Yes indeed this is where the S6 should have been last year which was one step forwards and two steps back. Overall im still not excited by this release. It just feels like Samsung are playing catchup with themselves. The LG G5 looks a much more interesting phone making some more radical changes.

Samsung will sell more though. Compared to LG, Samsung will spend a lot more on marketing, social media promotion, field marketing/pop up stores etc, and incentives for shop staff selling them.

The LG is definitely more exciting IMO.

Unless you have cash to burn and "must have the latest" type of person, not worth an upgrade if you have the S6. Very minor incremental changes.

No sign of the much rumoured "force touch" equivalent then?

Isn't force touch a gimmick that nobody seems to be talking about anymore? Not even Apple?

No harm in having it, but does anyone really care?

Agreed. It's a gimmick and my IPhone 6s earning brother says he NEVER uses it. Good to see Samsung not (immediately) copying it at least. Whilst a bigger battery is always nice, I'm not a gamer / watch films on the go, so my S6 easily lasts a working day with juice left to spare. A charger at the office, is there just in case of need.

Price direct from Samsung for the S7 is £569 and £639 for the Edge. Interestingly Samsung are offering it on an Upgrade Programme at £24.98 per month with a £56.90 deposit over 24 months giving a total of £646.82. Guess they are trying to copy Apple with this one.

http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/m...y-s/galaxy-s7/

Agreed. It'll be mainly aimed at people upgrading from the S5 or maybe from a mid ranger. As well as trying to tempt people from Apple obviously.

Samsung seem to be settling into a cycle of major upgrade one year, minor refresh the next.

The Galaxy S6 was my last Samsung phone, I was so disappointed with it and how bad it was at launch, I got rid of it almost immediately. They are going the wrong direction in my opinion, I much prefer what LG have done with the G5.

The Galaxy S7 just looks like what the Galaxy S6 should've been. All they need to do is add the removable battery and they will have gone full circle back to the S5s features. Samsung are trying to appeal to Apple customers whilst simultaneously trying to appeal to core Android fans and it doesn't really work. It's not going to make someone who loves their iPhone switch, and it's not going to make an Android power user happy either.

LG actually made a device with some original ideas, and that's a great thing about Android. Android is the foundation, and any device manufacturer can build on-top of it to create awesome things. Trying to capture Apple customers is a waste of time and a fruitless task, nothing will ever be as good at being an iPhone as an iPhone is, and Apple fanboys are certainly never going to bite.

I know a few people that have gone from Apple to the S6 and are quite happy.

I have an S5 and will be getting the S7 at the end of March when I'm due an upgrade.

The reason I sold my S6 was because of the battery, so I may well end up with the S7 if the battery proves to be much better, I'm not confident it will be with the extra power the S7 has though.

Biggest failing IMO of the S6 is the fingerprint sensor. Lost count of number of times its failed to recognise my digits (mainly right thumb). I've added that digit as four separate fingerprints, different angles and everything. It will work for a few times then bam, won't recognise my thumb. Just don't think that the S6 (and likely S7) home button shape is as optimised as the IPhone. Not that there's Samsung Pay out yet, to warrant its use...

Which shops have Samsung incentives then?

After seeing the reveal of the S7 & S7 Edge, I will wait until my upgrade date in September / October before I make a final decision, but if I do upgrade then it will be to the S7 Edge. But of course if the Note 6 gets a reveal later this year, then I may just go for that, but only on the condition that it has expandable storage.

It looks nice enough, I agree with others it's not worth the upgrade from the S6..

I finally run out my S4 contract this month and will be going over to the S7 Edge,

My other half is finally giving up her S3 for one too..

I use iPhones for work, I have no real dislike for them, just prefer the openness and customisation of Android phones.

I dont think any phone is worth upgrading after one year. There seems to be too small a difference between each years release. All yearly increments tend to be small. I suppose if you jumped from one manufacturer to another, then a yearly upgrade maybe worth it (even then its debatable).

