I have a Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, you have questions — ask me!

[MrFranky]

Is it possible to create a theme identical to stock Lollipop (material design) and use that on the S6?

 

[tazman69]

I read somewhere the App Drawer does not have an option to sort apps alphabetically. Any alphabetical sorting has to be done manually. The apps are ordered based on the order of download. I do not recall any Android phone without that capability. Is there an option to sort the app drawer alphabetically?

 

[dswatson83]

You can just use the Google Now Launcher...it's just an app download.

 

[Andrew Martonik]

Hey Andrew -- Quick Question...

What carrier are you testing it on and does the radio seem to be the same (signal strength wise) compared to your other phones?

T-Mobile. Seems to be equivalent to other phones on the carrier.

Why would you pick the S6 over the Edge?

The S6 edge seems a bit too hard to hold comfortably and securely.

One quick Q:
how high is the volume when listening to audio via the headphone jack on the galaxy s6/s6 edge? In comparison to other phones like the htc one m8.

I'm wondering because last time I had a galaxy phone(the s3) the volume levels were quite low, when listening via the headphone jack.. And this was a serious bummer for me..

It goes up higher than I'd want to listen to music in headphones, and my hearing isn't all that great.

Thanks for doing the qa!

No problem!

Thanks for your time in answering everybody's questions.

Could you explain what the advantage is in disabling the installed apps as if they are still on the device, rather than completely uninstalled, aren't they still going to take up storage space.

Disabling just gets them out of the app drawer and stops them from running. When the apps can't be uninstalled, disabling is the next best thing.

Also, do, you feel Samsung have made an error in using a glass back which is fairly fragile compared to the M9 back and seems prone to showing finger marks/scratches?

I think so. Glass in general looks/feels nice and allows wireless charging, where metal does not, but I do think that the flat glass is harder to hold onto and is more prone to breaking than other common phone materials. It's a tradeoff, of course, but I'm not really a fan of it.

Is it possible to create a theme identical to stock Lollipop (material design) and use that on the S6?

Technically it seems so, but we're not sure how open the store is for people to submit their own themes. Right now the theme store just has what Samsung's launching it with.

I read somewhere the App Drawer does not have an option to sort apps alphabetically. Any alphabetical sorting has to be done manually. The apps are ordered based on the order of download. I do not recall any Android phone without that capability. Is there an option to sort the app drawer alphabetically?

It's a bit annoying — you can sort alphabetically, but it only does it that one time. Meaning if you hit the A-Z button to sort them, and then download a new app, the new app just gets put at the end of the app drawer rather than alphabetically in place, and you have to hit the sort button again. I really hope this changes.

 

[DavidJ726]

Have you had the chance to use it outdoors yet, and how does viewing the screen hold up to both direct & in-direct light? Is the speaker any good? I have the M8 & really like not having to cup my hands around the back of a phone when playing any type of audio.

Thanks,
David

 

[Andrew Martonik]

Have you had the chance to use it outdoors yet, and how does viewing the screen hold up to both direct & in-direct light? Is the speaker any good? I have the M8 & really like not having to cup my hands around the back of a phone when playing any type of audio.

Thanks,
David

Screen looks good in bright sunlight (as well as it can, we're still dealing with a reflective glass screen), just like the Note 4.

I gave some impressions on the speaker in an earlier reply — it's not very good. The speaker is coming out the bottom of the phone rather than the back, though, so no cupping needed really.

 

[Just_Some_Nobody]

How's the GPS?
What's the average accuracy?
How fast to first lock when cold? warm?
Any issues with it dropping?

Any chance of doing a thorough review of the GPS?

 

[Andrew Martonik]

How's the GPS?
What's the average accuracy?
How fast to first lock when cold? warm?
Any issues with it dropping?

Any chance of doing a thorough review of the GPS?

GPS seems to work just fine. I open apps that need my location, and it knows where I am. That's what's important.

 

[WillSucceed]

do you think this phone will have the antenna issues the Note edge had?

 

[Daspoo]

Hey Andrew, thanks for doing this - it's really helping me get a feel for what to expect from the phones before dropping the cash for one (probly the S6).

Regarding the camera, have you had a chance to snap any pics closeup - i.e., macro mode? Also could you maybe take a few pics, with each shot with varying focal points, so we can see how it handles those? The two pics you posted with the rear cam previously looked fantastic. (I'm rocking the M7 and am desperately looking forward to a better camera on my next phone...)

Cheers!

Posted via the Android Central App - booyah.

 

[dusanzk]

Hi Andrew,

Do you know if the storage is treated as one and not separated as it is on some phones, for example, you have 64GB internal storage but when you go into storage settings you see that about 10-15GB is separated for apps (not used, like a separate partition) while the rest of the storage is seen as an "SD Card" and is for media, files etc. I hope I explained that well ?

