smartphone, Android 5.0, monoblock body, screen 5.1", 2560x1440, nano-SIM SIM card, GPS/AGPS/Glonass, Wi-Fi / 3G / LTE / NFC, weight 138 g
Why choose a smartphone Samsung Galaxy S6 32Gb
For a bright screen
The diagonal of the smartphone display is 5.1 inches. This size is convenient for viewing photos and videos, surfing the web and reading e-books. Thanks to Super AMOLED technology and a high resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, the screen surprises with clarity and contrast, accurate display of the smallest details, and impresses with rich and colorful color reproduction.
For efficient work
Powered by a powerful 2100 MHz octa-core processor and 3 GB random access memory the smartphone functions confidently in multitasking mode, quickly responds to commands and loads applications, and does not allow freezing in resource-intensive games. Built-in memory of 32 GB allows you to store a large number of photos, videos, music and other content. If necessary, its volume can be increased up to 64 GB using a microSD card.
For smart camera
The 16 MP main camera takes bright and clear pictures in any conditions. It is equipped with a powerful flash and a fast autofocus system, does not allow the appearance of blurry shots thanks to the optical stabilization function.
For a reliable battery
The capacity of the battery installed in the smartphone is 2550 mAh. It is designed for 17 hours of active talk and can be up to 168 hours in standby mode. The smartphone supports fast charging technology and can be charged both traditionally and wirelessly.
for the desired features
The Samsung Galaxy S6 is equipped with a radio and an MP3 player. The built-in fingerprint scanner is responsible for fast unlocking and reliable data protection. NFC technology allows you to pay for purchases with a contactless method, without taking your wallet or bank card out of your bag.
Smartphone Galaxy S6. It became one of the most important events of the Mobile World Congress. Generally speaking, it is obvious that the Galaxy S6 is more powerful and more functional than its predecessor. But it is much more interesting to find out what exactly is the superiority of the novelty, which, as we already know, has lost a removable battery and a slot for memory cards. The clock frequency of the processor cores has also decreased, and the battery capacity of the new phone has become smaller. These four new qualities Samsung flagship 2015 are its main shortcomings. In all other respects, it was a step forward compared to the S5.
Technical characteristics of the current and last year's flagship Samsung phones were compared to tom's GUIDE in an excellent illustrated overview published by this resource. The novelty has become better in almost every respect.
Specifications
The Galaxy S5 is based on a 2.5GHz quad-core processor. Last year's smartphone has two gigabytes of RAM and 32 or 64 gigabytes of storage, depending on the version. It was based on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system.
Galaxy S6 is based on an eight-core processor - four 2.1 GHz cores and four more 1.5 GHz cores. In theory, this will allow the new phone to handle more applications. The new smartphone of the South Korean electronics giant has three gigabytes of RAM. The volume of the drive will be 32, 64 or 128 gigabytes. Galaxy S6 out of the box runs under Android control 5.0 Lollipop. For Galaxy S5 Users operating system Lollipop is an update.
At the same time, reduced processor speed can negatively manifest itself in graphics-intensive applications and ported games for consoles. As already noted, the Galaxy S6 lacks a microSD card slot, and those users who need a large drive will have to pay extra. Galaxy S5 memory card support.
Screen and dimensions
Dimensions Galaxy S5 (mm) - 142 (H) x 72.5 (W) x 8.1 (D) The Galaxy S6 is a bit narrower, but not so much that it's noticeable. Its dimensions (mm) are 143.4 (H) x 70.5 (W) x 6.8 (D). Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with an image density of 432 pixels per inch. The screen size of the Galaxy S6 is the same, but the resolution is much higher - 2560 x 1440 pixels. The same resolution screen LG G3. Since the screen size of the S6 is relatively small, the density is 577 pixels per inch. Thus, the screen resolution of the novelty exceeds the standard HD quality. Both devices have Super AMOLED screens.
Accumulator battery
At this time, it's hard to say if the Galaxy S6's battery is inferior to the S5's in terms of actual battery life. It should be noted that the novelty has a capacity of 2550 mAh, while the S5 boasts a 2800 mAh battery.
It should be noted that reducing the volume of the battery does not necessarily mean a reduction in the operating time of the device from it. This is also affected by the power consumption of the phone. It may even turn out that the S6 will have to be charged less frequently than the S5. But nothing definite can be said about this at the present time.
Camera
For selfie enthusiasts, the Galaxy S6 has a 5-megapixel camera on the front. Compared to the 2-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls that the S5 has, this is a big improvement. But the main cameras of the Galaxy S5 and S6 are characterized by the same "megapixel". Both are 16 megapixels.
