The Samsung Galaxy S6 is a smartphone that was released in 2015, and even though it’s been a few years since its debut, it’s still a popular choice among Android enthusiasts. But is the Galaxy S6 a good phone? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the features, specs, and performance of the Galaxy S6 to help you decide if it’s the right phone for you.
Design and Build Quality
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Galaxy S6 is its stunning design. Samsung has moved away from the plastic construction of its previous models and opted for a more premium glass and metal build. The result is a phone that looks and feels luxurious, with a solid construction that exudes quality.
The phone’s metal frame is durable and resistant to scratches and dents, while the glass front and back provide a sleek and modern look. The edges are nicely rounded, making it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. At 138g, the phone is also surprisingly light, considering its size and features.
Display
The Galaxy S6 boasts a beautiful 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels. This results in an incredible pixel density of 577 pixels per inch, making text and images look incredibly sharp and vibrant. The display is also incredibly bright, with a peak brightness of 470 nits, making it easy to use in even the most challenging outdoor conditions.
Colors are rich and accurate, with deep blacks and vibrant whites. Watching videos or browsing the web on the Galaxy S6 is a real treat, with the display delivering a truly immersive experience.
Performance
The Galaxy S6 is powered by a Samsung Exynos 7420 octa-core processor, which provides lightning-fast performance and efficient battery life. The processor is paired with 3GB of RAM, which is plenty for most users and ensures that the phone can handle demanding tasks with ease.
In terms of storage, the Galaxy S6 comes in three variants: 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB. Unfortunately, there’s no microSD card slot, so you’ll need to rely on the internal storage. However, the phone does support adoptable storage, which allows you to use a microSD card as internal storage.
Software
The Galaxy S6 runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, but it’s upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat. Samsung’s TouchWiz UI is layered on top of the Android OS, providing a unique and feature-rich user experience.
TouchWiz has been streamlined and simplified in recent years, and the Galaxy S6 is no exception. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, with plenty of customization options to personalize your home screen.
Camera
The Galaxy S6 features a 16-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.9 aperture, which is capable of capturing stunning photos and videos. The camera is equipped with optical image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and blur.
The camera app is feature-rich, with plenty of modes and settings to choose from. There’s a Pro mode that gives you manual control over the camera, as well as a Slow Motion mode that can capture video at 120fps.
Selfie enthusiasts will appreciate the 5-megapixel front camera, which takes excellent photos with plenty of detail and natural-looking skin tones.
Video Recording
The Galaxy S6 can record video at up to 4K resolution at 30fps, which is impressive considering the phone’s age. The video quality is excellent, with plenty of detail and smooth motion.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S6 has a non-removable 2550mAh battery, which is decent but not exceptional. However, Samsung has optimized the phone’s software to provide excellent battery life.
In our tests, the phone easily lasted a full day with moderate use, and even managed to survive a demanding day with heavy use. Of course, battery life will vary depending on your usage patterns and settings.
Charging
The Galaxy S6 supports fast charging, which can top up the battery from 0 to 80% in just 45 minutes. Wireless charging is also supported, making it easy to keep your phone charged without having to deal with cables.
Other Features
The Galaxy S6 has a few other features that are worth mentioning. There’s a fingerprint sensor integrated into the home button, which provides quick and secure biometric authentication.
The phone also features a heart rate sensor, which can be used to track your heart rate and rhythm. Additionally, there’s a built-in IR blaster, which allows you to control your TV and other devices using the phone.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Fingerprint sensor | Integrated into the home button |
| Heart rate sensor | Tracks heart rate and rhythm |
| IR blaster | Control your TV and other devices |
Pros and Cons
So, is the Galaxy S6 a good phone? Let’s weigh the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Beautiful design and build quality
- Stunning display with high pixel density
- Fast performance and efficient battery life
- Excellent camera with plenty of features
- Wireless charging and fast charging supported
- Fingerprint sensor and heart rate sensor
Cons:
- No microSD card slot
- No water resistance
- Battery is non-removable
- No headphone jack (on some models)
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S6 is an excellent phone that still holds up well today. Its stunning design, beautiful display, and fast performance make it a great choice for anyone looking for a premium Android device.
While it may lack some features like a microSD card slot and water resistance, the Galaxy S6 more than makes up for it with its excellent camera, wireless charging, and fingerprint sensor.
