Samsung Galaxy S7 vs. Google Nexus 6P: Comparison of specifications, features, price

The Samsung Galaxy S7 was recently announced with much fanfare and comes with high-end specs and features. However, it faces fierce competition from the Google Nexus 6P, one of its major rivals that also comes with impressive specs as well as pricing.

We compare the specifications, features and pricing of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Google Nexus 6P to help you figure out which device should be your next purchase:

Design and Display

The Samsung Galaxy S7 sports a design that is similar to that of the Galaxy S6 -- a curved design along with front and rear panels made of glass. The chassis that features a metallic frame is certified with a IP68 rating that protects it from getting damaged by water and dust. It measures 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm and weighs 152 grams. It is available in colours black, white, gold and silver.

The Google Nexus 6P, on the other hand, is a product from Google and Huawei that comes with a metal unibody design. It is bigger and wider but slimmer than the Galaxy S7 as it measures 159. 3 x 77.8 x 7.3 mm and weighs 178 grams. It comes in colours like aluminum, graphite and frost.

The 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screen of the Galaxy S7 supports Quad HD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 4, and equipped with an ‘Always On Display’ that allows users to view notifications without draining the device's battery life.

The phablet alternative that is the Google Nexus 6P features a huge 5.7-inch AMOLED display that also supports Quad HD resolution. It is shielded by Gorilla Glass 4.

Chipset, RAM and Storage

The Galaxy S7 is built in two chipset versions, one containing the Snapdragon 820 SoC whereas the other is fueled by Exynos 8890 SoC. Both variants are accompanied by 4GB of RAM, and come in two storage options of 32GB and 64GB. The device also offers external storage, supporting up to 200 GB microSD card.

In comparison, the Google Nexus 6P is powered by the older Snapdragon 810 chipset and 3 GB of RAM. It comes in three storage options -- 32GB, 64GB and 128GB -- and lacks an external storage slot.

Camera, Software and Other Features

The Galaxy S7 features a 12 MP camera with f/1.7 lens that is coupled with features like singe LED flash, phase detection autofocus and OIS. The front-facing camera is 5 MP sporting a f/1.7 lens.

The Nexus 6P has a 12.3 MP f/2.0 lens that comes with features like dual-LED flash and laser autofocus, but it lacks the OIS feature. It houses an 8 MP f/2.4 selfie shooter.

Both smartphones come with the latest Android Marshmallow OS. However, Samsung’s Android is customised with its TouchWiz UI software.

The Galaxy S7 and Google Nexus 6P both feature a fingerprint scanner, but the S7 is additionally packed with health sensors that measure users' heart rate and SpO2.

The Galaxy S7 also comes with support for the company's Gear VR headset, while the Nexus 6P lacks support for virtual reality. The Nexus 6P features a USB Type-C connector, a feature that is unavailable on the Galaxy S7.

Battery and Price

The Galaxy S7 is packed with a 3000 mAh battery that supports wireless charging. The huge 3450 mAh battery of Nexus 6P lacks wireless charging feature.

US carriers are selling the 32GB model of the Galaxy S7 at the full retail price of between US$650 to US$695. In Australia, the device will be available at the full retail cost of AU$1,149, CNet reported. The 32GB, 64GB and 128GB variants of the Google Nexus 6P are priced at US$499 (AU$690), US $549 (AU$759) and US$649 (AAU$898).