Everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S6
After countless leaks, endless rumours and much fanfare, the Samsung Galaxy S6 has now been officially unveiled, with the eagerly awaited handset shaping up as a true powerhouse of the smartphone space.
Set to be one of the major talking points on the 2015 tech calendar, the Galaxy S6 release date has been confirmed as April 10 at the device's MWC 2015 launch event. That means there are just weeks left to get saving the pennies for this smartphone monster.
Announced just hours after HTC took the lid off its own flagship, the HTC One M9, which also beats the Galaxy S6 to the shelves with a March 31 release date, the S6 was forced to share the launch stage with an innovative sibling, the Galaxy S6 Edge.
Both devices feature impressive specs sheets with 64-bit, octa-core Exynos 7420 processors lining up alongside 16-megapixel, OIS-enhanced rear-mounted cameras and 5.1-inch, 2K displays. The only major difference is that the Edge's panel, as its name suggests, has been curved down over both the phone's left and right hand edges.
If you're after more in-depth analysis of the phones, why not read our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S6 review and our first look Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge review.
Although Samsung has confirmed the full Galaxy S6 specs sheet and launch plans, there are still a few missing details. The biggest of these is how much the handset will set you back.
We will continue to update this page with all the latest on the Galaxy S6, including formalised pricing, the best deals and how you can get the most out of the device. Bookmark it now to keep on top of all things S6.
Watch our Galaxy S6 hands-on video
...and now watch our Galaxy S6 Edge hands-on video
Samsung Galaxy S6 Release Date: When and where can I buy one?
Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy S6 release date, and you're not going to have to wait long to get your mitts on the device. The S6 will hit UK retailers on April 10. That's a couple of weeks later than early rumours had suggested, and over a week after the release date of one of its biggest rivals, the HTC One M9.
It's still, not long to wait for a shiny new S6, however, and you will have plenty of purchasing options once the handset lands.
With five Samsung Galaxy S6 colours to be available at launch - 'White Pearl’, ‘Black Sapphire’, ‘Gold Platinum’, 'Blue Topaz' and ‘Green Emerald’ - the handset will also be offered in three storage options, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB. This Apple-esque approach has been forced upon Samsung by the phone's lack of microSD expansion.
Ensuring this 15 strong combination of phones is readily available from day one, a number of UK networks and retailers have already confirmed plans to stock the device. Among the early adopters will be Three, EE and O2. A full list of where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 can be found by following the link.
While this early April release could see the S6 land within weeks, or even days, of many MWC unveiled devices, Samsung has little to fear from mid-market wannabes. What could trouble the Korean manufacturer, however, is that there is another major tech launch expected for the early part of April - namely the Apple Watch release date.
If the Apple Watch was to land during the same week as the S6, the publicity heaped on Apple's first wearable would be sure to detract from the phone's introduction to market. We will soon know if this is to be the case, with Apple holding an Apple Watch launch event next Monday, March 9.
Of course the S6 release date was only part of the phone's big reveal. You want to know what the phone's like, right? Here goes...
Related: Galaxy S6 vs S6 Edge – What's different?
Samsung Galaxy S6 Design: What does it look like?
Although echoing a number of design traits from the existing Galaxy S5, the Galaxy S6 is a handset with slimmer edges and more rounded corners. It also pairs these new metal edges with a Gorilla Glass rear.
Lining up at just 6.8mm thick and 138g in weight, the S6 is undoubtedly a good looking phone. This could be down to how similar the device looks to the iPhone 6, however. With its soft curves and metal framing, it appears the S6 has taken more than a bit of 'inspiration' from Apple's leading handset.
While a premium looking phone, there are still some trademark licks of Samsung on this phone. By which we mean at times it can look a bit cheap and tacky. The S6's colour schemes are garish at best. The phone's highly reflective rear cheapens its overall look and is prone to smudges and fingerprints.
Above we see one side of the new Galaxy S6, which has a curved edge made of metal. Look closely and you can see the bevelled edge that's reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and, of course, the iPhone.
This next photo shows the bottom edge and you can more clearly see the rounded-edge design.
This next shot shows the two different versions, the S6 and S6 Edge, side by side.
Other design points of note on the S6 include its protruding rear camera and enlarged physical home button which plans host to a newly improved fingerprint scanner. This second-generation sensor more closely resembles Apple's TouchID feature, with finger swipes replaced by simple presses.
Related: Galaxy S6 vs HTC One M9
Samsung Galaxy S6 Price: How much does it cost?
While the Samsung Galaxy S6 price is not expected to be announced until just days before the phone lines up on retailers' shelves, early leaks have suggested the handset won't come cheap.
According to recent leaks, surfaced via AndroidPit, the 32GB S6 will set wannabe owners back €749 (£565), while the 64GB and 128GB versions will reportedly cost €849 (£640) and €949 (£715) respectively.
These premium prices are unsurprising. At launch the Samsung Galaxy S5 cost £579 on a SIM-free basis. As such, we can’t see the Samsung Galaxy S6 price starting off much lower than the £600 mark.
Related: iPhone 6S release date, rumours, news, specs and price
Samsung Galaxy S6 Screen: What resolution is it?
