Connect with us

Android

Galaxy S6 Release: 10 Things Buyers Need to Know Now

Published

on

The Samsung Galaxy S6 release date has come and gone for most US carriers and that means that the two flagship devices are now on shelves, beckoning those in need of a new smartphone. While the initial release date has passed, the Galaxy S6 release is still alive and well and today we want to take a look at a few things prospective Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge buyers need to know now.

In early March, Samsung and its US carrier partners unveiled two new Galaxy flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and the curved Galaxy S6 Edge. The two devices replace the Galaxy S5 as the company’s most visible smartphone presence they join the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge on shelves.

These two devices are packed with new features. They feature a Quad HD display (the Galaxy S6 Edge’s display wraps around the sides of the phone), a new upgraded 16MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization, a new version of TouchWiz over Android 5.0 Lollipop, a speedy Exynos 7 octa-core processor, and a new design language that features metal and glass. In the United States, these two devices are available on a number of carriers including AT&T and Verizon.

The curved edges of the Galaxy S6 Edge look great.

The curved edges of the Galaxy S6 Edge look great.

Last week, after several weeks of anticipation, US carriers started shipping out pre-orders and finally released them onto shelves. And while the initial Galaxy S6 release date for US buyers is now over and done, the Galaxy S6 release is still not finished.

We know that there are a lot of people that opted not to put in a Galaxy S6 pre-order. We also know that there are plenty of consumers that skipped the Galaxy S6 release date. Point is, there are still plenty of people out there interested in buying the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge and we want to help.

Today, we want to rundown some of the things we think prospective Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge buyers need to know post-Galaxy S6 release date. These details will help you in your quest to buy the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge or another smartphone of your choosing.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Impressions

We have both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge in for testing. While we don’t have our full reviews up yet, we have gone ahead and offered some initial impressions of both devices.

Samsung nails it with the Galaxy S6 Edge.

Samsung knocks it out of the park with the Galaxy S6 Edge.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, the curved version of the Galaxy S6, comes with an $100 premium which puts lots of people in a tough position. $299.99 on-contract for a new smartphone is a ton and it means that you need to do your homework. Our initial Galaxy S6 Edge impressions are a great place to start though we advise you to gather a ton of feedback if you’re on the fence.

iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy S6 Impressions

We’ve also been taking a look at the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the regular model that is a more affordable $199.99 on-contract. Instead of straightforward impressions, we decided to take a look at it next to the iPhone 6, Apple’s 4.7-inch model. These are two of the top smartphones on the market and two devices that you should definitely consider before buying your next device.

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge design is solid.

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge design is solid.

We’re working hard on our full Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S6 reviews and we should have them up in the near future. In the meantime, take a look at our first impressions and hunt around for critiques from other places and users. Just because the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are out doesn’t mean that you need to rush into a decision. They aren’t going anywhere.

One Reason Not to Buy the Galaxy S6 Right Now

There are plenty of reasons to consider making the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge your next phone. There’s also one really good reason why we think you might want to wait a few days before buying either one of them.

Last year, the Samsung Galaxy S5 was in a dogfight. The iPhone was once again its top rival though we saw increased competition from Android manufacturers. While there were a ton of Android phones released in 2014, one of the top models was the LG G3, a device that’s still on shelves. The LG G3 followed in the footsteps of the LG G2, a surprise hit from 2012.

The LG G3 was one of our favorite Android phones and a solid competitor to the Galaxy S5. And that’s why we’re extremely excited to see what LG’s got cooked up for us this year.

lg-g4-leak7

LG’s confirmed an LG G4 launch date for April 28th. That means that we have exactly two weeks to go before the company unveils its brand new flagship. We’ve already seen some credible rumors emerge but that’s when the device will be made official and when we’ll probably hear all about its upcoming release date.

From the look of things, the LG G4 is poised to be a solid contender for the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge and it’s a device that we think you should wait for. If you can.

Gold Galaxy S6 Release Dates

The gold Galaxy S6 release is ongoing and it’s still a mess. We’ve been digging around and here’s what we’ve found, based on carrier.

AT&T: At the moment, the carrier is only selling the 64GB version of the regular Galaxy S6 and the 64GB version of the Galaxy S6 Edge. All of its other gold models are listed as coming soon. Amazon is currently taking pre-orders for all AT&T’s gold Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge models and it has released dates pegged for April 27th.

Sprint: The carrier isn’t selling the gold Galaxy S6 through its online store and Amazon’s gold Sprint Galaxy S6 models, which were available to pre-order a few days ago, have vanished without a trace. This is what’s in their place.

T-Mobile: The UnCarrier continues to be a crowd pleaser. T-Mobile is currently taking orders on all six gold models though a few of them are currently on back order. The carrier has laid out all of its shipping times on one neat page that you can revisit during your quest.

