Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ in India. The smartphones resemble the Galaxy S8‘s design with a new camera setup with variable aperture. After launching its flagship series, the company is updating its older portfolio with the newer version of Android OS. Samsung follows the two-letter OS upgrade for its flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S8 was released with Android Nougat and the device has received an update for Android Oreo.
According to an official document found on Samsung’s website, the company is planning to upgrade at least 6 devices, which have completed the two year’s OS cycle. However, unlike the S8 or the S7, these devices will not receive the latest Oreo update. Instead, these OS builds will be based on an older Android version with security patch and bug fixes. Though these devices are listed to receive the software update, no time frame is mentioned.
Left to right: Update for Galaxy S6 Edge, Update for Galaxy S6 Edge+, Update for Galaxy S8
According to the document, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge will receive Android 7 Nougat update G9250ZCU2ERB2. The update weights at 1233.30MB, which upgrades the smartphone from Android Marshmallow to Android Nougat. However, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5 are expected to receive the incremental software update. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Note 8 will receive Android 8 Oreo update with Samsung Experience UI 9.0. In fact, the update for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8 is already live in most of the countries.
In a debate of Android vs iOS, Android loses out when it comes to software support. The argument holds true that slightly older Android phones do not get the kind of software support older iPhones get. Samsung appears to be changing that with its line of flagship smartphones. A day after it started rolling out Android 8 Oreo update for the Galaxy S8 and S8+, it appears that even its 2015 flagship devices will get Android 8 Oreo update.
Now, when the smartphones will get this update is anyone’s guess as of now. The Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, and Galaxy Note5 will be the 2015 devices that will get the Android Oreo update. Manufacturer Development pages for these devices on T-Mobile’s official website say the carrier “and the device manufacturer have agreed to support a new software update.” This new software update will be Android 8 Oreo!
It looks like a lot of Samsung smartphones will receive Android 8 Oreo update this year. Recently, a few users in Vietnam received the Oreo update even though there were no prior beta programs or an announcement of any sorts. That looks like an error but, it does prove that the smartphone will eventually get Android 8 Oreo update.
A few weeks ago, a Samsung customer rep accidentally let slip that the Galaxy S6 will get Android 8 Oreo update in January or February. If true, the software update should not be far away.
Apple isn’t the only one working on a mini device for 2016. Turns out Samsung has one in the pipe as well. The Galaxy S6 Mini is likely to hit the markets soon, as one online retailer has already listed the device on their website.
The Galaxy S6 Mini will sport a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The handset is powered by the Snapdragon 808 chipset, with a hexa-core 1.8GHz CPU and the Adreno 418 GPU. 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage is to be found as well.
On the camera front, the S6 Mini will feature a 15MP rear and 5MP front. Other details include a non-removable battery, wireless charging, a fingerprint sensor, and Android 5.1 pre-installed.
The phone, listed on United Arab Emirates-based website LetsTango, is not yet available for purchase. However, pre-registrations for the device have already begun. It is also unknown whether the device will in fact see light of day, as Samsung has yet to confirm anything about the Galaxy S6 Mini.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ is the company’s first big S series phone, as an add-on to the Galaxy S line of devices. Last year the company thought it better to launch an edgier Note in the form of a Note Edge. However, this year Samsung found it more favourable to make a bigger S6 edge.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ also marks a new chapter, one where the line between a smartphone and a phablet is basically blurring out. Samsung has slowly killed the category it created with the Note in 2010. Large screen phones are now mainstream and Samsung is basically reinforcing that with the S6 edge+.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ is designed to one up the iPhone 6 Plus in terms of specifications and hardware. The Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge both had huge success in the global markets and Samsung expects no less from the Galaxy S6 edge+.
The elder and bigger sibling is identical to the Galaxy S6 Edge, so identical that you won’t be able to tell them apart unless you put them together. There is a massive screen size different however a minor change in actual dimensions. The S6 edge+ just like the S6 Edge is flanked on both sides with edge displays.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ does become slightly more difficult to handle, and hence Samsung has added one handed operation and screen size reduction, similar to Apple’s double tap to pull down screen on the iPhone 6 Plus. This feature was also seen on the recent Galaxy A8 from Samsung.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ is actually slimmer at just 6.9mm vs the 7 mm of the Galaxy S6 and the feel in the hand is very premium. Samsung has really done a good job with the design of the S6 Edge and hence they, didn’t change anything, but make the phone bigger with the S6 edge+.
Everything from the display resolution to chipset and cameras are identical to the Galaxy S6 Edge, however thanks to the new large display of the S6 edge+ the pixel density drops to 515 ppi vs the mammoth 577 ppi on the S6 Edge. The Edge Plus variant also sports a larger 3,000 mAh battery to combat the drain from the larger QHD Super AMOLED display. An additional 1 GB of LPDD4 RAM, takes it upto 4 GB on the edge+ however the phone is missing the 128GB storage option as only the 32 and 64 GB variants will go on sale.
