Best Android Contract Deals in the UK
Smartphones in general have rapidly become very expensive devices and in most countries, most customers buy their new smartphone as part of a pay monthly contract.
In the UK, picking a new contract often means searching through lots of carriers and retailers to find the best deal and then, you have to deal with different warranty policies, delivery charges and other hidden charges that might increase the cost of your plan.
To help you find the best Android contracts in the UK, we’ve picked a few price points and we’re going to compare the different deals available from the four major networks – EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three – and independent retailer Carphone Warehouse and give you our top pick for a combination of handset and inclusive allowances along with an honourable mention at each price point.
£0 – £25.99 per month
The low end of the mark is where OEMs offer the cheapest possible experience in an attempt to capture first-time smartphone users and those on a budget.
Top Pick: HTC Desire 820
Deal details:
- Network: iD (runs on Three)
- Price per month: £25.50
- Upfront cost: £0.00
- Monthly Minutes: 1200
- Monthly SMS: 5000
- Monthly Data: 2GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free roaming in 22 countries around the world
- Retailer (link): Carphone Warehouse
- Review (link): HTC Desire 820 review
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Honourable mention: Xperia Z3 Compact
The Xperia Z3 Compact was arguably the best mid-range Android smartphone released last year and nearly a year later, the handset is still one of the best mid-range devices. It borrows most of the specs of its flagship sibling – the Xperia Z3 – and is powered by a quad-core CPU, has a 20MP camera and is dust and water resistant.
Deal details:
- Network: Three UK
- Price per month: £24.00
- Upfront cost: £0.00
- Monthly Minutes: 600
- Monthly SMS: unlimited
- Monthly Data: 1GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free roaming in 18 countries around the world
- Free 0800/0808/0500 calls in the UK
- Retailer (link): Three UK
- Review (link): Xperia Z3 Compact Review
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Honourable mention: Honor 6 Plus
Honor might be Huawei’s e-commerce brand but its handsets are certainly impressive and the Honor 6 Plus is no different. It’s a fantastic device that is packed with premium specs at a very competitive and affordable mid-range price point. This deal only came below the Xperia Z3 Compact deal as it has less inclusive monthly data.
Deal details:
- Network: Three UK
- Price per month: £24.00
- Upfront cost: £19.00
- Monthly Minutes: 600
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 500MB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free roaming in 18 countries around the world
- Free 0800/0808/0500 calls in the UK
- Retailer (link): Three UK
- Review (link): Honor 6 Plus review
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£26 – £39.99 per month
From the entry-level price point to one of the most fiercely contested as flagships are replaced and drop to this very affordable price. Choosing our picks for this category was arguably the hardest choice of this entire feature, especially when handsets such as the Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4 and LG G3 are all available at this price point.
Top Pick: LG G4
The LG G4 is without doubt one of the best Android smartphones on the market and despite only landing on the market a few days ago, it’s available at this excellent price (by comparison, the Galaxy S6 started at over £45 per month as did the iPhone 6. It’s one of my favourite devices of the year and delivers the best alternative to Samsung’s flagships at a much more affordable price point.
Deal details:
- Network: EE
- Price per month: £36.99
- Upfront cost: £39.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 5GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free calls and texts while roaming in selected European countries
- Double-speed LTE-Advanced 4G (up to 300Mbps)
- Retailer (link): Carphone Warehouse
- Review (link): LG G4 review
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Honourable mention: HTC One M9
The HTC One M9 may not be the handset for everyone – I’ve already shared my views on HTC’s latest flagship – but it still offers a compelling package and for a handset that has a recommended price in excess of £500 ($750), this deal is rather good value for money.
Deal details:
- Network: Vodafone
- Price per month: £35.00
- Upfront cost: £79.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 6GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- 3 months unlimited internet (Data Test Drive)
- £3 per day roaming in European countries (Vodafone EuroTraveller)
- Retailer (link): Carphone Warehouse
- Review (link): HTC One M9 review
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£40 – £49.99 per month
From the mid-range to the flagship and this price point is where most modern flagships enter the market at. If you’re willing to spend this much each month, you’ll pretty much get your own pick of which handset you buy.
Top Pick: Galaxy S6 32GB
Choosing any deal at this price point pretty much includes selecting the Galaxy S6, which is why Samsung’s flagship takes top spot at this price point. While there are other handsets available, as mentioned at the beginning, this comparison takes into account the retail price of the handset, which is why the Galaxy S6 offers a more compelling package at this price.
