Review of Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Everything you need to know about a smartphone! Samsung Galaxy S6 - Specifications Galaxy s6 technical specifications

South Korean manufacturer smartphones will undoubtedly continue to produce flagship models of the Galaxy S line in 2015. The Galaxy S6 has been featured in various rumors for months now, and we already know something about its hardware specifications and the timing of its announcement. In any case, the S6 model is already in the works and in the coming months there will be a lot of information from various sources.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 has been on the market for about six months now, so the media, analysts and fans are already turning their attention towards the Galaxy S6. Based on previous presentations and leaks that have surfaced online in various articles, we hope to get an idea of ​​what we can expect from the unannounced flagship.

Over the course of a couple of years, we have already gotten used to the fact that Samsung introduces its Galaxy S smartphones in February or March. We also expect the Galaxy S6 to be unveiled in the first quarter of 2015 - probably either in February at MWC 2015, or maybe at CES 2015 in January (but there's very little chance of that). In any case, sales could begin in March next year.

In recent news, we said that Samsung is working on the flagship Galaxy S6 literally from scratch. The smartphone is being developed as part of Project Zero, which is not surprising, since sales of smartphones have dropped significantly compared to its predecessors, and the company clearly does not intend to lose fans.

At the beginning of this year, there were already rumors that the Galaxy S5 will receive a display with Quad HD resolution. Samsung considered that a Full HD screen would be sufficient for a flagship, and therefore in 2015 we should definitely expect an increase in the screen resolution of the S6 to QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels). This is because already in the second half of this year an unspoken standard for flagship smartphones was established. Again we will see a Super AMOLED screen, but its diagonal should grow to at least 5.2 inches, but no more, so as not to threaten sales Galaxy Note 4. By the way, Samsung is quite capable of fitting a slightly larger display into Galaxy sizes S5 due to narrower frames.

We all know that Google recently introduced a new version of its operating system - Android 5.0 Lollipop with built-in support for 64-bit processors. There are already rumors that the Galaxy S6 will run on a self-produced processor – Exynos 7420, and the second flagship model will already have Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processors (depending on the sales market). Yes, let's clarify about the processors - the Exynos 7420 will have LTE support thanks to the built-in Exynos Modem 333 modem, but the Snapdragon 810 will already be eight-core with four Cortex-A57 and four Cortex-A53 cores, with graphics accelerator Adreno 430 and support for 64-bit computing.

As for the design, this should be the first flagship of the Galaxy S line with a metal body. Enough steps have already been taken to produce affordable premium smartphones. Firstly, this is the Galaxy Alpha with its metal frame, which we also saw on the Galaxy Note 4 phablet. Secondly, a separate premium line has appeared Galaxy smartphones A with metal housings. It's a pity, but this means one thing - we lose access to a replaceable battery.

The Galaxy S6 will “get fatter” due to an increase in memory - the RAM will already be 3GB, and the built-in volume will increase to 128GB. The initial model will have 16GB of internal memory, but is only available in the Asian market, while the international market will have 3 variants: 32, 64 and 128GB. But what about MicroSD card support? I hope Samsung doesn't give up on this.

Samsung is also already setting a new standard for front-facing cameras - it makes sense to wait for a 5-megapixel selfie camera, given that it's already popular trend. As for the main camera, Samsung may limit itself to a 16-megapixel camera, as in the Galaxy Note 4, with optical image stabilization, smart autofocus, support for Ultra HD video recording, as well as the possibility of accelerated recording (slow motion). It looks like low-light shooting will also be improved.

Apple set a new rule in the smartphone market by introducing its iPhone with a fingerprint scanner. Samsung supported the initiative, so the S6 will also have this sensor, and there will also be a heart rate monitor and an ultraviolet sensor, which gives a significant advantage. Perhaps a retinal scanner will also appear, but the chances are slim.

We have already written about the expected exhibition Mobile World Congress 2015, which will show new flagships from Samsung and finally it happened. After several months of wondering what these new devices will look like, the flagships are officially shown to the public. Maybe Samsung Galaxy S6 will be a bestseller this year, and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge claims to have the most non-standard design among Android smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S6- This is the next model (after the S5), which received higher quality body materials, a slightly updated design and finally a metal frame. Now Samsung flagships can be compared with latest iPhone in terms of quality and design.

The S6 received a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED screen (like the S5). Samsung believes that there is no point in making the screen larger on the new flagship, because there is still a series Note smartphones with a large diagonal screen. The resolution has been increased to qHD 2560x1440, like other recent top-end smartphones, such as the Note 4. The metal body is 50% stronger than other smartphones with a metal body, the manufacturers claim. On the front panel there is mechanical button Home and touch Recent Apps and Back.

It can be said that Samsung Galaxy S6 looks like an iPhone, but it's not. Although the frame has also become metal with rounded corners, and the speaker has been moved to the bottom of the smartphone, otherwise the front part is more similar to the previous S5 model, and the back has a new look. The thickness of the device is only 6.8 mm and a possible solution with rounded corners of the metal frame will make it more convenient to use.

You won’t be able to get the battery out of the S6 (without disassembling the device); while previously you could open the cover and change the battery, now it is non-removable. The capacity is 2550 mAh, which is pretty standard for smartphones of this size.

