5 reasons not to buy the Galaxy S7

1. You have a Galaxy S6

If you have a Galaxy S6, pay attention, it could save you a bundle. Yes, the S7 is a better device, better designed and gives you an improved smartphone experience. Samsung did a great job of addressing concerns put forth by S6 buyers. There is an improvement in battery size, a more ergonomical design, better weatherproofing and a microSD card slot. But do these really warrant an expensive upgrade? I think not. 

The Galaxy S6 already has great specs, they are so good that you wouldn't notice much of a difference if you upgraded to an S7. You can get Marshmallow on the S6 now. You have 3 GB of RAM, close to the 4 GB of RAM in the S7. Your S6 has an incredible display. In fact, it's practically the same at the S7 - both have a pixel density of 577 ppi, for example. 

But if you already have the comparable S6 then you should just be patient. You already have an excellent Samsung Galaxy device that is leaps ahead of its predecessor, the S5. If you own an S5 that is another story, the S7 might be worth if for you. But you should hold your horses and wait for the S8 if you are intent on upgrading your S6 to another Galaxy device. 

2. Chinese smartphones are cheaper

Unless you've been living under a rock, you should know that some Chinese smartphone manufacturers are pumping out top-of-the-line flagship devices at almost half the price of Korean manufacturers. These devices compare quite well with the Galaxy S7 and there are more and more popping up, giving you a large selection of alternatives. 

Here's a great suggestion, if you're OK with buying a Chinese smartphone online: pre-order a Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro for US$549.99. This baby is top-notch and a lot of the specs match the S7. The Mi 5 Pro has the same size screen, battery and RAM. But it also has up to double the internal storage and comes with 4-axis optical image stabilization for clearer pictures. The ceramic back of the Mi 5 Pro is probably its most interesting feature. You can see a video of how it's almost indestructible here. 

The problem with Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi is you can't just go to a carrier and buy one. But if you are OK with jumping through a few more hoops to get the right device then you should do it. The pre-order price of the Mi 5 Pro is around US$150 less than the Galaxy S7's. 

For further comparisons of the Mi 5 Pro and the Galaxy S7, check out our comparison page:

• Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S7 comparison

3. Specs are more important than design

If you need all of the specs of the Galaxy S7 but don't really care about the design of your device, then you should avoid the Galaxy S7. Part of what makes the device so alluring is its design, which is also what gives it a higher ticket price than its competitors. If you don't care about this slick look and feel then there are other devices out there that give you comparable, even better performance while lacking a bit in design. 

Man-oh-mighty the LG G5 looks like it's going to be a powerhouse high-performance smartphone. You have a bigger display than the Galaxy S7 with similar hardware and software to boot. The LG G5 also features the Magic Slot, which allows you to remove the battery or connect external gadgets like VR headsets, external keyboards, speakers and cameras. 

But what the LG G5 lacks is the sleek design of the Galaxy S7. While the LG G5 sports a metal case, our initial test indicated that it's less ergonomic. Because of this, pre-ordering the device will cost you US$100 less than the Galaxy S7 pre-order price. That's a big saving, if you don't mind the lesser design quality. 

4. You're an update junkie

To our chagrin, Google's Android updates just don't come in fast enough for Samsung devices. We just got Marshmallow for the Galaxy S6 around the time when the Galaxy S7 was unveiled. And now there are rumors about Android N hitting the streets soon enough. 

If you want the fastest updates you should steer clear of the Galaxy S7. Galaxy devices get their major updates sometimes several months after they are released to other devices. The alternative is quite obvious – get a Nexus device. If you don't already know, they come equipped with the latest Android version and get them before other devices. 

The Nexus 6P is the latest premium model but, the great thing is, it's also affordable. It has some great features as well, like a cool design and a 5.7-inch AMOLED display. And it only costs US$449.99 for an unlocked version.

5. The Galaxy S6 is cheaper

As you probably already know, once a new flagship device is out, the previous model decreases in value. That's because folks usually don't go for the outdated model when there is a new one with all the bells and whistles. But this is an opportunity, and luckily the S6 is still a fantastic smartphone as I previously mentioned. 

The Galaxy S6 is still competitive when you match it against 2016 flagships (including the Galaxy S7). The Galaxy S6, as you probably remember, was a major jump in quality for Android devices in general. As Samsung looked to take a bite out of Apple, it made a device that came in nearly unrivaled in 2015.

Now, if I said you could get one of these devices for US$459.99 last year, it would have nearly floored you. Well, that's what they are selling for right now. But since the S7 was released, the S6 isn't so alluring. Don't let the update to the line obscure your vision. The Galaxy S6 is a real bargain now. 

Do you have other reasons to not buy a Galaxy S7? Let us know in the comments.