Samsung is one of the few companies that updates its smartphones often, even after the device is over two years old.
The company has just released the Nougat (Android 7.0) update and it’s currently available for the S7 Edge and S7 while older devices such as the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ will progressively be updated moving forward.
The Nougat update gives a fresh new look to the S7 Edge and here we round up the best new features that have been introduced.
Change screen resolution
The Galaxy S7 Edge has a gorgeous screen with a QHD display with a whopping resolution of 1,440 x 2,560 pixels, which is much higher than most phones.
However, if battery life is the priority, you can now switch to a lower resolution so your phone runs longer.
For instance, the lower resolution 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) option might not look as pleasing but it might add a couple of hours or more to your battery life.
Or if you prefer the middle ground, you can set it to full HD.
To alter the resolution, head to Settings, then Display and the Screen Resolution option is all yours.
Blue Light filter
Users today are increasingly using their smartphone as an e-reader.
However, prolonged exposure to the blue light emitted from the screen while reading is said to be a major cause of eye strain.
The new Blue Light filter mode comes in handy especially for those who often spend time with the phone in the dark before going to bed.
If you have not tried it, give it a go as it can be easily turned on in the notification menu.Just slide down from the top of the screen and look for the Blue Light filter icon.
Custom grid layout in notification menu
The notification menu on the phone is one of the most used features.
It provides easy access to turn on and off features such as WiFi, GPS location, Bluetooth, power saving mode, torch, flight mode and so on.
The Nougat update allows users to customise the grid to display more shortcuts or less.For instance, those who want more can choose to display a 5 x 3 layout, with 15 shortcuts on display.
If there are more icons on the menu than what you need, you can easily change the layout to 3 x 3 or 4 x 3.
To do so, simply head to the notification menu, slide down to show the expanded menu, and then press the three dots option at the top right.
Then select Button Layout.
Feel free to try all three options as the pre-fixed arrangement of your icons won’t be affected.
Video Enhancer mode
Today, the smartphone is increasingly used as a multimedia device instead a device for texting and calls.
To ensure the viewing experience on your screen is even better, Samsung has a new Video Enhancer mode which promises to make your videos brighter and better.
The feature currently supports the stock Video Player app, Google Play Movies & TV, YouTube, Netflix, and iFlix.
Expect more video player apps to be added to the list moving forward.
To access the feature, head to Settings, then go to Advanced Features.
Scroll all the way down and turn on Video Enhancer.
Performance Mode
The new Performance Mode is similar to what you call “battery saving” mode.
It basically tunes your smartphone according to specific needs with four options available, namely Optimised (default), Game, Entertainment and High Performance.
For instance, high performance mode bumps up the brightness by 10% while the screen is set to the highest available resolution.
On the other hand, entertainment mode turns on the Video Enhancer feature and the UHQ upscaler which tunes the audio settings to suit videos and music.
The Performance Mode can be found in the notification menu.
To access any of the four modes, press and hold down the Performance Mode icon, and you’ll be redirected to the settings page.
Alternatively, head to Settings, then Device Maintenance.
New camera app interface
The camera app in a smartphone is one of the most feature-rich apps around with plenty of customisation and modes to tinker with.
With the Nougat update, Samsung has simplified the camera app’s user interface, with less buttons on the viewfinder.
For instance, options such as mode, picture size, camera switch, and filters are now all hidden away in the on-screen viewfinder.
In place is the swipe gesture control which makes it easier to access these features.
For instance, switching between the front and rear cameras can now be done by just swiping up and down.
Also, swiping right leads to the camera modes while a left swipe takes you to camera filters.
As usual, other options can be accessed in the settings button located at the top right of the screen.
- Swipe right to view available camera modes
- Swipe left to view available camera filters
- Swipe up and down to switch between the front and rear cameras
New multi window interface
Samsung was the first to introduce multi-window mode (or multi-task) all the way back in 2012 with the Galaxy Note 2.
The multi window mode allows users to run two apps simultaneously side by side on a large display.
It took Android five years to finally incorporate the feature natively into the operating system.
The native support means more apps are now supported, instead of just a select few.
Also, the improved controller button allows the window size to be easily adjusted while the screen is split in two.
To access multi-window mode, press and hold the Recents key (left of the home key).
If you have not received the update notification on your phone, simply head to Settings and then Software Update to check for availability.
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