Connect with us

Editorials

25 Galaxy S6 Features You’ll Love

Published

on

The Samsung Galaxy S6 features and Galaxy S6 Edge features are the real reason you will upgrade and jump to the new Samsung smartphones instead of waiting for an iPhone 6S. Here are the most exciting Galaxy S6 features that Samsung shared on stage and hidden away in press information. While you wait for the Galaxy S6 release you can check out these awesome new features.

Some of these come from the Galaxy S6 specs and there are definitely some missing features like no Galaxy S6 Micro-SD card and no user-replaceable battery that frustrates users, but Samsung is counting on new upgrades and options to fill in these gaps and convince people to buy the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.

Two major features are an upgraded Galaxy S6 design that features Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and back of the device and metal edges that deliver a noticeable upgrade from the plastic designs of the earlier models. The other major upgrade is Android Lollipop with a focused skin that removes the excess Samsung is known for and replaces it with a minimal skin that is closer to Android 5.0 Lollipop than it is to a traditional Samsung overlay.

Samsung is making major changes to the Galaxy S6 software, design and features that may not agree with every user out there. If you are upset about the lack of a Micro SD card in the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge you should still check out these Galaxy S6 features you’ll love to see why you might not want to swear off Samsung just yet.

Galaxy S6 Edge & Galaxy S6 Features You’ll Love

Most of these work on both phones, but there are some exclusive Galaxy S6 Edge features that will stand out and might convince shoppers that the premium device is worth a higher price. Here are the most exciting and most important Galaxy S6 features you will actually use on these two new Samsung smartphones.

Stunning Displays

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge both feature a 2k Display with 577 pixels per inch. The 2,560 x 1,440 resolution allows your phone to show a high-resolution image in incredible detail. The screen is Super AMOLED, which traditionally delivers a beautiful range of colors and dark blacks that look better than a traditional LCD. The Galaxy S6 Edge features two curved edges that play into other features, and look incredible.

Fast Internal Storage

There is no Micro SD card, but you can buy the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in three storage options and it uses fast UFS 2.0 storage. You can buy the Galaxy S6 in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB options. All of these use the fast embedded memory that works with the new 3GB LPDDR4 RAM and processor to deliver a fast and responsive smartphone. If you need more storage, you can count on USB OTG options.

Super-Bright Galaxy S6 Display

Galaxy-S6-10

The Galaxy S6 display isn’t just using a high-resolution panel that delivers incredible colors and blacks, but it is also ready to use when you are out in the sun. Samsung shares that the phone offers enhanced outdoor visibility thanks to a brighter display. The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge displays offer a 600cd/mm brightness that lets you see the display better in the sun. The iPhone 6 display is rated to 500cd/mm and the Galaxy S5 at 480cd/mm.

Galaxy S6 Edge Notifications

The edge of the Galaxy S6 Edge glows with notifications so you know who is calling and see other notifications without picking up the phone. You can assign a color to a caller so you know who is calling, and other notifications should offer similar options to see what is happening with a glance at the Galaxy S6 Edge, even when it is face down.

Quick Reply From Back

If you want to avoid taking a call that you get a notification for, you can use the heart rate sensor to send a quick reply. Place your finger on the heart rate sensor to send a canned reply to the caller without even grabbing the phone to choose an option.

Gorilla Glass 4

The front and back of the Galaxy S6 is covered in Gorilla Glass 4. This new Gorilla Glass is designed specifically to prevent breaking displays when dropped to rough surfaces like concrete or asphalt. The Gorilla Glass 4 display survives drops up to 80% of the time according to Corning. With a glass display and glass back, this is an especially important Galaxy S6 feature.

Brighter Galaxy S6 Photos

Samsung delivers a new 16MP camera on the back and a 5MP sensor on the front, but the real star of this upgrade is the f/1.9 aperture. This is a fancy way of saying that both cameras let more light in when you take a picture. This leads to better photos in low light and in good light it can help create the cool effect where the background is blurred behind your subject.

The Galaxy S6 camera offers a fast double tap shortcut and brighter photos.

The Galaxy S6 camera offers a fast double tap shortcut and brighter photos.

Take Galaxy S6 Photos Fast

The Samsung Galaxy S6 lets the owner double press the home button to quickly open the camera. This happens even if the display is off or if the phone is locked with a passcode. Without fumbling for a power button and then swiping you can quickly open the camera and start taking photos. Samsung says this happens in just 0.7 seconds, which is pretty darn fast.

