The Galaxy Note 7 is Samsung’s next big thing for 2016. Building on the successful Galaxy S7 edge, the Note 7 is packed to the brim with features.

While the new Touchwiz on the handset does make it easier to navigate around the UI, it is still not enough to try out all the features that Samsung has tucked into the device. So, to help you make the most of your new Galaxy Note 7, we have some tips and tricks for you.

Change Display Scaling

On almost all Android devices that I use, I end up changing its DPI to display more information. With a big screen, the content on the screen should scale to display more information and not show the same amount of information in a larger font.

On the Note 7, Samsung has included a handy Display Scaling option that lets users change the system DPI i.e. the amount of information being displayed on the screen. This can be done by switching to Condensed option under Settings -> Display -> Display Scaling.

Redeem your Galaxy Gifts

To make sure that you get a feeling of getting the most bang for your bucks, Samsung has gotten into a habit of bundling some free apps and services with its flagship devices. The Galaxy Note 7 is no different in this regard as Samsung has bundled a bunch of free apps, games, in-game currencies, and more with the phone.

To redeem your Galaxy Gifts, simply head over to the Galaxy Apps store.

S Pen tips

Samsung has included two different S Pen tips with the Note 7. They are both meant for different purposes and not a replacement piece that many people might be led to believe. The softer S Pen tip is to be used when you don’t have any screen protector installed on your Galaxy Note 7, while the harder tip is meant to be used when a screen protector installed on the display.

In Samsung’s own words:

“The additional S Pen tips that come with the Samsung Galaxy Note7 are made up of different materials to suit different needs. The black and white S Pen tips are made of Elastomer, which gives it a rubbery finish, while the grey S Pen tips are made from Polyoxymethylene, which gives it a plastic finish. The rubber tip offers better grip while the plastic tip provides smoother contact with the Note7 screen. The default pen tip of the S Pen is the rubber tip. Samsung has included five additional pen tips with every Note7, three rubber tips and two plastic tips, to cater to different preferences and usage scenarios of Note7 customers.”

USB Type-C adapters and cables 

The Galaxy Note 7 is the first device from Samsung to use a USB Type-C port. To ease the pain of this transition, Samsung has included a USB Type-C to microUSB adapter in the retail box of the Note 7. As is usually the case with adapters, there is a high probability that you will end up losing it and will soon be ordering some replacement ones from Amazon. I will also recommend buying some spare USB Type-C cables while you are at it.

However, don’t buy the cheapest USB cable or adapter that you come across. USB Type-C is still a new standard and there are many cables and adapters floating around in the market that are not built according to the proper spec. This can lead to your Note 7 being damaged, so make sure to buy USB Type-C cables and adapters from renowned brands. As a precaution, also make sure to read the reviews of other customers to ensure the cable or adapter has no issues.

Always On Display

If you are switching to the Galaxy Note 7 from the Galaxy S7 or S7 edge, don’t dismiss the Always On Display feature right away. On the latter devices, the Always On Display mode was of limited use since it could only show notifications from three system apps. On the Note 7 though, Samsung has refined this feature to ensure that it works with all third-party apps and services as well.

And if this will be your first experience with Always On Display, make sure to customise it according to your liking from Settings -> Display -> Always On Display. While the feature does have some impact on the battery life of the Note 7, the hit is marginal, to say the least.

Blue Light Filter

Taking a cue out of Apple’s book, Samsung has shipped the Galaxy Note 7 with a handy Blue light filter option. For the unknown, research has proved that the blue light being emitted from a smartphone’s display adds extra strain to your eyes and can affect your sleeping cycle.

So, the blue light filter option on the Galaxy Note 7 circumvents this problem by giving the display a warmish temperature. Samsung, in fact, has gone a step ahead and included a handy sunset to sunrise toggle that automatically enables the blue light filter when the sun sets and disables it when it rises. You can also set a custom schedule for the blue light filter to automatically enable/disable itself.

You can access the Blue light filter option on the Galaxy Note 7 from Settings -> Display -> Blue light filter.

One-handed operation

Despite coming with a curved AMOLED display, there is no denying the fact that the Note 7 is a large device. In case you are having trouble using the device one-handed in certain scenarios, you can shrink the UI to aid one-handed usability.

You can enable one-handed operation on the Note 7 by going to Settings -> Advanced features -> One-handed operation. From there, enable the Reduce Screen Size option. Now, you can quickly shrink the UI on your Note 7 by triple pressing the home button of the device in quick succession.

Quickly Erase Contents

If the Galaxy Note 7 is your first Note and this is the first time using the S Pen, here’s a handy tip: you can quickly erase any content that you have written using the S Pen by tapping the side button on it. This will make the S Pen act as an eraser using which you can quickly and easily erase content.

FM Radio

If you own a Snapdragon 820 powered variant of the Galaxy Note 7, you will be glad to know that the handset comes with a built-in FM radio. While the hardware support is present, Samsung has not preloaded any app on the handset that would allow you to use the FM radio. Not to worry though, since you can use a third-party app called NextRadio to enjoy the good old FM radio on your Galaxy Note 7.

All the carrier variants of the Galaxy Note 7 in the United States, including those from Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint, support FM radio.

Download: NextRadio

What are you favorite tips and tricks for the Galaxy Note 7? Drop in a comment below and let us know about them!