Flashback: Samsung Galaxy S6 got a lot of hate, but it also got many things right

19 December 2021
Samsung changed lanes - from the plastic, utilitarian Galaxy S5 to the sleek Galaxy S6 - and sacrificed multiple features to get there.

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I think a lot of unnecessary credit given to S6 is much more deserved by the S7 instead.

Think about it: S7 had everything right: the memory card, the jack, the awesome screen, the f1.7 12MP allrounder Camera that still rocks compared to a midrange phone, the size, the low weight (152 grams), etc, etc.

Today, the same Galaxy S7 can be launched as a low-midranger easily, with better audio and camera quality than many of today's devices.
Plus, considering the old software version, its likely to be speedy enough as well, for everything short of high end gaming... if only security updates are spot on, and you didn't get the pink line on the display issue.

    • k
    • kek
    • GBh
    • 20 Dec 2021

    "Maybe it wasn’t perfect, but maybe the Samsung Galaxy S6 and its two edge siblings weren’t as bad as we remember."

    The author probably uses only iPhones, because the S6 was a bomb that blowed on Samsung's hand and their first attempt at trying to become Apple. They never tried their hand at that again the next year because the Note 7 kept them busy.

    A lot of people bought the S6 due to the Gold color option (yes, I'm not joking, I had friends working on several retail stores at the time) and couldnt care that much about other specs

    If anything, the S6 is the bad apple that started the trend of sealed batteries and no micro sd card nonsense, along with those stupid curved screens.

      To be honest, even if my Flip 3 did start breaking down or I lost it, my Razr 5G is ready to go. I always have a backup. And if I lose that as well, I'll get the Flip 4 or Oppo Find N. If no money for a new phone, my Pixel 3 and Essential Phone are still solid to use these next few years.

      These phones are just material things. Can always buy another one. Most of my content is stored on an external hard drive or in the cloud. Can always retrieve them all back. Even my gaming stuff, it's no big deal if they get broken. It's only a big deal to kids who don't work for their stuff.

        For some commenters to state that they still own an S6 or S6 edge and they still work beautifully after 6 to 7 years shows of Samsung's long-lasting quality. And this was when phones still had eMMC. Samsung phones at 2018 or later don't slow down like the ones with eMMC.

        Kudos to Samsung. Their phones do last a long time. I was using a Note 3 very briefly in late-2016/early-2017. That still worked great for a 3-year-old device with only 3 GBs of RAM and ugly af TouchWiz. I guess my Flip 3 can last 6 to 7 years too since I only fold it like 40 times per day and UFS doesn't degrade like eMMC did with the memory cells.

          S6 was a beast of its day. It was slender, had best Amoled screen on the market and it was computing beast. Exynos 7420 inside with 8 cores and powerful gpu was setting it as most powerful android phone. I still have one in perfect condotion. It was really great phone.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • 0cJ
            • 19 Dec 2021

            I had switched to the Galaxy S6 from an iPhone, and the Galaxy was so buggy compared to the iPhone, that I didn't buy another Samsung until I got a Note about 3 years later. I haven't had a Samsung since I replaced the Note. I considered the S21, but IMO both the iPhone 13 Max and the Pixel 6 Pro were better, and I went with the Pixel. Probably should have gone with the iPhone...

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • LkB
              • 19 Dec 2021

              Mr. Anonymous, 19 Dec 2021S7 camera was just a little better than the one on s6. S7 ... moreGran Prime.

              You press the shutter and circle forms around the shutter and takes few seconds to be complete.

                Anonymous, 19 Dec 2021S7 was a game changer with the first phone with night mode ... moreS7 camera was just a little better than the one on s6.
                S7 didn't have night mode. First phone with night mode as we know it today was on Huawei P20 Pro.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • 0Bi
                  • 19 Dec 2021

                  Galaxy S5 was the last nice normal great phone !

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • xq5
                    • 19 Dec 2021

                    Anonymous, 19 Dec 2021Phones are inferior to 🎥💻📸That gap narrows slowly.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-844232
                      • 39y
                      • 19 Dec 2021

                      Many many phones even today took the display design ... from this

                        Anonymous, 19 Dec 2021It had nothing to do with SD810. Brands get samples of ch... moreCheck out the GSMArena and other reviews to get what I was saying. Sorry, but what you said sounds mostly like nonsense.

                        Exynos did overheat as well, but still much less than S810.

                          • D
                          • AnonD-762416
                          • Sec
                          • 19 Dec 2021

                          [deleted post]Because I don't buy in to your sad wannabe nonsense?

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • LkB
                            • 19 Dec 2021

                            Anonymous, 19 Dec 2021Nope. Smartphones do many thing very well. They are pocket ... morePhones are inferior to 🎥💻📸

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • LkB
                              • 19 Dec 2021

                              The Flip, 19 Dec 2021All new tech has flaws. When the first iPhone was releas... moreThis does not exist. Otherwise these products would not exist.
                              LG G5 was designed to use accessories that way because LG wanted. It was not flaw. Simply a choice based on many things.

                              It the " new tech has flaws always" existed, than these " flaws" would disappear as time goes by.

                              Lithium battery has same issues since its early days.
                              Oled has same issues since early days.
                              Foldable shows creasebin the middle after 3 years and still gonna show.

                                • J
                                • Jimbob
                                • gAa
                                • 19 Dec 2021

                                One of the worst phones.. small battery, no sd, no removable battery, no water proofing... the only thing they got right was the flat display. They were quick to backtrack on the sd removal with the s7.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 6wN
                                  • 19 Dec 2021

                                  Anonymous, 19 Dec 2021Phones just do many things other electronics do. But do i... moreNope. Smartphones do many thing very well. They are pocket computers. Limited than regular computers but very useful and not inferior at all.

                                    "Memory is a funny thing, we remember the Galaxy S6 as being hated, while the S5 got a mostly positive reception. The thing is though, the S5 had many warts too and the S6 established some features used in the S-series for many years to come, especially the metal and glass design."

                                    That's not how I remembered it. The S5 was just as hated. People mocked the plastic build and Band-Aid looking back. The S6 edge was praised for its design.

                                    Nostalgia plays a role at distorting our memories. Like people love GameCube now or Kobe Bryant. But during their heyday, they were always criticized. People who bash Michael Jordan because he didn't play during social media don't realize he was bashed in the 90s. Why he retired in 1993.

                                    In movies, Citizen Kane was initially panned. Everybody thought Star Wars would flop. The Shawshank Redemption was a box office flop that found life in rentals. People loved Titanic and Avatar in the box office but now hate them.

                                    Sometimes being hated initially isn't a bad thing but it takes years of acceptance. I hated Samsung initially and now support them. I didn't care for GameCube when I actually owned one and I now think its my favorite console.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • IJV
                                      • 19 Dec 2021

                                      Loved my Galaxy S6 it was a good phone I moved up to Galaxy s8 it has issues loses internet poor signal not as good as my s6

                                        • z
                                        • zerolte
                                        • 7kp
                                        • 19 Dec 2021

                                        Ah my fav phone, I bought my galaxy s6 when it came out, I use it still as my backup phone with custom rom on it its almost 7 years old, Love the phone, will install s7 edge battery in it soon