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Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge go on sale today: 15 things you should know
Samsung’s big day is here. Following a weak 2014 and deep inroads from competitors, Samsung is poised for a better year, and it all starts with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
Going on sale today in 20 countries, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are probably the hottest Android devices in a long while. Here’s a bird’s eye view of the most important things you should know before and after buying Samsung’s shiny new toys.
1. Check out the reviews
If you’re still not convinced that the Galaxy S6 is right for you (or is it the Edge?) our reviews may help you make up your mind.
2. The competitors
There are some really good Android alternatives out there: the One M9 is coming out just today, the Note 4 remains a great option for power users, and the G4 is just around the corner.
3. How is it better than the iPhone?
You’ll hear this question a lot, especially if you live in the US. So here’s what you should know.
4. Availability
The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are available from all major carriers and retailers, with prices starting at north of $650 unlocked, and an extra $100 for the Edge version. For the top tier 128GB models, the unlocked price can reach close to $1000. Of course, you can opt for two-year contracts or monthly installments, which will make the cost much more manageable.
5. Colors
The Galaxy S6 is available in black, white, gold, and blue. The Galaxy S6 Edge is black, white, gold, and green. However, both exclusive color options (blue and green) will only be made available at a later date. Plus, depending on where you get your device from, you may be offered only some of these colors.
6. Storage
There is no microSD card slot on the Galaxy S6. That means you should really pay attention to which storage option you get. Options are 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB, but you’ll pay a hefty premium for the upper tier.
7. Battery
The battery is not removable on either the S6 or the S6 Edge. But even if capacity is smaller than on the S5, battery life is about the same.
8. Wireless charging
If you have a wireless charger laying around, it’s very likely you’ll be able to use it with the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge out of the box. That’s because the devices support the two biggest standards, no special accessory required.
9. No waterproofing
The Galaxy S5 was water resistant, but the Galaxy S6 and its curved sibling aren’t. While modern smartphones are can typically handle a little water, you don’t want to risk your warranty. If you absolute must have water resistance, there’s talk about a Galaxy S6 Active, coming later this year.
10. Edge tips and tricks
If you opt for the Edge, you’ll definitely want to know what you can do with that eye-catching curve.
11. Is the Edge fragile?
Put simply, it’s not as fragile as it looks, like this slam test and this drop test show.
12. S6 Edge availability
The Samsung CEO stated that, due to manufacturing issues, there will be a limited supply of S6 Edge units in the beginning. In other words, if you want an S6 Edge soon, you should probably try to buy it as soon as possible.
13. Freebies
T-Mobile offers a free year of Netflix, while Best Buy throws in a free wireless charger. There are other retailers that try to sweeten the deal as well, so keep an eye on your options. Regardless of the retailer, Samsung offers 100GB of free Microsoft cloud storage for each purpose.
14. Samsung Pay
Samsung made a big deal of its new Pay service. The bad news is it will only launch in the US and South Korea this summer, so unless you are willing to wait it out, Samsung Pay should not be a reason to buy the new S6 and S6 Edge.
15. Improved fingerprint sensor
Even if the Galaxy S5 fingerprint disappointed you, you may want to try it on the Galaxy S6, as it’s much easier to use now.