The software department on the edge+ too remains same as the S6 and the S6 Edge, with a cleaner and simplified UI and new apps window to the edge display Samsung is trying to leverage the screen real-estate. You will also still get a Flipboard news feed to the left of the home screen and gestures like flipping a ringing phone to mute the call. Double clicking the home button will quickly launch the camera.
You still get the fingerprint scanner and ability to remember internet passwords and Samsung Account details using your fingerprint as a security mechanism.
Some would argue that the Galaxy S6 Edge was the right size handset and that it fit well in almost all departments. Whether you were an executive or college student, the S6 and the edge variant seemed to be the right size for your hands.
With the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ the company is trying to reach to those who liked the iPhone 6 Plus and those who loved the Note category but found it to be a niche. With the S6 edge+ Samsung is trying to make the page size phone more mainstream, and by the looks of it, it seems to be headed in the right direction.
Stay tuned for our Full Review of the Galaxy S6 edge+
With just a little less than month left for the launch of Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Samsung has not released any sort of promotional material so far, leaving us to speculating about the phone. A new detail has emerged about the phone, regarding its rear camera this time.
The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will sport a 16MP camera, spotted by Zauba, a website which tracks Indian exports and imports. The camera will come with a 1/2.6″ sensor, which is similar to the rear camera in the Galaxy S6 Edge. The website has posted the memo for the import, dated 24th July, 2015. It seems Samsung may have imported the camera unit into India for further research and development.
The memo for Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus’ camera unit. As you can see from the memo, the model is named SM-G928. Source: Zauba
The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will supposedly run on an Exynos 7420 processor with 3GB, instead of the Snapdragon 808. The display will probably be a 5.5″ or a 5.7″ QHD Super AMOLED curved touchscreen. Samsung is expected to launch the device in mid-August, probably two weeks before it launches the galaxy Note 5.
Keep checking iGyaan for more details about the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.
With reports that Samsung will launch the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus next month, a new set of images have been leaked about the company’s latest device, a compact version of the Galaxy S6. Named the Galaxy S6 Mini, the company will apparently launch it on August 13th, along with the S6 Edge Plus.
As reported by PhoneArena (via BGR India), the images show the Galaxy S6 Mini from varied angles. The phone looks a lot like the Galaxy S6, with a micro-USB port and 3.5 mm audio situated in the same manner. The phone is rumoured to come with a Snapdragon 808 SoC processor with 2GB of RAM, a 4.6″ or 4.7″ screen with 720p resolution, and a 15 MP camera.
Samsung has not revealed any official details yet, but given the date the report has mentioned, the announcement is expected to be made soon. We will be on the lookout for more details of the Galaxy S6 Mini.
While everyone was looking forward to the Samsung Note 5 and the S6 Edge Plus to be launched together, rumour mills have now gone bust. A recent report shared says that the two devices will now be launched on different dates and venues.
For those waiting for the Note 5, looks like the wait is going to be extended as the Note 5 will be launched in the first week of September, at the IFA Berlin. The S6 though, will be launched mid-August almost 2 weeks earlier than the Note 5.
The reasons for delaying the launch can be a strategic move to create hype and increase profits and also to avoid the clash with the iPhone 6s Plus, which is speculated to release on the 14th of September. Therefore, since this is Samsung’s highly anticipated device, the company naturally wants to do everything right.
Meanwhile, the S6 Edge Plus will hit the markets soon. Watch this space for more information on the launch.
To read more about the Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus click here and for more info on the Note 5 here.
Samsung has been doing rounds in the news feed for some time. After advancing its launch dates from September to August, Samsung, according to blog site SamMobile, will be launching the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus along with the big-screened Galaxy Note 5. Looks like Samsung has got a lot of work for the month of August.
SamMobile confirmed that the Galaxy Note 5 will be announced on 12th August and will officially be launched later on 21st August. Later, the source also learnt that the Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus will follow the same announcement and launch plan.
But, why has Samsung decided to launch both the devices together? Won’t it risk one device eating the sales of the other? It is viewed that advancing the launch dates may work exponentially in Samsung’s favour, as the new handset is not ready to go up against Apple’s iPhone 6S, which will be launching on September. Samsung’s plan to launch both of the new phones at the same time came from Korean press leaks, according to SamMobile.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is likely to feature a 5.4-inch or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. The display is likely also to feature a 4K resolution. According to reports, the Note 5 will feature a 32GB of eMMC (embedded multimedia card) along with a controller. The phone may also feature a 16MP rear camera, 8MP secondary shooter, 4GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The Note 5 might even be powered by an enormous battery of 4,100mAh, which is important for a phablet with these specifications. The Note 5 should pack Samsung’s trademark S Pen in a new form.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus is basically the phablet version of the Galaxy S6 Edge. The device is assumed to have a curved display and run on Exynos 7420 processor with 3GB, instead of the Snapdragon 808. It is also highly possible that the device may be available in the same colour options as the Note 5.
Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
Samsung’s event will be the highlight event of August with the launch of these two handsets. What are your opinions about the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge Plus specification leaks? Comment below.
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 when launched earlier this year lacked a few features that people actually liked about the Galaxy S5. The S6 is not water resistant nor did it have a replaceable battery. Samsung had also left out a microSD card slot aiming for a more Apple-like approach towards storage.
The Galaxy S6 Active is a more rugged version of the Galaxy S6 from Samsung and it has been presently launched in the US exclusively for AT&T. The S6 Active is an IP-68 rated dustproof and water and shock resistant handset from Samsung.
AT&T confirms the phone has a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen, a 16-megapixel camera and a 5-megapixel wide-angle front-facing camera. It also packs a large 3,500mAh battery, an Exynos 7420 processor and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.
Like many other handsets in the US the galaxy S6 Active will go on sale starting this Friday for a price of US $ 199 on a two year contract. The handset will be available in two colours : Black and Camouflage white.
Korean tech powerhouse Samsung carved a niche in the smartphone market with the unveiling of its new-fangled Galaxy S6 series. It is Samsung’s best product in terms of design and, of course, specifications; the design has been considered delicate. But the major flaw in the high-end device is that it’s not waterproof and weatherproof. The South Korean equipment maker is planning to remove that glitch by introducing another version of Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Active, and today a source has authenticated its existence. GSMArena has released a picture of the next iteration of Galaxy S6, which is yet not announced.
The image speaks of a rugged Galaxy S6 Active, immune to accidental drops. The front has three physical buttons, which means fingerprint scanner will be absent in this model. As per the source, the phone will sport the model number SM-G890A and a significantly larger battery of 3,500mAh. Being a variant of the expensive Galaxy S6, the S6 Active is sure to maintain its top-notch specifications.
We earlier reported that the smartphone will boast features like detachable battery and MicroSD card. Besides fingerprint scanner, a heart rate monitor will also be missing in the next S series device. The phone will be water and dust resistance and will launch sometime in mid-summer.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge back in September 2014. As an icing on the cake, the Korean company in collaboration with Oculus revealed the Gear VR, a virtual reality headgear developed to work along with the Note 4. A year after, Samsung released its latest flagship devices, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge in April 2015. The company also announced that a similar VR set will accompany the handsets soon, but no such headset were up for purchase.
Today, Samsung made this device available for purchase. The device, named as Gear VR Innovator Edition for Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, is a smaller and lighter version of the Note 4 Gear VR. It comes with a redesigned strap and a built-in fan to help in air-flow. According to Samsung, the Octa-Core Exynos 7420 chipset, which is the powerhouse of S6 and S6 Edge handsets, and the high PPI display will provide its users with better and smoother virtual reality experience. The other side of the coin would be the smaller screen of the S6 and S6 Edge devices, which may result in a narrow field of view.
This device is available at Samsung’s official website and BestBuy. This device can be purchased for $199.99 (Rs 12,741) and is available only for its US customers right now. No other details about its price and availability in India has been disclosed.
After their formal introduction at MWC 2015, Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge instantly became one of the most sought-after devices. They received a record of 20 million unit orders within a week of their launch. Over the years, Samsung has become a company that is known for experimenting with unique variants of its products. Carrying on the trend, Samsung affirmed that they will be releasing a limited set of Avengers-themed Galaxy S6 Edge, starting off with an Iron Man themed handset.
Samsung confirmed on Monday that Iron Man themed Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will be launching by next month and will be based on Iron Man’s standard red and yellow suit colour. Though Samsung Mobile Exec, Young Hee, did not mention where and at what price.
Avengers: Age of Ultron one of the most-anticipated films of 2015 broke the world record by making over $40 million in IMAX theatres in just 12 days of release.
Meanwhile, Samsung and Marvel teamwork resulted in a free app called ‘Battle for Avengers Tower’ that uses Samsung Gear VR headset. You can check out the 360-degree video below.
LG pulled off a big show yesterday and introduced its 2015 star flagship, the LG G4. The company is betting big on the new device and claims that it offers an exceptional visual experience. So, we decided to check out how this new flagship stands up against the major flagships already available in the market. We are pitching the LG G4 against the Samsung Galaxy S6, iPhone 6 Plus and HTC One M9.
Have a look at the difference in specs:
Specs
LG G4
Samsung Galaxy S6
iPhone 6 Plus
HTC One M9
Display
5.5-inch Quad HD LCD display 2560×1440 resolution
5.1-inch QuadHD Super AMOLED 1440×2560 pixels
5.5 inch Full HD 1080×1920 pixel resolution
5.5 inch HD 1080×1920 pixel resolution
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 with X10 LTE
2.1 GHz Quad + 1.5 GHz quad Exynos 64-bit
1.4 GHz Dual-core A8 chipset
2.0 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset
RAM
3 GB
3 GB RAM
1 GB
3 GB
Storage
32 GB
32 GB
16/32 GB
32 GB
Expandable Upto
128GB
Non-Expandable
Non-Expandable
128 GB
Main Camera
16 MP
16 MP, Optical Image Stabilization, Autofocus, LED flash
8 MP Optical Image Stabilization, Face Detection Autofocus, dual-LED
20 MP autofocus, dual-LED Flash
Front Camera
8 MP
5MP
1.2 MP
Ultra Pixel
Battery
3,000mAh
2550mAh
2915mAh
2800mAh
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop with LG UX 4.0 on top
Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
iOS 8
Android Lollipop
Looking at the specs, LG G4 shows the might to take on its competition. It is one mammoth of a device in terms of the camera, display and battery life. Coming out with an additional 128GB external storage capacity is an advantage for the LG G4. We’re also hearing good things about its leather-clad design and style. However, we’d like to get our hands on the device before we make any further comparisons.
Read about the LG G4 here, or you can compare notes of the difference between the LG G4 vs LG G3 here.
Today, HTC brought out the One M9+ in India, skipping the speculated launch of the original M9 unveiled at MWC 2015. The One M9 might not make its way to the Indian sub-continent, but we’ve got the bigger Plus version to weigh against its competition. The top of the line smartphone packs hefty specifications, which may even manage to put a dent in Samsung’s market.
Let’s check out how the smartphones fare against each other:
Specs
HTC One M9+
Samsung Galaxy S6
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Display
5.2-inch WQHD (1440x2560p)
5.1-inch QuadHD Super AMOLED (577ppi)
5.1-inch QuadHD Super AMOLED (577ppi)
Processor
2.2GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6795T
2.1 GHz Quad + 1.5 GHz quad Exynos 64-bit
2.1 GHz Quad + 1.5 GHz quad Exynos 64-bit
RAM
3GB
3GB
3GB
Storage
32GB, expandable up to 128GB
32GB, not expandable
32GB, not expandable
Rear Camera
20MP + 2MP Duo Camera
16MP with F1.9 + OIS
16MP with F1.9 + OIS
Front Camera
4MP HTC UltraPixel
5MP
5MP
Battery
2840mAh
2550mAh
2600mAh
Operating System
Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7
Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
Price
Rs. 52,500
Rs. 49,900
Rs. 58,900
Clearly, the pricing of the phone might lead the audience to shift focus on the Galaxy S6 rather than HTC One M9+, especially since the smartphone runs on a MediaTek processor. The display size of the phones is similar, and the RAM of the three handsets also stands parallel. The battery and rear camera of the HTC One M9+ are slightly bumped up, but overall the devices hold comparable specifications.
Since we’ve got our hands on both the devices, we have to admit that the HTC One M9+ feels more sturdy in the hand. Another area where HTC One M9+ wins is the fact that it comes with an expandable memory option, a feature that would be appreciated by many. HTC has brought the One M9+ to compete with the big-sized rulers in the Indian market. We’ll have to now wait and watch how this move turns out for the company.
Samsung recently brought out their gold-plated smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S6 Gold, starting at a price of Rs 58,900 for the 32GB variant. Here, we unbox the device – iGyaan style!
As you can see, the phone sports a 5.1 inch Super Amoled screen with a QuadHD resolution with a total of 577 ppi. Powered 2600 mAh battery, the handset is available only with fixed storage of either 32GB, 64GB or 128GB, which are all based on UFS 2.0 (Universal Flash Storage). With 16MP primary camera, it is capable of shooting 4K video as well.
Connectivity options included in the phone are LTE Cat 6, Bluetooth 4.1 and WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and globally unlocked variants will work on TDD and FDD LTE bands. The most eye-catching feature of this handset is its gold plate. It is also notable that the phone features Corning Gorilla Glass 4 glass panels on both the front and back. The metallic frame that holds the two panels gets a gold treatment too.
The curvy S6 Edge is priced at Rs. 58,900 for the 32 GB variant, Rs, 64,900 for the 64 GB and Rs. 70,900 for the 128 GB variant.
You can know more about the specs and features of the phone in the table below:
