A better design, 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.
Advance
orders begin Friday, with delivery expected April 10. Prices vary by
carrier, though they typically start at $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.
Here are 5 things to know about the phones.
HANDLING
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. That said, the Edge version doesn't feel as slippery, perhaps
because I'm gripping the back part tighter given that the screen curves
halfway down the sides.
With the new design, the S6 loses
waterproof protection and the ability to replace the battery and add
storage. Losses, but not big ones.
TAKING PICTURES
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. Colors on a green
store sign weren't as strong as those shot with Samsung's Galaxy Note 4
- and that's good. While stunning, colors 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. Though 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.
WATCHING VIDEO
I liked the
rich colors 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.
FINDING WHAT YOU NEED
Samsung's software improvements 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.
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.
PUSHING THE EDGE
The Edge
model's side displays enable some nifty features, such as having the
sides flash a different color based on who's calling. But the Edge comes
across as something still looking for more practical uses.
The
regular S6 model will be fine for most people. Both models come with a
fingerprint scanner for unlocking the phone and, when Samsung Pay
launches this summer, making payments with a tap of the phone at retail
stores. Both let you open multiple apps side by side - something common
in traditional computers but generally lacking in phones and tablets.
Both also have fast-charging capabilities; I got to 47 percent in just
30 minutes on the regular S6.
The phones remain at 5.1 inches
diagonally, just a tad larger than the iPhone 6, which got a size boost
over the previous year's models.
The new S6 phones show that
Samsung's more than a big screen. I look forward to seeing how Apple
responds with new models this fall.