Samsung Galaxy S6 unveiled with bold new vision and outstanding specs
Today marks a milestone in Samsung's mobile history. Right on cue, the tech giant unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S6 – its latest and greatest flagship smartphone – and boy is it a phone worthy of attention! While Samsung has been criticized for reiterating with every new Galaxy S flagship rather than innovating, the Galaxy S6 seems to put an end to this as it separates itself from its predecessor on many levels.
Still, if our intuition is not mistaken, some fans of the brand might take the changes brought by the next Galaxy with mixed feelings. Why is that, you ask? Well, allow us walk you through the Galaxy S6 specs and features.
Design
For the latest Galaxy flagship, Samsung has taken a radically different approach to design and build materials. Most strikingly, plastic is nowhere to be found. It is a layer of Gorilla Glass 4 covering the back sides of the device instead, splashed in one of four distinctive hues – White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, or Blue Topaz. Furthermore, the frame around the sides of the phone, as well as the buttons that reside there, are now made of metal, just like the case is with the Galaxy Note 4. The weight of 4.867 ounces (138 grams) and thickness of 0.267 inches (6.8 millimeters) make the Samsung Galaxy S6 both slimmer and lighter than the Galaxy S5.
But as we mentioned, some of the changes brought by the Galaxy S6 might spark a riot among the Samsung fanbase. The smartphone's new design does away with the removable back cover, which practically makes the battery inaccessible by the end user. There are no options for expandable storage either. And if you liked the Galaxy S5 for its water-resistant properties, you'd be disappointed to know that the Galaxy S6 does not boast an extraordinary resistance to the elements.
At the same time, the Samsung Galaxy S6 has adopted quite a few traits and features from last year's Galaxy S5. Among them are the curved corners and the button arrangement, with a physical "Home" button below the screen coupled with a pair of capacitive ones for navigation. As before, there's a fingerprint scanner built into the home key – thankfully, one you have to touch, not swipe, to get your finger scanned. Around the back of the phone we find little more than a protruding camera and a heart rate sensor as the opening for the single speaker is now at the phone's bottom.
Display
Interface
Android 5.0 Lollipop comes running on the Samsung Galaxy S6, along with Samsung's own software solution known as TouchWiz, and as the rumor mill predicted, the latter has been streamlined even further for a simplified, hassle-free user experience. The interface's clever perks like Ultra Power Saving Mode, S Finder, and Private Mode are still present, however. To make it fun and easy for users to personalize their Galaxy S6 handset, Samsung has implemented themes support into its interface.
Processor and memory
You can't have a great smartphone without a great processor to power it, isn't that so? In that respect, Samsung is right on top of its game as its Galaxy S6 flagship runs on the most advanced Exynos silicon yet. Its 64-bit, octa-core processor consists of a 2.1GHz quad-core cluster paired with a quad-core 1.5Ghz one, together providing a processing punch or power efficiency, depending on the use scenario. As it is the first mobile SoC built on 14-nanometer architecture, its power efficiency is expected to be hard to beat. The silicon is accompanied by 3GB of speedy, yet battery-friendly LPDDR4 RAM. Sure, 4GB of RAM would have been nice, but we guess we'll have to wait for that until the right time comes.
As we mentioned above, the Samsung Galaxy S6 skips the option for expandable storage – a microSD card slot is, surprisingly, absent from the new Galaxy flagship. But on the bright side of things, the handset comes with at least 32GB of built-in storage space. 64- and 128GB models are to be made available as well. The UFS 2.0 flash storage promises quicker access speeds while consuming less power than previous technologies.
Camera
Samsung's high-end smartphones have always excelled in the camera department, which is why our hopes for the Galaxy S6's 16MP camera are set quite high. With its f/1.9 aperture, Smart OIS, and automatic real-time HDR, the snapper is expected to be among the best in its class. In addition, Samsung has added a white balance detection system that uses infra-red light detection to set the white balance accordingly, even in tricky light situations. To make the camera on its smartphone easy to access, Samsung has enabled the camera app to be accessed with a double-press of the Galaxy S6 power button. As for its front-facing camera, the Samsung Galaxy S6 packs a 5MP snapper with a wide, f/1.9 aperture.
Battery life
While the 2550mAh battery seems small by today's standards for an Android flagship, the Galaxy S6 relies on power efficiency to last you through the day. Yet only a thorough battery test will show how good of a performer the Galaxy S6 really is. To make charging more convenient, users may take advantage of the phone's built-in support for wireless charging, or simply use its wired charger, which is said to provide 150% faster charging compared to the Galaxy S5.
Price and release date
While Samsung has not released any details as to how much the Galaxy S6 will cost, it is safe to assume that the new flagship will be an expensive handset. For the base, 32GB model, we're likely looking at the typical $200 price tag for buyers committing to a two year contract or $650 outright. If you want one, mark April 10 in your calendars as that's when the Samsung Galaxy S6 is launching globally.
Beautifully Crafted from Metal and Glass, Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge Define What’s Next in Mobility
Equipped with first-of-its-kind technology, Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are the most advanced smartphones on the market
Barcelona, Spain, March 1 2015 – Samsung Electronics today announced its entirely redefined smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. Creating a new standard for design, craftsmanship and performance, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge seamlessly blend premium materials with the most advanced Samsung technology to offer consumers an unmatched mobile experience.
“With the all new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, Samsung is offering what’s next in mobility, along with a new standard to drive the global mobile agenda,” said JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “By listening to our customers, and learning from both our success and missteps, we continuously push forward new technologies and ideas. With a reimagined design, robust partner network and novel services, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge offer users the ultimate experience in smartphone options.”
Beauty Meets Purpose
Carefully crafted from metal and glass, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge blend purposeful design with powerful features. The Galaxy S6 edge, particularly, shows unique and outstanding beauty while also providing a solid grip and an immersive viewing experience with the world’s first curved display on both sides. Its glass body, made from the toughest glass to date, Corning® Gorilla Glass® 4, is available in an array of colorful jewel tones, including White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Blue Topaz and Green Emerald, which elicit a unique visual texture as it reflects natural light. This timeless design required first-of-its-kind glass crafting technology and unmatched quality control, setting the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge apart from every other mobile device on the market. The premium device aesthetics deliver true value and are complemented by a totally new and lighter interface that greatly enhances usability and functionality. A refined and fully optimized user experience simplifies applications and offers features and settings in a more intuitive way.
Vivid Images with a Fast, Bright Camera
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are equipped with an incredibly vivid, bright and fast front and rear camera. The F1.9 lenses and high resolution sensors on both front (5MP) and rear (16MP) cameras provide the most superior image quality in a smartphone, even in the dark. In addition, Auto Real-time High Dynamic Range (HDR), Smart Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and IR Detect White Balance provide advanced light sensitivities and crisp camera solutions. Furthermore, a new “Quick Launch” feature give users fast, direct access to the camera from any screen in just 0.7 seconds* by simply double clicking the home key button. These advanced camera functions enable users to capture their most precious and personal moments in uncompromising quality, however and wherever they want.
Super Charging and Cord Free
With fully embedded WPC and PMA certified wireless charging technology, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are setting a new industry standard for universal wireless charging. The devices work with any wireless pad available in the market that supports WPC and PMA standards. They also sport incredibly fast wired charging, 1.5 times faster than the Galaxy S5, providing about 4 hours of usage after only 10 minutes of charging.*
Cutting-edge Core Technology
The thin (6.8 mm/7.0mm edge) and lightweight (138g /132g edge) Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge integrate the most advanced, cutting-edge, Samsung core technology available today. The world’s first 14nm mobile processor with 64-bit platform, new LPDDR4 memory system and UFS 2.0 flash memory provides higher performance and enhanced memory speed with lower power consumption. Moreover, the world’s first 1440P/VP9 hardware based codec enables users to enjoy high resolution streaming video while also using less power. In addition, the 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen offers users the highest pixel density of 577ppi. Enhanced outdoor visibility with a brighter display (600cd/mm) lets consumers experience content without compromise – anywhere, at any time.
Easy and Protected Mobile Payment
Samsung Pay, a new, easy-to-use mobile payment service that will be compatible with more locations than any competing offering in a single application, will launch on Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge in the United States during the second half of this year. Protected by Samsung KNOX, fingerprint scanning, and advanced tokenization, Samsung Pay works with both NFC (Near Field Communication) and MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) technology to make it device, merchant and card issuer agnostic.
Enhanced Security
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are built on the upgraded Samsung KNOX, end-to-end secure mobile platform, offering defense-grade features for real-time protection from potential malicious attacks. Both of these new devices are also ready for immediate enterprise adoption, with market leading MDMs and KNOX enhancements enabled at launch to simplify and improve mobile device management. Additionally, the Find My Mobile feature secures lost devices and protects personal information through a number of services, including the all new remotely controlled “Reactivation lock.” With an enhanced touch-type fingerprint scanner, it also provides quick authentication and saves encrypted data in secure device storage.
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge will be available globally starting from April 10, 2015 with 32/64/128GB storage options** available in White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Blue Topaz (Galaxy S6 only) and Green Emerald (Galaxy S6 edge only).
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