Samsung Galaxy S6

_Kaiser_ · 02-03-2015 12:23am

Have a Note 4 myself but interesting to read about the change in direction with regards to MicroSD slots and the battery.. presumably the Note 5 will follow the same approach

To be honest the new HTC One M9 looks interesting... if they bring out a Note-sized variant I'd be considering that next.

Gits_bone · 02-03-2015 12:23am

So what actual use has the curved edge other than putting something that they couldn't do years ago in the phone.

Phones haven't really advanced much from the S2 era have they? Camera has improved that's it.

_Kaiser_ · 02-03-2015 12:27am

Gits_bone wrote: »

So what actual use has the curved edge other than putting something that they couldn't do years ago in the phone.

Phones haven't really advanced much from the S2 era have they? Camera has improved that's it.

This is a valid point... like PCs a few years ago, I think phones have kinda stagnated in the last few generations with incremental hardware upgrades and gimmicks being relied on to shift them rather than useful "must have" innovations

It's why the S5 didn't do as good as expected, and even my Note 4 is only incrementally better in actual day-to-day terms than the Note 3 I had previously.

hfallada · 02-03-2015 12:28am

WSJ have had a decent look at it already

http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-galaxy-s6-first-look-metal-and-glass-show-more-class-1425231183?mod=trending_now_3

Although there is no sd slot or removable battery. WSJ noticed they finally ditched the plastic feel to the phone and made it on the same design level as Apple.

Gits_bone · 02-03-2015 12:32am

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

This is a valid point... like PCs a few years ago, I think phones have kinda stagnated in the last few generations with incremental hardware upgrades and gimmicks being relied on to shift them rather than useful "must have" innovations

It's why the S5 didn't do as good as expected, and even my Note 4 is only incrementally better in actual day-to-day terms than the Note 3 I had previously.

Exactly. It was inevitable the advancements in technology couldn't keep at the rate they were. We came from nowhere so improvement was easy.

Sam Mac · 02-03-2015 12:45am

wotzgoingon wrote: »

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s6-6849.php

Also a 64 bit processor and also DDR4 RAM both not mentioned in link.

I thought the S6 only has 3GB of RAM?

Luke92 · 02-03-2015 12:50am

Sam Mac wrote: »

I thought the S6 only has 3GB of RAM?

It does. DDR4 is the type of ram. It has 3GB of DDR4 Ram.

Digital Solitude · 02-03-2015 12:51am

Sam Mac wrote: »

I thought the S6 only has 3GB of RAM?

It does. 3Gb of DDR4 RAM. DDR4 is the next gen of ram so to speak.

*Edit Eerily similar to Luke92's post

Slutmonkey57b · 02-03-2015 2:00am

Gits_bone wrote: »

Exactly. It was inevitable the advancements in technology couldn't keep at the rate they were. We came from nowhere so improvement was easy.

I went from an s2 to an s5 and I'd have to say the upgrade was well worth it. 2 days battery instead of 12 hours, much better camera, much more responsive (esp since the lollipop update) and the extra screen is a peach. The things I dislike about it are the same for all Samsungs it seems: software bloat, overheating and occasional lag (still better than the s2 though).

The edge actually looks useful, but I'd go for the note rather than this. Tiny battery + qhd screen is a no no. No sd and no removable battery makes it an iPhone, and if I wanted an iPhone, I'd have got one...

vibe666 · 02-03-2015 3:46am

Is it going to be waterproof?

Sam Mac · 02-03-2015 8:39am

vibe666 wrote: »

Is it going to be waterproof?

Nope.

Gits_bone · 02-03-2015 9:02am

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

I went from an s2 to an s5 and I'd have to say the upgrade was well worth it. 2 days battery instead of 12 hours, much better camera, much more responsive (esp since the lollipop update) and the extra screen is a peach. The things I dislike about it are the same for all Samsungs it seems: software bloat, overheating and occasional lag (still better than the s2 though).

The edge actually looks useful, but I'd go for the note rather than this. Tiny battery + qhd screen is a no no. No sd and no removable battery makes it an iPhone, and if I wanted an iPhone, I'd have got one...