Software The camera in the Galaxy S6 has been improved and allows you to take better pictures than with its predecessor. The S5 features dynamic range, selective focus, and a virtual shooting function that allows you to take 360-degree photos.
The Galaxy S6 has improved these features, adding quick launch and low-light video, improved zoom, dynamic white balance, and fast and slow motion modes. For users who want to make their own photo settings, a professional mode is provided.
Services
The S6 retains Google services, but also adds new features from Samsung, including S Health 4.0 and Samsung Pay. The phone allows you to pay for goods and services using NFC wireless technology.
What remains the same?
Both phones support 4G LTE, have a significant set of video and audio codecs, as well as sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, barometer and fingerprint scanner, as well as a heart rate monitor. If something was in S5, then it is likely to be in S6.
Was it a strong disappointment that the new phone has a built-in battery, but memory cards are not supported? Or does the new design, rear panel and increased hardware characteristics of the device allow you to forget about these flaws? Or maybe removable batteries and memory cards are a thing of the past?
The South Korean company tormented its fans a lot, because there were so many rumors, guesses, and arguments about the new creation of one of the leaders in the smartphone market. Already now we can make a bold conclusion: the result has exceeded all expectations. has become more than a worthy successor to the legendary Galaxy S series of devices. Of course, many still successfully use earlier models, such as the Galaxy S3, 4 and 5. And at the moment a completely logical question arises: is it worth changing a familiar phone for a new one? An unequivocal answer to the question can only be given after comparing the successful previous model with a pretentious newcomer.
Design
Already at first glance at smartphones, it becomes clear how different they are. Samsung did not follow the simplest path of repeating the design of last year's model, but on the contrary, changed it as much as possible. Appearance is largely a matter of taste, so for the better or for the worse, everyone will decide for himself.The first thing that caught my eye was a different location of the connectors, most of which now occupy the bottom of the case. Moreover, the MicroUSB port was left without protection, apparently the company decided to return to its roots and not install a plug to protect it from environmental influences. Now water that gets on the phone can bring trouble. The most noticeable and pleasant difference was the use of improved materials, even the Home button has changed for the better in terms of tactile sensations. The South Korean company received a lot of complaints about the plastic case and cheap materials. The new product does not have these problems, because the front and rear panels of the case are made of strong glass, and the frame of the case pleases with a reliable metallic finish. With a metal body, the S6 looks slimmer and sleeker than its predecessor.
Despite these changes, typical Samsung features can be traced in the design, such as the location of the buttons for turning on, volume control. Generally appearance changed for the better, the model looks more stylish, reliable and easy to use.
Display
It was previously mentioned that the display size of the Samsung Galaxy S6 has not changed significantly, and is still 5.1 inches. Super AMOLED screen technology is still pleasing to the eye, moreover, the resolution has grown to 2560x1440 pixels. The result of such figures as they say "on the face" - the screen strikes with bright, juicy colors. The Galaxy S6 decided to ditch Full HD in favor of Quad HD, and accordingly the dot density also increased to 576 ppi. The difference is not always noticeable to the naked eye, but the technical characteristics of the screen has become much more interesting.The very name Super AMOLED guarantees high quality colors, large viewing angles, high display brightness, and the maximum number of shades. Many have already called samsung screen Galaxy S6 is the best among smartphones. However, it must be admitted that there is some debate about Quad HD resolution for a screen of this size. Some agreed with the developers, others did not. But the difference in the color resolution of the screen is colossal, it must be admitted.
Processor, performance
As for the processor, here Samsung surprised many by changing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor that was equipped with the Galaxy S5 to its own Exynos 7420 with 3GB of RAM. The reasons for this are very good: manufacturers were afraid of overheating problems that could arise with the good old Qualcomm. The new 64-bit processor is equipped with eight cores, respectively, the power consumption level has decreased by 30%.Samsung did a great job of increasing performance, for example, optimizing it by removing lags and freezes. The model is equipped with 32 GB of RAM. By the way, the novelty has already managed to set an absolute record in AnTuTu, gaining 60978 points. We should not forget about the graphics accelerator Arm Mali-T760. It has made a significant contribution to such amazing performance figures.
Such a lotion as a fingerprint scanner has been preserved, but in a more modernized form. Now the sensor has become more sensitive and responds not only to stroking, but also to touch.
