REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy S6 Smartphone

What's New in the Galaxy S6?

Samsung CEO J.K. Shin credits “relentless innovation” for the new S6 designs. Others might call it “unabashed imitation” of Apple’s iPhone. But to be fair, there are some interesting and unique features in Samsung newest flagship smartphone model.

The Galaxy S6, slated for availability in mid-April, now sports a metal unibody remarkably similar to the iPhone 6, although Samsung Group’s Younghee Lee claims his product “doesn’t bend,” a snarky allusion to unsubstantiated rumors that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus bent just from sitting in users’ pockets.

What is in both new Galaxy S6 phones is satisfying. They have 5.1-inch Gorilla Glass screens; the vertical sides of the S6 Edge curve towards the center of the phone to bring its edges within easier reach of smaller thumbs. The super AMOLED screens provide stunning color and graphics at 2560 x1440 resolutions with 577 pixels per inch. Both phones feature Samsung’s new 64-bit, 14-nanometer Exynos processors, and they’re available in five different colors: green emerald, black sapphire, blue topaz, gold platinum, and white pearl.

Another page stolen from Apple’s playbook is in the Galaxy’s 16 mega-pixel, 3456 x 4608 rear cameras and 5 mega-pixel front "selfie" camera. Just as you can access the iPhone 6’s camera while the phone is locked, you can wake up the new Galaxy phones’ cameras by double-tapping the home screen button. The phones also include a fingerprint scanner for security and a heart rate sensor for fitness buffs.

Wireless charging is another new feature on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Samsung claims that a Galaxy S6 can be fully recharged in half the time that an iPhone 6 requires.

You’ll know when your spouse is calling even if your new Galaxy is lying face-down on a desk or table. A contact can be assigned a color that will flash along the edge of the display when the contact calls or texts, even when the phone is in silent mode. The date and time can also be displayed on the narrow, wrap-around edge of the screen, so there's no need to turn the phone face-up at 3AM.

Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Backward?

There are two new "features" in the new Galaxy smartphones that may not be welcomed by users. Gone from the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are microSD slots (for expanded or removable storage) and replaceable batteries. Some pundits think this is a huge step backwards, but I don't think it will bother most users. The Galaxy S6 can be configured with with 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of internal storage. The way I see it, if you need more than 32GB, move your photos, videos or music to cloud storage.

But there's a bigger issue, especially for those who are prone to dropping their phone in the bath tub. To make the Galaxy phones slimmer, Samsung also removed seals and gaskets that gave its predecessor (the Galaxy S5) a degree of water resistance. (The S5 could be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.) So plan to enjoy your S6 in water-free zones, and if you have an oopsie, refer to my article HELP! I Dropped My Phone in The…

“Samsung Pay” will also be in the Galaxy phones by summer, the company said. Samsung’s answer to the Apple Pay mobile payment platform will make use of Near Field Communications (NFC), which requires merchants to upgrade their equipment, and the Magnetic Secure Transactions (MST) technology of LoopPay, which was recently purchased by Samsung.

Pricing will not be revealed until the phones actually go on sale in mid-April. Mobile rumormongers are tossing around figures ranging between $200 and $300 for 32 GB models on two-year contracts to about $700 for no-contract (32 GB) unlocked phones.

The good news is that prices on used Galaxy S4 and S5 phones will drop dramatically. I typically stay one version behind the latest and greatest, just for that reason. Last month I got two S4's for $1 each, with contract. I expect similar pricing on the S5 models soon after the release of the S6.

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