I was talking about an S2 straight from the box.

droidman123 · 02-03-2015 9:27am

http://jrnl.ie/1967186

Gits_bone · 02-03-2015 9:30am

IS it just me or is the phone very long compared to its width. One thing I didn't like about the iPhone was this ratio.

droidman123 · 02-03-2015 9:38am

Gits_bone wrote: »

IS it just me or is the phone very long compared to its width. One thing I didn't like about the iPhone was this ratio.

Yeah I was thinking the same,it looks elongated and a bit weird,maybe its just the way the photograph is.

The Corinthian · 02-03-2015 10:01am

Mr.S wrote: »

Do people really care about removable batteries?

I do. I often carry a spare when travelling for a start, and then you never know when you may need or want to change the battery - many of us with S4's had to due to the dodgy batch that originally went out with them; a removable battery meant just getting a replacement one, not having to hand in your phone and waiting weeks for them to replace it.

TBH, I'm going to pass on the S6. The lack of removable battery or SDCard slot are frankly deal-breakers for me (lack of water resistance doesn't help either) and what does it offer in return? Improved specs, great, but hardly ground breaking and a snazzier, pseudo-iPhone look.

Basically they're just copying the look-and-feel of the iPhone - including the lack of removable battery and SDCard slot - and in itself, this is not enough to overcome what's been dropped or that the S6 will be more expensive than other Android devices with comparable specs.

If I wanted an iPhone, I'd buy one.

sentient_6 · 02-03-2015 11:14am

With no sd card and no removable battery on my oneplus I can say that doesn't bother me. Have to laugh at the reactions on here to that. The S6 completely underwhelmes me anyway by the way but I'm gone from Samsung now and couldn't care less. With options like the oneplus, xiaomi, lg's and higher ends like moto x and nexus 6 out there im surprised there's any enthusiasm to this at all.

murpho999 · 02-03-2015 11:15am

In this internet age I don't get the need for a SD slot. Just store stuff with free cloud accounts and you're fine.

sentient_6 · 02-03-2015 11:17am

murpho999 wrote: »

In this internet age I don't get the need for a SD slot. Just store stuff with free cloud accounts and you're fine.

Or even just backup to a laptop through the usb.

The Corinthian · 02-03-2015 11:33am

murpho999 wrote: »

In this internet age I don't get the need for a SD slot. Just store stuff with free cloud accounts and you're fine.

If you don't mind having absolutely no privacy, trust the service of your free cloud account and you're either comfortable uploading only when you have a stable WiFi connection or you've no data cap, then sure.

Comes down to your priorities.

sentient_6 wrote: »

Or even just backup to a laptop through the usb.

How often would you do that? I find such backups are fine for things such as syncing with your calender, but once you start getting into hundred of Mb, you're going to do back-ups less and less often, rather than have to sit around waiting. Longer periods between syncs means greater loss if something does go wrong.

Were the S6 to offer something substantial to make up for the loss of these things, then fair enough - you weigh up the pros and the cons and make your choice.

However, as I noted earlier, it doesn't really. Take away that it looks more like an iPhone and what have you got? Better specs, but let's face it; a phone with better specs than the S6 will come out a month after it.

So for me it loses something substantial, adds nothing substantial, so it's a bit of a no-sale.

symbolic · 02-03-2015 11:46am

murpho999 wrote: »

In this internet age I don't get the need for a SD slot. Just store stuff with free cloud accounts and you're fine.

I just like them when travelling. If I could roam for free with proper unlimited data and always be guaranteed WiFi on the plane I'd be grand, I'm sure that's the future anyway, but until then SD card for me please.

Mantis Toboggan · 02-03-2015 11:52am

What do people store on their phones these days that 32 gb wouldn't be sufficient for?

Slutmonkey57b · 02-03-2015 11:54am

Gits_bone wrote: »

I was talking about an S2 straight from the box.

Because you can get an s2 straight from the factory nowadays? :rolleyes:

Gits_bone · 02-03-2015 12:05pm

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

Because you can get an s2 straight from the factory nowadays? :rolleyes:

Ok I will break it down for you seeing as you didn't get it the first time.

Ok?

Ok, travel back to a time when the S2 was released. Now. Turn on the phone and use it.

Now, go to current times and buy an S5. Now turn on the phone and use it.

Now, what I am saying is, is that phones haven't advanced much. Camera yes.

I have an S3 but I don't see any phone on the market that offers anything better or allows me to do things I can't do on the S3.

listermint · 02-03-2015 12:10pm

Gits_bone wrote: »

Ok I will break it down for you seeing as you didn't get it the first time.

Ok?

Ok, travel back to a time when the S2 was released. Now. Turn on the phone and use it.

Now, go to current times and buy an S5. Now turn on the phone and use it.

Now, what I am saying is, is that phones haven't advanced much. Camera yes.

I have an S3 but I don't see any phone on the market that offers anything better or allows me to do things I can't do on the S3.

The S3 doesnt have LTE, the S3 is slow as 'f***' in comparison to any half high end phone out today.

Even the Moto G would smash the S3 in terms of usability. You're impression of havent advanced is somewhat out of wack with reality.

KillerShamrock · 02-03-2015 12:13pm

Tyson Fury wrote: »

What do people store on their phones these days that 32 gb wouldn't be sufficient for?

Porn lots of porn i mean pictures of cats and stuff ha ha.

Honestly online storage is good but i would rather the sd card. For those times where i have no internet access or its a large file i need to give to someone or whatever. Sure HTC went no sd with the m7 and got slammed they have since u turned.

Feature wise nothing impressive here. The water resistance never a seller for me. The non removable battery on any other brand not a problem. On a samsung not a chance what if that battery has problems like the s4 and many other samsung phones and it swells, then that glass back will be gone pretty quick.

Also being the proud owned of a g3 the QHD screen is a gimick and no more, its only good for eating battery thats all i have used like 10% just typing this ha ha and it has a bigger battery either samsung have a trick up their sleeves or the battery life on this will suck big time.

I am really dissapointed with this its an iphone in drag basically look at the bottom its almost identical. If you have seen their a series phones you are basically looking at one of them with better specs and their design was terrible.

The edge looks more interesting but not ground breaking in my opinion

Francie Barrett · 02-03-2015 12:13pm

Samsung have just thrown the towel in really. By ditching the SD card, the removable battery and adding a fingerprint sensor plus payments system - they are basically just making an iPhone 6.

I am not an iPhone fan at all, but I would rather have one of them than this knock-off.

listermint · 02-03-2015 12:13pm

The Corinthian wrote: »

If you don't mind having absolutely no privacy, trust the service of your free cloud account and you're either comfortable uploading only when you have a stable WiFi connection or you've no data cap, then sure.

Comes down to your priorities.

How often would you do that? I find such backups are fine for things such as syncing with your calender, but once you start getting into hundred of Mb, you're going to do back-ups less and less often, rather than have to sit around waiting. Longer periods between syncs means greater loss if something does go wrong.

Were the S6 to offer something substantial to make up for the loss of these things, then fair enough - you weigh up the pros and the cons and make your choice.

However, as I noted earlier, it doesn't really. Take away that it looks more like an iPhone and what have you got? Better specs, but let's face it; a phone with better specs than the S6 will come out a month after it.

So for me it loses something substantial, adds nothing substantial, so it's a bit of a no-sale.

If you believe your data is in anyway more secure just by the fact you use an SD card on your smartphone then i suggest you watch Citizen Four.

The basics of it are if you 'in any way value your privacy' dont use a smartphone at all. SD or no SD card. Sure feck it dont use email, yahoo, google or the phone.

:rolleyes:

Gatling · 02-03-2015 12:20pm

I use a sandisk USB dual drive that comes with a micro USB and standard connection for transferring most of my files off the S4 no need to for a laptop .

sentient_6 · 02-03-2015 12:36pm

Ironically enough I thought I read somewhere that san disk announced a 200 GB sd card at this same event.

Brandon F · 02-03-2015 12:44pm

Currently have an S4 and was waiting to use my upgrade for the S6 release. I like the look of it, but the comparisons to an iPhone are spot on. The edge and wireless charging seem interesting but I'm not sure if it's enough for me. What are people looking at to get instead of the S6?

The Corinthian · 02-03-2015 12:59pm

Tyson Fury wrote: »

What do people store on their phones these days that 32 gb wouldn't be sufficient for?

Videos would be one thing that comes to mind - many people use their phones, especially phablets, to watch TV shows and movies.

Games; increasingly games, especially graphically intensive ones, have become relative monsters in terms of size, easily running into the hundreds of Mb's in size, if not going over a Gb.

Those two are just off the top of my head, and enough of either and that 32 Gb HD will fill up quickly enough. That's the thing with expanding specs like memory or CPU, the market quickly moves to consume the new capabilities.

The Corinthian · 02-03-2015 1:03pm

listermint wrote: »

If you believe your data is in anyway more secure just by the fact you use an SD card on your smartphone then i suggest you watch Citizen Four.

Very good, you rebutted one out of the half dozen points I made.

sentient_6 · 02-03-2015 1:04pm

Brandon F wrote: »

Currently have an S4 and was waiting to use my upgrade for the S6 release. I like the look of it, but the comparisons to an iPhone are spot on. The edge and wireless charging seem interesting but I'm not sure if it's enough for me. What are people looking at to get instead of the S6?

See my second last post, there are so many other android options out there.

Gits_bone · 02-03-2015 1:11pm

listermint wrote: »

The S3 doesnt have LTE, the S3 is slow as 'f***' in comparison to any half high end phone out today.

Even the Moto G would smash the S3 in terms of usability. You're impression of havent advanced is somewhat out of wack with reality.

My phone is working perfectly. I am a hoor for changing phones aswell, used to change every 8-12 months, but I have the s3 two years now and have no desire to change. Once again the question is to be asked, what can be done on an S6 that can't be done on an S2,S3,S4 etc. Better camera yes, faster yes. But in terms of function. Not much I can see

The Corinthian · 02-03-2015 1:20pm

Gits_bone wrote: »

Once again the question is to be asked, what can be done on an S6 that can't be done on an S2,S3,S4 etc. Better camera yes, faster yes. But in terms of function. Not much I can see

Software.

It's the same story as we've been getting ever since the Pentium (or earlier). More CPU, more RAM, more HD, etc so as to run bigger and hungrier applications.

There's plenty of apps on the market at present that simply would not be able to run on an S3.

listermint · 02-03-2015 1:23pm

The Corinthian wrote: »

Very good, you rebutted one out of the half dozen points I made.

Yet you failed to counter it ?

...

Slutmonkey57b · 02-03-2015 1:27pm

Gits_bone wrote: »

Ok I will break it down for you seeing as you didn't get it the first time.

Ok?

Ok, travel back to a time when the S2 was released. Now. Turn on the phone and use it.

Now, go to current times and buy an S5. Now turn on the phone and use it.

Now, what I am saying is, is that phones haven't advanced much. Camera yes.

I have an S3 but I don't see any phone on the market that offers anything better or allows me to do things I can't do on the S3.

Ooooh burn, I totally missed your point the first time! :rolleyes:

Wait, I didn't, you just didn't agree with my response. Your statement "I don't see much reason to upgrade" doesn't actually mean there's no difference between the s5 and s2/3.

List of things a user can do with an s5 that they can't do with an s3:
Watch 1080p video.
Get the phone wet.
Take 16mp pictures.
Take pictures reasonably quickly without a massive focus lag.
Unlock it with a fingerprint.
Use 4g networks.
Get mid-heavy use for two days on a standard battery.
Get a gps lock in a couple of seconds (post lollipop update).

*you* might not find those changes a compelling reason to change phones but that's not the same thing as saying nothing has changed.

Waterproofing alone is a massive massive upgrade.

symbolic · 02-03-2015 1:34pm

And even though you can do the same thing on older models, the experience is nicer with the new ones. Faster. Nicer screens. 4g(just faster aswell).

Gear Vr is interesting to me too.

I do see the original point, but personally I enjoy the improvement in the experience, even though I am just always receiving data from the Internet and displaying it on my screen. I went from Note2 to Note4 and don't use any extra functions but the experience in using the same functions is much more enjoyable.

The Corinthian · 02-03-2015 1:55pm

listermint wrote: »

Yet you failed to counter it ?

Actually, I'm happy to concede it. Counter the rest of the points I made and I may even change my overall opinion.

super_furry · 02-03-2015 2:07pm

Anyone know for certain if there's an FM radio in it? Seeing conflicting reports.

starlit · 02-03-2015 2:34pm

Specs sound good and a little bit better than what the iPhone 6 has. The iPhone 6/plus is too thin and likely to bend. Not sure how sustainable the S6 would be all made of aluminium? Features sound good though but the A3/A5/S5 seem to be downgraded versions of the S6? Wouldn't an app do for the FM? There is a difference in the A3 and A5 on that I think. Youtube videos have cool comparisons of the phones.