Unfortunately, the battery capacity has dropped to 2550 mAh when compared to the Galaxy S5. This has become a kind of payment for a thin case. Moreover, a removable battery is also not provided. But there is no need to get upset in advance, because there is something, and the technologies of the South Korean company do not stand still and are constantly developing. The battery charging time is incredibly short - 10 minutes of charging will last for 4 hours. There is the possibility of using wireless charging, which will greatly facilitate the life of users. Despite the low battery capacity, the time battery life has not decreased in comparison with S5, thanks to the energy-efficient processor.
Camera
The ISOCELL camera with a capacity of 16 megapixels installed on the device is known to many Samsung lovers on the positive side - excellent color reproduction, clear details. It should be noted that the camera was inherited from the Galaxy Note 4, which means that the user-friendly interface, many modes, and clear focus have been preserved. But we should pay tribute to Samsung - for its new flagship, the camera was upgraded, received updated functionality and, accordingly, higher quality photos and videos. The “camera” application itself is easier to find on the screen, for this you will not need to scroll through the menu. Everything is done as simply as possible, for the convenience of the user. Among the new features is a quick launch of the application (in 0.7 seconds) by double pressing the Home key. In addition, it became possible to shoot moving objects with maximum accuracy thanks to the “tracking autofocus” function.The front 5-megapixel camera handles its main tasks such as video calling and selfies. Video clips also turn out to be of good quality, in addition, the S6 allows you to shoot HD quality video on both cameras at the same time.
Software
The TouchWiz skin we mentioned earlier is incredibly versatile and interesting. Unfortunately, this has its drawbacks, for some it may seem too overloaded with features that not everyone needs. The typical Samsung features have been preserved, such as gesture control, but they significantly overload the interface. On the other hand, the TouchWiz version does not work badly. Manufacturers have abandoned many standard applications that can always be downloaded from PlayMarket. We are sure that the minimalism of the shell will appeal to many users. According to the developers, it is expected that the updated interface will be as economical as possible in the use of phone resources, while performance will not suffer even after prolonged use.Conclusion
Manufacturers' statements before the release of the new flagship were impressive. After the review, we can say with confidence that all the epithets towards the Samsung Galaxy S6 were not in vain - the best design, performance, build, software stuffing. The model has become a worthy successor to the Galaxy S line, retaining all the best from previous flagships and correcting everything that caused criticism.
Galaxy S6 vs Galaxy S5: Samsung's visual infographic with the differences between the flagships
Photos in the interior
Contents of delivery
- Telephone
- Charger with USB cable
- Wired stereo headset
- SIM card clip
- Instruction
Specifications
- Android 5.0.2 (5.1 early summer), latest generation TouchWiz shell
- 5.1 inches, SuperAMOLED screen, 577 ppi, 2560x1440 pixels, automatic brightness control
- Chipset Exynos 7420, 8 cores (4 cores A53, 4 cores A57), maximum clock frequency up to 2.1 GHz, 64 bit
- GPU MALI-T760
- 3 GB LPDDR4 RAM, no memory cards
- 32/64/128 GB of internal memory, UFS 2.0
- Front camera 5 megapixels, main camera 16 megapixels, OIS, True HDR, tracking autofocus, F 1.9, white balance detection by IR sensor, shooting mode Pro
- Samsung Pay payment system
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), HT80 MIMO(2x2) 620Mbps, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile hotspot, Bluetooth®: v4.1, A2DP, LE, apt-X, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC, infrared for home appliances control
- LTE cat.6
- In-body wireless charging (WPC1.1(4.6W Output) & PMA 1.0(4.2W)
- Li-Ion 2550 mAh battery, extreme power saving mode, fast charge in one hour
- Dimensions - 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, weight - 138 grams
Positioning
The flagship of 2015 was created with two goals - traditionally to compete with the current iPhone model, in our case, the iPhone 6, and also partially rehabilitate the Galaxy line after the rather sluggish sales of the Galaxy S5, which many perceived as a step aside. Samsung focused on water protection in S5, the presence of the IP67 standard, but it turned out that these functions are not very important for consumers, they rather pay attention to the image component. And it is traditionally lower for Samsung phones than for the iPhone. As a result, Galaxy S5 sales were good, but far from the company's internal plans. Suffice it to say that the Galaxy S5 was the best-selling Android flagship of all phones, but it fell short of the iPhone's sales.
In 2015, Samsung is betting on metal, glass and the highest specs possible. That is, the bet on high-quality case materials, even if the continuity with the previous generation of Galaxy, which was considered an unsuccessful experiment, is violated. It is curious how many people claim that the lack of protection against water has now suddenly turned into a disadvantage. I highly doubt that this is the case, although the function looks interesting for any model.
