Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Review
Introduction and Specifications
About a year ago, we were in a similar spot. We had the latest Galaxy smartphone in hand, rand were comparing it to rivals from LG, Motorola, Apple, and Sony (just to name a few). Twelve months have passed, and as fate would have it, we've got yet another pair of Galaxy phones in the labs. This time, however, Samsung's got something that clearly stands out for previous generations.
After years of success, Samsung's profits began to lag right around the launch of the Galaxy S5. The press largely criticized it for being too plasticky, not innovative enough, and not fast enough to set it apart or justify its price tag. Many wondered if the company's next flagship Galaxy would get Samsung back on track, and after handling the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, we're certain that the new power duo has indeed put the company back on the path.
Part of what makes the new phones so nice is the hardware within. Samsung has packed in an Octa-Core SoC, relying on a bit of in-house silicon mojo to bring its latest Galaxy handsets to life.
Although, Samsung also built in many other upgrades as well, which you can get a sense for in our video walk-around of both devices...
In terms of their specifications, it's easy to see why folks are excited for the S6 (and the S6 edge, which boasts the same innards save for the display). It's not just a hero device for Samsung, but the mobile industry at large. Android 5.0 is easily the most polished version of Google's mobile OS, and the S6's hardware is the sleekest in the line's short history. Does it all add up to create a phone you should call your own? Let's dive in.
After years of success, Samsung's profits began to lag right around the launch of the Galaxy S5. The press largely criticized it for being too plasticky, not innovative enough, and not fast enough to set it apart or justify its price tag. Many wondered if the company's next flagship Galaxy would get Samsung back on track, and after handling the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, we're certain that the new power duo has indeed put the company back on the path.
Part of what makes the new phones so nice is the hardware within. Samsung has packed in an Octa-Core SoC, relying on a bit of in-house silicon mojo to bring its latest Galaxy handsets to life.
Although, Samsung also built in many other upgrades as well, which you can get a sense for in our video walk-around of both devices...
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OS |
Android 5.0 (Lollipop) with TouchWiz Overlay |
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CPU |
64-bit 2.1 GHz quad-core + 1.5GHz quad core (Exynos 7420 Octa-Core) |
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GPU |
Mali-T760MP8 |
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Memory |
3 GB RAM 32/64/128GB storage |
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Display |
5.1-inch Super AMOLED (1440x2560 pixels) |
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Rear Camera |
16 MP Rear-facing Camera Optical Image Stabilization BSI image sensor 1080p video recording |
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Front Camera |
5MP Front-facing Camera |
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Network |
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 17(700) - G920T LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 17(700), 20(800) - G920A |
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Wireless |
NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5 GHz), A-GPS, GLONASS |
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Ports |
3.5 mm stereo audio jack, micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port |
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Size |
138 grams 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm (5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 in) - S6 142.1 x 70.1 x 7 mm (5.59 x 2.76 x 0.28 in) - S6 Edge |
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Battery |
2550 mAh |
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Color Options |
White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Blue Topaz |
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Price |
$649.99 off-contract; $200 - 299 with 2-year agreement: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular |
In terms of their specifications, it's easy to see why folks are excited for the S6 (and the S6 edge, which boasts the same innards save for the display). It's not just a hero device for Samsung, but the mobile industry at large. Android 5.0 is easily the most polished version of Google's mobile OS, and the S6's hardware is the sleekest in the line's short history. Does it all add up to create a phone you should call your own? Let's dive in.
