Spec-sheet Skirmish: LG G4 vs the competition
The LG G4 has just joined the ranks of this year’s flagship smartphones, so let’s delve right on in and see how its hardware stacks up with the very best on offer this year.
Display
Much like Samsung, LG prides itself on its industry-leading mobile display technology. Last year’s LG G3 was one of the first to offer a QHD resolution display, a specification that is now rivaled by Samsung but few others. LG may not have boosted the resolution any further this year, but has set about refining its existing technology.
| LG G4 | Samsung Galaxy S6 | HTC One M9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5-inch, QHD LCD, 534ppi | 5.1-inch, QHD AMOLED, 557ppi | 5.0-inch, 1080p LCD, 441 ppi |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 | Samsung Exynos 7420 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 |
| CPU | 2xCortex A57 + 4xCortex A53 | 4xCortex A57 + 4xCortex A53 | 4xCortex A57 + 4xCortex A53 |
| GPU | Adreno 418 | Mali-T760 MP8 | Adreno 430 |
| RAM | 3GB LPDDR3 | 3GB LPDDR4 | 3GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 32GB | 32/64/128GB | 32GB |
| MicroSD | up to 128GB | no | up to 128GB |
| Rear Camera | 16MP, f/1.8, OIS, laser focus | 16MP, f/1.9, OIS | 20.7MP |
| Front Camera | 8MP | 5MP | 4MP |
| Battery | 3000 mAh | 2550 mAh | 2840 mAh |
| Dimensions | 149.8 x 76.2 x 10.16 mm, 155 g | 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138g | 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157g |
LG boasts that its new Quantum display offers 20 percent greater color reproduction, a 25 percent improvement in brightness and 50 percent greater contrast than its last display. Some users complained that colors can look a little washed out with the LG G3, so it’s good to see the company address this issue. LG is targeting the Digital Cinema Initiatives standard for color expression and boasts a 98% accuracy to the standard, which may rival the high bar already set by the Samsung Galaxy S6 this year.
g the Digital Cinema Initiatives standard for color expression and boasts a 98% accuracy to the standard, which may rival the high bar already set by the Samsung Galaxy S6 this year.
The other big talking point with LG’s latest smartphones is its curved display. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge or the bendy G Flex 2, the G4 features a subtler curve. Ergonomically, there’s a case to be made that a slight curve helps it sit in the hand and rest against the face a little more naturally, as was the argument made for the old Galaxy Nexus.
Both the Galaxy S6 and G4 feature QHD displays that pack a punch with vivid colors. These two could spark a new battle between the best of AMOLED vs LCD.
Most of this year’s flagships are still sticking to the tried and tested 1080p resolution, which provides an excellent balance between gaming performance, battery life and image clarity. QHD’s edge in pixel density is certainly a luxury rather than a major benefit, but LG’s new Quantum Dot display and Samsung’s AMOLED are also pushing display quality in terms other than resolution too.
Processing package
This year the talk is all about 64-bit processors, with the arrival of new high-end mobile SoCs from Qualcomm and Samsung. However, unlike LG’s earlier G Flex 2 smartphone, the G4 does not feature Qualcomm’s very high-end Snapdragon 810, but instead drops down one notch to a 64-bit Snapdragon 808 package.
There are several key differences between the two, most noticeably the absence of two high-performance Cortex-A72 cores, making the 808 a hexa-core rather than octa-core chip. While unlikely to make any difference for most day to day tasks and web-based experiences, gamers and very heavy multitaskers may notice some difference. That said, we’ve already found that the LG UX user interface runs better on the G4 than it does on the Snapdragon 810 powered G Flex 2, so LG may have done some serious optimizing.
| Sony Xperia Z4 | LG G Flex 2 | Nexus 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.2-inch, 1080p LCD, 424ppi | 5.5-inch, 1080p P-OLED, 403ppi | 6-inch, QHD AMOLED, 493 ppi |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 |
| CPU | 4xCortex A57 + 4xCortex A53 | 4xCortex A57 + 4xCortex A53 | 4xKrait 450 |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 430 | Adreno 420 |
| RAM | 3GB LPDDR3 | 2/3GB LPDDR4 | 3GB LPDDR3 |
| Storage | 32/64GB | 16/32GB | 32/64GB |
| MicroSD | up to 128GB | up to 128GB | no |
| Rear Camera | 20.7MP | 13MP, OIS | 13MP, OIS |
| Front Camera | 5.1MP | 2.1MP | 2MP |
| Battery | 2930 mAh | 3000 mAh | 3200 mAh |
| Dimensions | 146 x 72 x 6.9 mm, 144 g | 149.1 x 75.3 x 7.1-9.4 mm, 152g | 159.3 x 83 x 10.1 mm, 184g |
Cast your mind back to earlier discussions about big.LITTLE SoC designs and you’ll often find reference to hexa-core designs for smartphones and octa-core designs for tablets. In the pursuit of ever higher performance, smartphone OEMs have typically opted for as much power as possible, but the Snapdragon 808 is no slouch and may prove to offer a better balance of performance and battery life than its octa-core rivals, a similar argument is often made that 1080p is considered good enough by some. The smaller number of cores should also result in a cooler device as well, which might negate some of the expected performance differences. LG promises a 20 percent increase in battery life compared with the LG G3.
However, the Snapdragon 808 isn’t compatible with LPDDR4, meaning a drop back to LPDDR3 memory for LG. This leaves the handset behind the likes of the G Flex 2, Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9, when it comes to the cutting edge. The Exynos 7420 and Snapdragon 810 allow for 25.6GB/s peak memory bandwidth, while LPDDR3-933 tops out around 15GB/s, although again this will only be felt in more extreme processing situations.
| Snapdragon 810 | Snapdragon 808 | Snapdragon 805 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Count | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| CPU | 4x Cortex-A57 + 4x Cortex-A53 (ARMv8-A) | 2x Cortex-A57 + 4x Cortex A53 (ARMv8-A) | 4x Krait 450 (ARMv7-A) |
| Memory | 2x 1555MHz LPDDR4 (25.6GBps) | 2x 933MHz LPDDR3 (15GBps) | 2x 800MHz LPDDR3 (12.8GBps) |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 418 | Adreno 420 |
| Data | Cat 9 LTE | Cat 9 LTE | Cat 4 LTE |
| Process | 20nm | 20nm | 28nm |
Finally, the LG G4 features an Adreno 418, which again is slower than the Snapdragon 810s Adreno 430 and sits behind some of last year’s Snapdragon 805 powered handsets, which feature an Adreno 420. Qualcomm doesn’t share enough about its GPU architecture for us to make too much of a comparison, but consumers might not see too much of a performance jump from last year’s LG G3, which was a bit hit and miss given the handset’s QHD resolution. Qualcomm suggests a performance increase of 20 percent between the 330 and 418, but we have no idea under what conditions that can be achieved.
In the SoC department, performance enthusiasts may not be thrilled with LG’s choice to opt for a Snapdragon 808 over the now commonplace Snapdragon 810 found in the One M9 and Xperia Z4, but we don’t have any complaints based on our initial hands-on time.
Camera
Camera technology was the other big focus feature for the G4 and the paper specs boast a sensor resolution that rivals the majority of flagships on the market today. As well as just increasing the sensor resolution, LG is focusing on sharper colors, thanks to an additional “color spectrum sensor”, optical image stabilization has been improved and the laser autofocus feature remains useful.
Low light performance should be one of the best around, thanks to the design’s f/1.8 aperture, which bests the Galaxy S6’s f/1.9 setup. With HTC again not quite hitting mark in low light scenarios and very little changing in Sony’s setup, LG and Samsung may forge ahead of the pack in the camera segment.
Like other high-end devices, LG is giving additional power to photographers with the introduction of a new manual mode, which offers enhanced control over ISO, focus, and picture formats, among others. Both HTC and Samsung have included manual modes in their latest smartphones too.
LG has uploaded some impressive looking sample shots, but we’ll have to wait to see how the G4 stacks up against the S6’s excellent low light performance and the higher resolution sensors in the M9 and Z4.
On the front of the smartphone LG has included an 8MP sensor, which rivals the resolution of main smartphone cameras from a few years back. This year’s flagships have all upped their game, but LG has taken selfie quality up another notch. Although we should give a mention to the Oppo N3 for the most innovative self-experience.
(Not so) little extras
The absence of a removable battery and microSD card slot from the Samsung Galaxy S6 was a divisive design choice, especially given that most other flagship devices have at least kept the optional microSD card slot. LG keeps both options open, which might be a compelling factor for some. However, Samsung’s latest flagship still offers by far the most internal storage for those who want as much space as possible out of the box.
Design atheistic and build materials has also become an increasingly important point of contrast in the high-end section. Both Samsung and LG have finally cottoned on to the praise heaped at HTC’s use of materials, and LG has arguably gone one step further to offer consumers almost a Moto Maker range of choice. While some may prefer HTC’s metal finish or Samsung’s glass, leather is no less a premium material that will suit some people’s tastes.
However, these new materials do come at the expensive of dust and water resistance, which were big features in the last two generation of smartphones. Sony’s Xperia Z4 leads the way with an IP68 rating this year, while the other flagships appear to have dropped mention of a rating altogether. LG’s G Flex 2 has a self-healing back, but that’s not quite as useful.
As for software, LG’s calendar and gallery apps have been tweaked for better integration and overall the focus has been on making LG’s UI more intelligent. There’s a meaningful difference between the software packages offered by each vendor. Samsung still leads the way with S Health but arguably still has the most clutter, while HTC’s BlinkFeed is excellent for eager readers and Sony is slick all around.
However, LG promises a more “Nexus like” experience this time around, which should appease those who have previously complained about lag ridden software. Samsung has also made a conscious effort to improve in this regard, although HTC and Sony have set a high bar as far a smooth and useful interfaces go. At the very least, there’s a dose of Android Lollipop all around with this year’s flagships.
A closer look at the LG G4:
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Thoughts
Although the LG G4 may not dominate the paper specs like the G3 did last year, there’s a good case to be made that LG’s slightly different approach may result in a better overall user experience. By focusing on battery life, display and camera performance, and design aesthetics, LG could come out on top in the areas where consumers actually spend most of their time.
We’ll have to see if this balanced approach pays off when the handset makes it way to consumers in June.
Here’s what’s inside the Galaxy S6 digital gift bag
Samsung is known for offering digital freebies to customers who purchase its premium devices, and the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are no exception. For the metal and glass devices, Samsung is offering free subscriptions and premium services that are worth $500 in total.
The selection of digital gifts includes subscriptions for publications like the New York Times and the Economist, in-game currency packs for games like The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle Earth, and subscriptions for the premium tier of a variety of apps, including Evernote, Endomondo, LastPass, OneDrive, Pocket, Fleksy, and Audible.
You can check the full list here, along a description of each service. All the apps and services are available for download from the Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Apps store, meaning you won’t have to deal with anything you may consider bloatware.
Let us know if there’s anything on the list you find particularly interesting.
Samsung’s rebranding to Galaxy is total in Japan
Galaxy S6 Edge: Global Model
Earlier this month, we took a look at the recent Samsung rebranding situation that has occurred in Japan: the OEM’s logo was nowhere to be seen on any of the promotional material for the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, nor could it be found anywhere on the devices themselves. In the weeks that followed, the story was picked up by not only Korean media sources, but the Japanese media as well, not to mention countless tech sites.
While Samsung has only offered commentary to the effect of the name game being a desire to market the “Galaxy” brand, the problem is largely seen to be one of market share in Japan:
Since the original story, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have released, and suffice to say, the rebranding issue is far larger than it initially appeared. First, let’s take a look at the in-store “Galaxy Store” pop-up corners that exists in Japan:
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- (1) Note all the Samsung branded products on the shelf.
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- (2) The Galaxy is everywhere.
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- (3) Galaxy products on display.
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- (4) Notice all the purple boxes on the racks: all official Samsung cases but without any branding.
The first image (1) is an example of the prior incarnation of the Galaxy Store. While the Samsung logo wasn’t exactly prominent, it could still be found on all product accessories, and on the Wi-Fi Galaxy Tab S units and such on display. The next picture (2) shows the current design. The colors have been changed, and the new Galaxy logo is everywhere. The third picture (3) shows the product display: at the store this image was taken at (Yodobashi Camera Shinjuku), all prior Samsung products have been removed entirely. The final picture (4) shows the Accessory Corner.
Curiously enough, the only place the Samsung name actually appears is on the unsold old Accessory merchandise. These can be seen in the second picture (2) just below the giant orange “au” logo. One might assume these products are there only because devices like the Note Edge and various Galaxy Gear devices are still being sold by carriers (such as “au”).
Moving on, let’s compare the official cases:
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- (1) Official Samsung Japan Galaxy Note Edge Flip Wallet
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- (2) Back side of Japan Note Edge Flip Wallet package.
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- (3) International Galaxy S6 Edge Flip Wallet Case
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- (4) International Galaxy S6 Edge Flip Cover Back
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- (5) Japan Galaxy S6 Edge Flip Wallet
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- (6) Japan Galaxy S6 Edge Flip Wallet package back
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- (7) Japan Galaxy S6 Flip Wallet Accessory Back
Just for reference purposes, images (1) and (2) show the official Samsung Japan Galaxy Note Edge Flip Wallet; note the Samsung logo is present on both the packaging and the actual accessory itself. The next pair of images (3-4) show the international Galaxy S6 Edge Flip Wallet: note the presence of the Samsung logo on the packaging as well as the accessory. Also note the manufacturing information in picture (3) clearly indicates Samsung.
Images (5-7) show the Japanese Galaxy S6 Edge Flip Wallet. Note the removal of the Samsung logo and redesigned packaging. Image (6) in particular is interesting for it simply lists a “Galaxy Customer Center” for customer support; nothing of Samsung. The final image (7) shows how the actual branding on the case has also been altered.
Finally, let’s move onto packaging:
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- Japanese Galaxy Note Edge box
The left image is shown for reference: the standard Galaxy S6 Edge box with Samsung branding. The right image shows the Japanese Galaxy Note Edge box which, despite the phone itself being devoid of Samsung’s logo, still used the company’s name on the box. The image below is the Japanese Galaxy S6 Edge box, complete with the OEM’s name removed.
Finally, take a look at a video from Samsung Japan’s rebranded YouTube page:
The publisher has been rebranded as “Galaxy Mobile Japan”. Not exactly surprising given the previous topics covered, but still good indication of just how all-inclusive this decision has been. Also worth pointing out: the company’s Facebook page, as well as its Twitter account, also reflect the change.
Wrap Up
With this bold new direction, it remains to be seen just what will happen to Samsung’s Japan market share in the coming months. The rebranding, coupled with the release of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, might just be enough to change the tide in the Korean giant’s favor. Bolstering the potential is the appointment of a new COO last week, as well as the fact that no new domestic (Japanese) mobile phones have released in the past few months that might otherwise deter sales. Even the controversial Sony Xperia Z4 has yet to receive a release date.
While the decision to market everything as “Galaxy” in Japan might come across as a shock, consider that Samsung doesn’t have any other mainstream consumer products for sale in the Land of the Rising Sun. No computers, no printers, no televisions, no refrigerators… the Galaxy products are, for all intents and purposes, all it has to offer. With this in mind, it will be quite interesting to see what is to become of the upcoming Galaxy Gear VR, which will actually release in Japan on May 1st.
Samsung is opening a new production line to accomodate Galaxy S6 Edge demand
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By now, many of you will have heard that demand for Samsung‘s latest devices, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, has been considerably more than Samsung, or really anyone, anticipated. Keeping up with supply of the Galaxy S6 doesn’t appear to be an issue for the Korean manufacturer, however, the manufacture of the curved display for the S6 Edge isn’t something that Samsung is able to ramp up without additional help. To that end, Bloomberg has been made aware that Samsung has opened a third factory, referred to as the A3 production line, which will give Samsung 2.5 times the production capacity to make these curved displays and keep up with Galaxy S6 Edge demand.
In real numbers, Samsung’s previous output of curved displays was about 2 million per month, and this A3 line will allow them to get out 5 million screens every month. If that’s not enough of an indication of how much Samsung is under the pump to keep up with demand, the A3 line wasn’t supposed to be opened for another two months – the original plan was to open the plant in June. While we don’t expect the S6 Edge to sell quite as many devices as the vanilla Galaxy S6, we’re genuinely floored by its popularity so far – maybe Samsung really is on to something this time.
What do you think about Samsung’s ability to keep up with Galaxy S6 Edge demand? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Bloomberg via SamMobile
The post Samsung is opening a new production line to accomodate Galaxy S6 Edge demand appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
How much will the LG G4 cost? Signs point to it being more than a Galaxy S6
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Just earlier today, it was revealed to us exactly what the production process is for LG to make those leather back covers for its latest flagship, the LG G4. Among other things, it was revealed that LG is using high-quality cow leather that takes 12 weeks to prepare properly, which really begs the question given all this extra effort to make this device: How much will the LG G4 cost? Well, according to South Korean telco, SK Telecom, the expected price of the LG G4 is going to be $825 USD. If this is true, this would make it 30 dollars more than the Samsung Galaxy S6 ($795), but still less than the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge which costs $908.
Keep in mind that these prices are region specific and that the numbers will not be exactly the same wherever you are in the world. However, it does highlight the relative price difference of the LG G4 compared to the Galaxy S6, which is itself not a cheap device, and puts a big question mark over whether people are going to be won over by LG’s bold strategy. As always, only time will tell.
What do you think about how much the LG G4 will cost? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post How much will the LG G4 cost? Signs point to it being more than a Galaxy S6 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Which is the better gaming device, the Galaxy S6 or the iPhone 6?
There’s no denying that the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Apple iPhone 6 are two of the best smartphones on the market right now – not only when it comes to aesthetics, but also performance. Samsung’s Exynos 7420 processor backed by 3GB of RAM definitely gives Apple’s A8 processor with 1GB of RAM a run for its money. But when it comes to gaming, which device comes out on top? The folks over at GameBench put the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6 to the test to find out which device is the better gaming smartphone.
The GameBench team picked a series of ten high-end games to run on each device in hopes to find out which smartphone would run the smoothest while achieving the highest average frame rate. The games used in this test consisted of Boom Beach, Kill Shot, Marvel: Contest of Champions, Modern Combat 5, Dead Trigger 2, Real Racing 3, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Asphalt 8, XCOM: Enemy Within and Monument Valley. For a bit more context, they also included performance results for the Nexus 6 and HTC One M9.
As you can see from the graphic above, Apple’s iPhone 6 was the clear winner in this test when it came to performance and stability overall. GameBench explains:
The iPhone 6 tended to run games more smoothly, with a higher average frame rate that was very stable and rarely dropped below 30fps. The Galaxy S6 came a pretty close second, with a greater frequency of performance bottlenecks that pushed the framerate below the 30fps threshold.
The HTC One M9 and Nexus 6 came in third and forth place, respectively. Both of these devices showed serious performance slow-downs in some games.
Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Apple iPhone 6
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It’s worth noting that these types of tests should be taken lightly. Each device performs differently under separate circumstances, and even the slightest outlier can throw off the entire test. While these specific tests don’t explain exactly why the iPhone 6 outperformed the Galaxy S6, they still give us a good idea as to how exactly these devices will perform in everyday life. GameBench notes that due to the Galaxy S6 running games at a higher resolution than the iPhone 6 (1080p versus roughly 720p), that could cause the Galaxy S6 to produce lower scores. Additionally, a game has the potential to be better optimized for one platform over the other.
If you invest your hard earned cash into any one of these devices, odds are you probably won’t be too upset when it comes to gaming performance. If you’re interested in learning more about these tests, head to the source link below for some more information.
Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge-optimized Gear VR available for pre-order tomorrow
Back at MWC we took a look at a revamped version of the Samsung Gear VR, designed with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge in mind. Now that the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are available, it seems that the Gear VR is finally ready to hit the market, with pre-orders beginning on April 24th through Best Buy.
So what’s new with this latest model? While the biggest difference here is the that the new Gear VR version is made with the Galaxy S6 series in mind, the revised model also is said to be 15% lighter, has an expanded 96-degree field of vision, and a few other improvements beyond this.
Samsung has yet to disclose how much the new Gear VR “Innovator’s Edition” will cost, but considering the Note 4’s model was $199, we imagine that Samsung will keep pricing about the same. What do you think, anyone planning on picking up the new Gear VR for use with their Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge?
Related Videos
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Already own a GS6 or GS6 Edge? Be sure to check out our roundup of best accessories for pairing with your handset.
Best Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge accessories
With the launch of any major flagship device, hundreds of companies around the world manufacturer accessories – from headphones to cases – in hopes to make their product stand out. This is especially true for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. These two devices just launched a few weeks ago, and there are already an overwhelming amount of add-ons available for the handsets. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites, and links to the websites where you can buy them.
Obviously many of these things aren’t specific to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but they could still certainly come in handy.
See also: 15 things your should know about the Galaxy S6
More on Samsung’s newest flagships
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Screen protectors
Ionic Samsung Galaxy S6 Clear Screen Protector
Available in Clear, Anti-glare and Tempered Glass variants, the Ionic screen protector for the Galaxy S6 offers an high quality way to protect your smartphone’s screen without breaking the bank. These screen protectors feature clear, protective film that won’t disrupt the view of your phone’s clear Quad HD display. Also, the non-adhesive backing won’t leave any sticky residue on the device if you decide to take it off.
You can find these screen protectors on Amazon, ranging from $3.99 to $9.85.
iSmooth Tempered Glass Samsung Galaxy S6 Screen Protector
If you’re looking for a bit more protection out of a screen protector, check out the Tempered Glass Screen Protector by iSmooth. Featuring a precision cut, this screen protector is super easy to install and won’t give you the “rainbow effect” that’s common on many other protectors. It’s also made of some of the highest quality materials found on screen protectors today, so rest assured, you’re getting your money’s worth with this one.
The Tempered Glass Screen Protector by iSmooth is available from $19.97 on Amazon.
Battery packs
Anker 2nd Gen Astro E3 Ultra Compact 10000mAh Battery Pack
The Anker Astro E3 Ultra Compact Battery Pack is one of the best out there, mainly due to it’s compact size and large battery capacity. Offering an additional 10000mAh of additional juice, this battery can recharge to 100% in just 6 hours. It’s compact, sleek, and can easily fit into your pocket when you’re on the go.
This battery pack can be found on Amazon starting at $22.99.
Innogie Premium eLite Series 3200mAh Battery Pack
If you’re looking for a more inexpensive and lightweight battery pack, you should check out the Innogie Premium eLite Battery Pack. It’s about the size of a lipstick tube, allowing it to easily fit into your pocket or purse. It offers 3200mAh of extra battery – perfect for the times you need a little bit more juice to make it through the day.
You can find the Innogie Premium eLite Battery Pack on Amazon starting at $13.99.
