Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Note 5: biometric sensors
There a bunch of nifty ways to securely access and, more importantly, lock your smartphone, and the Note 7 adds a rather new one (for most people): a retina iris scanner.
The Note 7 iris scanner is best for those moments in which your fingerprint just won't do, like when you're exiting a pool or the shower. It'll be rare, but clutch until you dry off your pruny digits.
A left swipe of the lock screen brings up the iris scanner menu. The same happens when you lock a folder with the iris sensor and try to access it. One look at it (straight on) and you'll unlock your new phone or top secret folder with your eyes.
Both the Note 7 and Note 5 offer a fingerprint sensor home button, providing the typical security layer found in today's best phones. This sensor is way more reliable than the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 days.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Note 5: release date and price
The Samsung Galaxy S7 launches in the US on August 19 and pre-orders begin August 3. The Note 5 has been available for a year in North America and few places outside of its borders.
Yes, the UK was deprived of the Note 5, with Samsung saying that its research showed few consumers there were interested in a stylus-focused smartphone. They heard your pleas over the course of the last 12 months, though. It's coming on September 2, with pre-orders on August 16.
The Note 7 will cost top dollar in either country. A 24 month plan is $36.67 a month on AT&T, $36 a month for through Verizon, and $32.50 a month with $69.99 down via T-Mobile. At full retail price, you can get the phone from AT&T for $880, Verizon for $864, and T-Mobile for $849. Sprint hasn't announced pricing yet.
The Galaxy Note 7 price in the UK keeps things simple, with a £749 price.
The Note 5 did cost about $30 (depending on the carrier) or $250 for a two-year contract (that pricing scheme has since been phased out) in the US. Now it's a much cheaper: $50 on contract. You're definitely getting more phone value for your dollar for a phone that's merely a year old.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Note 5: verdict
Okay, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 might not actually be two steps ahead of the Note 5, but that's only because our older 5.7-inch phone has held up pretty nicely.
Both have fast processors, excellent cameras and displays superior to almost everything else on the market, except for the S7 and S7 Edge, of course. The Note 7 makes it biggest leaps in the design, storage and camera, but costs significantly more.
Just remember this buying advice: while both phones run applications without major slowdown and are fit for envelope-pushing Samsung Gear VR apps, you'll likely keep using the device you buy for two or more years. Buy the phone you'll love on month 23 of a two-year contract.