Samsung’s latest flagship is certainly impressive with a metal and glass build, Quad HD Super AMOLED display, octa-core Exynos 7420 processor, 16MP camera and built-in dual wireless charging. It may not have a removable battery and expandable storage like its chief rival – the LG G4 – but it ticks the other boxes and deserves its top billing. The plans at this price point are all rather similar but Three takes top spot as its the only one to offer unlimited 4G data.
Deal details:
- Network: Three UK
- Price per month: £48.00
- Upfront cost: £0.00
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: Unlimited 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free roaming in 18 countries around the world
- Free 0800/0808/0500 calls in the UK
- Retailer (link): Three UK
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 review
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Honourable mention: Galaxy Note 4
The Galaxy Note 4 might be a few months old now but Samsung’s phablet still offers one of the best experiences on the market. The premium specs – including a Quad HD display, 16MP camera and quad-core CPU – are coupled with the innovative S-Pen stylus and faux leather cover for a truly impressive handset.
Deal details:
- Network: EE
- Price per month: £49.99
- Upfront cost: £9.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 10GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free calls and texts while roaming in selected European countries
- Double-speed LTE-Advanced 4G (up to 300Mbps)
- Retailer (link): EE
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 review
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Honourable mention: Galaxy S6 32GB
EE’s network is the best in the UK for coverage and data speeds and this plan is certainly made for the heavy data user as it offers a large data allowance and super-fast speeds.
Deal details:
- Network: EE
- Price per month: £49.99
- Upfront cost: £9.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 10GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free calls and texts while roaming in selected European countries
- Double-speed LTE-Advanced 4G (up to 300Mbps)
- Retailer (link): EE
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 review
£50+ per month
This is the price point where the extremely premium handsets enter the market. Alternatively, this is the price at which you’ll get those insanely large data allowances and just about every package your network provider offers as they tempt you to part with your hard earned money.
Modern smartphones are only increasing in price so it’s only a matter of time before more smartphones enter the market at this price each month. Contracts in the UK a few years ago used to cost this much per month but deals then became affordable and over the past six to twelve months, we’ve seen a trend for monthly prices to increase as smartphone prices increase.
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Like the Galaxy S6 above, this section is dominated by the Galaxy S6 Edge, which is arguably Samsung’s true flagship handset. Choosing a deal at this price point was incredibly tough as all the networks offer large data allowances and it came down to perceived value and our experiences with each network (in terms of coverage, speeds and reliability).
Top Pick: Galaxy S6 Edge 64GB
Picking a top deal was certainly interesting as at this price point, most of the deals are rather similar. However, our top pick comes from EE, who are offering the 64GB Galaxy S6 Edge with a large amount of data and a reliable network at a lower price than the competition.
Deal details:
- Network: EE
- Price per month: £54.99
- Upfront cost: £69.99
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 20GB 4G
- Contract Length: 24 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- Free calls and texts while roaming in selected European countries
- Double-speed LTE-Advanced 4G (up to 300Mbps)
- Retailer (link): EE
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 Edge review
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Honourable mention: Galaxy S6 Edge 64GB
Choosing an honourable mention was difficult as there were lots to choose from but we settled on the only 12-month contract on our list (the rest are 24 months). Vodafone still offer 12-month contracts and while they have become relatively expensive, they still offer value for money and the ability to change devices more often.
Deal details:
- Network: Vodafone UK
- Price per month: £59.99
- Upfront cost: £279.00
- Monthly Minutes: Unlimited
- Monthly SMS: Unlimited
- Monthly Data: 4GB 4G
- Contract Length: 12 months
-
Inclusive Extras:
- 3 months unlimited internet (Data Test Drive)
- 5GB BT Openzone Wi-Fi
- Free Inclusive calls to the UK from European Zone
- £3 per day roaming in European countries (Vodafone EuroTraveller)
- 6 months inclusive benefit (Now TV, Sky Sports Mobile TV or Spotify Premium)
- Retailer (link): Vodafone UK
- Review (link): Galaxy S6 Edge review
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Wrapping Up
Choosing a new smartphone is certainly a challenge with a myriad of networks, retailers, handsets, offers, price plans and allowances to choose from. You may have just been looking for some recommendations on what to spend your money on and we hope that you’ve at least gained some insight into what your monthly budget might get you.
Our top picks for Android deals: which will you buy?