Verizon: Verizon is taking orders for all versions of its gold Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Unfortunately, shipping dates are all over the place and range from early May to the middle of May. We expect Verizon to get its shipments out ahead of these dates and they haven’t slipped since the devices were released. We still recommend keeping an eye out.

Some Sell Outs But There’s No Need to Panic

We’re starting to see some stock shortages affect the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. It’s not a complete wipeout but some models are a little harder to find than others. At least for right now.

Best Buy is currently sold out of the white AT&T Galaxy S6 32GB online. Amazon is sold out of the white AT&T Galaxy S6 32GB. And we know that some physical retail locations are currently sold out of some devices. We recently were in a Verizon Wireless location in Ohio and they were completely sold out of the white Galaxy S6.

See notifications and more on the Galaxy S6 Edge display.

Most black and white models are in stock though and we should start to see these other devices gradually come back into stock as we push away from the initial Galaxy S6 release date. Point is, there’s no need to panic and rush into anything. Most of you should be able to walk into a store and walk out with what you want. If you can’t find the model you’re looking for at a particular location, try another retailer.

We’ve seen a number of other retail locations start selling the Galaxy S6 including Staples. You have tons of options at your disposal, use them.

Galaxy S6 Teardown

iFixit has finished up its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge teardowns and the results aren’t good. The publication has given the Galaxy S6 Edge a three out of ten in terms of repairability. 10 represents the best score because it means that the device is easy to fix. The Galaxy S6 didn’t fare much better scoring a four out of ten. We point these out for two reasons.

One, it means that DIY fixes are going to be very, very difficult. We’re also pointing these out so that you don’t just skip over insurance when you’re picking up your new phone. You also might want to think about picking up a case to protect the glass.

Tons of Galaxy S6 Accessories

Just a reminder. You have tons and tons of options when it comes to Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge accessories. There are tons of cases available, tons of compatible docks, and tons of wireless chargers. Those are just a few examples.

Galaxy S6 Cases - 2

We bring this up because sometimes people get a little hasty with their accessory purchases. Instead of an impulse buy, we recommend getting familiar with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge accessory ecosystem. There are tons of options, a lot of which are terrible, but if you do your homework you, your phone and your bank account will be in much better shape.

Galaxy S6 Deals Are Scarce

We still haven’t seen any major Samsung Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge price cuts and we probably won’t see any for awhile. These devices are two of the most popular smartphones on earth right now and there’s no really incentive for retailers and carriers. At least for the moment.

While we haven’t seen any price cuts, there are some Galaxy S6 deals. Best Buy and carriers like Verizon are offering trade-ins to those looking to replace their old device with the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge. Make sure you shop around before you hand over your old phone though.

Best Buy is also offering a free wireless charging pad ($60) to those that buy the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge online. The offer is not valid in stores so don’t harass people there.

Galaxy S5 Price Cuts

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge have replaced the Galaxy S5 as the company’s flagship options but they haven’t replaced the Galaxy S5 completely.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 isn’t getting any younger but it’s still a solid choice for those that are looking for a new Samsung phone but don’t necessarily care about all of the bells and whistles. And in the wake of the Galaxy S6 release date, we’ve seen carriers drop their Galaxy S5 prices.

Galaxy-S5-Review-16-620x413

For instance, AT&T is currently offering the Galaxy S5 for free on a new two-year contract. Verizon is asking for $100 on-contract. The Samsung Galaxy S5, at these prices, is worth a look. Just to be safe.

MetroPCS Galaxy S6 Release Date MIA

There are still a couple of Galaxy S6 release dates missing in action. The MetroPCS Galaxy S6 release date and the Cricket Galaxy S6 release date are MIA right now and we’re still not sure when they are going to release their new flagships.

Our best guess is that they, along with Samsung, are waiting for the major carrier release to smooth out before releasing their own models. If these devices were released outside of April we’d be surprised.

Both are still coming, it’s just a matter of when at this point. Keep an eye out. We will too.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Dylan Burnhan

    04/14/2015 at 9:16 pm

    My gold Galaxy S6 edge 64gb arrived at my home today. I was told that this is one of the first ones delivered in the country

    • Robert

      04/20/2015 at 5:00 am

      Congrts
      Lucky you

  2. Tahir Khan

    04/15/2015 at 7:58 am

    Cooper . true that Miguel `s posting is impossible, yesterday I got a great Cadillac sincee geting a check for $7510 this past 5 weeks and even more than $10k last-munth . without a question it is the easiest-job I have ever had . I started this three months/ago and immediately earned more than $76… per-hour . go to the website. find more information http://www.easyhomejob.ml

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.