The bet is made on design, workmanship of the body and direct competition with the iPhone. Numerous claims that this device is an exact copy of the iPhone are not entirely true. It is made in the style of the iPhone, but is not an exact copy. When you look at it, you see the same Galaxy line, there are no special differences.
Those who want to see the iPhone in this device will see it anyway, there is no point in convincing them. In life, phones are very different, they look like different models. It is impossible to confuse the iPhone and Galaxy S6 in real life, not a single person made a mistake in determining which phone is in which hand, even from a distance of several meters. Another indicator will be the lack of legal claims from Apple, although the indicator is indirect, since the last time the similarity of the models was also very far-fetched.
The flagship from Samsung will be of interest to both ordinary users who want to get a modern smartphone with the highest camera quality, a good and large screen, and a one-day battery life. Also, this model will suit those who can be called technology enthusiasts, as it implements the latest developments, which will last at least a couple of years. Although there was not without a fly in the ointment, which we will talk about in this review.
The Galaxy S6 is a key device for the entire market in 2015/2016, as it was for previous Galaxy models. Global sales of the S6 (together with the S6 EDGE variant) can be expected to outperform the S5 in a comparable time frame. Interest in this model is much higher. Let's take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of this solution together.
Design, dimensions, controls
The phone turned out to be compact for such a screen diagonal, its dimensions are 143.4x70.5x6.8 mm, weight is 138 grams (for comparison, S6 EDGE is 142.1x70.1x7 mm, 132 grams). Fits well in the hand, does not slip.
Compared to Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Compared to Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Compared to Samsung Galaxy S5
The side frame and back wall are made of metal, special attention was paid to strength characteristics, it cannot be bent even with great effort. This was especially emphasized at the presentation. Since Samsung decided that the model should indulge the consumer with variety, they presented it in many colors. To achieve this, the back wall is painted over and covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Exactly the same piece of glass covers the front surface. In order not to create confusion, Samsung calls glass the fourth generation, but in fact, it differs from what other manufacturers get (less scratches, more resistance to drops, which is important with such a screen). You can call this piece of glass Gorilla Glass 4+, although such a name would be very conditional.
Each color due to the glass looks like a metallic, they play well in the sun. Just like on Sony devices, handprints remain on the glass, it is easily soiled, but not excessively. In bright light, the marks are almost invisible, but in the room they become noticeable.
In life, the devices play in the light, while indoors they look dull.
Other colors will appear, but this is a matter of the near future. Accessories for the Galaxy S6/S6 EDGE also turned out to be quite bright, the case color theme is played up.
In the S6 EDGE, you can feel the cut of the case due to the beveled screen, there is nothing like that in the regular S6, it lies in the hand very well. The metal frame has recesses on the side edges, which also adds convenience.
The tray for the nanoSIM card is located on the right side surface, right there is the on/off button. The volume keys are on the left. At the top end there is an infrared port for controlling household appliances and a microphone, another microphone is located at the bottom end. There is also a microUSB connector (USB 2.0), 3.5 mm for a headset or headphones, a speaker output.
On the back surface, in addition to the flash, there is a heart rate sensor, it also performs a number of other functions, more about this in the section on S Health. There is a physical button on the front panel, it has a fingerprint sensor (you can unlock the device by placing your finger, you don't need to swipe it). There are also two touch keys, everything is familiar to other devices from Samsung. Above the screen is a proximity sensor, as well as a 5 megapixel front camera.
Display
Screen with a diagonal of 5.1 inches, SuperAMOLED, 577 ppi, 2560x1440 pixels, automatic brightness control. This is one of the best screens from Samsung, it traditionally has a customization of colors - from bright and sometimes acidic to muted. Here everyone will choose their own option, but the main thing is that, according to reviews of professionals testing screens in various devices, AMOLED matrices in previous models have already become very accurate in color reproduction and behavior in the sun. In this device, the screen quality has also improved and the brightness of the backlight has been improved (in the sun, everything is readable with a bang).
Communication options
If you can imagine that the device has all the possible technologies, then this is the case of S6/S6 EDGE. Just to list them all: Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), HT80 MIMO(2x2) 620Mbps, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile hotspot, Bluetooth®: v4.1 , A2DP, LE, apt-X, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC, infrared for home appliances control.
Memory, RAM, performance
The device has 3 GB of RAM (LDPPR4), which has a maximum bandwidth of 3.2 GB / s (64 bits). Built-in memory may vary - 32, 64 and 128 GB. The memory type is UFS 2.0, which also provides maximum write and read speeds, this is actually an SSD array. In terms of speed, the memory subsystem is such that no device has comparable characteristics yet.
