Samsung Galaxy S6
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Samsung has done a dangerous thing here: Knowing that it had been lapped by Apple, HTC, and even Motorola on design after the utterly uninspiring Galaxy S5, it decided that it needed to balance out its well-known functionality with a little more design flair.I think the risk paid off. The Galaxy S6 is easily the most compelling Galaxy since the S III. The body materials make most other phones look cheap, it feels great to use, is genuinely easy to use single handed, and the screen is amazingly sharp. Because Google seems to have given up on normal-size Nexus phones, this the ultimate Android experience, crushing all the other high-end Android players, at least until we actually see the LG G4.The Galaxy S6 is a super-phone for mainstream users. If you're driven to utter rage by the lack of a removable battery and microSD card slot, there's still the Galaxy Note 4, which is an excellent phablet with many of the same features. And if you're a hacker who wants to highly customize the software on your phone, you should turn to the Google Nexus 6 or the OnePlus One.The S6 Edge, meanwhile, is beautiful. It stands out in a crowd. But its functionality is extremely limited and, at this writing, buggy. I came to the S6 Edge hoping that it would be like the Note Edge, where the edge is actually useful. But at the moment, it isn't even a decent alarm clock. I personally can't recommend spending $120 purely for the curved glass.If you have a previous Galaxy S device and are basically happy with Samsung, get this phone. It is a major upgrade, and the S7 will probably not be a huge jump forward. It should hold well for two to three years.If you're deciding between The Galaxy S6 and an iPhone, your decision should be based on software and services, not the hardware. Both devices are top notch, but the ecosystem difference matters far more than Samsung's sharper screen or Apple's slightly faster-to-launch camera. You need to decide whether you're an S6 user who's all about Gmail, Google Play apps, Hangouts, widgets, Google Now, and (probably) Windows PCs, or an Apple user into iTunes, iTunes-exclusive games, iMessage, Siri, and (probably) Mac OS. You'll probably choose based on what your friends and family are using, so you can download the same apps and help each other.”
“The Galaxy S6 puts Samsung back on top with the best screen, processor, and body design of any Android-powered phone.”
“We've come to take it for granted that every new Galaxy S generation will add new features and beef up specs. The Galaxy S6 takes away. It's been encoded in Samsung's DNA to try and beat every spec of any rival. The Galaxy S6 omits the very features that, presumably, kept Samsung at the top.Is this their way of saying we'll beat you even with one arm tied behind our back? We didn't become the market leader because the competition was stupid enough to not care about memory expansion and removable batteries.Who knows, they may be this arrogant. Or maybe the Galaxy S6 is trying to say that the S-line can change and still be better than most.But can it be the best Galaxy S smartphone yet without a memory card slot, removable battery and water-proofing? The best screen and chipset in business might as well help.”
“We would still like to see the company refresh the stale front design and do something about TouchWiz, but it's nice to see Samsung finally break some of its bad habits. The S6 is a great device and is something that should help Samsung's newly uncertain market position. There are some tradeoffs, but, finally, we've got a Samsung phone that feels nice. What the heck took so long?”
Watch before you decide
What people say
2 community ratings · Recommendation data coming soon.
Had a S5 loved it. No problems, durable, long lasting. Moved up to the S6, big mistake. Lasted 6 months and decided to fry itself. Sent it in for warranty, they said it's my fault. How it's my fault is a mystery to me. It overheated on its on and wouldn't shut off. They have record of my phone ca...
I love this product
In Depth
It’s time for another round of flagship upgrades from the big names in mobile devices. With the Galaxy S6, Samsung has finally made some recognizable changes to the familiar Galaxy S formula that users have either loved or hated. Will the S6 help Samsung claim the best phone of 2015? Let’s see what the initial reviews are saying!
One of the first things mentioned in many reviews of this new flagship device is the switch to a metal chassis design with Gorilla glass on the front and rear. At a thin 6.8mm thick, the phone appears to fix one of the biggest problems that many had with the design of the S5. Many reviews compare the design and sturdiness to the iPhone, with Trusted Reviews noting, “The fine detail on the S6 is on another level.” Forbes declared that it “makes some great gains in terms of style.”
Unfortunately, this upgraded design comes with a few drawbacks and two of the most criticized changes to the phone compared to previous models. To create a unibody design, Samsung decided to remove microSD card support and go with a non-removable battery pack. However, to help account for this, they have upgraded the storage of the base model to 32GB, with 64 and 128GB models available as well. The phone also supports both Qi and PWM wireless charging as well, a feature that Samsung is touting heavily about the new handset. They claim that with a single 10-minute charge you can pull more than 4 hours of battery life out of the phone.
Fortunately, this is virtually the only potential issue that reviews had with the S6. All reviews were positive for the phone’s 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display. Running at a resolution of 1440-by-2560 pixels, it packs in more than enough pixels for watching a movie on the plane or checking email. Trusted Reviews put the display through its paced and found that it “impresses with the brightness of its colours and outstanding contrast evident in videos and photos.”
Pushing all those pixels is a Samsung-exclusive octa-core Exynos processor with speeds up to 2.1GHz and 3GB of RAM. Samsung claims that the processor offers a 35-percent increase in efficiency while boosting performance as well. This is good news if you’re worried about the non-removable battery. Overall, performance appears stellar in most reviews. Engadget tried to find a hiccup in the device and failed, stating, “Thumbing through webpages, jumping in and out of open apps with the manic frenzy of a rabid squirrel and generally just trying to be a jerk didn’t phase the S6 or S6 edge in the slightest.”
The S6 also runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with the latest version of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. While reviews of past versions of TouchWiz were often less than great, Engadget, Trusted Reviews and Forbes all noted how much they liked the latest edition of Samsung’s interface. Most reviews found that it is less cluttered and more streamlined than previous versions, fixing many of the issues that reviewers and users had with it. The Verge noted, “Samsung also trimmed back the software features, claiming that there are 40 percent fewer features in the Galaxy S6 than the S5. Overall, the software feels largely the same as before, however.”
Lastly, if you like to snap photos and post selfies with your phone, reviews indicate that you’ll be more than pleased with the camera on the Galaxy S6. Boasting a 16MP rear-facing camera and optical image stabilization, reviews were surprised as just how fast the camera launched and captured shots. Both the front- and rear-facing cameras see upgrades to f/1.9 lenses and optimized software from Samsung. One of the biggest claims from Samsung is low-light performance and according to Trusted Reviews, the handset delivers, stating, “the low-light features blow the competition out of the water.”
Overall, reviews indicated that the S6 is one of the most refined Android devices to date. While die-hard fans of removable batteries and expandable storage might be disappointed, there are plenty of other reasons to love the phone. From wireless charging to LTE Cat 6 support, the phone offers plenty of cutting edge bells and whistles to keep even the most tech-savvy gadget lover happy.
What people actually want to know
When was the Samsung Galaxy S6 released?
The Samsung Galaxy S6 was released on April 10, 2015.
How long does the battery last on the Samsung Galaxy S6?
The Samsung Galaxy S6 has a 2,550 mAh battery.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S6 support wireless charging?
No, the Samsung Galaxy S6 does not support wireless charging.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S6 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S6 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S6 support 5G?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S6 supports 5G connectivity.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S6 have NFC?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S6 has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I get support for the Samsung Galaxy S6?
Visit Samsung's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the Samsung Galaxy S6 manual?
You can view and download the Samsung Galaxy S6 manual on our dedicated manual page.
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Same happened to me..only had Galaxy S6 78 days! Told SOL- goggles issue even on Samsung site...other devices with gorilla glass shattering for no apparent reason