Samsung Galaxy S6 Review Long Term

Posted on May 9, 2015

‘Project Zero’. Yes, the message behind Samsung’s codename for the Galaxy S6 was clear: We Start Again. It has proved an inspired decision. Galaxy S6 sales are soaring and reviews have been the best since the beloved Galaxy S3. But feelings are changing…

One month on the Galaxy S6 is facing something akin to a critical backlash. Questions are being asked about its practicality, bugs and price. I’m a big Galaxy S6 fan (I prefer it to the iPhone 6), but after one month using the phone I also find my feelings have changed – both for better and worse.

So if you’re still on the fence about this revolutionary phone, then make yourself a coffee and get comfortable because this is what I’ve learnt…

Galaxy S6 review sample courtesy of Samsung UK

Design – Beautiful, Essential, Totally Impractical

By now you will know the design of the Galaxy S6 is its most divisive aspect. Those in favour love the step up in materials and build quality while those against hate the impracticality it has brought to a famous do-it-all range.

So who is right? They both are.

For starters the early reviews were right: the Galaxy S6 is a massive step forward in premium design. It shows Samsung can meticulously craft a phone every bit as well as Apple and by mimicking some design cues (notably the bottom edge and shifted port positions) it also adds a sense of familiarity to any iPhone owner thinking of jumping ship.

Read more – Galaxy S6 Vs iPhone 6 Review: Samsung Uses Apple To Beat Apple

And that’s the harsh reality: Samsung wants iPhone customers. Quite frankly none of its other rivals have enough market share to really interest them. It both wants Apple’s customers and it wants to stop hemorrhaging customers to Apple. So Samsung built a phone based on what Apple customers care about.

Which, of course, is also the problem because the Galaxy S6 doesn’t care about features the Galaxy S line has long held dear. So it’s goodbye to the expandable storage, removable battery and water resistance. After all iPhones have none of these features so losing them doesn’t hurt in a side-by-side comparison.

Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6

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Galaxy S6 (left) versus iPhone 6 (right)

Photo: Gordon Kelly

Consequently one month on I enjoy showing off the Galaxy S6 – it gets a positive reaction, but I find less enjoyment from actually using it. The glass back is slippy and picks up fingerprints and the aluminium edges are too smooth – it’s as bad to hold as an iPhone 6 and you need a case or skin to install confidence in hand… which covers up all the hard work.

Read more – Samsung Galaxy S6 Vs Galaxy S5 Review: Should You Upgrade?

I will say it is durable. The Corning Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and back is a step up from GG3 and it has no noticeable chips or scratches (front or back), despite several falls (because it’s too slippy!). Then again the weak areas are the aluminium sides which have marked and they are where the phone will show its age first.