The Samsung Galaxy Note7 has to be the most leaked device of 2016. With so many images of the device on the internet already, it was only a matter of time before all of its features and specifications surfaced to the public. The keynote is still a few hours from now but everything about the Note7 isn’t so much of a secret anymore.

The Note7 resembles the S7 series and its predecessor, the Note 5 in many aspects. Although it doesn’t share the same curves as the S7 series for a more squarish appearance, the lack of effort from Samsung in terms of design is quite noticeable. Not surprisingly, the 5.7-inch QHD SAMOLED curved edge display also makes a return but has been fine tuned a bit. Not only is it the first to support Mobile HDR technology but also allows up 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity when using the S-Pen.

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Speaking of the S-Pen, it is the one feature that differentiates the Note7 from the rest of the competition. With the new software on the Note7, the S-Pen is capable of performing numerous tasks. It combines Screen-Off Memo from the Note 5 with the Always-On display, allows users to quickly translate phrases using Air Command and Google Translate and lets one magnify content on screen up to 300%. To keep up with the trend, it even allows GIFs to be produced from any video – which is a neat feature. Lastly, the S-Pen allows for writing even when the device is wet, working well with the IP68 certification of the Note7.

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Over the years, Samsung has been known for bloatware resulting in a below par software experience. With their newest attempt, they have minimized various S-Pen applications (Handwriting/Drawing/Image/PenUp) into one application called Samsung Notes. The combination of this with their newest skin on top of Android 6.0.1 will surely provide optimum performance. As far as specifications are concerned, a Snapdragon 820 chip powers the show for US variants with an in house Exynos chipset for International variants coupled with 4GB of DDR4 RAM. Definitely enough, but a disappointment considering what competitors offer these days.

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The story of disappointing hardware continues as the 12MP Dual-Pixel camera from the S7 series makes a return only with a few software enhancements and a rather small 3500mAh battery. However, not all is bad in terms of hardware. The USB-C port on the device allows for fast wired/wireless charging just like the S7 series and the iris scanner on board uses infrared technology to unlock the Note7 at speeds faster than the fingerprint scanner on board.

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Other things include a base 64GB variant of the device with an option for micro-SD expansion, an Edge UX to utilize the curved screen and various connectivity features for coverage all over the world – and galaxy. Available in Black Onyx, Silver Titanium and Coral Blue (my favorite), the Note7 is a device that combines the best from Samsung’s previous devices and works on improving software more than hardware.

Kevin Nether