The Exynos 7420 chipset belongs to the latest generation, made at 14 nm. Technically, this is an 8-core solution, 4 Cortex-A53 cores, 4 - Cortex A57. The graphics core is Mali T-760, but its version has been updated compared to Note 4 (more frequency, etc.). It is also the fastest processor in existence, which together with the memory makes this machine very fast. In life, it just flies, there are no brakes at all (Android 5 also contributes to this). During my communication with the phone, there were no slowdowns or crashes of applications.
And here is what the results look like in synthetic tests. These are the best values possible for devices of this kind. With performance in synthetic tests, everything is more or less clear, see the values below.
It is more interesting how the device behaves in 3D tests, that is, how predisposed it is to graphics, because the MALI graphics processor has always been inferior to similar solutions from Qualcomm, and even more so from NVidia. The increased frequency, eight cores - all this should in theory contribute to performance, but on the other hand there is an increased screen resolution.
There are other tests, we will give their values here.
But it was interesting to see how, for example, Epic Citadel is going. In the initial test on an almost clean device, the result was about 60 frames per second.
But then, when I tried to repeat it, it turned out that the program gives out 50 frames at best, after heating it is 30 frames at all. This is one of the weakest Seats Galaxy S6 in terms of performance - 3D graphics and how repeatable you get.
Having looked at the 3D toys, I can say that the spread of results in Dead Trigger 2, NOVA3, Asphalt 8, Real Racing 3 is from 30 to 60 frames per second. In some games, the level is kept at 60 almost constantly, in some it is closer to 30. But this is with the maximum settings for textures, resolution, and so on. Even taking this into account, you as a user will not see any problems in the game, since stuttering at 30 frames per second simply does not exist. And this is the lowest value.
For those who want to approach performance in a straightforward and stupid way, I recommend comparing the gaming component in GTA, as this game is not optimized for MALI graphics, loads not the best textures and is guaranteed to have graphics display problems. In my opinion, this is a flaw in the game and the lack of optimization for a specific platform, but as an example of "flaws" it will do. Today, the question in 3D games is simple - for which platform they are optimized and how well. The same solutions from NVidia tear everyone in terms of 3D performance and graphics rendering quality, but they are not popular. Apparently, not everyone needs it.
Battery
The built-in battery has a capacity of 2550 mAh (2600 mAh in S6 EDGE), the operating time is about a full day under load. This is about 3 and a half hours of screen operation (auto-brightness, twisted to the maximum), data transfer to 4G. The video device plays for about 10.5 hours.
Of the pleasant things, I note that fast battery charging is supported - it takes one hour. If you use a conventional 2A charger, the battery charge time will be 2 hours. The phone has built-in wireless charging that supports several formats, that is, you can buy both a branded device and any other. I had a charger from Lumia (DT-601, Qi standard) at hand, it charges the device perfectly.
Expecting this model to last as long as the Note 4 was not worth it. But the result turned out to be slightly higher than that of the iPhone 6 with the same load (number of calls, transferred data). The difference is almost imperceptible, we can say that these devices live the same time. Again, for most people, this will be a full-time job.
Many people have a misunderstanding of how changing the chipset and process, speeding up memory, getting a different screen with a higher resolution may not lead to an increase in power consumption. The logic is simple - all new technologies consume more energy. But the logic is vicious and far from reality, just new technologies allow you to get less power consumption, which Samsung consistently shows on its Galaxy line, and the same Note has long become the benchmark in terms of operating time.
Camera
A separate detailed and large material is devoted to the description of the camera and all its capabilities.
Software Features - Android 5.x and TouchWiz
Samsung has begun to simplify the TouchWiz shell, and in Android 5 this is clearly visible. So far, this is not pure Android, but a lot of unnecessary rubbish has been removed, useful and not so useful functions have been added, the system began to look simple and understandable. I will try to describe the changes sequentially.
So, in the drop-down curtain, everything is different from Android 5 - Samsung retained one row of shortcuts, but the list scrolls horizontally, and you can also select the icons that are shown here. I like the way it's done in pure Android, it's enough to pull it again, and the full list opens, I think it's more convenient.
Some icons have additional functionality, for example, the Wi-Fi icon now displays part of the Wi-Fi network name. This is a trifle, but quite convenient, which I found very interesting.
Traditionally, there is an S Finder in the drop-down curtain, in which you can search for content both on the network and in the phone's memory. The search can be limited to categories. This is a convenient search client for the device. Nearby is a utility for connecting to other devices, everything is also familiar in it.