Now wireless charging is not a separate option. The manufacturer promises 4 hours of device operation in just 10 minutes of recharging with an original wireless charger. But you can say goodbye to expanding the memory capacity thanks to microSD cards; there is no slot for flash drives. But the S6 will be available in versions with 64GB and even 128GB, and the very first version will have 32GB of internal memory.

Previously, there were rumors that Samsung was abandoning Qualcomm chips and would produce new flagships only on its processors Exynos. IN Galaxy S6 used 64 bit Exynos octa-core processor and 3 GB random access memory new standard DDR4. Company representatives did not specify what processor is used, but the 14nm architecture suggests that it should be Exynos 7. Samsung claims more efficient work chip, 35% more efficient and 20% faster than Exynos in Note 4.

The rear camera has a resolution of 16MP with optical stabilization. The camera lens has an aperture value of F/1.9, which means more high quality taking pictures in poor lighting. The camera module protrudes noticeably from the back cover. But a tracking autofocus function appeared, similar to SLR cameras. The front camera is 5MP with a wide-angle lens, which is more of a standard these days. On back cover there is also a heart rate sensor, and the central button on the front can scan fingerprints (as in the S5).

The new flagships will, of course, run on a mobile operating system Android 5.0. A new version shell TouchWiz will be lighter than previous versions. Samsung makes a big bet on payment system Samsung Pay , which will compete with Google Wallet and Apple Pay, as well as a partnership with Microsoft to receive a bonus place in the cloud OneDrive storage. By using Samsung Pay And NFC chip, you can make purchases in any place where they serve plastic cards. There is already support for Mastercard and Visa of several large banks. Samsung Pay should launch in the summer in the USA and South Korea.

Now let's talk about Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, which should diversify flagship devices with its unusual alternative design. Screen S6 Edge is now rounded on both sides, on which widgets and program launcher icons can be located, as well as displayed helpful information. "Your friends will think it's really cool," says a Samsung spokesperson. But it’s quite difficult to say how many people will be willing to pay for such a “wow” effect.

Screen Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge like the S6 - Super AMOLED 2560x1440 (qHD) 5.1 inches. CPU Exynos And 3GB DDR4 RAM. Built-in memory 32GB, 64GB or 128GB. The camera is the same as in the S6, 16MP main and 5MP front. But the battery is slightly different - 2600mAh.

Already on April 10, both smartphones will be available in 20 countries (it is unknown whether Russia is on this list). Prices are not yet known. Several body colors were shown (white, blue, gold and other colors).

Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge

• Screen: Super AMOLED, 5.1″, Quad HD (2560×1440), 577ppi
• Processor: Exynos, Octacore, Quad 2.1GHz + Quad 1.5Ghz
• OS: Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
• Main camera: 16 megapixels with optical stabilization
• Front camera: 5 megapixels
• Modules: LTE Cat.6 (300/50Mbps), WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), Bluetooth, NFC, IR
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Light, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Fingerprint, Heart Rate
• RAM: 3GB DDR4
• Built-in memory: 32, 64 or 128 GB
• S6 Dimensions: 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
• S6 Edge Dimensions: 142.1 x 70.1 x 7.0 mm, 132 grams
• Battery S6: 2550 mAh
• Battery S6 Edge: 2600 mAh

Installed Google apps

• Chrome browser
• Google Drive cloud storage
• Photos
• Gmail email client
• Social network Google+
• Google Settings
• Hangouts Messenger
• Google Maps
• Google Play Books
• Google Play Games
• Google Play News
• Google Play Movies
• Google Play Music
• Shop Google applications Play
• Voice search
• YouTube

Other installed applications

• Ultra Power Saving Mode
• Download Booster
• S Health 4.0
• Samsung Pay
• Smart Manager
• Microsoft Apps (OneDrive 115GB for 2 years, OneNote)
• Sound Alive+
• Themes
• Quick Connect
• Private Mode
• S Finder, S Voice

Image model on the fastest platform

The flagship Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones do not need any special introduction. Along with Apple products, Samsung smartphones have traditionally aroused keen interest among users of any age, gender and religion. In the new season, the Korean company has prepared a real surprise for its fans. You can call it a rethinking of values ​​or a reboot, as you like, but the fact remains: after many years of boring sameness, Samsung designers have finally decided to make real changes. For the first time in many years, we can say with confidence that Samsung has shown a truly stylish, modern and attractive design. In principle, the option with two glass panels and a metal side frame is not so new; over the past few years we have seen it in the iPhone, Sony Xperia, and even in fashion models of the Huawei P series, but for Samsung smartphones it is really new . And given the experience of past years, when one type of plastic in Korean smartphones was replaced by another, such drastic changes can even be called a breakthrough.

However, it was not only unexpected changes in design and attractive appearance that were pleasantly surprised by the participants of the MWC 2015 exhibition during their first acquaintance with the new products of the Samsung mobile family. Those who managed to get acquainted with the hardware Galaxy filling S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, we were also amazed by the unprecedented level of performance that these powerful mobile devices demonstrated. Thanks to the new SoC, Samsung's new flagships have confidently perched on the top step of the podium and, apparently, will not be ousted from there any time soon.