Samsung Pay In More Places

The Galaxy S6 supports making mobile payments with NFC like the iPhone 6 and most Android smartphones, but it does much more. Samsung includes the ability to make payments with wireless magnetic card data. The service called Samsung Pay is accepted in 90% of retail locations, which is much broader than NFC payment support. It looks like this may only work with specific banks, but with a secure, fingerprint connected solution it is a feature many users will love when it arrives this summer.

Optical Image Stabilization

The Galaxy S6 Edge will both offer Optical Image Stabilization, OIS,  which will help users take better looking photos in low light. The OIS feature lets a lens move inside to remove the blurry result that comes from small movements in your hands. This works when taking a landscape photo, but it won’t magically slow down a pet or a child.

Faster Charging

The Galaxy S6 charges fast.

The Galaxy S6 charges fast.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 can charge fast when plugged into a charging cable. This can deliver four hours of battery life from just 10 minutes of charging. This is an important feature since Samsung does not let users remove the back to replace the battery on the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge. Samsung also boasted that the Galaxy S6 can charge to full faster than the iPhone 6.

Galaxy S6 Wireless Charging

Samsung finally includes wireless charging in the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. On earlier models this feature came with an expensive case upgrade option that many users skipped. Now Samsung builds in support for wireless charging out of the box. Unlike some phones that only support one form of wireless charging the Galaxy S6 wireless charging works on WPC and PMA chargers – which means almost any wireless charger you find will support it. That includes Starbucks wireless chargers.

Heart Rate Sensor

Samsung includes S Health 4.0 on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. This combines with the heart rate sensor on the back of the phone to let users track their heart rate and stress levels. It may also help track blood oxygen levels like the Note 4, but we are waiting on confirmation of this feature.

Metal Design

The new Galaxy S6 metal design is an amazing upgrade that we cannot wait to hold. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 uses a metal frame that delivers a vastly superior look and feel to the Galaxy S5. The new metal frame and four-color options will help set the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge apart from the old Galaxy S5 and it is a great feature even if it comes at the cost of a Micro SD card and user-replaceable battery.

Android Lollipop Without Samsung Bloat

Samsung slims down the Galaxy S6 software.

Samsung slims down the Galaxy S6 software.

The Galaxy S6 software runs on Android Lollipop, which is a version of Android 5.0. This is the latest Android software available, and for the first time Samsung is not making major changes. The Galaxy S6 software embraces a more minimal design that puts the features and functions you want to use front and center. This means less clutter in apps and no scrolling in the camera app to get to the important features. Overall Samsung’s changes are toned down, which solves a major consumer complaint.

Auto Live HDR

The front and rear cameras support Auto Live HDR. This uses camera technology to show you what the HDR photo will look like before you press the shutter. In poor light conditions HDR photos can turn an unusable photo into a great one, but without a live view of the result it is hard to line up. With Auto Live HDR the rear camera and front camera can show you what the HDR photo will look like before you press the shutter.

Remote Control

The Galaxy S6 features an IR blaster that will pair with software on your Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge to control your home entertainment devices like a HDTV, Xbox One, DVR, cable box and sound system. You can also set it up to control devices at a friend’s house, a bar, at work and many other places so you are always in control.

IR White Balance Detection

If you’ve ever taken a photo where the whites are yellow or blue it is because the white balance is off. The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge use IR White Balance detection to detect the light around and adjust the camera to capture more true colors and crisper images.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Accessories

Samsung will sell several Galaxy S6 accessories and Galaxy S6 Edge accessories including a new Clear View S View case that lets you see the screen through a cover that covers the full screen and back. There are also other options including a wallet case, a traditional S View case and several clear and colored case options so that you can protect and customize the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

There are a number of first-party Galaxy S6 cases and accessories.

There are a number of first-party Galaxy S6 cases and accessories.

Galaxy S6 Themes

If you like to customize the look of your phone you can use a theme to change the look of the Android software on the Galaxy S6 without the hassles of rooting or installing a rom or a new launcher. We’re waiting on more details about this feature, but on other Android devices this changes system colors to match a background image and other small tweaks.

Galaxy S6 Private Mode

The Samsung Galaxy S6 will continue to offer the Private Mode that debuted on the Galaxy S5 last year. With this option you can hide some of your information in a private area that you need to unlock with your fingerprint sensor. With an improved fingerprint reader we expect this will be easier to use and will see wider adoption.

