10 Verizon Galaxy S6 Release Date Tips

The Verizon Galaxy S6 release date is confirmed for this Friday which means that buyers in the United States are starting to key in on the carrier’s regular option and the Galaxy S6 Edge. Today, ahead of the release, we want to offer some Verizon Galaxy S6 release date tips to those of you that have pre-ordered and those of you that are thinking about picking up a device down the road.

In March, Verizon confirmed two new flagship Galaxy smartphones in the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. The two devices will take over for the Galaxy S5 as the carrier’s flagship Galaxy models and they will do so with a ton of new features and enhancements including a new design language, new processor, new camera, beautiful displays, and more. The Galaxy S6 Edge also features a curved display.

On April 1st, Verizon started taking Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge pre-orders ahead of an April 10th release date. This Friday, Verizon will release some of its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge variants onto its shelves giving those who didn’t pre-order a chance to walk out of the stores with a brand new smartphone. Or in some cases, smartphones.

With the Verizon Galaxy S6 release date just two days away, we want to offer some last minute tips to those of you who have already put in a pre-order and to those that are still on the fence about picking up a Verizon Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge. These Verizon Samsung Galaxy S6 release date tips will get your brain moving and they should help make the whole experience less painful.

There’s No Need to Go In Early On Friday (Or At All)

This is not an Apple release party. This is a flagship Android release. And while flagship Android releases are exciting, they never generate the same kind of attention that iPhone release dates do. This isn’t a bad thing.

With Verizon Galaxy S6 pre-orders live and still in stock, we’re not expecting to see lines out the door this Friday. That goes for Verizon stores, that goes for the retailers that are selling the Verizon Galaxy S6. What this means is that you should be able to walk into a store and walk out with a Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge no problems.

You do not need to show up before stores open. You don’t need to take work or school off. You should be able to waltz into a store tomorrow and get what you want. Allotments might vary from store to store but if you live near a Best Buy and a Verizon store, between the two, you should find you what you’re looking for on the Verizon Galaxy S6 release day.

Go Hands-on Before You Buy

The Verizon Galaxy S6 release date won’t land until this Friday but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get hands-on with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge right now. Select Best Buy and Verizon stores have the models on display right now ahead of the Galaxy S6 release date. Take advantage of that if you can.

There are plenty of reasons why you’ll want to go hands-on with these devices before you buy but we’ll give you two of the most important ones. First, you’ll need to decide whether you need the curved Galaxy S6 Edge or not. It’s a nice touch but it also comes with an $100 premium so you’ll want to be absolutely, positively sure that it’s necessary. Many of you won’t want or need it.

The other reason is the Galaxy S6 price. Verizon recently dropped the Galaxy S5, a perfectly capable phone, down to $99 on-contract. It’s also extremely cheap at retailers like Amazon. So you’ll want to make sure that you, or a loved one, need what the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge offer. Some of you will be fine getting last year’s model, you just won’t know until you go hands-on. Do that before buying.

You can find out where to try them out right here.

Research Verizon’s Other Flagships

Furthermore, you should go hands-on with Verizon’s other flagship smartphones before buying the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge.

Verizon currently has a number of solid (and cheap at some retailers) devices on shelves including the LG G3 and Moto X. It’s also poised to release the HTC One M9, another flagship that will do battle with the Galaxy S6. Oh, and if you’re not loyal to Android, you’ll want to check out the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, two of the best phones on the market.

PSA: Remember to Send in Your Mail-in Rebate

Consider this your final reminder. If you have already bought the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge or if you are planning to buy it in the future, remember to send in that mail-in rebate to recoup some of the cost. Verizon’s mail-in rebate comes in the form of a debit card and it can take up to 6 weeks to arrive. It also expires after a year so you’ll want to use it before then.

Order the Gold Verizon Galaxy S6 Now If You’re Ready

Earlier this week, we noted that Verizon’s gold Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge shipping times have been pushed back into May. Some are slated to ship out in early May while others are scheduled to roll out in mid-May. If you’ve decided on a gold Verizon Galaxy S6 model, you probably want to put in an order in the near future.

There’s a chance that these shipping times will move back even further but there’s a even greater chance of Verizon pushing these orders out well ahead of these shipping dates. We saw the carrier post absurd ship times for the iPhone 6 Plus only to ship orders out much earlier than expected. We would not be surprised if the same thing happens here.

If you’re ready, put in an order, and you’ll probably get your phone sometime in April or early May at the latest.

Keep an Eye on Your Pre-Order

If you pre-ordered a Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge, note that pre-orders are now shipping out and you’ll want to keep an eye on your tracking information as we get closer to Friday’s release.

In fact, we recommend that all Galaxy S6 buyers, current and future, keep tabs on tracking information, especially if you work during the week. You won’t want your precious cargo sitting out on your doorstep for eight hours while you sit in your office.

If that’s the case, you might want to see if you can get the delivery company to hold onto your package at a physical location where it’s safe and secure. You might also direct your shipment to your place of work though most of you probably won’t have a billing address attached to your office.

Keep an Eye Out For Verizon Galaxy S6 Deals

There are a few in-house Verizon Galaxy S6 deals going on right now. They include:

• Purchase a Samsung Galaxy S 6 or Galaxy S 6 edge with new 2-year activation or with Verizon Edge and trade in your old smartphone, and get a minimum trade-in value of $100 for any smartphone, $150 for a Samsung Galaxy S 4, or $200 for a Samsung Galaxy S 5. Trade-in must be in good working condition. Trade-in value provided via Verizon gift card.
• Purchase a Samsung Galaxy S 6 or Galaxy S 6 edge and get a Samsung Gear S for $199.99 (normally $349.99 with 2-year activation), a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 (10-inch) for $99.99 (normally $229.99 with 2-year activation) , or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S for $249.99 (normally $499.99 with 2-year activation). New 2-year activation required per device.
• Join Verizon and get a $100 bill credit for any new smartphone activated on Verizon Edge.

We haven’t seen any Galaxy S6 price cuts yet but if you’re not looking to pay top dollar for either of these phones, you’ll want to keep your eyes out as we push deeper into April. Retailers like Amazon will often offer a slight discount after a few weeks out on shelves.

Do Not Buy Off-Contract at Amazon or Best Buy

Do not buy the Verizon Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge off-contract at Amazon or Best Buy. Both of them are charging an arm and a leg for the two devices off-contract. Verizon’s off-contract prices are much cheaper. You can see what we mean by comparing Verizon’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge price points to the price points at Best Buy and Amazon.

Verizon Edge vs. Two Year Contract

We recently put together a comparison that highlights the differences between Verizon Edge and a new two year contract. We highly recommend taking a look at that if you’re not sure how to buy the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge on Verizon.

Dig Into Your Storage Needs Before Buying

Verizon’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge models come in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB. Neither device comes with a microSD card slot which means that getting the correct amount of storage is extremely important. You don’t want to spend too much money and you don’t want to get a device that doesn’t fit your needs.

We recommend looking at your current phone’s storage, looking at your habits, and coming to a decision about how much storage you’ll need right now. Even if you’re not planning to buy for a few weeks. Don’t just guess.

Many of you will be fine with 32GB of storage space. However, there will be those of you that need a whole lot more for games, photos, video, and other files. The sooner you decide, the sooner you can prepare your wallet.