A better design, a sharper camera and easier-to-use software make the new Galaxy S6 phones the best Samsung has yet to offer.
Although Samsung has been praised for its improved hardware, much of what I like is in the software – specifically, what’s not in it. After a few years of making phones difficult to use with a slew of questionable features, Samsung continues to streamline its phones with the S6.
Delivery of advance orders in 20 countries around the world, including the UAE, is expected on Friday. Prices vary, although they typically start at US$600 to $685 for the main S6 phone with 32 gigabytes of storage. A premium model, the Galaxy S6 Edge, costs about $100 more and offers curved screens to glance at content from the side.
Gone is the cheap-looking plastic back. The design is more stylish, with metal sides and a glass back, similar to older iPhones. Although I like the look, the glass makes the phone feel slippery, like a shiny marble countertop. Get a case; the regular S6 phone slipped out of my hands a few times. Apple’s iPhones now have metal backs and feel sturdier to grip.
With the new design, the S6 loses waterproof protection and the ability to replace the battery and add storage. Losses, but not big ones.
I’m impressed with the images I’ve taken so far. Many of the shots had great focus, matching the performance of the iPhone 6. Colours on a green store sign weren’t as strong as those shot with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 – and that’s good. While stunning, colours on Note 4 images sometimes look unnatural. I haven’t noticed that so far on the S6.
One nice touch: quickly double tap the home button to launch the camera, even when the screen is off. Although most phones let you launch the camera from the lock screen, I still lose shots in the time it takes to slide or tap the right icon.
* AP
Q&A
Anick Jesdanunap offers more insights into the new Samsung Galaxy S6:
What about Samsung’s software improvements?
They are subtle, yet welcome. The most noticeable change is replacing many icons with text. For instance, there’s a tool for searching through your settings. Previous Samsung phones depicted that as a magnifying glass icon. On S6 phones, it simply says “Search.” Same goes for controls such as “Edit” and “More.” This applies only to Samsung features and apps, though. You’ll still get mysterious icons with third-party apps.
Any other notable changes?
You also get the latest version of Android, Lollipop. Benefits include bringing notifications to the lock screen, similar to iPhones. That saves a lot of taps getting to the message you want. You can restrict what appears there if you’re sensitive to prying eyes.
I like watching videos, so how do they fare?
I liked the rich colours produced by Samsung’s Amoled screen technology as I watched Mad Men on Netflix. But I found the controls very sensitive. Video stopped several times as I inadvertently hit the back button, which is built into the phone’s frame. In addition, video often paused when I mistakenly touched the edge of the screen, launching the notification bar. You must handle the phone with care.
What are prices like in the UAE?
The Galaxy S6 is available for pre-order from a number of UAE retailers in four models: the Galaxy S6 32GB is priced at Dh2,599, the Galaxy S6 64GB at Dh2,899. The Galaxy S6 Duos 32GB will cost Dh2,699 and the Galaxy S6 Duos 64GB Dh2,999.
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