How do notifications open on the lock screen? When clicked, they redirect you to the respective application. If a screen lock is set, for example, to a fingerprint, then you receive a warning that you need to press the center key - touch, and the phone opens the desired item again. Everything has become much clearer and simpler than it used to be. If you do not need a notification, then you can simply swipe it to the side.
Of the minuses in the menu, I’ll note this for myself - I have about 6 screens with icons, before you could click on the square of a particular screen in the line below. Now when you click the transition goes only to the next screen. Uncomfortable.
Dialer and Contacts. By dialing a number, you can quickly call a contact, it is enough to correctly enter the first digits or letters of the name, surname. Matches will appear in the list. The call log has a filter by call type.
Just like on previous models, you can swipe left or right on a name to send a message or make a call, this setting can be turned off, but many liked it. In favorites, in addition to the selected contacts, there is also a list of numbers that you often use. When making a call, information related to the contact, recent SMS, mail, calendar events are displayed.
In the list of contacts, you can scroll through the names by letters of the alphabet (Russian comes first, then Latin).
The changes are purely visual, the UI has become simpler and lighter, but the functionality has been retained at the level of the previous version of TouchWiz. This seems wrong to many, but it is only a matter of taste and habit.
Messages. Some people are frustrated by the exceptionally lop-eared man that is on the menu for rooms without a user-installed icon. It has been preserved as before, although its size has greatly decreased. You can choose the design of the windows, their style, set your wallpaper. You can also get rid of this little man by choosing a different theme or your own screensavers. There are scheduled messages.
The set of features is typical, and it will be enough for ordinary users. I have no complaints about working with messages on this device.
Of the unusual functions, I note shortcuts for quickly inserting text - they work in all menus. That is, when the T9 function is activated, by typing the letter assigned to the shortcut, you will see in the list of tips not only the words, but also the recorded template. While this only works for of English language, but the thing is very useful and convenient.
Gallery. Sorting photos works by time, place, event or category (here the phone itself determines what is in the picture - food, landscape, portrait, and so on). There is also access to Picasa from the menu.
Calculator. In a horizontal position, scientific, in a vertical position, normal.
Watch. Alarm clock, world clock, stopwatch and timer. Familiar sections, but outwardly they are redesigned and look more interesting.
Notes. Plain text notes that are synchronized with the cloud and transferred from phone to phone.
My files. A regular file manager that also supports Google Drive. Convenient and simple, there are all possible operations with files.
Dictaphone. In addition to the usual voice recording, you can turn on the Interview mode (for the first time it was in Note 4), then the microphones at the ends work in turn, the recording quality is good. There is also a voice note mode, when the text entered by voice is immediately recognized.
Peel Smart Remote. A program for controlling household appliances using an infrared port. Automatically determines your location, shows a list of channels and programs, can work with any technique. On other devices it is not so interesting, since they do not have an infrared port.
S Planner. The calendar has been made visually lighter and simpler. There are birthday reminders, synchronization with any network calendars, a separate task list. I like how this application is arranged, there is nothing superfluous in it and everything is clear.
S Health (ver. 4). Completely revamped S Health app with motivational rewards (walk more, do more, etc.). The sensor on the back of the phone is used to measure heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, stress levels and emotions. Now you can enter a food diary, there is a database of products and their calories. In every sense, this application has become richer, and it is not necessary to use all the options. You can also keep track of workouts here, plus there is a virtual trainer who can help train.
S Voice. The engine from Nuance is used, as well as on previous models. The speech synthesizer is very clumsy, as if from the past, command recognition is stupid and completely loses to Google Now. It’s definitely not worth using this voice control, although it has a wide functionality. It's not very pleasant.
smart manager. A new utility that combines several programs from different companies, but in one interface. So, there is Clean Master, which is able to remove application caches, various garbage. The utility for working with the battery shows how much it can stretch, you can switch between modes. In the Security section, it is possible to install KNOX, plus there is an antivirus from McAfee. There is also a utility to clean up the RAM, which is more a tribute to the needs of users and their desires than an urgent need for Android - this is more of a harmful utility than a useful one.
Microsoft Applications. The folder contains three pre-installed applications - OneDrive, OneNote and Skype. These are applications that Microsoft pays for pre-installation, there are no differences or integration into the system. It is worth demolishing them immediately, in any case, the first two deserve it. The user is given 100 GB of free space in the cloud from Microsoft for two years.
Mail. A regular email client that supports multiple accounts, HTML-layout. There is nothing unusual here, as well as advantages over the GMail client. Outwardly, they became very similar.
Settings. A set of settings familiar to Galaxy S, I will not list everything, I will give the main screens, of which everything is clear and so.