Of course, there were some disappointments. Fans of the Korean brand have always warmed their souls to the idea that their chosen side in the confrontation between Samsung and Apple is the maximum openness to change. Memory card slot and removable accumulator battery- these are the enduring values ​​that outweighed the scales for them in comparison with the policy of closure, “things in themselves,” which Apple smartphones cultivated from the very beginning. Now the last bastions have collapsed: according to these characteristics, the new Korean devices are indistinguishable from both the iPhone and other modern smartphones, the creators of which reoriented faster than others. In the new Samsung flagships you will not find either a slot for installing a memory card, or, moreover, a removable battery - all of this is considered relics of the past. The funny thing is that this happened exactly at that significant moment when the newest, fifth version of Android finally made it possible for users to install applications on a memory card, and it is on Android 5.0 that the new Samsung devices. Once again, the developers made an unfortunate mistake, but most of the users will most likely forget it very quickly, as if nothing had happened - the fans will understand and forgive. All that will remain in my memory is another cute and very fast smartphone, One of many.

Video review

To get started, we suggest watching our video review of the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone:

Now let's take a look at the characteristics of the new product.

Main characteristics of Samsung Galaxy S6 (model SM-G920F)

• SoC Exynos 7420 (64-bit), two clusters of four processor cores: ARM Cortex-A57 with a frequency of 2.1 GHz and ARM Cortex-A53 with a frequency of 1.5 GHz
• GPU Mali-T760
• operating room Android system 5.0 Lollipop
• Touch Super AMOLED display, 5.1″, 2560×1440
• Random access memory (RAM) 3 GB LPDDR4
• Inner memory 32, 64 or 128 GB
• Slot for microSD cards absent
• Communication GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
• Communication 3G WCDMA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz
• Data transfer speed max 4G LTE Cat6 up to 300 Mbps
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz), point Wi-Fi access
• Bluetooth 4.1, NFC
• IR port, USB OTG
• GPS/A-GPS, Glonass, BDS
• Position, proximity, lighting, barometer, fingerprint sensor, Hall and heart rate sensors
• Camera 16 MP (F1.9), optical stabilization, autofocus, LED flash
• Camera 5 MP (F1.9), front
• Battery 2550 mAh, non-removable
• Wireless charging support
• Dimensions 143×70×6.8 mm
• Weight 138 g

Equipment

The Samsung Galaxy S6 comes in a small box made of thick cardboard with several jumpers inside. A cover made of thinner cardboard is stretched over the top of the box.

The kit consists of a miniature but powerful charger(output current 2 A), a Micro-USB connecting cable, as well as headphones with a flat wire and rubber ear pads exactly the same shape as Apple EarPods.

Appearance and ease of use

Samsung Galaxy S6 is not too large, even somewhat elegant smartphone. Although, probably, we have simply become accustomed to a five-inch screen size as a standard, it has become the norm, and we no longer consider such sizes for a pocket mobile device to be something out of the ordinary. Slim profile, strong rounded corners, light weight - the device fits quite comfortably in a hand of any size and fits into the pocket of any clothing. However, due to the smooth metal frame and glass surfaces, the Galaxy S6 turned out to be quite slippery; you must always be careful with such a device and make sure that it does not slip out of your hands or break on the floor.

The materials are chosen with taste: both panels, front and back, are made of tempered glass Corning Gorilla Glass 4, and the side frame that runs along the entire perimeter of the case is made of metal. Thank God, this time the creators did not paint over the metal, cover it with plastic or hide it in any other way, as happened with the Galaxy A series. The frame itself has a fairly thick profile, a noble matte surface, and of course, it is this that is in the greatest degree gives the appearance of the device seriousness and high cost. Thanks to its pleasant coolness and harsh metallic shine, the smartphone will look good with any most expensive suit and in any most expensive setting. Perhaps if the body were entirely metal, it would not look as catchy and expressive as the current combination of glass and metal. But in any case, we won’t know - after all, if the Koreans had made their S6 entirely out of metal, it would have become a copy of the iPhone 6, and this is unacceptable for obvious reasons.

The assembly does not cause any complaints; Samsung is fine with this. Having abandoned the removable cover, the developers resorted to a common solution for placing cards in the side slots: now here, too, you need to press in a secret button with a paper clip to remove the container with the SIM card. The slide is made of metal, designed for a Nano-SIM card, and another slot - for a memory card - cannot be found here. By the way, experts from the iFixit website gave the smartphone only four points (out of a possible ten) for ease of disassembly and, accordingly, maintainability (the situation with the S6 Edge is even worse: it received three points).

The body of the smartphone is quite thin, the camera module protrudes noticeably from the back wall. In this matter, the new Samsung smartphones turned out to be no better than the notorious ones Apple iPhone 6/6 Plus, which only the lazy would not wash their bones for this option of placing the camera module. Not far from the lens is a block consisting of a single LED flash and a heart rate sensor.

The front of the smartphone is completely covered protective glass Gorilla Glass 4. To the left of the speaker grille you can see the LED notification indicator, its large dot shines in different colors, notifying you about charging status and incoming events. Interestingly, the indicator’s operation is regulated in the settings section dedicated to sound.

