

I'm going after the best basic shot. I know with manual mode you can fix everything, but when you're on vacation or you want to capture that shot you won't have time to play with white balance or exposure times...

So let's see how it goes!

New cases ahoy! Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and LG G5!

UAG and Supcase Unicorn Beetle for Galaxy S7 Edge

New cases came in :) 

UAG for LG G5

Exciting devices! :) Exciting cases! Especially with this generation of devices, I wouldn't dare NOT use a case. I mean, come on! LG G5 has a very thin glass screen, as well as a painted body which can easily be scratched (and when I say easily, I mean very easily... I've seen in the forums that people can do it with their phone). And the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is all glass! Yes, while it might not shatter in your hand, a drop could shatter the screen or back... The back I wouldn't mind as much since it would be in a case, but the screen is the most important thing for me... If I get a single scratch I can't bare to look at it any more.

Stay tuned!

LG G5 versus Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Camera Shootout!

I decided to have a shoot out of two of the best cameras on the market on a mobile phone. To my surprise they're quite comparable, but in some situations one is better than the other.

I'm not a professional photographer, but I do like to take pictures with my phone since I don't have my camera on me most of the time. So please take this pictures with a grain of salt as your mileage may vary! Both devices are my own personal devices that I purchased with my own money, so there is 0 sponsorship here. Google doesn't pay me for ads or traffic. Neither Samsung nor LG even know I bought their devices for this test. So these are 100% my findings and 100% mine alone with 0 influence from anyone.

Note: All were taken in auto mode, with auto focus unless specified. First is zoomed out image and then 100% crop.



Enjoy the shots.

LEFT      ||      RIGHT

LG G5    ||   S7 EDGE

In this picture we can see that more detail is in the the G5 image, mostly due to the 16mpx shooter versus the 12 megapixel shooter on the S7 Edge. There is no real clear winner, but I'd give the G5 the upper hand in this image solely due to the higher megapixel. Both shots are very well exposed, very good quality and neither of them took a better shot for sharpness.

In this indoor shot the S7E pulls ahead due to the text on the LG G5 UAG case (another review that's coming up in the near future!). The G5 does have a higher resolution camera, but the sharpness of the S7E wins in this test. The text on the box for G5 and Drop Tested just looks better on the S7E. It's also very sharp, but both did a good job.

Here in this image is where we begin to see bigger differences. Just looking at the greens in these bushes clearly shows the color representation on the G5 is superior. In the bushes you can see that there are "patches" of colors, where in the S7E image you can't clearly see them. Greens are more vibrant as well as having the stones being much more clearly defined.You can even read the text on the G5 for the pillar.  The winner is clearly the G5.

This image is just another 100% crop from the previous image. We can, once again, see how the colors aren't correctly interpreted by the S7E. These bushes do have patterns of yellow / green, where as in the S7E camera they're all blended together. G5 still wins this shot.

G5 shoots a sharp image, but the S7E shoots a brighter image. But the greens on the G5 are more intense and feel richer. I'd give colors to G5, and overall quality to the S7E. Neither shot bad shots!

This picture is much sharper on the S7E, but once again, color representation isn't the best on the S7E, so I decided to add one of the filters in the pro mode (still having everything in automatic of course) and I was able to shoot the following image. 

The S7E shoots a much richer picture, but now it doesn't look realistic.  It's just a little to warm.

While both shots are VERY good, I must say I prefer the black lines around the antler in the S7E image. But once again, both are very good, Mostly the pixels seem to be crisper on the S7E vs the G5 - I do doubt that anyone could say that the G5 takes bad pictures though, because these are superb pictures.

Colors in this image are more correct on the S7E, and also the numbers on the phone and the blacks on the pillow look better on the S7E.  While inspecting the cable, I do find that the G5 captures more details. In the S7E shot you can see that there is some cable inside, but you can't really say which color is which, but in the G5 image you can clearly see which color is where.  Tie? Yes, tie.

Blacks are darker on the G5, but blurrier than the S7E counterpart.

This is a difficult shot to decide which is better. So neither get my vote! Or both, however you want to look at it.

In all these low light shots I was expecting the S7E to destroy the G5, ironically it didn't. Most pictures seem the S7E was darker, and less focused than the G5! Way to go LG.

I spoke to soon, In this picture, and the following, LG totally disappointed me - just look at that quality! So many artifacts; the S7E destroyed the G4 in this highlighter image as well as the keyboard image on the Surface Pro 4.

The Euro shot clearly falls in favor of the S7E where the image is both brighter and has more detail.

The same can be said about this shot with the remote. Blacks are darker and whites are brighter,

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and LG G5 are very good cameras. There is no clear winner for them, but we can say that some scenarios fall in favor of one devices versus the other.

LG G5 strong points

Color reprenstation is superior

Ourdoor low light shots are fantastic

Detail in the images, due to the 16 megapixel camera

Very good 16:9 ratio (most TVs, monitors and phones have this ratio)

Weak points

Focus is slower, sometimes having trouble to focus correctly

details are sometimes washed away and become blurry regardless of having a 16 megapixel camera.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge strong points

Indoor low light shots are great

Colors are fairly accurate, especially indoors. 

Very fast at focusing

Generally speaking the S7E locks on to the device in front of you very quickly and automatically. 

Weak points

Color accuracy outdoors

Less detailed shots at 12 megapixels

The 4:3 ratio is good for Instagram, and 1:1 shots. This will cut images if you want to use them as a background on most monitors, for example.