Free apps with S6/S6 EDGE
Samsung is used to giving flagship customers subscriptions to paid services or applications, sometimes this is quite a tangible savings. I will try to list the main gifts, they may differ from country to country and may not be available everywhere:
- The Economist - 6 month subscription;
- Audible, audiobooks, 3-month subscription, one book free every month;
- NY Times - news, 12 week subscription;
- Parallels Access - 6 month subscription, access up to 5 computers;
- PayPal - discount on various products;
- Evernote is a premium subscription;
- Flex keyboard;
- Entrenador - personal trainer;
- Magisto Video Editor - three months subscription to the service;
- Keepy - note-taking service, 6-month subscription;
- Shazam - version without restrictions and without ads;
- Hancom Office 2014 - unlimited license;
- Kindle - 12 month subscription, you can get one book per month;
- Deezer - 6 month music subscription
- Kick is an application for football fans, match results.
Additional accessories for Galaxy S6/S6 EDGE
For several years, Samsung has been creating the widest range of accessories for its flagships. Starting from the 6th, the set comes with headphones of a new design, which are built by analogy with the Level In, provide good sound and are noticeably better than the previous model.
In terms of cooperation with well-known brands, I would like to note cases from Burton, protective cases with crystals from Swarovski, leather covers from Montblanc, women's handbags from Rebecca Minkoff, cases painted by Britto. It is almost impossible to find these accessories in wide sale, their cost is very high.
Now let's look at the standard set of accessories, they are completely the same for the two models, only the article and color schemes differ. Wireless charging is available in two colors - white and dark gray. I recommend taking a dark color, since the rubber insert at the top gets dirty very quickly on white, which prevents the phone from slipping. More practical dark color.
QI 1.1 standard is supported (backward compatible with 1.0), charging speed is about 4-5 hours, which is typical for such devices. The cost of the charger in Russia will be 3,490 rubles. The fast charger included in the kit costs 2,000 rubles if you buy it separately, so you should not lose it. The same price for a car charger that supports Quick Charge technology.
An ordinary transparent bumper covering the back of the phone will cost 2,590 rubles.
But the opaque cover can be of almost any color, it is of good quality, but it also needs to be matched to the color of the phone so that they match. Its price is 2290 rubles.
The book cover is also available in different colors, the price is 2,990 rubles, this kind of covers make the device very thick.
The S View Cover with a window has become very popular. Different fabric or leather, a huge number of colors - all together create an alternative. You can activate the camera, turn on the dialing of favorite numbers, listen to music, open the quick shortcuts panel - the latter was not available before. In the video I show how this case works, it's worth a look. But the price bites - 4,490 rubles.
You can also choose a mirrored flip case in different colors, it has an NFC tag, so Chinese craftsmen will not do anything like that. When closed, you can answer calls, dismiss messages and reminders. There is no need to open the device.
You can see how all these accessories work in our video.
Impression
Samsung S6 was pleasantly surprised by the volume of the Samsung S6 speaker, despite the fact that there is only one speaker at the end - it is very clear and loud, the device is well audible in different conditions. The video showed the differences with the S5, they are visible to the naked eye. We can say that in terms of sound this is one of the loudest and most pleasant devices of the company. The vibrating alert is average in strength, there are no achievements here.
The quality of communication with the phone does not cause any complaints in any form. I tried to find differences from my Note 4, I could not find them. The quality of work in LTE is also flawless, I noticed that the phone clings to Wi-Fi networks better than Note 4. Subjectively, it seemed that it was a little better in general in terms of communication quality.
I love how the one-touch fingerprint works, you can watch this feature in the video.
The speed of launching the camera from any menu is less than a second. Just press the Home button twice. And it's convenient. The camera is excellent and comparable to Note 4, which I consider (and not only me) the best device on the market in this parameter.
One could list for a long time how the S6 differs from most devices on the market - the fastest processor, the most best camera, a display that has already been recognized as outstanding. But this is all poetry, because we need to dwell on a few negative points that may repel the purchase of this device.
The obvious thing is the lack of memory cards. I'm so used to having the ability to put in a memory card that I feel uncomfortable without it. The amount of memory of 32 GB seems to me clearly insufficient for the full use of the device - listening to music, watching videos, taking pictures. This is a limitation that is annoying and came with the iPhone. I really hope that the "brilliant" idea to do this will not visit the company's engineers in the Note line.
