Samsung Galaxy S7 specs: Promising high-performance games but with lower battery consumption

If true, this will be a welcome distraction on long commutes

A Samsung Galaxy S7 is seen during its worldwide unveiling on February 21, 2016 in Barcelona. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

Although some of the features and details of the new Samsung phones, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, had become public knowledge before Sunday’s launch, much else was a surprise.

Like the gaming features. In a part of the Unpacked event, it was claimed that the processing power in the phones would offer cutting-edge gaming experiences. Samsung took a tip out of the Apple playbook by introducing a games industry exec (Tim Sweeney from Epic Games) to show off the graphical capabilities of the phones. A live demo piloted from another Epic Games staffer in the audience vividly proved the phone’s considerable power. The new phones promise to have the ability to deliver high-performance games but with lower battery consumption which, if true, will be a welcome distraction on long commutes.

Certainly, in brief tests, it has already proved itself appealing. Games I tried looked amazing on this bright, vivid and super high-resolution display, with butter-smooth refresh rates and quick, responsive controls. There are settings which can help increase battery life by reducing the frame rate and/or resolution as you play. The phones even come with a tiny water cooling system to reduce excess heat.

Proficient gameplay is something that Apple has trumpeted with iPhones and iPads in the past but which other manufacturers have rarely highlighted. But Samsung is taking it seriously. A new Games Launcher includes a menu that lets you choose to turn off notifications such as phone calls and messages so they don’t interfere with your gameplay.

Of course, you’re turning off the very things that make your phone a phone so you could just settle for a Nintendo 3DS and have done with it. Still, it’s a cool extra to have in the short term.

More useful is the setting where you can disable the functions of certain buttons, like the recent apps and back buttons. After all, it can be easy to accidentally brush against these and ruin that crucial moment of your best-ever Alto’s Adventure run.

In fact, you can also choose to record your gameplay, although if anything can jinx it, it’ll be that. Still, if you’re pleased with what you’ve saved you can share it with others, adding a new social angle.