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Galaxy S6 microSD & Battery Details Frustrate Buyers

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The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are confirmed for April and when they arrive, they’ll be sporting a new design made of metal and glass. Samsung’s new design language comes with a few tradeoffs and those tradeoffs, which include a missing microSD card slot and non-removable battery, are frustrating potential buyers.

Today, Samsung took to the stage in Barcelona, Spain to announce its brand new flagship smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are now official and both come with an impressive spec sheet of features. Samsung’s tacked on a ton of new hardware including a Quad HD display, Exynos 7 Octa processor, 16MP camera, and a new design that features premium design materials. Previous versions of the Galaxy S were built out of plastic. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge also come with some other features that buyers aren’t too happy about.

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Samsung’s plastic Galaxy S designs always featured a removable battery and a microSD card slot for expanded storage. The microSD card slot allowed Galaxy S users to expand their storage by up to 128GB. The removable battery allowed users to easily replace busted batteries or install an extended battery for more juice.

Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S6 don’t come with a microSD card slot. This has left potential Galaxy S6 buyers fuming in the minutes after the Galaxy S6 launch:

In an attempt to appease buyers, Samsung’s going to be offering six Galaxy S6 variants, three regular Galaxy S6 models and three Galaxy S6 Edge models. Instead of a 16GB base, Samsung will be offering a base 32GB model. It will also offer 64GB and 128GB variants for those that need more storage. The exclusion of a microSD card slot brings the Galaxy S6 closer together with Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and it will force some users to become more reliant on the cloud.

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The other Galaxy S6 spec bothering consumers is the lack of a removable battery. The Galaxy S6 comes with a 2,550 mAh non-removable battery while the Galaxy S6 Edge comes with a larger 2,600 mAh battery. This huge change has led to initial backlash on social media from enthusiasts and those who currently own Samsung smartphones.

To offset the changes, Samsung’s added a more efficient Exynos 7 Octa processor and faster charging. Real life battery results for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are currently unavailable though the company appears confident in its decision to ditch the removable battery. Some prospective buyers say that they can deal with the lack of a removable battery, just not the lack of a microSD card slot.

Prospective buyers have several weeks to make a decision because the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge release dates are confirmed for April. Starting April 10th, Samsung will release the Galaxy S6 in a number of different regions including the United States where the device will land on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon.

None of those carriers have confirmed specific Galaxy S6 release date details and it’s not clear which Galaxy S6 variants they will carry. With a microSD card slot now out of the picture, consumers are hopeful that they offer all three storage sizes. If they don’t, we could see pitchforks raised even higher ahead of the device’s arrival. 

31 Comments

31 Comments

  1. uktechguy

    03/01/2015 at 11:19 am

    Battle non removable battery may be Ok if life and rapid charge are good. Microsd omission is a real backward step. Here in the UK it is most unlikely we will ever see the 64Gb and 128GB variants if previous Samsung experience is anything to go by. Mobile operators just love phones with smaller and thus cheaper mmemory options.

    Camera and other features look good but lack of expansion memory is likely to be a problem unless 128GB version is widely available at a competitive price.

    • UKtechguy

      03/01/2015 at 2:23 pm

      Samsung shoot themselves in the foot on the same day as SanDisk announce 200GB microsd card in Barcelona.

    • chris Barosky

      05/22/2015 at 12:43 pm

      I think Samsung has made a huge mistake to discontinue the sd card and removable battery to just be a photo copy of a generic I phone. I own a gs5 and the only reason it caught my attention is the removable sd card. I have a two year old little girl that I take alot of video and pictures of, so now that Samsung has made a moronic decision to lose these features then I feel there going to lose alot of customers, and I know my next phone will not be a Samsung.

  2. Disappointed

    03/01/2015 at 12:06 pm

    The differentiator btwn samsung and others was the battery and sd card, which made it stand out as a smartphone. Now, they are just another phone. Im going to hold on to my S4 and not even bother downgrading to an s6. The HTC G2 had a metal back and had a replaceable battery and sd card, no excuse from samsung not to include it. Sad, really.

  3. Keeping my Note 4

    03/01/2015 at 1:48 pm

    I was gonna buy this. No micro SD slot, not buying. I will stick with my Note 4.

  4. p lane

    03/01/2015 at 4:55 pm

    I won’t buy any handset without at least a replaceable battery, or expand able memory, unless I’m missing something.I think samsung is stepping in it.

  5. [email protected]

    03/01/2015 at 9:59 pm

    Ever have a phone freeze? To fix it you just remove the battery >_>

    • Matthew

      03/02/2015 at 10:55 am

      With nonremovable batteries they either always or 99% of the time have a feature where if you hold the volume buttons and the power button at the same time it simulates the taking a battery out of the phone and putting it back in

      • Autrice

        12/27/2015 at 1:47 am

        THANK YOU! Damn, I was getting frustrated. It took holding the volume and power buttons for quite a few seconds, but the phone popped back to life. You’ve saved me absolute heartache, Matthew. I’m eternally grateful to you.

  6. Jare7_jeddah

    03/02/2015 at 5:09 am

    That is wrong.
    One of the most good things about Samsung is the freedom to have Whatever memory you want.
    But now after 4 years as a Samsung User it is the time now to go HTC.

  7. Tribal Spaceman

    03/02/2015 at 9:33 am

    I sincerely hope the “features” of a permanently installed battery and the lack of a Micro SD slot don’t make their way to the Note series. If they do I’ll be checking out the competition.

    I’m sure the 128gb model will cost a pretty penny per month on contract as well, rather than leaving storage size up to the costumer.

  8. FreeFlyFreak

    03/03/2015 at 6:35 am

    I have always owned a phone with a removable battery and expandable storage.
    Samsung in their quest for a premium “look” just destroyed the functionality of their phone for much of their loyal customer base.
    Function over fluff.

    The Saugus V2 is looking more attractive than ever.

    I use my S5 spare battery approx 2 times per week out of necessity and although my internal storage is almost full as is my SD card I am comfortable in the fact that I can swap out SD cards or expand when needed.

    I personally think in trying to fix the look and feel of the S5 they have ruined the phone. I think Samsung will lose more market swith with the s6.

    Who needs a qhd screen on a phone?
    All it does is suck even more battery.

    Guess Samsung owners will be “wall huggers” too from now on.

    Count me out.

  9. James Highland

    03/03/2015 at 9:45 am

    why not just call it the Iphone 7?
    I for one will wait for the S7 and if it too has a non removable battery and no Micro SD ill move on… If I wanted a phone like an Iphione I would have Bought an Iphone

  10. Erik

    03/03/2015 at 8:09 pm

    I can’t believe I’ve been bragging about those features to my iphone friends. Guess they get the last laugh.
    I hope this model flops

  11. BE

    03/05/2015 at 12:30 am

    Terrible mistake by Samsung. They don’t understand that carries like Verizon won’t carry 128 or 64 and people won’t have option. No reason to buy Samsung anymore. I have to look for another phone with SD card and removable battery! They took all the good features out, only their junk software on the phone that you can’t get rid of!

  12. Rob

    03/05/2015 at 3:02 am

    It’s a complete nonsense that Samsung trashed its 2 main competitive advantages over Apple, I’m gonna have some fun reading the wallhuggers video comments now….
    And the Jiayu S3 advanced or the S4 seem solid alternatives now…
    I had all the galaxies until now…bye bye Applesung

  13. Steve

    03/05/2015 at 8:44 am

    Samsun, What are you going, You’ve created an Iphone clone Iwith no SD card or battery option. If I wanted to use the cloud I would have stuck with the iphone. I think I’ll just go to the HTC.

  14. D

    03/05/2015 at 11:28 am

    I was waiting for the s6 as a proudly s3 owner, but non removable battery??? Non sd card??? I can’t believe…I will have to wait to see alternatives with removable battery and sd card.

  15. wtf

    03/29/2015 at 9:42 am

    I got the galaxy s2 and s4 which were both great phones and now i have to look for other alternatives. No sd card is a deal breaker.

  16. daff216

    04/02/2015 at 9:29 pm

    U gotta be kidding me….keeping my s5….

  17. Tee

    04/11/2015 at 8:01 pm

    The reason I chose Samsung over iPhone were the changeable battery & SD card options. I guess my next phone will be an iPhone.

  18. Robert Bridge

    04/16/2015 at 5:09 pm

    Very disappointed that the Galaxy S6 does not have a sdcard nor can the battery be removed.I have purchased Samsung devices almost solely for many years,however,I will never purchase a smartphone that is limited to this degree.Please get it right for the next phone.

    • UKtechguy

      04/16/2015 at 5:35 pm

      I am waiting to find out about the LG G3 due to be announced at the end of the month. Said to have microsd card slot, removable battery and the best camera ever in a smartphone. After having bought Samsung for many years I have decided to look elsewhere.

  19. [email protected]

    04/30/2015 at 3:01 pm

    Samsung what have you done where is the removable battery and SD slot

  20. [email protected]

    06/08/2015 at 1:15 pm

    Samsung i don’t give a crap if it got plastic back cover but we the public need a SD slot

  21. Robert Funkey

    06/08/2015 at 2:41 pm

    Everyone here is wrong. There is a proprietary memory slot at the top right of the phone with a special tool that comes with the phone and instructions on how to replace or upgrade the memory to as much as 128 GB. The chip seems to be proprietary, however, and I can’t find a website to buy one.

  22. Sharon M

    06/13/2015 at 8:06 am

    I am due for an upgrade. No way will I downgrade to a phone with no SD card, and that’s Final. I’ve been a Samsung phone user since forever, but now I’m switching. LG makes a phone with a memory card slot, remove able battery and the greatest camera ever. I am going to have to say good bye to Samsung. What a shame. Going to purchase the LG G3!

  23. Robert NoSpam

    06/24/2015 at 8:52 am

    This is the best advertising Apple could ask for.
    Removable battery is why Sammy’s are coveted. Memory expansion was a deal-breaker for me on Apple.
    All I can say is go cloud yourselves Samsung. Apples dependence on Cloud made Sammy a step ahead..
    Samsung, we need cheap plastic back covers for upgrade options, not a throw-away dead end aluminum that HAS memory effect a room temp while brittle at cold.
    Not to mention that alu back covers REDUCE signal at the most inappropriate times and locations.
    It’s funny, vain shallow apple fanboy’s are manipulating style over function… too bad, so sad.

  24. fred harrel

    06/26/2015 at 6:45 am

    The reason I am a Galaxy user , previously an Apple owner, is due to the ease of loading a micro sd card directly.
    Also using my phone as a photo viewer, the replaceable battery is invaluable.
    ***WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING***? Oh excuse me !!!! You dumb ass, You aren’t.
    For your further information, I just bought a backup S5, and I hope that by the time both of the phones I now
    have, bite the dust, you will have your head screwed on correctly.

    Have a piss poor day. You deserve it!!

    fh

  25. tim connell

    08/20/2015 at 7:55 pm

    I have the galaxy note 3 & love it because of the sd card & removable battery that I replaced with a 10,000 mah battery that last for two days heavy use. I also love the 3.0 port because it does not break like the micro ports do. Samsung has ruined their whole line of phones for me. I will keep the note 3 going as long as I can but when it’s time to change it out. If Samsung has not brought back the sd slot, 3.0 port & changeable battery then I’ll be shopping for a different brand. Does anyone have a great recommendation for something close to the note 3.

  26. Trace

    10/29/2015 at 4:46 am

    I got a adaptor for a micro sd card for my Samsung s6 so that problem is solved easy :)

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