Since most people get a 2 year contract, it makes sense to upgrade after every 2 years. That way you may see a decent difference.

I am more than happy with the G3, looked at the G4 and confirmed what I felt, I wasnt going to upgrade (I bought my phone outright). Although to be honest I kind of decided before the G4 launch, I wasnt going to upgrade.

Upgrade every two years? I had 6 phones last year and it is killing me that I have had my current device since the end of October. That's nearly 4 months. I deserve a medal.

Could I see myself using a Samsung phone ever again? Hmm. Probably not.

I am in the same position where I feel the need to change device regularly, but for some time I've known that I don't NEED to change. I can't see myself stopping, but I work in tech. If I retired tomorrow, I'd likely settle down with one or two phones and only change when I had to.

I can dig out phones from two years ago, many flagships at the time but not all, and do the necessary app updates and maybe a system update and realise that any one of them would still be perfectly usable today. Some might not support the latest 4G speeds, but most things aren't dealbreakers. I mean, supporting 600/150Mbps is a nice feature on the very latest devices, but given the current state of networks (and speed capping) it's very much a case of having the support for something that doesn't yet exist - and by the time it does, we'll be on to a newer device.

The Nexus 5, Xperia Z2, Z3, HTC One M8, LG G3, and so on... all still good handsets today and it wouldn't seem weird or our of place to hear (or see) that someone was still using any of them.

This is the problem for the industry. It has the early adopters, but the mass market is where the money is - and sales are slowing in mature markets. Not as much as how tablet sales have fallen off a cliff (and now the industry things that the 2 in 1 solutions are the answer), but still getting worse month by month.

Wearables still haven't gained traction, and now a lot of money is investing in VR instead. I am not convinced by VR, but at least it's a market with everything to play for (if there IS a market!) because most people don't have anything right now.

Just noticed that this site is adventing you get a free gearvr with a purchase from Samsung,

http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/smart...hone-6s-rival/

I can't stress enough that I don't think this is true. I can't find anything on the Samsung website to back this up. It seems it was stated during the keynote but in fact is only being honoured through a 24 month contract. So if you want to go sim free, you don;t get this offer.

HTH

Darren

You do look at the CPW website.
http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/sam...&capacity=32GB
Samsung Gear Virtual Reality Headset T&C's

All details correct at time of print. Subject to credit check and min. 24 months contract on selected networks and tariffs. Due to the fast moving nature of this market, all offers, prices and availability are subject to change. All information is accurate at the time of going to print. Networks may increase monthly prices in line with Retail Price Index(RPI).



Deliveries of the VR for SIM free pre-orders Online will be delivered separate to handset deliveries and may take up to 5 days after you receive your handset.



Samsung Gear VR (Virtual Reality) Headset available on all Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge pre orders only, RRP £79.99 correct at time of going to print. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. No cash alternative. Subject to availability and whilst stocks last.


Read and follow all warnings and instructions included with Gear VR and at www.oculus.com/warnings. Gear VR should be adjusted for each user, and is not for children under 13. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and remain seated when using Gear VR.

I've pre ordered on three early upgrade. Coming from the Xperia z2. Never getting a sony phone again after numerous problems and Sony refusing to sort them out under warranty.

Going with the s7 edge. Was tempted by the G5 but smaller screen and smaller battery turned me to the S7. Three don't give the VR hear but tbh I don't play games on my phone and any VR I use will be on my PS4.

Why? They are pretty much all the same. I can't find a reason to upgrade from my Xperia Z3... It's waterproof, has great battery life and is fast.

Why does it appear that all UK mobile phone retailers are only stocking the Black & Gold colours. Looking on sites in the USA they also have white and titanium!!

That's Carphone Warehouse, the poster and article are talking about Samsung.

http://shop.samsung.com/uk/samsung-g...-black-config/

Says here free VR on all preorders

Then buy it from CPW then.
If you go onto the Samsung website and try to buy the S7 it clearly states free VR on all pre orders.