Pros:
Vibrant screen; Good construction; Impressive multimedia performance.
Cons:
Done-to-death design; Garish and cluttered TouchWiz UI; Not ideal for single-handed use.
Samsung Galaxy E7
Street Price: Rs 19, 000
For years, Samsung sold tonnes of smartphones in the mid-range segment. At one point of time, its Galaxy Grand was one of the best selling smartphone in India. Although a plasticky phone with a terrible screen, Samsung managed to sell truckloads with its brilliant marketing. Times have changed now, Xiaomi and OnePlus are growing its user-base at the expense of the Korean-giant. Chinese brands offering sleek devices at an affordable price have driven Samsung to raise its game. As a result we have got metal clad A and E series phones. The E7 is the top-of-the-line handset in the series.
Design
If you were expecting a new design, prepare to get disappointed. The E7 looks like the Galaxy Grand or any other mid-range Samsung phone for that matter. You get rounded corners and iconic home button. However, with relatively better construction and a metallic rim.
Compared to previous Samsung phones in this price bracket, the E7 is thinner yet sturdier. Solid build comes with a trade-off though. The plastic back-panel is not removable. This means that you need to visit a repair shop or a service centre to get the battery replaced.
The back has a matte finish, which feels way better than the glossy or faux-leather found on most Samsung devices. Volume rocker is on the left-hand side. On the opposite side is a power button along with two nano SIM slots. The second SIM slot is hybrid type — if you don’t have two SIM cards, you can use the slot for a micro SD card.