The Samsung Galaxy S6 had a slender steel physique, extra lovely and extra premium than the utilitarian, plasticy Galaxy S5 that got here earlier than it. The inside code identify for the telephone was Project Zero, as a result of Samsung threw the Galaxy S playbook out of the window and began from scratch.
The firm will need to have been stunned by the loud destructive outcry when it completed engaged on the Project Zero and unveiled it to the world. While the premium look was good, Samsung made a number of unpopular decisions.
Samsung Galaxy S6 flanked by the iPhone 6 Plus and the Galaxy S5
First, the glass again was glued in place, that means that the battery was not user-accessible. The S6 wasn’t even waterproof just like the Galaxy S5 was, that one had an IP67 ranking and a detachable again cowl (and flap over its USB port, but that wasn’t its greatest concern).
Samsung also dropped the microSD slot. Doubling the bottom storage to 32GB (from 16GB on the S5) and switching to quicker UFS 2.0 (from eMMC) didn’t appear to matter to followers – they solely cared that they may not increase the storage of their telephone.
Only SIMs allowed, no room for microSDs on this card tray
There have been different inexplicable downgrades. The battery was smaller (2,550mAh vs. 2,800mAh), a aspect impact of the choice to shave down the telephone’s thickness simply 6.8 mm. Also, this made individuals fear extra in regards to the battery ageing, since it would cut back the already small capability. It supported quicker 15W charging, which Samsung argued was higher than having a replaceable battery. Many disagreed.
The Galaxy S6 measured solely 6.8 mm thick, in comparison with the Galaxy S8 at 8.1 mm
Also, Samsung deserted its microUSB 3.0 experiment and went again to common microUSB 2.0. Not that anybody missed the wonky microUSB 3.0 connector, but going again isn’t a good look and USB-C wasn’t unheard of in 2015 when the Galaxy S6 arrived. MHL was slashed within the course of (it is an early type of TV-out over USB).
Top to backside: Lighting port (iPhone 6 Plus) * microUSB 2.0 (Galaxy S6) * microUSB 3.0 (Galaxy S5)
The Galaxy S6 didn’t arrive alone – it had a curvy pal, the Galaxy S6 edge. Its show was curved at its left and right edges, borrowing the versatile OLED know-how from the Galaxy Note Edge. It nonetheless had the identical diagonal, 5.1”, but the curved sides gave it a distinctive look (the Note had just one curved edge). This got here at additional price and never everybody thought it was price it, but at the least individuals had a alternative.
Curved screens would go on to turn into fairly in style within the flagship phase
Later on within the yr Samsung also launched the bigger Galaxy S6 edge+, which went as much as a 5.7” show – as massive as that of the Galaxy Note4 and 5 (although it was curved moderately than flat). Other than the bigger 3,000 mAh battery, the display dimension bump was principally the one improve over the smaller Galaxy S6/S6 edge.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ (middle) was as massive because the Note5 (left), dwarfing the S6 edge (right)
Despite a number of unpopular modifications, the Galaxy S6 sequence did characterize an improve over the Galaxy S5. Its Super AMOLED display was bumped as much as 1440p decision (the S5 was criticized for sticking with 1080p). The curved sides made for an attention-grabbing design too.
The digicam on the rear caught with a 16MP sensor with 1.12µm pixels, but it brightened the aperture considerably (f/1.9 vs. f/2.4) and adopted OIS. The entrance digicam got a main replace too – 5MP might not sound too thrilling, but it’s significantly better than 2MP.
Samsung Galaxy S6 digicam samples
The Galaxy S6 was also the primary telephone to characteristic Samsung Pay, which had a game-changing MST characteristic – it may emulate the magnetic stripe of credit score and debit playing cards. This ensured compatibility even with older PoS terminals, which have been the norm within the US.
Of course, you’d need that characteristic effectively secured and the improved fingerprint reader helped with that. The Galaxy S5 had an FP reader, but it was the awkward swipe type, which was actually inconvenient to make use of. The S6 had a correct capacitive reader.
A correct fingerprint reader, not like the swipe reader of the Galaxy S5
Sale figures have been far and wide. After excessive pre-order numbers, the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge hit a mixed 10 million gross sales about a month after launch. The S5 was quicker, it got there in 25 days alone. Info from Korea prompt that the flat S6 outsold the S6 edge 3:1. However, demand picked up and Samsung needed to open a new plant to maintain up with S6 edge orders. Three months in, the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge had set a new file with 15.8 million gross sales globally, beating the earlier champ, the S4 with 15.2 million.
The Galaxy S7 would beat it the next yr, by a honest margin too, but this reveals two things. First, the upgrades outweighed the hated design decisions, making this one of the best-selling Galaxy S telephones (the S5 had its detractors, but the S4 was a bona fide hit). Second, some individuals actually did hate the S6, which led to a pent up demand by the point the S7 arrived.
Loved or hated, the Galaxy S6 was one of the perfect promoting fashions of its period
Memory is a humorous factor, we keep in mind the Galaxy S6 as being hated, whereas the S5 got a principally optimistic reception. The factor is although, the S5 had many warts too and the S6 established some options used within the S-series for many years to return, particularly the steel and glass design.
Or we see it that manner now as a result of in 2021 our views have shifted. For higher or for worse, detachable batteries are a factor of the previous. And whereas the microSD card was briefly reinstated, it is gone from the S-series once more. Even the three.5 mm headphone jack is not any extra (fortunately, the S6 had one). Maybe it wasn’t excellent, but perhaps the Samsung Galaxy S6 and its two edge siblings weren’t as dangerous as we keep in mind.