At the bottom, under the screen, there is the usual oval mechanical key and two touch buttons on either side of it. Touch buttons have a bright white backlight. A fingerprint scanner is again integrated into the central mechanical key, and a few special words should be said about it. Finally, Samsung understood why in previous models they failed to competently implement this most useful tool, which had long been perfectly implemented in the Apple iPhone. In the Galaxy S5, you had to hold the device tightly with one hand and slowly and tediously drag your finger across the scanner with the other, which was annoying. As a result, owners quickly turned off the scanner due to inefficiency, although the convenience of unlocking a smartphone without having to remember digital codes and zigzag passes is great, you just need to present it correctly. Finally, after waiting for some time, the Koreans decided to exactly adopt the idea of ​​​​the scanner originally incorporated into the iPhone. Now in the Galaxy S6, the button reads the fingerprint simultaneously with the press, unlocking the screen. There is no need to swipe your finger, you can hold your hand at any angle, everything is done with one hand and in one click - everything is exactly the same as in the iPhone. Finally, the scanner in Samsung smartphones has become comfortable to use. It’s just a pity that it took the Korean developers so much time.

The process of reading the fingerprint and setting the lock is identical to that of the iPhone: there is no longer any need to drag your finger along the entire button panel many times; point touches are enough. Naturally, you can add several fingers for recognition, and for reliability you will be asked to come up with a code. Recognition occurs clearly, and if you pick up the smartphone correctly, one touch is enough to unlock the screen, which is very convenient.

Mechanical volume and lock keys are located on opposite side faces and are also made of metal. It should be noted that for the first time Samsung has implemented the volume key not as a single two-position rocker, but as two separate buttons (like other well-known phones...). The buttons are small, protrude well beyond the body, the action is springy and responsive, and there are traditionally no complaints about the controls in Samsung devices.

A Micro-USB 2.0 connector and an audio output for headphones with a diameter of 3.5 mm (under a minijack) were installed on one, lower end. Micro-USB supports connecting external devices and flash drives in OTG mode.

At the top end, right in the middle, there is a small dark window for an infrared port, which serves, as before, to emulate a remote control for controlling various household appliances, from televisions to stereo systems. The smartphone is already pre-installed with a familiar program called Smart Remote with many ready-made settings for any type of equipment, and you can use the current program guide.

The smartphone is not protected from dust and moisture, and there is no strap mount on the case. But the device is promised support for wireless charging, compatible with the WPC 1.1 (output power 4.6 W) and PMA 1.0 (4.2 W) standards.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is available in several bright body colors, and the developers traditionally gave these colors their own romantic names. In addition to the white (white pearl) and black (black sapphire) color options, the buyer is also offered “dazzling platinum” and “blue topaz”, but the green option (noble emerald) that many people liked will be available only for Galaxy modifications S6 Edge.

Screen

The Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone is equipped with a Super AMOLED touch screen protected by modern Gorilla Glass 4. The physical dimensions of the display are 63x113 mm, diagonal - 5.1 inches. The screen resolution in pixels is 2560x1440 (pixel density 577 ppi), which is more than decent.

The frame around the screen is quite thin: the distance from the edge of the case to the edge of the screen on the sides is about 3 mm, and on the top and bottom - approximately 15 mm. At this point it is worth noting that since the side edges of the case are straight and almost flat, when you wrap your fingers around the screen, they climb onto the screen more than on smartphones with strongly beveled edges, like the same one. As a result, unwanted accidental taps on the screen were recorded.

The display brightness has manual and automatic adjustment, the latter based on the operation of the light sensor. There is also a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. Multi-touch technology allows you to process 10 simultaneous touches.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are no worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Samsung Galaxy S6, then they can be distinguished by size):

The screen of the Samsung Galaxy S6 is slightly lighter (brightness according to photographs is 105 versus 101 for the Nexus 7) and does not have a pronounced tint. Note that the reflection from bright objects on the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S6 has a pale bluish halo. The ghosting of reflected objects on the Samsung Galaxy S6 screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass-air type) with very different refractive indices, screens without an air gap look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. On the outer surface of the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S6 there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, noticeably better than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass.

When the white field was displayed in full screen and with manual brightness control, its maximum value was 355 cd/m², the minimum was 1.9 cd/m². You also need to take into account the fact that in this case, the smaller the white area on the screen, the brighter it is, that is, the actual maximum brightness of the white areas will almost always be higher than the specified value. As a result, readability during the day in the sun should be at a fairly good level (there was no opportunity to test it). The reduced brightness level allows you to use the device even in complete darkness without any problems. Automatic brightness adjustment works based on the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front speaker slot). You can make adjustments to the operation of this function by moving the settings slider. Below, for three conditions, we present the screen brightness values ​​for three values ​​of this setting - for 0%, 50% and 100%. In complete darkness in automatic mode, the brightness is reduced to 1.9, 8.5 and 18 cd/m², respectively (the first is too dark, the rest are normal), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux) the brightness is set to 65, 140 and 210 cd/m² (a little dark - just right - just right, which corresponds to the given correction), in a brightly lit environment (corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) - increases to 355 cd/m² regardless of the position of the slider. This value is equal to the maximum for manual adjustment. In general, the result of the automatic brightness adjustment function is as expected. At any brightness level there is significant modulation with a frequency of 237 Hz. The figure below shows the dependence of brightness (vertical axis) on time ( horizontal axis) for several brightness settings:

It can be seen that at maximum and close to it brightness, the modulation amplitude is not very large, and as a result, there is no visible flicker. However, as the brightness decreases (somewhere below 75%), modulation appears with a large relative amplitude. Therefore, the presence of such modulation can already be seen in a test for the presence of a stroboscopic effect or simply with rapid eye movement. Depending on individual sensitivity, this flickering may cause increased fatigue.