Now about another point - the warming up of the device, which is often felt when working in heavy applications (three-dimensional toys) or transferring large amounts of data (Wi-Fi or LTE / 3G does not play a role). The case near the camera is heated, as well as the metal frame. It becomes quite hot, but you can keep the device warm, it does not burn. This moment upset me a little, and not at all because of the heat as such, after all, all fast devices heat up. Rather, here we come to another issue - replacing the battery. After about a year and after 350-400 charge cycles, the battery capacity will drop by at least 20 percent. If in other devices of the Galaxy line you could replace it yourself, then you will have to contact service center or read instructions on how to disassemble the phone, look for a replacement battery and pervert in such ways. In the same iPhone, this is a standard story that its owners have learned. The fact that the Galaxy S6 abandoned the collapsible case is understandable, but this does not add joy.
I managed to drop the Galaxy S6 a couple of times, it did not bring any problems - but this is not an indicator either. I am sure that Gorilla Glass 4 will not have any problems, as, however, this can be seen with Note 4. As part of the VIP program, the first replacement of a screen that you break will cost up to 3,000 rubles. No manufacturer provides such conditions, and this is a significant advantage, as well as confidence in the quality of the product (the cost of replacing the screen on the iPhone 6 is approximately equal to half of its cost).
For many, there will be a choice between the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6, the arguments for both devices were given in a short video. But I can say that these are devices of a different class - the iPhone is fashionable and empty in terms of functionality and capabilities, the Galaxy S6 is the best in its class.
The Galaxy S6 will cost 49,990 rubles in Russia (in Europe the price will be at the same level as for the Galaxy S5 - 650 euros). Many will consider the choice between S6 and S6 EDGE, the second device will cost about 55,000 rubles. Start of sales - in mid-April.
I like both S6 and S6 EDGE. Although from the image point of view, the second one is more interesting, but the first one is more practical. Functionally, there is no difference between them.
By and large, the Galaxy S6 turned out to be very pleasant in appearance, functional, which is what you expect from a Galaxy device, but it also does not have memory cards, which many will consider a minus. Comparing this model with similar devices in the same price category, we can say that they are much inferior in all respects. It is a device without any compromises, the best in almost everything. Of the subjective things, personal rejection of the design and / or Samsung may intervene. But these matters are so subtle that there is no point in discussing them. From a market perspective, the Galaxy S6 sets a very high bar for both performance and everyday usability. The ergonomics of this device is simply excellent.
The Galaxy S5 has proven that great performance doesn't mean huge popularity. The plastic shell disappointed both experts and ordinary users. No wonder - after all, the first-class devices created by Apple and HTC were great smartphones made from quality materials, including metal and glass. Oh yeah - and let's not forget the Galaxy S5's plastic "chrome" frame (brrr).
Perhaps such sluggish sales pushed Samsung to finally put smartphones in more expensive materials. And our calls were loud enough: Galaxy S6 owners will finally be able to see and feel brushed aluminum and glass on their devices. Some may notice that the metal frame is very similar to the frames of Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models, especially if you look at the speaker grill at the bottom. But the edges of the S6 are smooth (and not rounded, like the iPhone 6).
Design, dimensions, weight
Name | Samsung Galaxy S5 | Samsung Galaxy S6 |
Our assessment | ||
Price from | $530 | |
Operating system | Android 4.4 | Android 5.0 |
CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Quad-Core | Samsung Exynos |
Dimensions | 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (LWH) | 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm (LWH) |
The weight | 145 g | 138 g |
Screen size | 5.1 inches | 5.1 inches |
Screen type | Super AMOLED HD | Super AMOLED HD |
Screen resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels | 2560 x 1600 pixels |
Screen Pixel Density | 432 ppi | 577 ppi |
Camera Resolution | 16 MP - rear; 2 MP - frontal | 16 MP - rear; 5 MP - frontal |
802.11x/Standards | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
Bluetooth version | 4.0 | 4.1LE |
NFC | Yes | Yes |
There is absolutely nothing to argue about here: it is much better than the S5's plastic case. Galaxy S5 owners will notice that the S6 is 1.52mm longer than its predecessor, but narrower, thinner and lighter than its predecessor.
Display
Ever since the Galaxy S5 went on sale, its display has been the best we've seen on a smartphone. As for the S6 model, the Samsung developers seem to have decided to stick with a 5.1-inch display. But in order to impress buyers, they added a new resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels and a density of 577ppi (pixels per inch). Our first-hand look at the S6 at MWC Barcelona proved that the incredible new high-res display is "ridiculously sharp."
Camera
The S5's 16-megapixel camera is simply amazing. The S6's camera has the same 16 megapixels, but has a larger f/1.9 aperture that captures 40 percent more light than the S5's f/2.2 aperture. This means that photos taken in dark places will turn out better. In addition, Samsung boasts a short camera launch time of 0.7 seconds.