Editor's Note:Samsung is currently recalling all Note 7 that have already shipped due to the danger of batteries overheating and catching fire. Please check with your carrier for updates on how to exchange a phone or when sales to consumers resume.Over the past couple years, Samsung has not only outsold Apple models with the Galaxy line of phones, according to Forbes, but has also built phones that may surpass its main rival in terms of design.

The Note 5, predecessor to the new Note 7, was an elegant design that combined aluminum and glass in harmony and felt substantial in hand.

The new Note 7 leans more toward the Galaxy S7 design with a shiny back and a lighter feel. The less substantial feel is made up for with internal improvements all around.

Users should take into consideration that the phone is being recalled, and that it has been advised by Samsung that the phone not be purchased immediately for user safety. This article is a review of the phone's general design and not a promotion for purchasing it.

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Overall Grade: A-

Fit and finish

The Galaxy Note 7 feels somewhat lighter than its predecessor even though construction is similar. Gorilla glass still covers the back of the phone, although the colored panel below has the shiny appearance shared with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. While the Note 5 glass back was a magnet for fingerprints, the darker colors made them less obvious than the shiny look employed now.

Aluminum still surrounds the edges of the phone but the angles make this phone seem less substantial and elegant than before. The layout is familiar with the power button on the right, volume buttons on the left and the home button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner, below the screen. Capacitive, back-lit hidden Android function buttons are on either side of the home button.

The speaker, audio jack and stylus reside on the lower edge of the phone. More on this later, but the fingerprint scanner is not the only personal identification available to users of the Note 7.

The SIM/SD memory slot is found on the top edge of the phone, expandable memory carries over from the Note 5— something Samsung fans will be pleased to see.

Screen

Samsung’s heritage as a maker of televisions is apparent with the SuperAMOLED phone screens that are arguably the best available in terms of the richness and saturation of color. I found this screen to be visible even in bright sunlight.

The Note 7’s 5.7-inch screen feels smaller in hand than most “phablets,” as Samsung has eliminated most unnecessary real estate surrounding the screen. The Note 7 employs a curved edge design similar to the Galaxy S7 Edge. Samsung increased the size of the Edge screen to 5.5 inches this year which narrows the advantage offered by the Note line of phones.

Samsung offers an always on-screen feature that allows for seeing the time, date and notifications without needing to unlock the phone. This feature is very handy for glancing at the phone on your desk or nightstand to view a notification. Auto brightness seemed more intuitive and accurate than in past models and may be due to the additional sensors employed in the Note 7. Settings are also available to adjust the screen for night viewing, reducing eye strain.

Camera

In addition to high-quality screens, Samsung has excelled in camera design for the past two model years. The 12-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel rear camera are shared with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Two things I noticed most of, all compared to the Note 5, were the speed with which photos can be taken and the quality of pictures taken with low light.

How much of the increase in speed is due to the camera itself and how much is due to the increased processing power of the Note 7 is debatable. What isn’t debatable is that it was difficult to outpace the shutter when taking pictures in normal light and auto mode.

In addition to taking great photos in low light, the Note 7 camera allows for full manual mode shooting for those who know how to maximize its use. Samsung led the way in offering manual functions, but this is common now on Android flagship model phones made by LG and others.

While camera functionality is very similar to that on the Note 5, the layout of controls has changed somewhat. I found some of the controls more difficult to locate than previously. Video quality up to 4K is excellent, including the sound.

Performance and intangibles

What clearly sets the Note 7 apart from not only Samsung models but all competing phones is the stylus. A couple of changes this time around have made the stylus feel somewhat slimmer and more precise at the tip. With each new generation, it seems, the stylus becomes more natural to write with.

Samsung also continues to improve integration of the stylus with the phone and apps. It is possible to virtually write anywhere, including over the top of the home screen if pulling the stylus without unlocking the phone first isn't possible. Whatever note is written can then be saved as a memo. The Air Command menu governing the stylus is improved in both layout and accessibility.

The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor combined with 4GB of RAM makes for a lightning fast phone experience. Lag is non-existent when running multiple apps and watching video, and the Note 7’s dual screen capability works as well as ever when running two apps simultaneously.

I was most curious whether the new iris scanner that can be used in place of a fingerprint would be ready for primetime. It is simple to use, with an animation on the unlock screen directing you. It worked flawlessly even in low light.

Conclusion

While the Note 7 may feel slightly less elegant than its predecessor, the phone is still stylish and substantial in the hand. Performance and battery life are excellent and the stylus continues to impress as a business tool and a convenience.

Samsung gambled somewhat that many may choose the less expensive, the Note 7 is $850, Galaxy S7 Edge with its now almost as large screen. The stylus may seem unnecessary to some. Regardless, let’s hope the battery issue is solved sooner rather than later as the Note 7 is truly a class act among flagship smartphones.

Specs

Processor: 2.15 GHz, Quadcore Snapdragon 820

Camera: 12MP rear, 5MP front, 4K and 1080P video

Storage: expandable to 256GB

Battery: 3500mAh

OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow