With the Galaxy 6 and Galaxy 6 Edge, Samsung has taken a pretty giant leap towards making their flagship handsets... well... prettier.
Cosmetically, the Galaxy range of smart phones hasn't really varied dramatically for years. Obviously the handsets have had to grow in size to accommodate bigger screens, but then the screens moved closer to the edge of the phones and the last couple of generations haven't had to get too much bigger.
Now, the screen not only goes right to the edge, but bends all the way over it.
This means Samsung's latest Galaxy is actually slightly smaller than its predecessor, even though the screen is effectively the same size. Both S6 and the S6 Edge are definitely slimmer (ie: flatter) and lighter than the S5 and they both feature a metallic-feel back that sort of looks like some kind of brushed steel (it isn't, but it looks like it).
The Edge is of course what all the noise is about. If you haven't seen it, it's the one with the curvy screen. Don't be fooled though, it's not the whole screen that curves (like on Samsung's Gear Fit and Gear S smart watches). The screen simply spills over both sides - sorry; both EDGES.
In one fell swoop, this effect instantly makes the S6 Edge the coolest looking phone on the market. No contest. So if you want the coolest looking phone on the market, pay the premium and get yourself an Edge.
If, however, you just want a phone that works as well as the Edge, save yourself a couple of hundie and grab an S6 instead. Because other than the curvy screen, there's no difference. What's more, the curvy screen doesn't really DO anything. Oh, sure you can set it to light up different colours on the edge for when different contacts call or text, but that's kind of show-offy, isn't it?
If I'm to be completely honest, I felt nervous handling the Edge every time I picked it up. I'm not exactly Mr Coordinated and I felt like with all that screen everywhere, one slip and the phone would be in pieces.
Speaking of slipping, being so slim, both these devices slipped easily into my pocket, although they are still relatively long, so squatting with your phone in your jeans is still not particularly comfortable.
The other big shift in Samsung's Galaxy progression is the departure from a removable back cover. Like the A3 and A5 I focussed on in the last blog, Samsung have basically "iPhoned" these handsets, locking the battery away and moving to a nanoSim which fits in little drawer at the top. UNLIKE the A3 and A5, the S6 and S6 Edge have no SD slot, meaning, like the iPhone, you'll have to pay more for a 64GB handset than the entry-level 32GB one.
To be fair, 32GB is heaps of storage for a phone, but if you're a prodigious photographer or videographer, extra storage is no longer as simple as changing out a relatively inexpensive microSD.
So apart from their striking good looks, what really is the difference between the S6's and their S5 predecessor?
Not much. The S6's boast an "Octa Core" processor, but according to my (limited) research, it's really two different quad cores working together. Whatever the case, these phones can definitely multi-task with no problems at all. (HTC has a handset with a "true" octa core processor, but from what I've read, its battery life is terrible)
I can't say I detected the S6's working any faster than my S5, but they definitely seemed to transition between open/simultaneously running apps more smoothly.
The cameras, as usual, are another step up. Predictably, you get more megapixels and there were big improvements with things like contrast and performance in dark environments, which is something phone cameras usually struggle with. What I really liked about the S6 camera, is Samsung gives you the option of almost no options, for photographic numpties like me, or you can turn on all the advanced features if you're the kind of photo-geek who likes to tweak their own ISO or HDR. (Whatever they may be)
The really big plus for me, is at long, long, LONG last, Samsung have made these phones wirelessly chargeable. Why they didn't do this 3 generations ago, I have no idea. In fact, I was really impressed with the battery life and short charging times of the S6's generally - especially when you use the new 9-volt wall charger provided. Even if your battery does get low, this super-charger will have you up and running in next to no time.
The big negative? Unlike the S5, these handsets are not waterproof (IP67). The official line from Samsung is they would have had to compromise the sleek design to keep water and dust out. A suspicious person might suggest they're holding the IP67 rating back for the S7, but that would be mere speculation. This meant although the latest incarnation of the S-Health app is more comprehensive than ever and the S6's connected with my Gear 2 Neo smart watch effortlessly, I never felt comfortable exercising with them in my sweaty armband and I certainly wouldn't have risked running in the rain. (That's my excuse for not running that day, and I'm sticking to it)
Once again, we seem to arrived at a point in smart phone evolution where the innovation and improvements are pretty minor and it's hard to justify an upgrade from the S5, especially if you've come to rely on the durability and peace-of-mind offered by the S5's IP67 water/dust-proofing.
However, if sexy styling, better battery life and wireless charging really rock your boat, Samsung have definitely come up with the goods.