If you’re in the market for a high-end Android phone, the Galaxy S6 is definitely worth considering. And if you can find a good deal on a used or refurbished model, it could be an even more attractive option.
So, is the Galaxy S6 a good phone? Absolutely. It’s a flagship device that’s still worth your attention, even in 2023.
What are the key features of the Samsung Galaxy S6?
The Samsung Galaxy S6 is a powerhouse of a phone that boasts a range of impressive features. It has a stunning 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, a fast Exynos 7420 octa-core processor, and a sleek and durable design. The phone also comes with 3GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, and a 2550mAh battery that supports wireless charging.
In addition to these features, the Galaxy S6 also has a 16-megapixel rear camera with Optical Image Stabilization, a 5-megapixel front camera, and a range of advanced camera features such as Auto HDR and Slo-Mo video recording. The phone also supports 4G LTE connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and NFC.
How does the Galaxy S6 compare to its predecessor, the Galaxy S5?
Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy S6 is a significant upgrade in terms of design and performance. The S6 has a more premium and stylish design, with a metal and glass body that looks and feels more luxurious. In terms of performance, the S6’s Exynos 7420 processor is significantly faster than the S5’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor.
The S6 also has a higher-resolution display, a better camera, and more advanced software features than the S5. Additionally, the S6 has a more streamlined user interface, with fewer pre-installed apps and a more intuitive layout. Overall, the S6 is a more refined and polished device than the S5, and is well worth considering for anyone looking to upgrade from an older Galaxy phone.
Is the Galaxy S6 waterproof?
Unfortunately, the Galaxy S6 is not waterproof, unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy S5. This is a deliberate design choice by Samsung, who opted to remove the waterproofing feature in order to make the phone thinner and more stylish. While this may be a drawback for some users, it’s worth noting that the S6’s metal and glass body is still highly durable and resistant to scratches and drops.
It’s also worth noting that Samsung has introduced a range of water-resistant accessories for the S6, such as waterproof cases and pouches. These can provide an additional layer of protection for users who are concerned about accidentally exposing their phone to water.
Can I expand the Galaxy S6’s storage capacity?
Unlike some other Samsung phones, the Galaxy S6 does not have a microSD card slot, which means that the internal storage capacity is fixed at 32GB or 64GB, depending on the model. While this may be a limitation for some users, it’s worth noting that the phone does come with a range of cloud storage options, including Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive.
Additionally, Samsung has partnered with a range of music and video streaming services, such as Netflix and Spotify, to provide users with access to a vast library of content without the need for local storage. Overall, while the lack of expandable storage may be a drawback for some users, it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, especially for users who are comfortable with cloud storage and streaming services.
Is the Galaxy S6 compatible with Samsung Pay?
Yes, the Galaxy S6 is compatible with Samsung Pay, a mobile payment service that allows users to make contactless payments with their phone. Samsung Pay uses Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology, which allows it to work with traditional magnetic stripe card readers, making it more widely compatible than other mobile payment services like Apple Pay.
To use Samsung Pay, users need to register their credit or debit card details and set up a PIN or fingerprint authentication. They can then use their phone to make payments at millions of merchants worldwide. Samsung Pay is a convenient and secure way to pay, and is a major selling point for the Galaxy S6.
How long does the Galaxy S6’s battery last?
The Galaxy S6’s battery life is generally very good, with most users getting a full day’s use out of a single charge. The phone’s 2550mAh battery is smaller than some other flagship phones, but Samsung has implemented a range of power-saving features to help extend battery life.
These features include a low-power mode that reduces CPU performance and limits background data usage, as well as an ultra-power saving mode that gives users an extra day’s use in emergency situations. Additionally, the phone supports fast charging, which can give users up to 4 hours of use from just 10 minutes of charging.
Is the Galaxy S6 worth the price?
The Galaxy S6 is a premium phone with a premium price tag, but for many users, it’s well worth the cost. The phone’s stunning display, fast performance, and advanced camera features make it one of the best smartphones on the market. Additionally, the phone’s sleek and stylish design, wireless charging capabilities, and Samsung Pay support make it a desirable choice for anyone looking for a high-end phone.
Of course, whether or not the S6 is worth the price will depend on individual users’ needs and budgets. However, for anyone looking for a top-of-the-line Android phone with all the latest features and capabilities, the S6 is definitely worth considering.