The Samsung Galaxy S6 is one of two new mobile devices (the other is Galaxy S6 Edge) to come from Samsung. The new functionality, different feel, and updated features of the Galaxy S6 push our appreciation of Samsung devices to new heights. Are there some things missing from the S5 we wish were included in the S6? Absolutely. But since we prefer the S6 to the S5 overall you won’t find us complaining too much.
The truth of the matter is that nowadays we tend to use our phone for a few simple tasks: phone calls, photography, internet browsing, and media consumption. In our experience, the S6 excells at all of these things. So without further ado, let’s dig in.
Please keep in mind that the following review is only for the Galaxy S6 and not the Galaxy S6 Edge which features some notable differences.
Phone Calls
Perhaps the simplest and most important thing that a phone has to do is make calls. From what we have experienced, the Samsung Galaxy S6 handles phone calls very well. Full disclosure, we have a case on our phone (*gasp*) but even with that the reception has been as good as can be. Zero dropped calls. The phones come equipped with LTE and theoretically can download 300 Mbps and upload 50Mbps but that would crush your data plan instantly.
The Samsung Galaxy S6’s fully-charged battery is capable of 17 hours of talking time.
Camera
Dozens of tech sites and blogs have done reviews comparing the cameras of the Samsung Galaxy S6 to the iPhone 6, and a majority of them agree that the S6 has the better picture quality. The 16-megapixel camera might jut out a bit from the back of the phone (causing users to worry a little bit about how/where they place their phone) but the result is superior image quality.
Not only does it shoot a wider angle than the iPhone, the auto-HDR and white balancing features make it so that amateur photographers can snap masterpieces. And quickly, too, thanks to the new access to the camera by simply double-tapping the home button from anywhere (even when it’s locked).
The front-facing camera rocks a 5-megapixel camera which also boasts auto-HDR. You can either snap a photo in selfie mode with the regular shutter buttons or the sensor on the back of the phone.
Also since most of you are probably going to be shooting photos in the dark or at night, it’s important to note that the S6 performs very well in low-light settings because of the sensor and 1.9 f-stop.
Here’s an example from BGR, comparing the S6 to the iPhone 6.
Those amateur videographers will also like to know that the video that’s shot on the camera is incredible. 1080p is the default option, but you can also bump it up to 60fps or even UHD.
Screen Resolution
The screen of the Samsung Galaxy S6 is flat-out gorgeous, which is certainly a bonus for what we would call “media consumption.” Watching videos and playing games on the 5.1-inch display with 1440 x 2560 pixels (the best in the world right now) is an absolute treat.
Right now the Samsung S6 is the phone to beat when it comes to graphics.
Battery
The removable batteries of the Samsung S5 have been replaced by permanent batteries in the S6. While many Samsung fans are upset at the change, the good news is that the battery can be recharged faster than ever before. A new feature of the Samsung Galaxy S6 is fast-charging, which allows a phone to go from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes.
They’ve also brought back the highly-popular (and useful) power saving and ultra-power saving modes when you’re in a bind.
We’d also like to point out that wireless charging capabilities are now something that come standard in every Samsung S6. Both Qi and PMA technologies (the two competing forms of wireless) are supported straight out of the box. You’ll find that many big stores and places are starting to install wireless charging stations, so you don’t need to worry about which technology is there.
We’re using the Samsung wireless charging right now, and it even works through a Spigen Neo Hybrid case.
From the month-ish that we’ve had the Samsung Galaxy S6, we have told anyone and everyone who would listen to get this phone. It’s fantastic in many different ways and refreshing to know that there’s finally another phone giant besides Apple who can provide a quality product at a competitive price.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is slightly more expensive than the Galaxy S6, and truthfully we’re perfectly happy with the S6. In no way does it feel like a downgrade from the Edge and is a great phone for college students or young professionals to use.
The camera, screen resolution, and other features help make this our favorite phone we’ve used in 2015.