Ultra Power Saving Mode

When you really need to make sure your Galaxy S6 battery lasts a long time you’ll turn on Ultra Power Saving Mode. This feature came on the Galaxy S5, but it is back on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. It disables functions you don’t ned and uses a gray-scale screen to turn hours of standard battery life into a full day or longer.

Galaxy S6 Gifts

Samsung includes many extras with your purchase of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. This includes a free Fleksy keyboard, 115GB of OneDrive storage for two years, OneNote and other free apps and services. We are waiting for the full list, but you can expect to see free subscriptions to online newspapers and magazines as well as other free apps.

Better Galaxy S6 Fingerprint Sensor

The Samsung Galaxy S6 delivers a new and improved fingerprint sensor that is built-in to the home button. This lets users place a finger on top of the home button to log in or make a mobile payment. The Galaxy S5 and Note 4 require a swipe at the right speed and angle that makes one-hand use almost impossible. This new sensor will make it easier to unlock the phone, make mobile payments and use apps that tie into the fingerprint sensor.

Galaxy S6 Gear VR

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge now work with a new Gear VR Innovator edition that connects to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge to deliver an immersive virtual reality experience. Here’s what’s new in the Galaxy S6 Gear VR version.

  • Extraordinary Entertainment: Optimized for both the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, and its 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, Gear VR Innovator Edition lets users engage with high resolution movies, TV shows, VOD services and photos like never before. With reduced pixilation and a wide field-of-view, users receive a better virtual reality experience with longer lasting usage time.
  • Improved Comfort: The 15% reduction in size makes Samsung Gear VR a more comfortable to wear. Ergonomically redesigned straps give better weight balance, while mechanical ventilation supports an extended VR experience.
  • High Quality Performance: Greater computing power and improved graphics quality enable users to explore the best virtual reality adventures.
  • USB Compatibility: The Gear VR can now be powered with its USB port for extended usage time.
  • Robust Ecosystem: Gear VR content is available for download via the Oculus Store. Users have an extensive selection of optimized, localized virtual reality content from top-tier creators including thrilling VR games and 360 degree including a new performance from Cirque du Soleil, Kurios.

We’re still waiting to find out when the Gear VR Innovator release date is and for an official price.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Ron Diggs

    03/01/2015 at 8:28 pm

    I don’t think the new features compensate for the loss of the replaceable battery and lack of SD card support. That makes the S6 like a IPhone 6 by a different name .. sad..

    • momo90

      05/13/2015 at 2:19 pm

      Cloud storage is where it’s at now. And battery life is great. I’m a heavy user ad I usually have 15-25 % left by the end of the day . Theyear just removed some extra stjdf . The beauty, functionality and fluidity of the phone totally offsets the lack of a removable battery and SD card. I got the 64gb version and so far besides os I haven’t used much of it. With time I’ll find out if it slows down

      • sdfsdf

        06/15/2015 at 7:51 am

        Cloud storage means expensive data plan on most carriers. SD storage is cheap and free to access

  2. Vince

    03/04/2015 at 4:25 am

    If it’s coated in glass, it will shatter. Doesn’t matter if it’s Gorilla Glass 97! Stupid design.

  3. Jed

    03/25/2015 at 9:42 pm

    I think it is an amazing phone sd cards were slowing the phone down the ddr4 memory is very impressive the octacore 14 nm processor is unbeatable if you don’t get this phone over a battery or the sd card slot you’ll be stuck buying crap phones cause technology has moved on

  4. tommy

    05/15/2015 at 7:40 am

    it wont shatter if you dont drop it, and even if you do drop it you would have to drop it from a pretty high point. just take care of your stuff. this phone looks awesome.

  5. Mike

    01/02/2016 at 10:18 pm

    I think the comments from Ron and Vince are totally inappropriate, the S6 has 32 or 64 gb of storage, that’s almost twice the amount of storage you get from most other phones and it is way faster memory. As for the glass, I have seen more people with a shattered iPhone screen then any other brand out there and people still buy these over priced cell phones. I have had a Samsung Galaxy for 5 years now and even though I dropped it a few times I never cracked the screen. This new S6 is no different, it’s made by Samsung and it’s sturdy.

  6. Testtest

    03/24/2016 at 6:01 am

    The S6 is a flopmodel

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.