Step aside iPhone 6, the latest smartphone is here. Meet Samsung’s Galaxy S6, which is proclaimed to be one of the company’s best performing to date. Sleek and stylish, the smartphone is encased in a metal-and-glass body; a departure from Samsung’s previous smartphones which came in plastic shells. Let’s not forget the Galaxy S6’s designer counterpart, the Galaxy S6 Edge. With its dual-curved display, it sets the bar high for other phones wanting to achieve that level of perfection. Let’s discuss some of the duo’s specifications.
Design
While it’s true that the Galaxy S6 looks quite like the iPhone 6, let’s not discount its beauty. Samsung has decided to let go of the cheap-looking plastic cases they once used and opted for a clean Gorilla Glass and aluminum body. The same goes with the S6 Edge, which looks even more elegant thanks to its curves. Both devices look great and high-end.
Features
Both smartphones feature Samsung’s preferred screen – a 5.1 Super AMOLED screen with a QHD resolution of 2,560 x 1440 pixels and 577 pixels per inch. The result is a super sharp display, with high contrast, vivid colors, and deeper blacks.
Software: The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge both run on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the latest among Google’s roster of operating systems.
Special Features:
- The fingerprint scanner is back, and it’s better than ever.
- Who needs cables when you can charge your Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge wirelessly. That’s right!
- Measure your heart rate with the smartphones’ built-in heart rate sensor.
Cons
The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge unfortunately don’t support swappable batteries and say goodbye to expandable storage. While the starter smartphones come with a 32GB memory, you’ll need to buy the 64GB or the 128GB smartphones (which cost more) if you need more space. Ugh.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge released April 2015.
Not sure if I’m the only one, but I really enjoy that the trend of increased screen and phone size finally came to a halt this year. Every generation we had complaints about it and I feel like everyone has somehow overlooked that today. Also, I think Samsung Pay is going to be the real game changer, along with that wireless recharging! Looking forward to the release of the phone in the UK!
You are not the only one, I felt the same about those over sized phones, I could never understand why someone would want to get something like a phablet. I thought this phone sounded like a great choice, specially because of the wireless charging part, but don’t you think the fact this phone doesn’t support swappable batteries is a big deal breaker?
Not only the lack of support for swappable batteries, but the lack of expandable storage as well. Personally I’d probably have to buy the highest-end model to suit my needs, and my budget is tight as it is. Everything else seems great, but I’ll have to pass.
That said, I’m also quite happy about phones returning to reasonable sizes. Oversized phones just looked like such a hassle, and it looks like product designers have cottoned on to that.
That’s so true. I am also happy about phones returning to reasonable sizes because it is what makes a phone a phone. I think phones should differ from tablets, computers and should not merge.
It certainly is a major disadvantage. The only alternative would be to carry a power bar around with you instead but that’s just too cumbersome, especially in a small handbag. I’d like to see a universal battery personally, something that could be used with the majority of phones.
I completely agree.
I’m looking forward to seeing the phones too. It’s funny how things have come almost full circle with the size of cell phones gradually getting bigger. I remember some really tiny phones doing the rounds about 8-9 years ago.
The Galaxy S6 sounded like the phone for me, until I read the bit about swappable batteries. That ruined it all for me. I was thinking this would be the perfect Christmas or anniversary gift, but not so much after this. Everything else sounded great though, but I wonder if this phone has the same tendency as its predecessors? You know, the ”sudden death” syndrome. My SO’s phone died suddenly just one year after buying his own Galaxy phone.
That’s awesome. I wasn’t so aware of the difference between S6 Edge and S6. I’m a bit fussed though, and disappointed that a lot of brands are coming out so quickly which makes people want to get them really fast. I would always say, the prices will drop anyways and a new one will come out, so there’s no point. I been happy with my S4 for ages, and I never had to complain!
I think Samsung Galaxy s6 and Samsung Galaxy s6 edge are almost the same. It is good to know that this phone looks like the Iphone 6. I always want to have Samsung Galaxy phone because it is running on android operating system and the camera is really amazing.
I completely agree gta5forandroid! You make a good point.
I have a friend that has an S5 and when I tested it out, I was amazed at the fingerprint scanner. All you need to do was swipe and you’re done. There was a video by TechRax where he was drop testing an S6 Edge and an iPhone 6 Plus or an iPhone 6. From that test, the S6 Edge came out demolishing the iPhone 6. It didn’t have any cracks until it was a 10 foot face front drop which surprised me that it didn’t get as damaged as the iPhone 6. I’m guessing Samsung has stepped up their game.
Samsung has been making great phones for years but the recent Smart TV scandal (where they were shown to be spying on customers, and Samsung seems unrepentant) has me a little gun shy about supporting them anymore.
That said, I have an older Galaxy Express and couldn’t be happier with it. I would say the lack of a swappable battery is an issue especially since that was a major feature of the last couple generations, one that was even advertised.
Also, for those tech savvy, you may want to root and do a custom rom. Samsung phones come with a LOT of bloatware and it will eat performance, which in turn will eat the now-unswappable battery.
Samsung went out of their way and crafted two versions of a beautiful phone that I’ve been waiting months to see and behold. It looks to be the smartphone of 2015 so far, despite the fact that it has a few small hiccups like every imperfect phone does and retracts some of its key features that were present in the prior models like removable batteries, SD cards and water resistance that some users have a problem with.
But besides that, it has so much aspects going for it, such as a phenomenal front and back camera, superb display, refined and premium craftsmanship and design, superior processor, reduced bloatware, internally expanded storage, smooth UI and convenient wireless charging. So still, I think they truly hit this one out the ball park and I’ll be upgrading my S4 to the S6 Edge next month.
I’m really glad to hear about all these new features the S6 is going to bring us. What really drew me away from getting one is the lack of expandable storage. It feels as though new features brought into newer phone models means limitations have to increase, and some things need to be taken it. It’s either for better or for worse, I suppose.