From what I could tell from the 32GB S6 screenshot of the Storage settings it seems to be treated as one.

The reason I ask is because If it were separate we'd only have a small amount of memory for apps and the apps themselves would see the rest of the storage as an SD Card, which, as you probably know, don't get the best support all the time (the SD Cards, not the apps).

Thanks in advance.

Dusan K.

 

[Andrew Martonik]

do you think this phone will have the antenna issues the Note edge had?

Wasn't aware the Note Edge had antenna problems... and not sure how the curved screen would relate to that. The two S6's seem identical to me in that respect.

Hey Andrew, thanks for doing this - it's really helping me get a feel for what to expect from the phones before dropping the cash for one (probly the S6).

Regarding the camera, have you had a chance to snap any pics closeup - i.e., macro mode? Also could you maybe take a few pics, with each shot with varying focal points, so we can see how it handles those? The two pics you posted with the rear cam previously looked fantastic. (I'm rocking the M7 and am desperately looking forward to a better camera on my next phone...)

Cheers!

Posted via the Android Central App - booyah.

Here are a few pictures I put on G+ today: https://plus.google.com/+AndrewMartonik/posts/jebGWvPLL7u

And here's a macro shot I just took.



It seems to be able to get up pretty close. The "Pro" camera mode lets you tap to focus with a wider range of focal points and a narrower aperture (apparently) so it should give you more of that "professional" look, but I haven't had a chance to tinker with all of the settings yet.

Hi Andrew,

Do you know if the storage is treated as one and not separated as it is on some phones, for example, you have 64GB internal storage but when you go into storage settings you see that about 10-15GB is separated for apps (not used, like a separate partition) while the rest of the storage is seen as an "SD Card" and is for media, files etc. I hope I explained that well ?

From what I could tell from the 32GB S6 screenshot of the Storage settings it seems to be treated as one.

The reason I ask is because If it were separate we'd only have a small amount of memory for apps and the apps themselves would see the rest of the storage as an SD Card, which, as you probably know, don't get the best support all the time (the SD Cards, not the apps).

Thanks in advance.

Dusan K.

It's all one partition, as has been the case on most phones for the last couple years.

 

[gtg465x]

The photos Andrew has posted so far look great! I have avoided Samsung since their last truly great phone (Galaxy S2) and look forward to returning for the S6. After using Motorola, HTC, and Nexus phones for the past several years, I have been dying for a truly great phone camera that won't be embarrassing next to my wife's iPhone cameras.

 

[mayconvert]

Please prove how "it's just a gimmicks like on the Note 4."

How about real information such as how you defeated the system, etc.? What testing methods were use? Tell me how I can duplicate your results.

Posted via the Android Central App

Please PROVE you aren't a Samsung hater trolling legit questions.
Settle down beavis. Geez.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Chang J]

Hey Andrew,

What is it like to type with the S6 edge while in landscape? Does the curve affect the keyboard?

 

[Ry]

Are the "Samsung" and "Galaxy S6" brandings etched onto the rear glass?

 

[Andrew Martonik]

Hey Andrew,

What is it like to type with the S6 edge while in landscape? Does the curve affect the keyboard?

I find it awkward to type landscape on a phone no matter what, but no the curve doesn't seem to make that big of a difference.

It should be said that the keyboard is in no way changed on the S6 edge to keep it off of the curved portions. So the keys on the left and right edges (in portrait) are on the top of the curve. Its noticeable, but I don't think it hurts the typing experience much.

Are the "Samsung" and "Galaxy S6" brandings etched onto the rear glass?

I can't feel anything when I rub my fingers over the glass on the back, so I have a feeling they're etched on the inside of the glass (which is super thin, btw).

 

[ballzac]

Hello!

Maybe this first question has been asked but, does the notification light have different colors depending on the app that the notification is coming from?

And do you feel that the current cases for the S6 will sufficiently cover the protuberance of the camera so that it doesnt get scratched super easy?

 

[getbretweir]

Please PROVE you aren't a Samsung hater trolling legit questions.
Settle down beavis. Geez.

Posted via the Android Central App

lol, I literally cringed earlier today when I read that dude's post

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Andrew Martonik]

Hello!

Maybe this first question has been asked but, does the notification light have different colors depending on the app that the notification is coming from?

Yeah I've seen a few different colors. But there don't seem to be any settings to configure the LED for notifications.

And do you feel that the current cases for the S6 will sufficiently cover the protuberance of the camera so that it doesnt get scratched super easy?

Considering the large lip and bezel around the camera, a case would have to be pretty significantly thick in order to "protect" it. Thing is, as it stands now with no case I'm not particularly worried about the camera lens scratching. As I said earlier in this thread, I've owned dozens of phones and never had a single one with a scratched camera lens... no matter how much the camera stuck out of the back.