It’s worth remembering that there are hundreds – and even thousands – of pay monthly deals available and while we’ve picked the ones we think are top picks, there are probably others that also suit your needs. Some networks – EE and O2 – allow you to customise your package by paying more upfront and less per month and vice versa so the same deals mentioned above may be available at other prices.
Based in the UK and spotted a deal that you think we’ve missed? Which deal would you choose and why? Have we helped you with our top picks for Android contracts in the UK? Let us know your views in the comments below guys!!
Video: Slickwraps sends Galaxy S6 to the edge of space, phone lives to tell the tale
You probably know Slickwraps for its skin protections for smartphones, laptops and other devices. The Kansas-based company is making wraps for all major Android devices, in a variety of colors and materials, allowing you to customize your device and give it a little protection from bumps and drops. But how about a drop from the edge of space?
That’s the premise of this video from Slickwraps, showing the Galaxy S6 being tied up to a weather balloon and sent soaring up to 122,264 feet (37,266m). That’s more than three times the cruising altitude of a commercial jetliner and high enough to see the Earth’s curvature and the blackness of space.
During the Galaxy S6’ three hour flight, the device travelled across 111 miles (233km), encountered speeds of 110mph (177km/h), with temperatures dropping to -65F (-54C). Now that’s well beyond the normal operating range for just about any electronic, but the Galaxy S6 (covered in Slickwraps’ natural bamboo skin) seems to have survived the trip (and the fall) intact.
Of course, the Galaxy S6 is not the first device to skirt the edges of the atmosphere – its ancestor, the Galaxy S2, hit 30,000 meters in 2011; the LG G2 captured some beautiful imagery in 2013; and last year, British mad scientist Colin Furze sent dozens of HTC One M8’s up to 100,000 feet. But nothing compares to the achievement of the venerable of Nexus One, which NASA used as the brains of its PhoneSat nano-satellites.
Counterpoint: Samsung to sell 50 million Galaxy S6’s, won’t match the iPhone though
The Galaxy S6 may be one of the best Android smartphones of the year but Samsung is still reportedly struggling to outsell the Apple iPhone 6 and Apple iPhone 6 Plus. This follows on from another report that suggested the Galaxy S6 has failed to match Samsung’s expectations in Korea, although another report suggested that the Galaxy S6 Edge was exceeding expectations.
According to new figures from data tracker Counterpoint Technology Market Research, Samsung shipped ten million devices to partners in the three weeks after the handsets launched on April 10, with six million of these being sold to customers. These sales figures were enough to double the sales of the Galaxy S5 in the same period but not enough to match the performance of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus during April.
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A Samsung spokeswoman told the WallStreetJournal that the two flagship devices “are well accepted in the market and sustain the high demand since their market launches” before adding that the company was ramping up production of the Galaxy S6 Edge to “support further growth“.
Samsung told its investors earlier this year that it expected to sell three Galaxy S6 devices for each S6 Edge it sold but the Galaxy S6 Edge has been received better than its sibling in the market, resulting in demand exceeding the supply. As a result, Samsung already confirmed it was opening a third manufacturing plant to increase production of the Galaxy S6 Edge and a report suggested the company planned to triple production of the Galaxy S6 Edge.
Increased supply and availability would certainly increase overall sales of the Galaxy S6 Edge but the high price of both the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge could also be a stumbling block for would-be owners of Samsung’s two flagships. Neither Apple nor Samsung report sales of individual smartphones but this quarter’s financials will certainly reveal whether the two flagships were enough for Samsung to revert its mobile decline.
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Maybe if Samsung were to make the Galaxy S6 Edge Iron Man Edition widely available and release other Avengers-themed Galaxy S6 smartphones, it would be enough to finally topple Apple.
OK Google from any screen makes its return to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
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There was a weird thing that happened on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge not long ago. The OK Google command from any screen went AWOL. Although I didn’t use it often on my Note 4, it was annoying to not have the functionality available when I needed it the most, like when driving in San Francisco and trying to find my way around. People tried everything from factory data resets, to uninstalling Google App updates, but to no avail. Now it would seem the function has returned to users though.
What happened and how it was fixed appears to be a mystery, but what is really important is that it is back. To get it turned back on you will probably need to be on the latest Google App version, the latest Google Play Services never hurts either and disable that crazy S Voice hot word detection. Although you can use both apparently. To get flip the switch head to the Google App in your devices app drawer and tap that hamburger menu icon to pull out the side panel. Head down to settings, then to Voice, “OK Google” detection, and turn on the From any screen option. You can also allow Personal results and actions even when your phone is locked if you desire.
