Comparing MWC 2016 Smartphone Standouts: Samsung Galaxy S7 vs. LG G5

We compare the new Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphones and LG G5 handsets to help buyers determine which alternative might best fit their needs.

Both Samsung’s Galaxy S7 smartphones and the LG G5 are running on Google’s latest Android version, Marshmallow. While both companies have made some modifications to the software to include additional features and integrate some of their proprietary platforms, like Samsung Pay, expect about the same user experience (and identical access to apps) in any of the devices.

The display sizes across the Samsung and LG devices are a bit scattered. Samsung’s Galaxy S7 comes with a 5.1-inch screen, while the LG G5 has a 5.3-inch display. Thanks in part to its curved edges, the Galaxy S7 Edge has the biggest screen at 5.5 inches. All of the handsets come with the same 2,560-by-1,440 pixel resolutions.

Again, there aren’t many differences between Samsung’s and LG’s smartphones. Under the hood, for instance, the LG G5, alongside Samsung’s handsets, feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors. The Snapdragon 820 is the latest mobile chip from Qualcomm and promises more power than its predecessor, the Snapdragon 810. It’s perhaps also worth noting that the chips will get an added boost from the 4GB of memory bundled with the smartphones.

Those who wish the company made bigger changes to the Galaxy S7’s design have criticized Samsung. LG, however, tossed the LG G4 design out the window. The company’s LG G5 has ditched the curved back and leather finish and gone with a thin, aluminum body. LG’s decision was based, in part, on criticism that its previous devices delivered appealing specs but a second-rate design. With metal and a sleek finish, LG is trying to address that in the G5.

One of the major differences between the LG G5 and Samsung’s smartphones is their battery. While the batteries in all of the devices offer fast charging and long lives, LG’s option is swappable; the battery in the Galaxy S7 cannot be removed. For enterprise customers who travel often, a swappable battery is a major selling point. And LG is using that to attract corporate customers.

The cameras built into smartphones today are used extensively for taking photos and videos, so it’s no surprise the companies spent so much time talking up their lenses. The Galaxy S7 devices come with 12-megapixel rear-facing cameras, as well as a 5-megapixel front-facing sensor. LG has upped the ante a bit, offering a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera and 135-degree wide-angle lens. The G5’s front-facing camera comes in at 8 megapixels, topping Samsung once again. For those who often take pictures, LG’s advantage could be a key selling point.

As expected, LG announced that its G5 display will come with an “always-on” feature. The screen features the time and date, as well as access to important notifications without being required to flick on the smartphone’s operating system. LG says the feature will “minimize power consumption” and uses less than 1 percent of the battery’s full capacity per hour.

No surprise here, but both LG and Samsung decided to bet big on fingerprint sensors with their new smartphones. The Galaxy S7 phones and the LG G5 handset all come with fingerprint sensors designed to provide some additional security when unlocking the device. On the Samsung side, the feature is required to power the company’s mobile-payments platform Samsung Pay.

Modularity could be the secret sauce that keeps customers interested in the LG G5. The smartphone, unlike the Galaxy S7 line, comes with a feature for users to plug in accessories. LG showcased several components, including an enhanced camera module and the Hi-Fi Plus for better audio playback. Expect modularity to drive LG’s sales pitch when it launches its smartphone against Samsung’s alternatives.

So far, neither LG nor Samsung has said how much their smartphones will cost customers. That said, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S7 line in mid-March in several markets around the world. LG says that its G5 will be available to customers in April. Although there’s no price on any of the devices yet, these are all top-of-the-line Android smartphones, so don’t expect them to come cheap.