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Always On Display demo on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

posted by Nick T. / Feb 25, 2016, 10:16 AM

Always On Display demo on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

On the outside, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge look familiar. The two aren't very different from last year's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge+, at least not when it comes to design. But under the hood, you get a ton of new goodies, including a faster processor and a better camera. And on the software side of things, the S7 and S7 edge have gained a few neat abilities. One of them is called Always On Display.

In a nutshell, the idea behind Always On Display is to have the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge show basic information on the screen while in stand-by. This can be a clock, a calendar, or a static image, to give a few examples. You also get tickers for your missed calls and unread messages, along with a battery level indicator.

Now, you're probably thinking that having the screen lit at all times will drain the Galaxy S7 battery faster. And while you won't be wrong to say that, we must point out that an AMOLED screen's pixels draw power only if they're not showing black. That's why Always On Display uses black backgrounds, thus consuming minimum amounts of power. As a matter of fact, the feature could improve battery life, as you won't have to turn on the whole display anymore just to see the time. But you may disable Always On Display if you really want to.

For an in-depth demo of Always On Display in action, check out the images and video below, where we go hands-on with it on a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. And if it sounds like something you'd enjoy using, do let us know in the comments!

UPDATE: To clarify, widgets and images shown by the Always On Display have their location changed every once in a while. This is to avoid screen burn-in – a degradation of the screen caused by displaying a static image for long periods of time.

Always On Display demo on Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

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Display 5.1" 1440 x 2560 pixels

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47 Comments

2. ZeneticX

Posts: 63; Member since: Feb 27, 2014

The second clock looks the best, the 3rd clock looks like a copy of Sony's Xperia UI clock

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 10:30 AM 0

8. natypes

Posts: 1110; Member since: Feb 02, 2015

lol Yeah, like every version of an analog clock hasn't been used over and over everywhere.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 10:50 AM 3

4. XDAdam

Posts: 276; Member since: Feb 03, 2016

This could be a way to help extend the S6 battery as you wouldn't need to turn on the whole screen to check for missed calls/messages/emails/chats. Kinda stupid that this wont be coming to the S6 officially.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 10:32 AM 0

14. catze86

Posts: 731; Member since: Dec 07, 2015

If I remember corectly. Galaxy Edge series have these features, since begining. And almost everyone call it useless gimmick feature.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:07 AM 3

42. keithtae

Posts: 564; Member since: Mar 25, 2015

I have a note edge here, what you said was just a night clock that can only be used for 12 hours max a day. Theres no always on for note edge.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 3:28 PM 0

43. catze86

Posts: 731; Member since: Dec 07, 2015

I know. The concept still the same. Or just buy cheap lumia phones, you will have always in display feature.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 4:37 PM 0

5. .KRATOS.

Posts: 442; Member since: Mar 15, 2013

Well I hope that Samsung change their mind n push the always on display to the S6 but before that happens we still waiting for the marshmallow update to hit the unlocked version worldwide

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 10:36 AM 0

6. abdoualgeria

Posts: 928; Member since: Jul 27, 2015

Olways on-screen is hardware not software

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 10:38 AM 0

23. RaulBlas

Posts: 47; Member since: Mar 31, 2014

Absolutely not, in Amoled panels. You can do it anytime.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:34 AM 0

30. catze86

Posts: 731; Member since: Dec 07, 2015

It is software, bro.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:54 AM 1

9. natypes

Posts: 1110; Member since: Feb 02, 2015

I really like this feature. Can't wait for the Note 6.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 10:51 AM 1

10. spiderpig2894

Posts: 597; Member since: Jan 10, 2012

What about screen burn? It's rare for users but I've seen demo units of S6 with screen burn because it's always on.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 10:54 AM 0

13. TyrionLannister unregistered

It is not static and moves with time. So no such issues to worry.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:03 AM 3