It might be a little thing to some, but for others this is outstandingly useful news.
The post OK Google from any screen makes its return to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Galaxy S6 vs Huawei P8 vs LG G4: Your Questions Answered
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Choosing a new smartphone can certainly be a challenge and while reviews will obviously provide a lot of detail, sometimes you just don’t get the information you wanted. Maybe it’s a specific question that applies to you only or maybe you want some comparisons; either way, sometimes a review and comparison just doesn’t give you the detail you need.
A couple of weeks ago, we offered you the chance to have your questions on the Galaxy S6, Huawei P8 and LG G4 answered in the first of our Ask Us Anything series. Having read through the comments on that post, we’ve picked the top 6 voted questions to answer below.
Question 1 from Bernard:
With octa-core LPDDR4 chipsets coming out, is it worth getting the LG G4? Is the Samsung S6 the better buy for performance? How long will the Snapdragon 808 last against the competition?
The video shows that the Galaxy S6 is by far, the best for performance in the benchmark tests and in actual usage, this is also the case. The optimised software on the Galaxy S6 provides the fastest experience from a Samsung smartphone to-date and Samsung’s choice of using its own Exynos 7420 processor means they’ve been able to optimise the entire experience.
The LG G4 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU and the question about how long it will last against the competition is certainly difficult to answer. Sure, it’s a “lower number” than the latest Snapdragon 810 processor but LG have worked closely with Qualcomm to optimise the 808 CPU just for the G4 and the result is a super slick experience.
It’s certainly not as fluid as the Galaxy S6 but this will improve with future software updates and certainly, the performance is good enough that it should alleviate any of your concerns.
Question 2 from Mr AAKuljami:
Which camera performs better when it comes to AUTO mode (Simple AUTO mode, just open camera and shoot, no manual tweaking of settings) ? G4 or S6?
This is arguably the biggest thing everyone wants to know; which is the better camera? When comparing cameras, I always use Auto mode and the average joe will also use the automatic settings (as opposed to tweaking the settings manually).
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For me personally, the LG G4 takes slightly better images than the Galaxy S6 in daylight conditions as the color spectrum sensor definitely produces a more accurate-looking image. However, in low light conditions and in video recording, the Galaxy S6 appears to be that little bit better and given that the daylight images of the S6 are slightly oversaturated but look better to the eye, I would say the Galaxy S6 has the better camera.
Question 3 from Bob:
Can we get a chart with stats? Mostly battery life and camera stats? you know for easy compare…
We couldn’t add the chart to the video so we’ve decided to publish it here instead. The table below reveals average battery stats, LTE antenna strength, camera stats etc and hopefully provides enough information for you to make your decision!
| Detail | Galaxy S6 | LG G4 | Huawei P8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware: | |||
| Display Size: | 5.1 inch Super AMOLED | 5.5 inch IPS | 5.2 inch IPS |
| Display Resolution: | Quad HD (1440×2560) | Quad HD (1440×2560) | Full HD (1080×1920) |
| Display Density: | 577ppi | 538ppi | 424ppi |
| Processor: | octa-core Eyxnos 7420 4 x 1.5GHz, 4 x 2.1GHz |
hexa-core Snapdragon 808 2 x 1.82GHz, 4 x 1.44GHz |
octa-core Kirin 930 4 x 2GHz, 4 x 1.5GHz |
| Storage: | 32/64/128GB | 32GB | 16/64GB |
| Expandable storage? | No | Yes | Yes |
| RAM: | 3GB | 3GB | 3GB |
| Software: | |||
| OS version: | Android 5.0.2 | Android 5.1 | Android 5.0.2 |
| User Interface: | TouchWiz | LG G UX 4.0 | EMUI v3.1 |
| Themes: | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Optimisation Rating (out of 10): | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Camera: | |||
| Sensor size: | 16MP | 16MP | 13MP |
| Autofocus: | Yes | Laser | Yes |
| Optical Image Stabilisation: | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video recording (1080p): | 60fps | 60fps | 30fps |
| Video Recording (4K): | 30fps | 30fps | None |
| Front camera: | 5MP, 1440p@30fps | 8MP, 1080p@30fps | 8MP, 1080p |
| Manual controls: | Partial | Full | Partial |
| Battery: | |||
| Capacity: | 2600mAh | 3000mAh | 2680mAh |
| Removable? | No | Yes | No |
| Wireless Charging? | Built in: Qi + PMA | Optional: Qi | None |
| Average Battery Life: | 14 to 18 hours 3 hours Screen On Time Galaxy S6 Edge Battery Review 5 tips to improve Galaxy S6 battery |
16 hours 3 hours Screen On Time |
14 to 16 hours 4 hours Screen On Time |
| Review Rating: | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Review Link: | Galaxy S6 Review Galaxy S6 Edge Review |
LG G4 Review | Huawei P8 Review |
Question 4 from Donovan Richards:
Quick question about audio quality out of the 3.5mm jack.
I’m a major music freak like most people and have my IEM’s in all day everyday at work, on the motorcycle and definitely whilst running. Due for an upgrade and aiming at the lg g4 and samsung galaxy s6.
Using your ears and the standard earphones that come with s6 and g4 how would you describe the sound of each? As it’s been said the s6 has a wolfson audio chip for better quality sound? ( Not sure about g4?)
Which would you say in your terms sounds the clearest and detailed
We would have loved to answer this question Donovan but sadly, my LG G4 sample didn’t come with LG’s headphones included. However, using a pair of Beats headphones, the G4 audio is really, very good but the Galaxy S6 sounds clearer (to my untrained ears at least) with less hiss at the high end.
Related: Galaxy S6 Edge vs Huawei P8
It’s worth noting that the G4 does sound a little tinny at high volumes and lacks the clarity of the Galaxy S6 but the differences are certainly negligible. We’re going to try and get an answer to this question for you as soon as possible so stay tuned for an update as soon as we can answer this.
Question 5 from Razor:
If you could choose between only one of the three, what handset would you choose.
A question that was asked many times, both by Razor and several others and it’s a question I get asked a lot when people talk to me about which phone to buy. Choosing between these three devices is certainly not easy but my personal opinion is that the Galaxy S6 ticks more boxes than the Huawei P8 or the LG G4.
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The S6 and the S6 Edge both offer the latest specs, an outstanding display, innovative design, optimised software and excellent camera and while the G4 and P8 tick some of these boxes, they don’t tick all of them. The LG G4 has almost everything – save for the optimised software and the build quality – while the P8 again ticks plenty of boxes but doesn’t have the performance, software optimisation or display of the S6.
Question 6 from Syed Askari:
Which device has the best display and camera? Which one gives the premium look?
In the video, we answered this in three parts and we’ll do the same here, first looking at the display, then the camera and finally the premium look and feel.
Best Display
The display on the Huawei P8 is the least pleasing of the three devices but this is due to the 1080p resolution, compared with Quad HD on both, the Galaxy S6 and the LG G4. For me personally, the LG G4 is very impressive and the 98% compliance with the DCI standard means that watching films on the screen offers the closest cinema-like experience on any smartphone to date.
By way of comparison, the over-saturation on the Galaxy S6 display results in it exceeding the DCI standard but the display is arguably nicer to look at. The display is vibrant, colors are rich and blacks are deep and while the G4 does very well here, I personally prefer the Galaxy S6. This is just my opinion however, so you may find the LG G4 is the better display for you.
Best Camera
The question that most people seem to be asking is: which is the better camera, the Galaxy S6 or the LG G4? Personally, I find the oversaturated images on the Galaxy S6 to be more pleasing to the eye but the LG G4 images are certainly more lifelike. Which is the better camera? It’s too close to call so we’ll call it a draw; which do you think is the better? Have a look at the images below (in this order: Galaxy S6, LG G4, Huawei P8) and let us know in the comments below!
Premium Look and Feel
If there’s one thing I don’t like about the LG G4, it has to be the build. The design of the handset is certainly premium enough but the use of plastic – even though there is a leather back cover available – means the handset just doesn’t look or feel as nice as the Galaxy S6 or the P8.
The Galaxy S6 has that stunning metal and glass build but the Huawei P8 packs a very impressive specs list into a body that’s just 6.4mm thick. I personally think the Galaxy S6 has a great design but the all aluminium-build of the Huawei P8 is incredible as well. Far too close to call this so we’ll leave it as a draw; let us know which you think is the more premium looking smartphone in the comments below!
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Wrapping up
Picking a new smartphone is certainly a challenge with a myriad of platforms, specs, designs and features to consider and hopefully, this series has helped you with your decision. Each handset has their Pros and Cons and it’s worth looking at the links below to read each review in more detail.
Huawei P8 Review
LG G4 Review
Samsung Galaxy S6 Review
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Review
We couldn’t answer all the questions you had but hopefully, we’ve picked the ones that give you the detail you were looking for. Got other questions that you want answered? Leave them in the comments below and maybe the community can help answer the questions we’ve missed!
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Samsung refutes recent claims that the Galaxy S6 isn’t selling well
Despite the much-improved build quality on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, there have been a few rumors floating around the web stating that sales of the handsets thus far have been a disaster for the company, and that its mobile business is “imploding”. According to investment banking firm Oppenheimer, the poor sales are largely due to the fact that most of the improvements made this time around are solely based on hardware, and that Samsung’s software has barely seen any improvements.
In a letter to its clients, the banking firm explained:
When we look at Samsung’s flagship in 2015, the Galaxy S6 Edge, almost all of its differentiators fall back to hardware: a cutting-edge CPU, curved display, iPhone-like metal casing, front area fingerprint sensor, and camera with OIS. At the same time, we see little improvement in Samsung’s software user experience, and no value-added to existing Samsung users who are on prior generations of devices.
As evidence of this claim, Oppenheimer points out that Samsung sold roughly 10 million Galaxy S6 units in about one month’s time, compared to the 11 million Galaxy S5 units the company sold within the same timeframe last year.
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Whether these rumors that the Galaxy S6’s numbers are devastating to the company are true or not, Samsung still found it necessary to refute the claims. According to The Korea Times, an unnamed Samsung executive said in an interview that the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are both selling very well. The exec explains:
Sales of the S6 and S6 Edge are meeting our internal target. S6 sales will clearly be higher than those of the S5. Samsung will aggressively promote sales in our target markets… You have to wait and see; however, the S6 and S6 Edge sales will be far higher than those of the S5.
Although the Galaxy S5 may have seen better initial sales than the S6, the company reportedly sold 40% fewer Galaxy S5 units than it anticipated. The Samsung employee added that roughly 305,000 GS6 units were being sold daily, which is much better than the S5 and S4’s 124,000 and 241,000 per day, respectively.
While Samsung’s claims seem genuine, we’ll have to wait until the company releases its next financial report before we make anymore assumptions.
Best for 4G: Galaxy S6 v Huawei P8 v LG G4
I often get asked which handset has the best network performance and reliability and usually the answer is Samsung, as for many years now the company has had by far the fastest LTE speeds on mobile devices.
With the change in build from plastic to metal and glass on the Galaxy S6 however, the company was faced with having to redesign its network antennae, so is the performance as good as past Samsung devices? How does it compare to the plastic-clad LG G4 and the metal-built Huawei P8, which comes with Huawei’s own extensive knowledge of mobile networks.
Which of these has the most reliable network connection, including call success rate, antenna strength and 4G Speed Tests? Let’s find out:
N.B. All handsets were tested using the same network – EE, which supports speeds of up to 300Mbps in the London area – and at the exact same time. The results below are based on a sample of 52 tests in 11 different areas spanning a distance of 170 miles.
Network Switch Rate
One problem with most current LTE networks is that VoLTE (Voice Over LTE) isn’t supported in large parts of the network, meaning handsets need to switch down to a 3G connection when attempting to make a call while connected to an LTE connection. Often, the time taken to locate and switch to a 3G network can result in a dropped call; both, when making a call or receiving a call.
The purpose of this section was to test the handset’s ability to switch from LTE to 2G/3G and vice versa, while also determining which handset remained connected to the fastest network for longest. During our testing, we found the following:
| Galaxy S6 | LG G4 | Huawei P8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Time taken to switch to fastest network | 1 minute 48 seconds | 52 seconds | 41 seconds |
| Number of dropped calls when connected to LTE | 21 dropped calls | 11 dropped calls | 6 dropped calls |
| Time connected to fastest network | 49 seconds | 1 minute 3 seconds | 2 minutes 9 seconds |
The network switch rate on the Galaxy S6 is certainly surprising given that past Samsung devices – albeit they were made of plastic – would usually latch onto the best network. The LG G4 certainly performs well but Huawei’s network coverage shone through in testing, with the Huawei P8 switching the fastest and remaining connected to the best network for longest.
Antenna Strength
This section tests how strong the antennae performance on each smartphone actually is. To test the antenna strength, we used the figures reported in the Settings > About Phone > Status screen. A signal rating of -60 dBm is recognised as near perfect while anything above -110 dBm is considered call-dropping quality.
Our testing shows that:
| Galaxy S6 | LG G4 | Huawei P8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average antenna strength | -91 dBm | -74 dBm | -62 dBm |
| Ratio of average connection (3G:LTE) | 4:1 | 1:5 | 1:8 |
| Occurrences of zero signal (out of 52 tests) | 13 | 3 | 3 |
The Galaxy S6 again fails to excite here, with the handset often not even connecting to LTE. Considering that this particular unit may have been faulty, we decided to test with an alternate handset and found similar levels of performance: the second Galaxy S6 was on average 6 dBm better than the first handset and not enough to warrant the first unit as faulty.
The LG G4 again performs relatively well, with a relatively strong network antenna, but the Huawei P8 is again the best (and this time, by far).
LTE Speed Tests
Now to the final section and probably the most interesting: superfast LTE speeds. This was a simple test to conduct; each handset was using the latest version of Ookla’s SpeedTest application and was connected to 4G.
Our testing found:
| Galaxy S6 | LG G4 | Huawei P8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average speed test: download | 50.03 Mbps | 53.37 Mbps | 58.31 Mbps |
| Average speed test: upload | 15.69 Mbps | 18.38 Mbps | 20.04 Mbps |
| Fastest LTE speed recorded: | 78.39 Mbps | 88.46 Mbps | 91.44 Mbps |
The results were very surprising, given that the Ascend P7 was slower than both the LG G3 and the Galaxy S5. The G4 is better than the G3 thanks to the addition of Cat 6 support and the Huawei P8 is a marked improvement over the Ascend P7, with Huawei’s network knowledge really shining through thanks to the dual antenna system.
The Galaxy S6 tests showed that the handset is significantly slower than the Note 4 and Galaxy S5, despite the newer internal hardware and LTE Cat 6 support (which the Galaxy Note 4 also has). The Galaxy S6 also failed to latch onto 4G+ (Cat 6) – which offers downloads speeds of up to 300Mbps – and was instead limited to Cat 4, which offers a maximum download speed of 150Mbps.
Conclusion
Looking at all the tests and the various results, I think it’s safe to say that the Huawei P8 is the best handset for LTE, while the LG G4 comes second and the Galaxy S6 is significantly further back. Samsung’s adoption of metal and glass certainly worked for most parts of the handset but the network antenna seems to have suffered as a result of the switch, which could be expected given the problems others have had with metal builds.
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With the G4, LG have made the antenna stronger than the G3 and the result is much better performance overall. The G4 is certainly impressive in holding onto a network connection and with Cat 6 support, the maximum download speeds have also vastly improved. The dual antenna system on the Huawei P8 clearly prevents any antenna-gate issues – where holding the handset the wrong way can affect your signal – and the handset can intelligently switch between the two antennae, depending upon which is the strongest.
Now read the reviews:
Huawei P8 Review
LG G4 Review
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Review
Samsung Galaxy S6 Review
What do you think? Is LTE performance and network resilience important to you? Let us know your views in the comments guys!
Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge “Ok Google” from any screen feature returning
The “Ok Google” feature on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge seems to be reappearing for some users, as Google is in the process of rolling out a update to fix the problem. The voice command from any screen has been missing since launch, and has progressively gotten more widespread since then.
Google is releasing a fix for the issue right now, saying that there was an incompatibility with Samsung’s S Voice. In other words, if you want to use “Ok Google” anywhere on your device, that means the S Voice hotword is going to be disabled everywhere, except when the screen is turned off.
It does take time for updates like these to rollout, so in the meantime, a Community Manager on Google’s Product Forums suggests making sure you have the latest version of the Google Search App installed to get the hotfix as soon as possible.
It appears that what caused the issue was some of Google’s engineers smoothing out some incompatibility problems with the device, and “Ok Google” not working was a unintended result of that.
source: Google Product Forums
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge “Ok Google” from any screen feature returning
“Okay, Google” command from any screen returns to Galaxy S6
Google confirmed, and we verified, that the “Okay, Google” hotword command is now working again on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
The feature has been broken for weeks, and the fact that the option to activate it was completely missing from the Settings section made some users believe it was an intentional omission by Samsung. As it turns out, the reason was a plain old bug, or more precisely a conflict between the Google app and Samsung’s own voice command feature, S Voice.