Ever since Samsung's Korean rival, LG, bestowed a 2560 x 1440 QHD (2K) display upon the LG G3, it's been suggested the S6 will follow suit. Sure enough, the Galaxy S6 has a 5.1-inch QHD screen, which results in an eye-searing 577ppi (pixels per inch) pixel density. Sharp, in other words.
The Galaxy S6 screen is AMOLED, as expected. Almost all Samsung's top-end phones use AMOLED, so it would have been a huge departure for the company to switch back to LCD.
Then there's the Galaxy S6 Edge, which has a curved screen on both sides rather than just one side as on the Galaxy Note Edge. Take a look at the leaked photo above for an idea of what it looks like.
Samsung's screens are a traditional strong point, so expect the Galaxy S6's screen to be a stunner.
Related: LG G4 release date, rumours, news, specs and price
Samsung Galaxy S6 News: What else do I need to know?
Ahead of the phone's official launch, Samsung released a number of Galaxy S6 teaser videos. As well as giving the first official look at its forthcoming phone, these videos offered hints at what the S6 might have in store. Here's what it all meant and some of the things we found out at the launch...
Samsung Pay contactless payments
With Apple Pay already out there and growing, Samsung has responded by purchasing an established name in contactless payments, LoopPay, and announcing its own Samsung Pay.
LoopPay claims to be available at a much larger proportion of US-based retailers, up to 95 per cent. Read our What is LoopPay? guide for more on the company and its technology.
The Galaxy S6 has a non-removable rear and wireless charging
The Samsung Galaxy S6 features a non-removeable back panel that houses a 2,550mAh Lithium-Ion battery capable of wireless charging, while the S6 Edge battery is 2,600mAh.
"With our upcoming Galaxy smartphones, users will be able to enter a new wireless world like never before," a Samsung spokesperson stated in a recent blog post.
And if you're worried about that battery being down a little on the Galaxy S5's 2,800mAh cell, fear not – improved quick charge options mean the S6 can be pumped up to full power 150 per cent faster than its predecessor.
Sadder news is that, of course, the non-removable back means there's no microSD slot for expanding storage.
Related: Galaxy Note 5 release date, rumours, news, specs and price
The Galaxy S6 was codenamed "Project Zero" because it's a fresh start
Design is just one of a number of big changes that the leading smartphone manufacturer has bestowed upon the Galaxy S6.
With the Galaxy S6 reportedly pieced together inside Samsung HQ under the codename "Project Zero", it's the most comprehensive update yet to the company's flagship phone line.
According to reports by SamMobile, unnamed insiders have stated: "Samsung is developing its next-generation flagship device from scratch, with an entirely new vision."
They added: "Project Zero is an indication that Samsung is trying to achieve something unique and different with the Galaxy S6."
TouchWiz is a touch less bloated
Samsung's been tinkering with more than just the hardware. It's no surprise that the Galaxy S6 is running the Android 5.0 Lollipop OS, but what is refreshing is the look of Samsung's heavily reworked TouchWiz UI.
TouchWiz has been much criticised for its bloatware and heavy-handedness, and Samsung seems to have listened to the feedback. The company's latest Android skin looks far sleeker and stripped of unnecessary bloatware. About time, too.
There will be a GearVR headset for the S6
Virtual reality fans rejoice, there will be a version of the GearVR released for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Simply slot your S6 into the headset and enjoy the wonders of VR, with that 5.1-inch QHD screen becoming the window upon a virtual reality.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Gear VR review
Samsung Galaxy S6 Specs: What processor does it use?
The Galaxy S6 specs have been a hot topic of discussion, because Samsung isn't using a Qualcomm processor at all this time around. Here's what we've heard so far.
The Galaxy S6 specs won't include the Snapdragon 810
Unlike many of its rivals, the S6 has sidestepped the jump to Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 810 processor. Instead, Samsung will forge its own path with the introduction of a new own-brand chip.
Although neither party had officially confirmed the move, Qualcomm execs recently teased the switch in an earnings call. Lowering its annual profits forecast, the chipset maker revealed “expectations that our Snapdragon 810 processor will not be in the upcoming design cycle of a large customer’s flagship device.”
The Galaxy S6 instead has a 64-bit, octa-core Exynos 7420 chipset. This chip pairs a 2.1GHz quac-core cluster with a 1.5GHz quad-core set, backed up by 3GB of DDR4 RAM.
Related: HTC One M9 hands-on
Samsung's chip is a new 14nm SoC
The move to a bespoke chip could be a shrewd one, as it seems Samsung has progressed its chip design. According to the manufacturer, its 14nm processor features a 20 per cent performance boost over traditional 20nm chips. What's more, power consumption is said to be 35 per cent less than its rivals.
According to leaks, the Exynos 7420 and Snapdragon 810 are set to be closely matched. In a recent AnTuTu benchmark test, the Snapdragon 810 racked up a record-breaking score of 61,499 compared with the leaked Exynos 7420's score of 60,978.
We'll get the Exynos benchmarked as soon as we can, and get back to you.
Camera improvements
The Galaxy S6 has had an imaging overhaul, with a 16-megapixel, OIS-enhanced primary camera combining with a 5-megapixel snapper up front. Both are claimed to offer improved low-light shooting over the S5's cameras.
Stay tuned to TrustedReviews for all the latest on the Galaxy S6.