Samsung Galaxy S6- The King ‘Edge’ing to a victory!!
Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona- it’s that time of the year where we witness big announcements pertaining to mobile computing and this year was no different. The top tier manufacturers want to set the records straight and are grappling against each other to claim the coveted spot of being the “Top smartphone manufacturer”. Samsung was one of the OEMs that launched its most awaited flagships for the first half of the year at the MWC and boy have they made a comeback!
One of the basics of brand-building stresses immensely on not just listening to customers’ feedback but to implement their demands in the subsequent iterations. Samsung has done exactly that, and it was only after a lot of hue, cry, outrage and a boycott from their loyal fans. They have put their past behind and have come out with the devices to beat in 2015. Samsung launched 2 devices at the MWC, viz. the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge. Both devices sport identical internals but the Galaxy S6 edge is a design marvel. It’s been a rarity to include Samsung and design in the same page but the latest iteration has changed it all and the latest Samsung flagship is stunning and this is with a particular reference to the Galaxy S6 edge.
It has been a norm for brands to seek “inspiration” from each other’s offering but most adaptations seem to be more of misfits than enhancements. The Galaxy S6 has refrained from such a conventional reprimand and has brought in elements from other devices which have fallen in place just magnificently. The device looks extremely well-made with use of premium materials such as Glass and metal on the front and rear, aluminum on the edges and an excellent paint job that adds to the glitter of the device making it more of a jewel than a mere smartphone in your hands. This is not to say that the device looks a lot different from its predecessor, but the changes that have been incorporated are significant and at times subtle, yet they seem to add to the overall experience manifold!
Hardware has been Samsung’s forte and they never cease to disappoint us here. There are several inclusions which Samsung can take pride by calling it a segment/category first. The device is equipped world’s first 14nm 64 bit octa-core mobile processor aiding superior performance and lower power consumption. The device ships with three gigabytes of RAM, with a first ever implementation of LPDDR4, UFS 2.0 flash memory propelling the memory speeds to unprecedented levels in a smartphone. It comes power packed with a QUAD HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels making the display extremely sharp at 577 pixels per inch. As we all know all of this doesn’t matter one bit if they don’t translate to user experience. This time Samsung has just not pushed the throttle on the hardware front; the user interface built on top of Google’s Android 5.0.2 is so light and snappy that you are challenged to even spot a hint of lag. The optics of the device is not left far behind- the device comes equipped with a 16 megapixel Sony Sensor with a 1.9F aperture on the rear and a 5 megapixel selfie shooter. The rear camera is also equipped with optical image stabilization to ensure that the occasional shakes and jitters don’t ruin the perfect shot you are trying to capture. We can continue to speak stats, but the underlying fact remains the same- this is a top shelf device and undoubtedly the device to beat this year.
But what caught the eye during the event was the Galaxy S6 edge, which was a step forward from the Galaxy Note edge where Samsung demoed flexible/edged display concept in a device available for public consumption. The dual edged display has been in the news for some time now and the audience at the MWC were able to witness it in flesh and blood. Most of these concepts either don’t see the light of the day or do not get implemented in a pragmatic fashion. But in case of the Galaxy S6 edge its something that needs to be seen to be believed. If you had observed Samsung devices since the first galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy S6 edge may make you question if it were the same company that has come up with this device. The Galaxy S6 edge sports the exact same internals of its veteran brother the Galaxy S6. But the youngster can definitely give the veteran a tip or two on grabbing eyeballs. As previously stated, if a concept is commendable then its successful implementation calls for showers of praise. The dual edged display in the Galaxy S6 edge is again a first of its kind in a smartphone. Kudos to its successful implementation. We wouldn’t be wrong to say that the Galaxy S6 edge, despite being a limited edition device, may run out of stock rather quickly considering how attractive it looks. Overall the margin heavy flagships from Samsung look very attractive, much to the satisfaction of its fans, loyalists and critics.
One disappointment that I had as a Samsung fan was the fact that the company decided to do away with the option of expandable storage and removable battery. They may not be deal breakers but for ardent Samsung loyalists, that was something we expected to be a part of the Samsung lineage in the times to come. The device does come with multiple storage options as well as wireless and fast charge capabilities to make good the loss, but it would be hard to deny the fact that expandable storage and removable batteries would be missed.
Now to the most important question- Is 2015 the year for Samsung to reclaim its lost Glory? The answer inclines more towards a Yes, if we were to be modest and a “certain Yes” if we were to be honest (20 million preorders from US carriers). One major point to note here is that Samsung’s sister concerns are the major suppliers of internals to this device thereby making it cheaper to produce compared to competition. Most importantly the chipsets are going to be supplied by Samsung’s semiconductors unit contrary to using QUALCOMM’s chipsets in the past, leading to greater revenue to the Samsung group. Overall, this year points strongly towards a Samsung surge, after two years of dismal profits. 2015 is going to be the year of redemption for Samsung, if they are sensible with their pricing!