Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Review

Samsung have always created loads of hype with the launch of a new device. Remember the days when the best phone was the S3 or even the S5? Well after the launch of the Galaxy S6, Samsung introduced a new edgier device, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.

The S6 Edge is basically the same as the S6 except the display has two curved edges which give the S6 Edge a curved display. These two edges can be used to access quick functions such as calling a contact or sending a message.

Picking up the S6 Edge, one can tell that this is a premier Smartphone which Samsung built from the ground up. The S6 Edge comes in four colours in a metal body with glass on the back. Samsung have kept the physical button on the front of the device which also houses the fingerprint reader. On the back of device you find a raised camera and flash. On the left of the device you find the volume rocker and on the right the power button. If you are looking for a microSD slot, you may want to stop looking. There is no slot for an external memory card on the S6 Edge but the Edge comes with either 32/64/128 GB internal storage. I still don’t know why Samsung would not allow for a memory card, which was a plus over the iPhone but the internal storage options should suit most users.

When first looking at the S6 Edge, it is not hard to think of the iphone 6. The main part of the Edge that reminds me of an Apple device is the bottom of the device.

Powered by a Quad-core 1.5 GHz or 2.1 GHz processor and 3 GB of RAM the S6 Edge can really be your computer on the go. Loading apps is quick and smooth and multitasking is a breeze. Running heavy games on the Edge caused no lag which is important to gamers on the go.

Since display size is an important factor when choosing a new phone, this extra bit of display should make the S6 Edge the device you choose. The Edges display is 5.1 inches and with 1440 x 2560 pixels, the display is superb. Samsung are known for their TVs and are also known for their rich Smartphone displays and this is evident in the richness of the Edges display. The world is turned curved, with curved displays and curved phones, expect many more curved devices in the near future.

Samsung also upped their game with the camera of the S6 Edge which is also the same camera as the S6. The 16 MP, 2988 x 5312 pixels captures high quality photos with rich colours. With features such as optical image stabilization and autofocus, you can leave the DSLR at home. The camera app allows you to easily switch modes to ensure that you always take the perfect photo. The front facing camera or as it is known these days, the selfie cam, is 5mp.

If you are a big video lover like me, you will love the fact that the S6 Edge records in 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps and 720p@120fps. 4k cameras are still a bit pricey so being able to record 4k footage on a Smartphone is a win win situation. Yes, I know that 4k TVs are also still expensive but one day when they are cheap, you will have all that family footage in 4K! With HDR and dual-video recording modes, the Edge will bring out the videographer in you.

While there may be lots to say about Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, I have always found the interface easy to use as well as easy on the eye. I am using Android Lollipop on my Xperia Z3 and was pretty impressed with Samsung’s incorporation of material design into their UI. The animations are smooth and responsive! The S6 Edge comes loaded with Android Lollipop 5.0.2 and is upgradable to 5.1.1 The S6 Edge comes with some features such as the ability to view two screens at the same time and RAW support for the camera!

The S6 Edge does not have a removable battery so the 2600 mAh battery better do the trick. I guess to keep the device as thin as possible Samsung opted to not allow you to access the battery. You get about a day of normal usage and even with heavy usage; you are able to make it to your next charge. There are useful battery saving features which you can enable if you find that there is too much battery drain.

The S6 Edge comes in three versions and starts at R10,699.00 for a 32gb version while the S6 starts at  R8,249.00 for a 32gb version.

Overall the S6 Edge is a great device much like the S6. The S6 Edge has an excellent camera with a super fast processor and a great battery life. The real question is should you buy the edge or the standard s6, since there is a bit of a price difference. If the price was the same, I would definitely get the Edge but since that is not the case and price is always a major selling point, If you know you will make use of the extra display and can afford to spend more, then get the S6 Edge. If you are limited with your phone budget then maybe you should look at the S6.