This screen uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix on organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B), but there are twice as many green subpixels, which can be referred to as RGBG. This is confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

In the fragment above you can count 4 green subpixels, 2 red (4 halves) and 2 blue (1 whole and 4 quarters), and by repeating these fragments, you can lay out the entire screen without breaks or overlap. For such matrices, Samsung introduced the name PenTile RGBG. The manufacturer calculates the screen resolution based on the green subpixels; based on the other two, it will be two times lower. The location and shape of the subpixels in this version is close to the case of the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and some other newer devices from Samsung and not only with AMOLED screens. This version of PenTile RGBG is better than the old one with red squares, blue rectangles and stripes of green subpixels. However, some unevenness of contrast borders and other artifacts are still present. However, due to the very high resolution, they have a minimal impact on image quality.

The screen is characterized by excellent viewing angles, although the white color, when deviated even at small angles, alternately acquires a light blue-green and pinkish tint, but the black color is simply black at any angle. So black that the contrast setting is not applicable in this case. When viewed from a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the white field is excellent, but if you look closely, you can notice a slight unevenness of color tone at the level of groups of pixels. For comparison, here are photos in which the screens of the Samsung Galaxy S6 (profile Movie AMOLED) and the second comparison participant displayed the same images, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and color balance on the camera it is forcibly switched to 6500 K. White field:

Note the excellent uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture (profile Basic):

Color rendition is good, the colors are moderately saturated, the color balance of the screens varies slightly. The photo above was taken after selecting a profile Basic in the screen settings, there are four of them:

Profile Adaptive display differs in some kind of automatic adjustment to the type of displayed image and environmental conditions, which is obtained by selecting the two remaining profiles shown below.

Movie AMOLED:

Saturation and color contrast are noticeably increased.

Photo AMOLED:

Saturation is still high, but color contrast is closer to normal. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen (profile Movie AMOLED). White field:

The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (to avoid strong darkening, the shutter speed has been increased compared to previous photographs), but in the case of Samsung the drop in brightness is much less pronounced. As a result, with formally the same brightness samsung screen The Galaxy S6 looks much brighter visually (compared to LCD screens), since the screen of a mobile device often has to be viewed from at least a slight angle. And a test picture:

It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens and the brightness of the Samsung at an angle is noticeably higher. Switching the state of the matrix elements is performed almost instantly, but at the switching edge there may be a step with a width of approximately 17 ms (which corresponds to a screen refresh rate of 59 Hz). For example, this is what the dependence of brightness on time looks like when moving from black to white and back:

In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing behind moving objects. However, dynamic scenes in films on OLED screens are distinguished by high clarity and even some “jerky” movements.

For profiles Photo AMOLED And Basic constructed using 32 points with equal intervals according to the numerical value of the shade of gray, the gamma curve did not reveal any blockage in either highlights or shadows, and the indicator of the approximating power function is equal to 2.22, which is not significantly higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence (the captions in parentheses show the indicator of the approximating power function and the coefficient of determination):

For profile Movie AMOLED The gamma curve has a slightly pronounced S-shape, which increases the apparent contrast of the image, but shades are still distinguishable in the shadows.

Let us recall that in the case of OLED screens, the brightness of image fragments dynamically changes in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - it decreases for generally light images. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely slightly does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen.

Color gamut in the case of a profile Movie AMOLED very wide, it almost covers the Adobe RGB gamut:

When selecting a profile Photo AMOLED The coverage decreases slightly:

When selecting a profile Basic coverage is compressed exactly to the sRGB boundaries:

Without correction, the spectra of the components are very well separated:

In case of profile Basic with maximum correction, the color components are already noticeably mixed with each other:

Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. Hence the recommendation - in most cases, watching movies, photographs and everything natural is better when choosing a profile Basic, and only if the photo was taken on Adobe installation RGB, it makes sense to switch the profile to Photo AMOLED. Profile Movie AMOLED, despite the name, is the least suitable for watching movies or anything else.

The grayscale balance is good. Color temperature in profile Movie AMOLED above 6500 K, in the remaining two - close to 6500 K, while in a significant area of ​​the gray scale this parameter does not change very much, which improves the visual perception of color balance. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) over most of the gray scale remains below 10 units, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device, but the fluctuations of this parameter are already large:

(The darkest areas of the gray scale can in most cases be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

Let's summarize. The screen has a fairly high maximum brightness and has good anti-glare properties, so the device can most likely be used outdoors even on a sunny summer day without any problems. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. It is permissible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works quite adequately. The advantages of the screen include a very good oleophobic coating, as well as a color gamut close to sRGB and an acceptable color balance (if you select the appropriate profiles). At the same time, let us remind you about the general advantages of OLED screens: true black color (if nothing is reflected in the screen), excellent uniformity of the white field, noticeably less than that of LCDs, and a drop in image brightness when viewed at an angle. Disadvantages include modulation of screen brightness. For users who are particularly sensitive to flicker, this may cause increased fatigue. However, overall the screen quality is very high.

