Share

Samsung S6 smartphones reviewed

Cape Town - Samsung is on a double charge in the name of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Both handsets are new visions of what a smartphones should be, but for different reasons.

The S6 is striking to look at even before you switch it on. While some may argue that it's a bit fragile with a glass rear cover, there were no unintended consequences during the review period, despite this reviewer treating it… robustly.

In particular, the S6 is far more elegant than its predecessor and the device is equally at home in jeans or a suit jacket. It fits neatly into the hand, despite its 12.9cm (5.1 inch) display.

Because of the glass and aluminium, one could be forgiven for thinking that the S6 is all looks but no substance, but under the hood is high end 64-bit octa core processor mated to 3GB of RAM that gets the job done.

While there have been reports that a software flaw doesn't unload the RAM, causing some applications to crash, this was not observed over the review period.

First generation technology

In fact, the smartphone is easily capable of running high drain applications such as World Cup Cricket, Real Racing 3 and Hungry Shark without noticeable lag. But then again, that's what you would expect from a smartphone priced in the stratosphere.

In terms of battery power, that rich display doesn't drain that battery as quickly as you expect. For the S6, real world use resulted in at least a two day battery life, and a bit longer for the S6 Edge - but that may be due to the fact that the S6 is more "touchable" than the Edge.

While the S6 Edge does look better with that curved screen, it feels somewhat more fragile in the hand and it is advisable that if you get either one, a cover is not a bad idea, despite the Gorilla Glass 4 protection.

Glass on the back doesn't make the S6 too fragile. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)

The curved glass is a first generation technology and there are few apps that can exploit the extra bit of display real estate.

Samsung has made a determined effort to encourage the use of the fingerprint sensor in the S6 and S6 Edge. Unlike the S5, the fingerprint reader in the S6 is far more accurate and works with one touch rather than swiping your finger over the reader.

The fingerprint reader is much improved from the previous version. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)

The 16 megapixel camera builds on the quality of the Galaxy Note 4 which marked a turning point of Samsung giving notice to traditional imaging leaders Nokia (now Microsoft) Lumia and Sony Xperia smartphones.

While there are some grainy spots in low light shots, they are more than acceptable for printing and the fact that the device can also shoot high definition video puts digital cameras seriously out of business.

Knockout punch

Pictures from the selfie camera don't seem as natural as the main camera despite its 5 megapixel rating, but perhaps that's an indication that if you can afford the S6, you should at least have a couple of friends to take pictures of you.

Like previous Samsung smartphones, the motions and gestures are also present in the S6 pair. While these were regarded as gimmicks when they made their first appearance, the experience is more intuitive with the device recognising the gesture and acting accordingly.

Samsung is hoping that the S6 Edge will set an industry standard. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)

The screen shot swipe gesture for example, works much better than the push button method on rival smartphones.

Samsung has also persisted with its S-everything apps: S-Planner (calendar); S-Health (fitness); S-Voice (voice recognition assistant). It's not that they don't work - in fact, they work rather well - it's just that you don't have to be reminded that you have a Samsung.

Given that the S6 is a top-of-the-range set, it is time Samsung dropped the 'Easy Mode'. It’s hard to accept that people who opt to buy these toys are ever looking to only use its basic functions.

The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are a pair of devices that illustrate that even when Samsung is on the back foot, it can come back with a knockout punch.

Price

But this kind of hardware does not come cheap, despite the fact that Samsung prices its devices cheaper than rival Apple.

The Galaxy S6 set is evidence that Samsung has shaken its "Tupperware phone" and "Samesung" slur with elegant, but hard working devices.

In SA, the Samsung Galaxy S6 will cost you around R529 per month on a basic contract, while the S6 Edge will cost R569 per month.

If you have the Galaxy Note 4, you’re not missing much in the S6, but if you're due for an upgrade, the S6 has the edge.

What do you think is the best smartphone available on the market in SA? Tell us by clicking here.

- Follow Duncan on Twitter

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.02
-0.6%
Rand - Pound
24.01
-0.5%
Rand - Euro
20.52
-0.3%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.35
+0.0%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.6%
Platinum
900.40
+0.4%
Palladium
998.40
-0.3%
Gold
2,211.77
+0.8%
Silver
24.64
-0.0%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,114
+0.6%
All Share
74,310
+0.5%
Resource 10
56,946
+2.3%
Industrial 25
103,653
+0.4%
Financial 15
16,467
-0.3%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders