Samsung Galaxy S6 wow - first impressions

[karmamule]

Re: wow - first impressions

A lot of reviewers are speculating that this is just a bug in the initial release software. Just speculating yes, but with a bigger battery and nothing anyone can pinpoint as to why it's not lasting when there's nothing they can find to cause it since display is still at 1080, I agree that it's likely a software optimization glitch that HTC will fix. Considering that's the only real shortcoming of the M9, once it's addressed there's nothing of significance to complain about

Unfortunately there's some things you can't fix, like physical home buttons that should have gone the way of the dinosaur and a barely improved Touchwiz

I've owned the past two generations of HTC One, and while HTC inevitably does improve battery life they never got to the point that I'd say they were better than average. As far as the new version of Touchwiz I'm seeing others saying it is substantially improved; enough so I'm willing to give it a shot. (For the first time) And, I'm willing to forgive the physical button with the raves I'm reading about the screen.

 

[Adranalyne]

Re: wow - first impressions

A lot of reviewers are speculating that this is just a bug in the initial release software. Just speculating yes, but with a bigger battery and nothing anyone can pinpoint as to why it's not lasting when there's nothing they can find to cause it since display is still at 1080, I agree that it's likely a software optimization glitch that HTC will fix. Considering that's the only real shortcoming of the M9, once it's addressed there's nothing of significance to complain about

Unfortunately there's some things you can't fix, like physical home buttons that should have gone the way of the dinosaur and a barely improved Touchwiz

The home button serves a purpose with the fingerprint sensor. Barely improved? It's extremely quick and fluid. The recent apps button opens almost instantly. Their core apps like the dialer/messaging/gallery are very quick to open. The design is much closer to material than before. The fact you can theme it, especially when that gets opened up and more themes are created, is a huge addition. I know it was the cool-dude thing to do last year and some years prior to dog Touchwiz, but that's come to an end this year. If you don't like the design, that's cool, but let's not pretend like it's still the laggy mess it used to be.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Ken Allen3]

Re: wow - first impressions

Agree with the OP. Didn't really like the feel of the edge. The screen felt smaller and narrow and where it meets the chassis was sharp. The S6 though felt really good. April 10th feels like a lifetime away.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[npaladin-2000]

Re: wow - first impressions

A lot of reviewers are speculating that this is just a bug in the initial release software. Just speculating yes, but with a bigger battery and nothing anyone can pinpoint as to why it's not lasting when there's nothing they can find to cause it since display is still at 1080, I agree that it's likely a software optimization glitch that HTC will fix. Considering that's the only real shortcoming of the M9, once it's addressed there's nothing of significance to complain about.

I don't think it'll be addressed...I don't think it's a software issue. I think it's a systemic problem with the Snapdragon 810. There has to be a reason HTC is using MediaTek for the M9+, and I bet it's because of the heat on the Snapdragon...and heat comes from power consumption generally.

 

[Cobravision]

Re: wow - first impressions

I like my physical home button and would miss it if moved to another OEM. Very convenient for answering calls, bringing up, Google Now, housing a fingerprint reader, and launching the camera.

Have faith that your M9 will have a competent battery or camera in 3-12 months. Tough to see how you're comparing your dream phone to something that actually exists. If a Galaxy owner insisted that all the shortcomings would eventually be fixed by software updates, you'd roll your eyes so much they'd fall out of your head. And yet when the shoe is on the other foot...

 

[Adranalyne]

Re: wow - first impressions

Went back to play with both phones today. Threw as many apps open as I could, multi-windowed, and started scrolling/using the recent apps menu to switch. No lag whatsoever. I've got zero idea why anyone would say performance is just "good" on this phone. I'm using it side by side with my Nexus 6 running 5.1. It handles QHD better than my Nexus. Recent apps doesn't stutter. Scrolling through the home screens and app drawer doesn't stutter. The keyboard is actually really quick, although I'll use the Google keyboard when I get it.

Everyone is going to have their own opinion, but mine is that the performance on this phone is extremely fast. People who've used prior versions of Touchwiz should immediately notice the difference.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[jcp007]

Re: wow - first impressions

Went back to play with both phones today. Threw as many apps open as I could, multi-windowed, and started scrolling/using the recent apps menu to switch. No lag whatsoever. I've got zero idea why anyone would say performance is just "good" on this phone. I'm using it side by side with my Nexus 6 running 5.1. It handles QHD better than my Nexus. Recent apps doesn't stutter. Scrolling through the home screens and app drawer doesn't stutter. The keyboard is actually really quick, although I'll use the Google keyboard when I get it.

Everyone is going to have their own opinion, but mine is that the performance on this phone is extremely fast. People who've used prior versions of Touchwiz should immediately notice the difference.

Posted via the Android Central App

I also noticed that both models were extremely fast with no detectable lag. They were very smooth and transitions were impressive.

Posted via My Samsung Galaxy S4 Handheld Device

 

[Daspoo]

Re: wow - first impressions

In the past I've always strongly preferred the HTC One line to the Galaxies, (better design and feel, Sense > TouchWiz, smoother operation, etc etc) and as a matter of habit just plunked down a pre-order on the HTC M9 the moment it became available. But, then I started reading the reviews.

First, I read Phil's review and that was discouraging. But, hey, different strokes and all that so read a couple more and they all had the same tone: yeah it's got that typical great design, but, nothing innovative, new Sense features don't really add anything to the experience, battery life is so-so, and the new camera (which I initially was VERY excited to hear about) and its lack of OIS was still quite disappointing.

After that I started reading the glowing S6 / S6 Edge reviews. I expected to hear they nailed the physical design, but was surprised to hear how much they'd also improved TouchWiz. I also was immediately jealous to read that their camera was even more capable than before. At that point I realized "What the hell am I doing?!?!" In the past I was happy with my decision, but this time it's clear that Samsung deserves a shot, so I cancelled my HTC order (and fortunately it was backordered so received a refund the same day) and ordered an S6 Edge from T-Mo, due Monday.

It feels a bit odd to be on the Samsung side of the fence now!

Ditto!

I've really enjoyed owning the M7 these past couple of years minus the horrible camera. I always thought Samsung phones looked cool from a distance but were disappointing once in your hand. I was definitely proven with the S6. Such a beautiful phone and so surprisingly light and tiny in-hand considering its specs. One of my co-workers and I stopped into Best Buy yesterday afternoon during a long lunch (heh) and played around with both the S6 and Edge. (To our surprise, *no one* else was even considering them.) My decision to grab an S6 was definitely confirmed - amazing device. My co-worker was initially considering the Edge but after seeing it in person and playing around with it, and comparing it to a Note Edge that was sitting around close-by, he wasn't impressed with it vs. the S6 at all, and has decided to take the extra hundred he'd spend on the Edge and apply it towards an S6 with double the capacity.

Regardless of the arguments related to Edge vs. S6, Samsung did or didn't copy Apple's iPhone design and some of its ideas, blah blah blah, Samsung did something right - I'm all ears and eyes now, and my money is being diverted from the HTC camp to them. Heading to pre-order that puppy in just a few...

 

[rsk2mc]

Re: wow - first impressions

I have been an HTC fan since I owned the Dinc and I have always had an HTC. I had the S2 and was unimpressed by the quality of Samsung and even through the years they made crap phones imo. The s6 changed me, I pre ordered it today. Samsung hit a home run this year.

 

[ffejjj]

Don't care for the speaker quality and that's the only bad comment I can make about this phone.

I've disliked Samsung for a long time but the S6 is amazing. Might be my first Samsung since my daughters S3

Posted via Android Central App

 

[jcp007]

Re: wow - first impressions

Don't care for the speaker quality and that's the only bad comment I can make about this phone.

I've disliked Samsung for a long time but the S6 is amazing. Might be my first Samsung since my daughters S3

Posted via Android Central App

It may not like M9 speakers but it is much better than previous generations. It is louder. I think it is better than the last three Galaxy S models.

 

[ffejjj]

Re: wow - first impressions

It may not like M9 speakers but it is much better than previous generations. It is louder. I think it is better than the last three Galaxy S models.

Yea, I'm used to my G3 and how loud it is so the S6 seemed quiet. The Note 4 sounded a lot better holding the 4 and S6 side by side. Totally not a deal breaker though.

With the short amount of time I was able to mess with it it absolutely gave me that "cool new phone" feel

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[John Kar]

Re: wow - first impressions

A lot of reviewers are speculating that this is just a bug in the initial release software. Just speculating yes, but with a bigger battery and nothing anyone can pinpoint as to why it's not lasting when there's nothing they can find to cause it since display is still at 1080, I agree that it's likely a software optimization glitch that HTC will fix. Considering that's the only real shortcoming of the M9, once it's addressed there's nothing of significance to complain about

Unfortunately there's some things you can't fix, like physical home buttons that should have gone the way of the dinosaur and a barely improved Touchwiz

lol... Wishful thinking. It's no bug. It's the power-hungry reference ARMv8 cores.

 

[jcp007]

Re: wow - first impressions

Ditto!

I've really enjoyed owning the M7 these past couple of years minus the horrible camera. I always thought Samsung phones looked cool from a distance but were disappointing once in your hand. I was definitely proven with the S6. Such a beautiful phone and so surprisingly light and tiny in-hand considering its specs. One of my co-workers and I stopped into Best Buy yesterday afternoon during a long lunch (heh) and played around with both the S6 and Edge. (To our surprise, *no one* else was even considering them.) My decision to grab an S6 was definitely confirmed - amazing device. My co-worker was initially considering the Edge but after seeing it in person and playing around with it, and comparing it to a Note Edge that was sitting around close-by, he wasn't impressed with it vs. the S6 at all, and has decided to take the extra hundred he'd spend on the Edge and apply it towards an S6 with double the capacity.

Regardless of the arguments related to Edge vs. S6, Samsung did or didn't copy Apple's iPhone design and some of its ideas, blah blah blah, Samsung did something right - I'm all ears and eyes now, and my money is being diverted from the HTC camp to them. Heading to pre-order that puppy in just a few...

Which are getting, the GS6 or the Edge?

 

[drone3]

Re: wow - first impressions

In the past I've always strongly preferred the HTC One line to the Galaxies, (better design and feel, Sense > TouchWiz, smoother operation, etc etc) and as a matter of habit just plunked down a pre-order on the HTC M9 the moment it became available. But, then I started reading the reviews.

First, I read Phil's review and that was discouraging. But, hey, different strokes and all that so read a couple more and they all had the same tone: yeah it's got that typical great design, but, nothing innovative, new Sense features don't really add anything to the experience, battery life is so-so, and the new camera (which I initially was VERY excited to hear about) and its lack of OIS was still quite disappointing.

After that I started reading the glowing S6 / S6 Edge reviews. I expected to hear they nailed the physical design, but was surprised to hear how much they'd also improved TouchWiz. I also was immediately jealous to read that their camera was even more capable than before. At that point I realized "What the hell am I doing?!?!" In the past I was happy with my decision, but this time it's clear that Samsung deserves a shot, so I cancelled my HTC order (and fortunately it was backordered so received a refund the same day) and ordered an S6 Edge from T-Mo, due Monday.

It feels a bit odd to be on the Samsung side of the fence now!

+1 , as an HTC veteran I'm feeling akward going with Samsung

Posted via Android Central App

 

[jcp007]

Re: wow - first impressions

+1 , as an HTC veteran I'm feeling akward going with Samsung

Posted via Android Central App

Welcome to the Light from the Dark Side.

 

[anon8380037]

Re: wow - first impressions

Anyone from the UK know if any stores here have demo models to try out?

I was in the Samsung Store in London's Oxford Street where they have both. Though it's a horrible store (and street). I suspect Westfield Stratford has a better display.

 

[stackberry369]

Re: wow - first impressions

Went to Best Buy today. Played with the S6 and Edge. I don't like the Edge as much, the edge where the curve meets the metal is sharp.

The regular S6 is smooth and amazing. There is a slight curved glass edges like the Nexus 4 that makes swiping off screen feel great. The in hand feel is amazing. The curves on the metal band feels so great.

The phone is ridiculousness fast. Camera, swiping through apps everything is just fast and smooth. Camera pops up in a split second and takes photos super fast too. I was impressed by the video editing ability. Trimming, slow motion control, etc. And it just looks intuitive too.

Speaker is loud. Seems clear to me as much as it could be inside a best buy.

I am so pumped for this phone. Love it

Posted via the Android Central App

Don't forget that it doesn't have the snapdragon processor, or does it?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[jcp007]

Re: wow - first impressions

I was in the Samsung Store in London's Oxford Street where they have both. Though it's a horrible store (and street). I suspect Westfield Stratford has a better display.

Isn't there an. O2 store on the Strand near Adams Street?

 

[jcp007]

Re: wow - first impressions

Don't forget that it doesn't have the snapdragon processor, or does it?

Posted via the Android Central App

Thank goodness we lucked out and got the Exynos 7420. Samsung has taken a pretty good step froward in device optimization.