Samsung is the leading seller of smartphones across the globe. One thing that makes it such a huge success in this business is that it has partnered with multiple carriers across the globe that help with the selling of the Korean company’s devices in their respective countries.
The release of Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge saw the company topple Apple to become the top-selling smartphone in the U.S. during Q1 2016. This is probably going to the same story when results of Q2 2016 are announced, especially with the recent addition of carrier-exclusive Galaxy S7 Active to the lineup.
Unless you are a user of AT&T or maybe planning to switch to the carrier, you cannot own the S7 Active phone. The story is the same for all current versions of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge being sold in the country. Apparently, Samsung enthusiasts willing to get a new S7 or S7 Edge have no choice but to get a carrier-branded variant or maybe visit major online retailers for an unlocked variant. But this has come to an end as Samsung has announced that it will now be selling unlocked variants of these two phones to the U.S. market.
The unlocked variants of Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are no different from the variants sold through third parties. However, you might come across slight software alterations in carrier-branded versions as these companies look to customize the stock Android OS to fit their needs. But if you love to have total control over your device, Samsung is now offering you a chance to buy a new Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge right from the company’s website with no intermediaries.
So, other than Best Buy, Amazon, and Target, you can now get a new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge from Samsung for $670 and $770.
Just to remind you, splashing $670 will get you a device that boasts a screen size of 5.1 inches and uses QHD Super AMOLED panel. The resolution is 1440 by 2560 pixels, delivering 577ppi of pixel density. Under the hood, the Galaxy S7 packs a Snapdragon 820 SoC, 4GB RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. You get a 12MP Dual Pixel rear snapper while the front has a 5MP selfie sensor. A lot of these are what you find on the Galaxy S7 Edge. However, this phone’s screen has curved dual edges and is 5.5 inches in size, 0.4 inches larger than the standard S7. Since the resolution is the same, the pixel density of the S7 Edge drops to 534ppi, but as for the rest of the spec sheet, it remains the same as the Galaxy S7.
The good side of having a factory unlocked Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge is that you will be the first to receive any software updates that are brought forward by the Samsung.