Samsung previews the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge: my top-five takeaways

Samsung previewed its Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge this morning (the Edge is identical in features and look, bar the curves on the side of its screen that allow you to see alerts when the phone is on its side).

A lot is riding on this phone. Samsung recently reported it missed its S5 sales target by 40%. Meanwhile, Apple broke sales and profit records as it released its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus – which eliminated high-end Android phones' most obvious advantage: their supersize screen.

The main event was in Barcelona but NBR got a quick hands-on preview in Auckland at the same time. My top five* takeaways:

• Samsung has finally made the shift from plastic to an all metal and glass case. It definitely looks classier than  the S5's plastic. One point of controversy: The Verge has called the S6's design "strikingly similar" to Apple's iPhone 6.
• The camera starts within one second (a big improvement on the S5). Samsung says 0.7 seconds. It was definitely a snap when I tried it. It seems good in low light, a classic challenging situation for a smartphone. 
• The interface has been de-cluttered. A lot of the crapware and kitchen-sink elements of the S5 are gone. Good call. The Wall Street Journal, which has had an extended preview, praises the streamlined interface (read "Sixth time's the charm") but does add: "Still, a lot of of Samsung’s typical software tomfoolery lives on."
• The battery is now built-in.
• Samsung says a 10-minute charge will get you four hours' battery life and that a full charge takes half the time of an iPhone 6 (with video, 12 hours' total battery life is claimed for the S6).
• Onboard storage has been boosted to 128GB, matching the iPhone 6 (there are also 64GB and 32GB options; Samsung doesn't always introduce all options into New Zealand).
• There is a new Microsoft apps folder featuring Skype, Drive, and OneNote (Microsoft, of course, being the power behind Android rival Windows Phone; it's good to see the company taking this catholic approach to apps).
• The usual incremental tech & spec upgrades include a 77% increase to the pixel count over the S5.
• The S6 gets wireless charging built-in (that is, you don't need to attach any special sleeve before you plop it on a charging mat). Both the WPA and rival PMA wireless charging standards are supported, Samsung says.
• The S6 features Samsung Pay for wireless in-store payments. MasterCard, Visa and a raft of others support it. But like Apple Pay, it's US-only (or actually, US plus Korea in Samsung's case).
• The S6's screen size is 5.1-inches (same as the S5; the iPhone 6 is 4.7, the iPhone 6 Plus 5.5). See full tech specs here.

ABOVE: The S6 Edge: I thought the Edge would be pure gimmickery but the ability to wake up the phone for alerts-only by swiping the curved edge of the screen, and the edge's ability to display alerts and let you send re-canned responses looks potentially useful in real life.

It was notable how many times Samsung trashed the iPhone 6. There's no doubt about the S6's No 1 target. It scored points at times with direct camera and video comparisons, but other shots were lame, namely the statement that the S6's metal case is 50% tougher than rivals' and "won't bend" (a reference to iPhone 6 "bendgate" which turned out to be a bogus meme according to the respected Consumer Reports).

Samsung NZ says the S6 and the S6 Edge will be here in about a month. Pricing is to be announced but it is expected to match the iPhone 6. Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees will carry both handsets.

I'll reserve full judgement until I get my hands on a review unit for an extended play but from my brief hands-on today it looks as if the S6 and S6 Edge have Samsung back on its game.

A quick-fire photo challenge: an iPhone 6 (left) next to a Galaxy S6, which Samsung touts for its instant-on camera and photo-taking abilities in low light. Apple does have a feature that lets you tap an area of your picture with your finger, which is then more exposed. Here, both phones are on their default. It's swings and slides. The S6 is better with the foreground but over-exposes the background; the iPhone shows the trees behind in better detail.

ckeall@nbr.co.nz

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* Actually more than five, but I didn't want to make that listify headline too intimidating.