Sound

The sound of the Samsung Galaxy S6 is very decent. The smartphone produces a fairly loud sound, saturated with the entire spectrum of frequencies, including low frequencies. The smartphone sounds really nice, at the maximum volume level the sound is not distorted, does not wheeze, there are no complaints at all. The speaker grille is located at the bottom end, so the sound is not blocked when the smartphone is lying on a hard surface. In conversational dynamics, the voice of a familiar interlocutor, timbre and intonation remain recognizable, the conversation is quite comfortable.

With headphones, the smartphone also sounds at the level of modern flagships; to play melodies, a proprietary player with a maximum number of settings is used as standard. All sound effects are combined with a technology called SoundAlive - although some of them are only available with connected headphones. The same applies to the sound optimization function. For manual settings An equalizer with preset values ​​is available, as well as separate controls for bass and treble.

Traditionally, there is no FM radio included in the standard configuration of a smartphone, but there is a voice recorder. For the voice recorder, in addition to the standard mode, there are also specific “interviews” and “voice notes” - all this is already familiar to us from previous models in the series. Telephone conversations The smartphone cannot record from the line.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S6 is equipped with two digital camera modules with a resolution of 16 and 5 megapixels. The front camera here is equipped with a 5-megapixel module with an f/1.9 aperture; it shoots video at a maximum QHD resolution (2560×1440). For popular selfie-style entertainment, there is a group selfie mode, and even virtual shooting is possible specific object to create a multi-directional view of an object—in this case, most likely your own head. You can take pictures with the front camera without touching the screen, using an open palm gesture or a voice command. It is also possible to take your own self-portrait by touching your finger to the heart rate sensor located on the back of the smartphone.

The main 16-megapixel camera has an f/1.9 aperture, tracking autofocus, optical stabilization (OIS) and an LED flash that works as a flashlight if necessary. Quick start camera is possible by double-clicking on the central hardware key under the screen.

The settings menu has been completely redesigned, now there is no matrix of interactive square cells, there is one button for selecting shooting modes, and the rest of the settings are combined into a long scroll that opens as needed. In addition to the usual automatic and manual modes, you can also select panoramic, selective focus mode and the same so-called virtual shooting mode to create a multi-directional view of subjects. By the way, specific modes of fast and slow video recording have also been removed here, so you can’t find them in the settings of the camera itself (the resolution is only set there).

The video camera of the Samsung Galaxy S6 can shoot in any of the latest resolutions up to 4K (UHD). As always, the option of shooting at 60 fps, with a resolution of 1920x1080 (Full HD), is very interesting. The camera copes perfectly with any options; there are no complaints about the quality of the resulting video image. The quality of video recording can be judged by test videos.

• Video No. 1 (30 MB, 1920×1080 @60 fps)
• Video No. 2 (43 MB, 3840×2160 @30 fps)
• Video No. 3 (26 MB, 2560×1440 @30 fps)

	Good sharpness across the frame, but it drops off a little towards the edges.
	Even in the shadows the sharpness is good.
	Excellent sharpness in distant shots.
	The color of the sky and building is quite even. Light noise can be seen at the edges of the frame.
	The camera does a good job of capturing details in the shadows.
	Sharping on the wires is practically absent.
	The tree branches are well crafted.
	The license plates of all cars in the frame are clearly visible.
	And on a fairly dark frame, good sharpness and noise reduction work are visible.
	In room lighting and with flash, the text is rendered well.
	The camera does just as well without a flash.
	The camera does well in macro photography in room lighting.

We also tested the camera on a laboratory bench using our method.

When evaluating a flagship camera, you can’t help but compare it with the others. And as soon as I started taking pictures with it, I already want to say that this particular camera should now be considered the best. Of course, there will definitely be a fly in the ointment, but the camera is truly amazing. To want even more from a smartphone camera, you need to have a good imagination or no idea at all about photography. It's hard to find fault even with little things. The shadows are not noisy, the details are well worked out, there are small defects, but this is not a DSLR camera or even a compact one - it is a smartphone. You can look for a long time for the lack of “soul” or “pleasantness” in the photographs, but objectively there is nothing to complain about.

Now about the fly in the ointment. All images have an out-of-focus area on the right. Most likely, this is not a problem with the camera module used, but specifically with our copy, but doubt has been sown. Having such a defect, of course, is unworthy of a flagship. The camera is really good, perhaps the best, but the problem is still significant. In general, at least check the camera when purchasing.

In a laboratory test, the Samsung Galaxy S6 confidently outperforms its main competitor, the iPhone 6. And if in the center of the frame their results differ slightly, then at the edge the Galaxy S6 produces a very decent result. Moreover, in terms of this result, it is quite seriously superior (and slightly -). In the center of the frame, all the latest Samsung flagships perform approximately the same, but the dependence of resolution on lighting on the Galaxy S6 is the most “smooth and beautiful”.