A Google representative announced on the company’s product forums that the problem has been fixed. In order to get the feature to work, you will need to have the latest Google app update (4.5 or higher, the current one being 4.6). If you have the latest version and you can’t see the feature, try uninstalling the updates to the Google app and then updating it to the latest version. That’s how our Nirave managed to get it to work on his Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Worst case, you may need to clear the cached data of the Google app, though that means you will be signed out of your Google account.
One more thing: because of said conflict with S Voice, enabling “Okay, Google” from any screen will disable S Voice, except for the times when the screen is off. Basically, you will have to decide between the two assistants, but we’re pretty sure that won’t be a problem for many of you.
Moshi iGlaze for Samsung Galaxy S6 Review: a light and elegant case for your smartphone
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With sales of the Samsung Galaxy S6 in full swing now, there are no doubt quite a few users looking for a case to protect their beautiful, and yet fragile, smartphone. However, as is always the case when buying a case is: do I buy a case that compromises the beauty of my device by looking too rugged, or do I go for a case that is more aesthetically pleasing, but probably less protective. The Moshi iGlaze for the Samsung Galaxy S6 falls into the latter category, as many of Moshi‘s cases do, and we’re going to take a look at it today.
What’s in the box
Inside the box is a pretty standard, simple affair: you’ll be getting the iGlaze case itself and a card to remind you that the case has a lifetime warranty. Moving onto the case itself, you’ll be getting a case with a brushed metal-esque finish, although Moshi says that it has used a “hybrid” material to make the iGlaze and it feels a lot more like plastic. Nevertheless, it is a very striking look and would not look out of place at work or home.
The case is actually two-tone, which the back rocking that metal finish and the front edges made of a slightly different plastic. For the most part, you won’t be able to tell the difference at a glance, but the material on the front half is less shiny and more of your standard plastic. The case is also phenomenally light which means you’ll hardly notice the extra weight after adding the case to your Galaxy S6 – Moshi says the iGlaze weighs in at 30 grams.
How does it perform
As I mentioned earlier, although the case looks metal, the hybrid plastic the iGlaze is made from is actually very malleable and it was very easy to insert and remove my Samsung Galaxy S6 – not so much that it was easy to pop it out accidentally, but it definitely wasn’t a chore or particularly difficult.
The case provides coverings for all buttons, and although I couldn’t fully test them with my dummy Galaxy S6, they look well articulated and tactile enough to give you feedback as to whether you’ve pressed the button or not.
There’s also ample space for all access points to be reached. The only concern I have with these, in particular the hole for the camera, is that the back of the iGlaze case is actually flush with the outer face of the Galaxy S6 – if you had this sitting on its back all the time, I’d be concerned that scratching of the Galaxy S6’s outer lens would eventually occur. Luckily, this isn’t the case on the other side of the iGlaze as there is quite a substantial lip around the edge to protect the screen of the Galaxy S6.
What I like about the Moshi iGlaze
My favourite part of the Moshi iGlaze is its looks – maybe it’s the brushed metal look or its slim frame, but I really like how minimalistic the case looks, something which has become synonymous with the Moshi brand by now.
It’s also surprisingly protective with plenty of protection for the main parts of the phone, but most of all the screen, something that other minimalistic cases often neglect.
What I don’t like about the Moshi iGlaze
As mentioned previously, my primary concern with the iGlaze is the protection of the camera. Seeing as this is one of the highlights of the Galaxy S6, I’m surprised it didn’t get the same treatment the screen did, though that would make the whole case a little thicker thanks to the protruding camera. That said, that’s just me speculating so I wouldn’t be able to say this is the case long term.
I’m also a bit disappointed in the colour offerings – despite Samsung offering a plethora of colours for their devices, the iGlaze is currently only available in the Graphite Black that we reviewed and Carnation Pink (which trades black for grey on the front edge). Then again, if you go for the black version, there’s not much that doesn’t go with black.
Final thoughts
Overall, I’m very impressed with the Moshi iGlaze – as always, Moshi’s minimal take on cases is elegant and simple, which is exactly what some people want in a case for their device. It also provides the minimal amount of protection for your Galaxy S6, primarily protecting the display. If what you’re after is a case that provides a little more protection than a naked Galaxy S6, looks good while doing it, and is relatively cheap at $29.95 USD, you’ll want to consider the Moshi iGlaze case for the Galaxy S6.
For more information on the Moshi iGlaze and where to buy it, you can view its product page here.
- Beautiful
- Protects screen well
- Questionable camera protection
- Lack of colour choice
4.5Overall Score
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