16. bambamboogy02

Posts: 838; Member since: Jun 23, 2012

Well, the round analog clock is somewhat static. At least the round part, and dial. Only thing that would move are the arms on the clock. When you sleep, that image, as described above will be static for at least 4-8 Hours (How ever long you sleep). Plus how ever long your screen is off through out the day. I believe burn in will happen. At this point, only time will tell.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:22 AM 0

18. ZeneticX

Posts: 63; Member since: Feb 27, 2014

I think what he's trying to say is the whole clock will move up and down the screen according to a set time. If you watch the video at the beginning the calender was shown at the top of the screen but near the end it's at the bottom

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:25 AM 2

35. bambamboogy02

Posts: 838; Member since: Jun 23, 2012

Didn't watch the video. My fault. As long as it bounces around the screen, then there shouldn't be an issue.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 1:10 PM 0

20. TyrionLannister unregistered

The whole clock moves. It changes every minute or so. If you ever used the clock daydream, you'd know. Alas, daydreams only work when your phone is charging. But it's a cheap way to get always on screen, especially if you have a wireless charger.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:28 AM 1

49. spiderpig2894

Posts: 597; Member since: Jan 10, 2012

Well, that's a breeze. I didn't watch the video because the internet sucks. So, the screen burn is still a problem to AMOLEDs but they are still awesome.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 8:14 PM 0

22. catze86

Posts: 731; Member since: Dec 07, 2015

Just buy the Edge series. You dont need MM to have this feature. And the Clock is not static like the one on MM. More beautiful in the Edge panel than in the main screen

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:33 AM 0

48. maxha97

Posts: 100; Member since: Aug 28, 2012

It doesn't stop at one place. It moves slightly so that there is no chance to have burnin

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 7:42 PM 0

11. JMartin22

Posts: 2369; Member since: Apr 30, 2013

I would never use this feature on AMOLEDs lol. There's almost no generational improvements between the Note5 and the Galaxy S7s for their display panels. They either need to put more focus onto increasing the longevity of AMOLEDs or switch to a new, more efficient technology in QLEDs.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 10:55 AM 2

17. joeytaylor

Posts: 957; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

It does improve over the Note 5 in some areas

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:23 AM 2

19. tedkord

Posts: 17320; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Best screen available to better best screen available. How much generational improvement do you want?

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:26 AM 2

27. joeytaylor

Posts: 957; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

Haha...."better best" I love it

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:39 AM 0

32. JMartin22

Posts: 2369; Member since: Apr 30, 2013

Best available still isn't at its full potential and certainly lacking with LCDs in some areas. Burn in is still a real legitimate problem, so is efficiency on anything over 65% Avarage Picture Level. It personally still annoys me to see an AMOLED screen that's excellent out of the box, look all murky and dim after just 5 months of using it because it's slowly burning out. LCDs don't have this issue, they look and perform their best even after a year of usage.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 12:14 PM 1

38. ph00ny

Posts: 2027; Member since: May 26, 2011

When was the last time you had a burn in on AMOLED display personally?

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 2:30 PM 0

44. JMartin22

Posts: 2369; Member since: Apr 30, 2013

Since every AMOLED device I've owned. Galaxy S2, S3, S4, S5, Note 4, S6, and Note5.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 5:32 PM 0

47. medtxa

Posts: 1655; Member since: Jun 02, 2014

It's already at it's full potential if it can't be improved more at the time, yeah after 1.5 year i noticed some burn in though its not that noticeable most of time, still won't back to lcds greyish black though.

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 7:35 PM 0

25. abdoualgeria

Posts: 928; Member since: Jul 27, 2015

Check displaymate's review on gs7 display

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 11:38 AM 0

33. JMartin22

Posts: 2369; Member since: Apr 30, 2013

I read it, and I read their bi-annual assessments each year of the Galaxy S and Note series. But I still see the deficiency of AMOLEDs that are degrading over time just from even having the screen on. If you have contrasting images like black and white in the display, it makes the screen burn in more rapidly

posted on Feb 25, 2016, 12:17 PM 1

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