I'm not bothered by the none removal battery option i'd like a phone that's hard wearing to some extent as I've a habit of dropping mine and gets shuffled a lot in the bag. The only thing i'd miss is the removable sim/microsd card slots? They trying to be like apple with the nano sim and have battery/32gb etc built in making them expensive. Still can't justify the price of the expensive ones on pay as you go even for a 16gb for an iPhone in comparison to a Samsung. Even the bill payers won't get that free they need to pay for it to some extent at a cost. Only iPhone that justifying buying is the iPhone 5 versions in particular the 5c or 5s.

I like the features of the S6. The battery be the only thing how long lasting and durable is it yet its wireless charging features which is good but means you paying extra to have the wireless pad?

It was cool to watch the unveiling of it on the streaming live show from Barcelona of the Samsung Mobile World Congress. Looks wise is a classy design. I still recommend the Samsung over the iPhone.

starlit · 02-03-2015 2:37pm

symbolic wrote: »

And even though you can do the same thing on older models, the experience is nicer with the new ones. Faster. Nicer screens. 4g(just faster aswell).

Gear Vr is interesting to me too.

I do see the original point, but personally I enjoy the improvement in the experience, even though I am just always receiving data from the Internet and displaying it on my screen. I went from Note2 to Note4 and don't use any extra functions but the experience in using the same functions is much more enjoyable.

What's the gear VR is that for navigation? I like the wider bigger screens and slightly bigger keypad. It was always the case for me for the ordinary phones always preferred bigger keypad.

Alanstrainor · 02-03-2015 2:40pm

I know a lot of people are against cases on their phones, but if I invest that much cash in one I want at least some way to protect it. How the hell will a case on the edge work?

symbolic · 02-03-2015 2:41pm

doovdela wrote: »

What's the gear VR is that for navigation?

They are Virtual Reality headsets, available for s6 and note4.

starlit · 02-03-2015 2:48pm

symbolic wrote: »

They are Virtual Reality headsets, available for s6 and note4.

Ah I see.

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I know a lot of people are against cases on their phones, but if I invest that much cash in one I want at least some way to protect it. How the hell will a case on the edge work?

I still think you need a case to protect your phone from damage. The back of the protection case off my phone is already scratched! Its the otterbox one.

joeKel73 · 02-03-2015 2:52pm

Finally got to watch the full Unpacked event...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVk3ZWrhHxc

I am impressed. Screen, build, camera and performance all look very promising.

Lack of waterproofing is one minor disappointment.

listermint · 02-03-2015 3:18pm

The Corinthian wrote: »

Actually, I'm happy to concede it. Counter the rest of the points I made and I may even change my overall opinion.

Never said i disagreed

Personally ive no need for an SD card, havent used one in any device for years. Everything i have backs up without a thought.

SD card wont help ya if the phone is stolen

Removable battery? Well i just use a power pack. This one i can use with any /all devices. So i dont have to purchase a new battery everytime i change a phone model. I use the same rechargeable power pack.

Simples!

The Corinthian · 02-03-2015 3:23pm

listermint wrote: »

Personally ive no need for an SD card, havent used one in any device for years. Everything i have backs up without a thought.

SD card wont help ya if the phone is stolen

Removable battery? Well i just use a power pack. This one i can use with any /all devices. So i dont have to purchase a new battery everytime i change a phone model. I use the same rechargeable power pack.

I'm not suggesting that there are not workarounds or that some of these things may been irrelevant to some users, only that at least for me they are an issue, but most importantly, the S6 does not really offer anything new of interest - better specs, sure, but next week there will be a newer phone with better specs. Beyond that, it's little more than a wanna-be iPhone, from what I can see.

RangeR · 03-03-2015 12:23pm

Nothing concrete yet but ...

S6 32GB will be comparable to launch S5 16GB price.
S6 Edge 64GB will be comparable to iPhone 6 Plus 64GB price.

Samsung Galaxy S6

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