Huawei P10 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: We compare the mighty new P10 Plus handset from Huawei with another big-screen smartphone, the Galaxy S7 Edge from Samsung. Here’s how the P10 Plus and S7 Edge compare for camera tech, performance, features and more.
Huawei has just launched its mighty new 5.5-inch P10 Plus phone over at MWC 2017. The P10 Plus is a bigger and meatier version of the standard Huawei P10, boasting Huawei’s powerful Kirin 960 processor, a super-sharp Quad HD screen and some smart dual-lens camera tech. Which may well entice Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge owners to upgrade. But is the P10 Plus really worth ditching your S7 Edge for?
Here’s our full Huawei P10 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge comparison review.
Huawei P10 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Specs
| Phone | Huawei P10 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.5-inches | 5.5-inches |
| Screen resolution | 2560×1440 | 2560×1440 |
| Water resistant? | No | Yes |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes |
| OS | Android 7.0 | Android 6.1 (upgrade to 7.0 ongoing) |
| Processor | Kirin 960 | Snapdragon 820/Exynos 7880 |
| Memory | 6GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 128GB | From 32GB |
| microSD? | Yes | Yes |
| Rear camera | 12 & 20-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel | 5-megapixel |
Huawei P10 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Design
Both of these handsets sport a 5.5-inch screen, so they’re not exactly compact. However, Huawei and Samsung have done a splendid job of making sure the P10 Plus and S7 Edge don’t feel as big as they look.
The S7 Edge is impressively narrow, thanks to that curved screen which bends around the edges. Between the slender design and the rounded corners, it’s quite comfortable to clutch. However, it’s also a pain in the arse to operate with just one hand.
Likewise, the Huawei P10 Plus gives quite a comfy grip and is reasonably slim given the size of the screen. You’ll once again prefer to use two hands, but Huawei has added some great one-handed modes into Emotion UI to help out in a pinch, including the ability to shrink the screen.
If you’re a wee bit clumsy, the S7 Edge may be a better fit for you. Samsung has made the phone fully water resistant, a feature sadly not found on the P10 Plus. You will however find a fingerprint sensor on both mobiles, housed beneath the screen.
As for the aesthetics, it’s all down to personal preference. We personally love both the glass and metal body of the S7 Edge and the many different models of the P10 Plus (see below). However, Samsung’s shiny surfaces are a magnet for grease and scuffs, something the P10 Plus hides well in its matt models.
You get a choice of finishes with the P10 Plus, including rose gold, silver and the stand-out new green model, plus the ‘dazzling’ versions which are precision-engineered to provide a subtle texture and more premium finish. There’s also a bright white glossy ceramic model, which thankfully seems to hide fingerprints quite well. Meanwhile the S7 Edge offers a choice of several slick colours, but no difference in textures.
Huawei P10 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Screen and media
Both of these mighty mobiles pack a spacious 5.5-inch screen, making them a great match for media fans. You get a crisp Quad HD resolution, for pin-sharp visuals, although the display tech underneath the surface is different. The S7 Edge’s Super AMOLED panel offers seriously vibrant images, boosting colours to great effect, while the P10 Plus’ IPS screen offers more realistic (yet still stunning) colour reproduction.
You get microSD memory card support in both cases, so the on-board storage (64GB for the P10 Plus, up to 128GB for the S7 Edge) can be expanded in a pinch.
Huawei P10 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Features and OS
While we’re still waiting for our S7 Edge to updated to full Android Nougat, the P10 Plus already boasts this latest version of Google’s OS. That means you get smarter notification support (including the ability to quick reply to messages), improved battery preservation and split-screen multitasking, among other great features.
The P10 Plus also offers Huawei’s Emotion UI 5.1 (EMUI 5.1), which gives you even more impressive functionality. A host of shortcuts and gestures mean you can quickly dive into pretty much any feature in an instant, while smart resource management helps to improve performance in just a couple of taps.
Check out our full EMUI 5 review for more info.
Thankfully the S7 Edge should be updated to Android Nougat any day now (as rollout has already commenced here in the UK). And like Huawei, Samsung has added a fair few bonus features on top.
For example, gamers can use the special gaming tool to record their mad skills and also manage notifications, to avoid interruptions during a particularly intense session. You have Samsung’s usual S Health app for monitoring your daily activities – something Huawei also offers in the P10 Plus. And there’s a low-powered ‘Always On’ screen mode, for checking notifications without switching on that battery-sucking display.
Huawei P10 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Performance and battery
Even a year after launch, the Galaxy S7 Edge still offers smooth everyday performance. Samsung’s powerful Exynos chipset (or the Snapdragon 820 depending on your region) is backed by 4GB of RAM and that makes for a potent device which can play the latest games with a perfect frame rate.
Of course, the P10 Plus is brand new and delivers even better performance thanks to that mighty Kirin 960 processor (previously found on the Mate 9 phablet). You can rest assured that the P10 Plus is one of the most powerful mobiles around, helped in part by the generous 6GB of RAM.
The P10 Plus doesn’t support Google’s Daydream VR sadly, which means the Galaxy S7 Edge wins for VR support with Samsung’s Gear VR platform.
As for battery tech, the P10 Plus again wins out with its high-capacity 3750mAh cell. This can be fully charged in 90 minutes, while just 30 minutes at the plug gives you a full day of restrained use. We’ll be sure to test this in full for our in-depth P10 Plus review, of course.
Samsung’s own Fast Adaptive Charge tech gives a full charge in just over 90 minutes, while the phone tends to survive for 24 hours if you don’t pound it too hard.
Huawei P10 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Cameras
This is one of the key battles when it comes to the P10 Plus vs Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Edge.
The S7 Edge’s 12-megapixel f/1.7 camera is still one of the best mobile snappers we’ve tested, offering impressive low light performance that no other smartphone camera can match. On full auto mode you can depend on the Edge to capture bright, crisp, great-looking photos at any time. You can also shoot up to 4K video.
However, Huawei is fast becoming a serious contender in the mobile snapper stakes. The P10 Plus boasts its new dual-lens f/1.8 Leica camera, comprised of a 12-megapixel colour sensor and a 20-megapixel monochrome sensor.
Smart 4-in-1 hybrid autofocus and Optical Image Stabilisation makes for almost zero lag shutter speed, while producing sharp and attractive results. Like the S7 Edge before it, you can also record 4K resolution video. And you can also shoot RAW images if required, for easy editing on the move.
Check back soon for our full P10 Plus camera review and camera comparison with the S7 Edge.
Check out our hands-on Huawei P10 Plus review and our first-look reviews of all of the new handsets launched at Mobile World Congress in our MWC 2017 hub.