If we forget about the blur zone on the right side of the frame, which we are ready to attribute to a defective sample, the camera can be called excellent. It is well suited for documentary and artistic photography.

Among the new “chips” in the camera is a mode for shooting two frames with a focus on the distant and near plans, with the ability to subsequently switch between them. We recently saw a similar one in Xiaomi Mi Note.

There is also a mode for shooting a 3D image that can be “rotated”. It is created by moving a smartphone around an object. Again, we recently saw a similar one in Jiayu S3.

Both modes are very questionable in practical terms, so they can only claim to be a fun “trick”.

Telephone and communications

The smartphone works as standard in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and also supports fourth-generation LTE Cat6 networks with a maximum possible reception speed of up to 300 Mbit/s. In practice, with a SIM card from the domestic operator MTS, the smartphone confidently recognizes and works with 4G networks.

The rest of the network capabilities of the smartphone are also excellent: there is support for NFC technology, Bluetooth 4.1 supports A2DP, LE, apt-X, ANT+ profiles. Wi-Fi module 802.11n/ac, HT80 MIMO (2×2) (up to 620 Mbps) supports operation in both frequency ranges(2.4 and 5 GHz) and Wi-Fi Direct technology, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. It is possible to connect external devices to USB port in OTG mode.

The navigation module works with both GPS and the domestic Glonass system, and also sees satellites of the Chinese Beidou (BDS). There are no complaints about the navigation module; a cold start occurs within a minute or less. The device is also equipped with a magnetic field sensor, on the basis of which the magnetic compass of navigation programs operates.

There were no spontaneous reboots/shutdowns observed during testing, but surprises did occur. So, after another reboot in normal mode, the device’s screen suddenly stopped responding to any touches - only the mechanical hardware buttons of the smartphone worked. It was possible to get out of the situation only through a forced reboot by long-pressing the power and volume down buttons, otherwise it was impossible to use the device.

The layout and location of the keys are standard for Samsung smartphones: switching languages ​​is not done by pressing a special button with a globe image, but by a horizontal longitudinal gesture along the space bar - not the most convenient option. The standard layout has a dedicated top row with numbers. For Swype fans, there is a continuous typing method using a stroke from letter to letter. The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing phone number A search is also carried out immediately using the first letters in contacts.

OS and software

Samsung Galaxy S6 immediately works on a fresh, fifth one Android versions OS, but its own interface in the Material Design style cannot be seen here; it has been completely replaced by the traditional design of the proprietary TouchWiz shell installed on top. The new version of TouchWiz has undergone minor changes, but overall everything remains familiar from previous smartphones from this manufacturer. The only thing that was adopted from the most noticeable innovations of the fifth version of the Android OS is the interactive notification panels that pop up on top of running applications, conveniently swiped to the side with a side gesture.

Work with gestures is supported, but their number is reduced to a comfortable and logical minimum. The energy-saving modes, privacy mode, the ability to work in two windows simultaneously, and the Briefing news panel, called by a side swipe on the left - an analogue of HTC Blinkfeed - remain in place. Sidebar removed virtual buttons, there is no way to reduce the working area of ​​the screen to control the fingers of one hand. The new feature of Android 5.0, the ability to enable guest mode, has been removed here and replaced with a proprietary private mode. The notification panel also has nothing in common with the proprietary panel of Android 5.0, everything here remains the same: the panel does not fold out in two stages, the list of quick access icons is scrolled with a horizontal swipe, and proprietary buttons are built in here for quickly connecting to other devices and S Finder.

The heart rate sensor, located on the back side next to the camera, is controlled by the same proprietary program for global monitoring of one’s own health called S Health. Infrared port served special program remote control emulation called Smart Remote. At all, additional programs There are not so many installed, most of them are useful, but I was surprised by the pre-installed block of branded Microsoft programs(OneDrive, OneNote, Skype).

Performance

The hardware platform of the Samsung Galaxy S6 is based on the most powerful single-chip system (SoC) of Samsung's own production Exynos 7420, produced according to the standards of the 14-nanometer technological process. The configuration of this single-chip system includes two clusters of four cores: ARM Cortex-A57 with a frequency of 2.1 GHz and ARM Cortex-A53 with a frequency of 1.5 GHz. The powerful Mali T760 video accelerator is used as the GPU. The device has as much as 3 GB of RAM (LPDDR4). Internal memory is implemented on drives that meet the UFS 2.0 specification. Flash memory capacity is 32, 64 or 128 GB without the possibility of expansion through memory cards. In the case of a model with a minimum volume, about 25 GB of the nominally designated 32 GB is initially available to the user. In addition, the device supports the mode of connecting external devices to the USB port (USB Host, USB OTG) - an external flash drive can be connected via an OTG adapter.

According to the testing results, the Samsung Galaxy S6 hardware platform demonstrated extremely high results, displacing all previous record holders without exception from the podium, including the Meizu MX4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4, which held first place in the AnTuTu test for quite a long time.

