S6, Edge to determine Samsung fate
Samsung Electronics’ Chinese business head Park Jae-soon shows the company’s new flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, during a world promotion tour event in Beijing, China, Tuesday. The company will roll out the new handsets on April 10 worldwide. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
By Yoon Sung-won
Can the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge bring what their immediate predecessor in the Galaxy S-series failed to bring Samsung Electronics?
Anxiety and anticipation is turning palpable as Samsung is ready for the April 10 global launch of the new handsets. Previews are not bad, with many predicting that they will bring about a fresh impetus.
Since the February unveiling at the Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona, the world’s largest smartphone maker has gone on a city-hopping tour of Dubai, Moscow, Singapore, Beijing and Hong Kong.
“Instead of the usual presentation and show, we are bringing our new products to our customers through the tour,” Samsung’ mobile business division Executive Vice President Lee Young-hee said.
One of the frequently asked questions is what separates the Galaxy S6 from the S6 Edge.
The answer is plain to see — design.
The two sides of the Edge’s front display panel are curved. This appears to be inherited from the Galaxy Note Edge, which also had a curved screen on the right edge of its front.
Besides the call and message alarm function, the curved part provides the S6 Edge with a streamlined look to the handset, one of the features which both media and customers around the globe like.
Both models have a metal casing, a departure from their Galaxy predecessors.
The Galaxy S6’s metal casing weighs 138 grams and is 6.8 millimeters thick. The S6 Edge is 6 grams lighter and 1 millimeter thicker than its sister model.
Apple’s iPhone 6 weighs 129 grams and is 6.8 millimeters thick.
Both of Samsung’s new phones work on its 64-bit octa-core Exynos mobile application processor and have a 3-gigabyte memory.
They have a 16-megapixel rear camera with an optical shake reduction function as well as a 5-megapixel from camera. Both cameras feature an f/1.9 at maximum aperture, allowing users to take clear photos even in dark environments.
Unlike previous models, both the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have un-detachable batteries.
Instead, they use universal wireless battery charging technology. The company said users can choose from rapidly recharging their handsets through wired charging, to putting their devices on a wireless recharging pad, made either by Samsung Electronics or a third party.
The battery capacity of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge is 2,550 mAh and 2,600 mAh, respectively. Despite the slight difference, the batteries of the two models are expected to last similarly as the S6 Edge will consume more power to operate curved displays.
Both models run on Google’s Android operating system and they have more intuitive and convenient user interfaces compared with their predecessors, the company said.
The prices for the 32-gigabyte and 64-gigabyte models of the Galaxy S6 are 858,000 won ($777.88) and 924,000 won, respectively, where as those of the Galaxy S6 Edge are set higher at 979,000 won and 1.05 million won, according to the telecom companies.
The prices of 128-gigabyte models have not yet been disclosed.
The 64-gigabyte model of Apple’s iPhone 6 is priced at 924,000 won.
On the home front, SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus are mounting aggressive promotion and marketing efforts. Orders are being received.
SK Telecom, the nation’s largest mobile carrier, is expected to bet high on the occasion, seeking to recover its 50-percent market share.