Top 7 new features in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge

Samsung started to release the Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. There are some new features and improvements in this Android Nougat update.

This post will explain to you the top 7 new features in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. You may check Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge Android Nougat update guide for detailed guides on how to use the new features in Android Nougat update.

For the updated user guide in your own languages, you may check official user manual for Galaxy S7 with Android Nougat update page.

If you have a non-Samsung phone with Android Nougat, some of the features discussed below may be not available in your device. You may check Android Nougat guides.

Grouped notifications and quick action

In Android Nougat, multiple notifications from the same app are now grouped.

And you can also take a quick action in the notification panel directly. The quick actions supported are offered by individual app developers. In other words, quick actions you can use are limited by individual apps.

Actually, in the recalled Galaxy Note 7 (with Android Marshmallow),  Samsung already implemented the bundled notification through the new UI.

Now, in Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, grouped notification and quick action is natively supported.  This means more apps will support direct action in the notification panel.

Launcher shortcut support

Another new feature in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge is shortcut (quick action) support in launcher.

In Marshmallow, by default, in Galaxy S7 home screen,  when you tap and hold an app icon, you have the option to remove it from the home screen. In addition, you can move it to other home screen panels. These options are universal: for all apps.

In the Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, you now have some app specific options. For example, if you tap and hold Google Play store app, in addition to the two universal options, you have an app specific option: my apps. In other words,  you can enter My Apps page in Google Play app directly from Galaxy S7 home screen. Google Keep app has even more options.

Such options is similar to widgets.  Of course, only app developer can add such options. Android Nougat and the the launcher simply support it.

Launcher shortcut support works in Galaxy S7 apps screen as well. When you tap and hold an app in the apps screen, in addition to adding it to the home screen, you also have the shortcuts (quick actions) if the app developer enable this feature.

Because the shortcut support is a native feature in Android Nougat, not Samsung’s feature, most app developers have started to update their apps and add this feature.

Launcher shortcut support is a feature in Android Nougat 7.1, not Android Nougat 7.0, which Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge was based on.

However, a similar feature was added in this update for you to clear number badge in Galaxy S7 and S7 edge as explained in this guide.

Improved quick settings

Galaxy S7 quick setting buttons allow you to change some phone settings directly in notification shade without opening the Galaxy S7 Settings app.

But in Marshmallow, you can only turn on/off the specific feature by tapping quick setting buttons. If you want to change any settings of the corresponding feature, you have to open settings page.

One of the new features in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge is that you can set some options in quick panel without opening the Settings app. For example, you can switch WiFi networks with the quick setting button.

So, it is easier to adjust settings with a quick swipe of the screen using the quick setting buttons in the Android Nougat update.

In addition,  S Finder and quick connect are integrated, although S Finder is not frequently used by most owners of Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

Please check this guide on how to use and customize quick setting buttons in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

You can also adjust the location of brightness control as explained in this guide.

New gestures in Camera app

Galaxy S7 camera app is quite easy to use for most owners.

But for owners who want to apply camera effects when taking photos, it is tedious.

As a new feature in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung revamped camera app with new gestures.

With Android Nougat update, you can swipe from left to right in the preview screen of Galaxy S7 camera app to select camera modes (shooting mode). This is identical to the camera app gesture in Marshmallow. But if you swipe from right to left, you can now apply camera effects. In Marshmallow, this would open Gallery app.

A new gesture in the Galaxy S7 camera preview screen is introduced to switch between front and rear camera. You can swipe upwards or downwards in Galaxy S7 camera preview screen to switch from front camera to rear camera or from rear camera to front camera.

There are also a few other changes in Galaxy S7 camera app, for example, simplified camera setting icons.

Please refer to this guide on how to use Galaxy S7 camera app with Android Nougat udpate.

Adjustable display size and screen resolution, and new blue light filter

Prior to Android Nougat 7.0, you can only change the font size. The text size can be scaled to meet your needs. But all graphics (e.g., app icons) are still fixed because the background grids are fixed.

Now in Android Nougat update, you can set the display size as well. This will affect the scaling of all visual elements. For example, you can make app icons bigger or smaller in Galaxy S7 home screen and apps screen.  Please note, you need reset the screen grid after changing display size.  The display size settings affects all apps (e.g., web page in Chrome browser app), not just system UI. This is similar to font size settings.

You can check “How to use screen zoom to adjust the size of icons, notifications, and lock screen keypads in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and S7 edge” page on this feature.

Another new feature in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge is the adjustable screen resolution. You can reduce the battery consumption by reducing the screen resolution. This feature was first introduced in Game tools for games. Now it is part of the Galaxy S7 system feature. Please note, this is a Samsung feature, not a standard Android Nougat feature.

You may check this guide on how to adjust Galaxy S7 screen resolution after Android Nougat update.

The blue light filter is probably one of the most wanted new features in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Galaxy S7  blue light filter will make reading more comfortable in darkness. Actually, Samsung introduced this feature in Galaxy Note 7 with Marshmallow. Now, the blue light filter is introduced in Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge with Android Nougat update. Please check this guide on how to use, customize and schedule blue light filter in Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge.

More than 2 apps in pop-up view of multi-window

Android Nougat formally introduced split-screen multi window feature. As we all know, Samsung has its own multi window feature for long time.

One of the multi window features that stock Android Nougat still lacks is the pop-up view.

Now, in the Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, the pop-up view multi window feature supports more than two apps.

This is a really useful multi window feature. You may check multi window guide if you are new to Samsung’s multi window feature.

You may check this guide if you want to know how to use new features in Galaxy S7 multi window in Android Nougat update.

Access apps directly from always-on display (AOD)

Galaxy S7 always-on display (AOD) was significantly improved in this Android Nougat update.

In addition to some new clock styles, you can also set own color or pictures for the always-on display.

Another interesting new always-on display feature in Android Nougat update is that you can double tap a notification icon with your finger to view the notification and open the app directly. Of course, if phone screen is locked, you need unlock the screen.

What do you think about new features in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge?

Please share your thoughts or questions on new features in Android Nougat update for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge in the comment box below.

You may check Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge Android Nougat update guide for detailed guides on how to use the new features in Android Nougat update.

For other guides on using Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, please check Galaxy S7 online manual page.

For detailed Galaxy S7 how-to guides, please check Galaxy S7 how-to guides page.

For more Galaxy S7 camera guides, please check Galaxy S7 camera guide page.

For the updated Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge user guide in your own languages, you may check official user manual for Galaxy S7 with Android Nougat update page.