As a result, Samsung has given the world another record holder in terms of power - a reference smartphone that people will look up to, try to catch up with, and match throughout the entire season. The device is extremely productive, the capabilities built into it will be enough for a long time to complete any assigned tasks, including the most demanding games.

Testing in latest versions comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:

All the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the most latest versions popular benchmarks, we have summarized them in tables for convenience. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that at one time they passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions test programs.

Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark, and Bonsai Benchmark:

When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

Playing video

To test omnivorousness when playing video (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, for example subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that for mobile devices It is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.

According to the testing results, the subject was not equipped with all the necessary decoders that are needed to fully play most of the most common multimedia files on the network. To successfully play them, you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, it is also necessary to change the settings and manually install additional custom codecs, because now this player does not officially support the AC3 sound format.

¹ sound in MX Video Player was played only after installing an alternative custom audio codec; The standard player does not have this setting

Tested video output features Alexey Kudryavtsev.

MHL interface, like Mobility DisplayPort we are in this smartphone We didn’t find it, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. For this we used the set test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Methods for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices) 720/24p

Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems related to the playback of the corresponding files.

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the device itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames (with the exception of files with 60 fps - one frame is always skipped due to for a screen refresh rate of 59 Hz). When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the wide border of the screen. The clarity of the picture is high, but not ideal, since there is no escape from interpolation to the screen resolution. However, for the sake of experimentation, you can switch to the one-to-one mode by pixel; there will be no interpolation, but the features of PenTile will appear - the vertical world through the pixel will be in a grid, and the horizontal one will be slightly greenish. This is on test worlds; the described artifacts are not present on real frames. The brightness range displayed on the screen actually corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - in the shadows only a couple of shades merge with black, but in the highlights all gradations of shades are displayed.

Battery life

The capacity of the built-in non-removable battery installed in the Samsung Galaxy S6 is far from a record by modern standards - only 2550 mAh. However, even despite the most powerful platform and a fairly large five-inch screen, the smartphone proved itself worthy in terms of durability battery life, showing excellent autonomy in most standard usage scenarios. It should be noted that to save energy, the device settings traditionally contain two proprietary energy saving modes: normal and extreme. The maximum energy saving mode significantly reduces the level of energy consumption by turning off non-essential ones and saving vital ones. this moment functions, as well as for visual effect, converting the image on the screen to black and white.

Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted about 20 hours until the battery was completely discharged. When continuously watching videos in high quality (720p) with the same brightness level through the home Wi-Fi network the device lasted 12 hours. The device worked for 4 hours in 3D gaming mode. The smartphone supports fast charging technology, so the device charges very quickly. Full charging time is only about 1.5 hours, and according to the developers, just 10 minutes of charging allows you to charge your smartphone for subsequent four-hour use.

Bottom line

With the release of its next flagship, Samsung did not make a noticeable breakthrough or technological revolution, but it gave the market such a polished and polished product that there is simply nothing to complain about this time. The smartphone seems to strive to please everyone with its thoughtful practicality. Not a single unnecessary detail, everything unnecessary has been removed, combed and trimmed, literally every item on the wish list of the average user has been ticked. The dimensions are neither large nor small, they are comfortable, as is the weight of the device. The quality of the selected materials and assembly are not satisfactory; the metal surfaces finally appear in all their glory, not painted over or hidden. All technical characteristics are to the maximum, sensors are any to choose from. Fingerprint scanner, IR port, heart rate sensor, wireless charger— all additional flagship superpowers are available. The only thing that comes to mind is the lack of protection from water, but in Lately user excitement around the need for such functionality began to fade, and the Koreans immediately deleted it. The smartphone is almost ideal, but it is now not available to everyone. Price for new flagship Samsung is installed in such a way that it makes even hardened gadget lovers turn pale. Not for everyone new smartphone for 50 thousand rubles is affordable, but even here Samsung is on trend: without exception, all the top echelon players are gradually but confidently, through joint efforts, raising this bar higher and higher. So we will be surprised more than once in the new season, but for now all we can do is admire these new products, while getting used to the new prices.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

additional characteristics

Some devices have characteristics that do not fall into the above categories, but it is important to point them out.

I've been using the Samsung Galaxy S6 for a year and a half now, and I'm still amazed at how innovative it is. of this device. Considering low price smartphone and its year of manufacture (2015), it can still compete with new iPhones, LG, Sony yes, and with the same Galaxy S7! Quite durable glass, because... Several times the device slipped out of my hands and fell onto the carpet, tiles and even asphalt, but there was no visible damage (only a small scratch on the back of the smartphone). The design is very attractive, in bright light it shimmers from black to blue, which is why the color is sapphire. The software has not changed much recently, it is just as comfortable. Throughout my use of the S6, I was able to fall in love with the high-speed charging and amazing sound, but it’s a pity that Samsung got rid of moisture protection. Once water got into my smartphone, I was scared that the screen was flickering in different colors, but it went away). The camera is at the highest level, the brother Sony Z5, the company claims that their 23MP camera is the best, but my Galaxy has it many times better, especially in the dark. About the processor, I can say that all programs and games like asphalt run smoothly. I want to say that this phone deserves 1st place in terms of price/quality ratio!