Fast chargers
Samsung Adaptive Fast Charger USB Wall Charger
The Galaxy S6 has quick charging technology built-in, and the stock charger should do the trick for all of your fast charging needs. But if you’d like to pick up an extra one to keep in your car or your backpack, you’ll want to check out the official Samsung Adaptive Fast Charger. It comes with the wall adaptor and Micro USB cable, so you’ll be up to 100% battery in no time.
You can grab the Samsung Adaptive Fast Charger from Amazon for $22.52.
CHOE Adaptive Turbo Charger
If you’d like to save a bit of money on your extra fast charger, check out the CHOE Adaptive Turbo Charger. CHOE makes a ton of quality smartphone accessories, and this wall charger is no exception. It’s durable, sleek and inexpensive. What more could you want?!
You can grab your very own CHOE Adaptive Turbo Charger from Amazon for just $15.99.
OTG cables and flash drives
Micro-USB to USB 2.0 Adapter High Speed OTG Data-Transfer Cable for Galaxy S6
Need to transfer something to your mobile device from your USB device/drive/flash/printer easily? Check out this OTG cable. Used for data transfer with role swapping abilities, this cable is for those on the go who need a reliable way to transfer files to and from their mobile device. And at only $8.77 on Amazon, this one is a no-brainer. Head to the link below for more information.
SanDisk Ultra 64GB Micro USB 2.0 OTG Flash Drive for Android smartphones
Many Samsung fans became upset with the company when the found out there would be no MicroSD card slot on the Galaxy S6. For folks who value removable storage over just about everything else, there may be a workaround. The SanDisk Ultra MicroUSB OTG Flash Drive is meant to work on smartphones and tablets, allowing you to keep all of your movies, music and more at your fingertips. No, this won’t allow your files to be available on your device at all times, but this USB drive is small enough that you can easily keep it in your pocket if you need to access something.
You can find this USB drive on Amazon in 16, 32 and 64GB variants starting at just $11.94.
Headphones
Over at our sister site, Sound Guys, we’ve compiled a list of the best Bluetooth headphones, earbuds and wired headphones available on the market. Ranging anywhere from $33 to $499, you’re bound to find some great audio accessories to pair with your new Galaxy S6. Head to the links below for more information.
- Sound Guys – Best Wired Headphones of 2015
- Sound Guys – Best Bluetooth Headphones of 2015
- Sound Guys – Best Bluetooth Earbuds of 2015
Bluetooth speakers
Once again, our friends over at Sound Guys compiled a list of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy for under $50. On the list, you’ll be able to find multiple powerful wireless speakers for $25, or some higher end models that range up to $49. Be sure to check out the link below for a full list of the best Bluetooth speakers available on the market.
Wireless chargers
Just a few days ago, we compiled a big list of the best wireless chargers you can buy for your Samsung Galaxy S6. Samsung’s newest flagship is compatible with both PMA and Qi, making it easier than ever to find a wireless charger that suits your needs. Be sure to check out our comprehensive list by following the link below.
Cases
We also recently compiled a big list of the best cases available for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Ranging anywhere from $8 to $35, the list features a number of well-known, quality brands like Spigen and Speck, while also including a few lesser-known brands like Ringke and Obliq. Be sure to check out our full list by following the link below!
So there you have it, our list of the best accessories available on the market for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Do you see anything we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
Deal: Pick up the new ZeroLemon Galaxy S6 Battery Case for just $20 from Amazon
It’s no secret that Samsung greatly ramped up its design language with the Galaxy S6, combining two panels of Gorilla Glass 4 with an aluminum edge that surrounds the device. But when the phone is covered in glass as opposed to plastic, you may want to take some extra precautions to keep it safe. Carrying around this phone with a case is a must, and why not add a bit of extra functionality while you’re doing it? If you’re looking to give your new Galaxy S6 some extra juice while protecting it, check out ZeroLemon’s Galaxy S6 Battery Case.
Read more: Best Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge cases
The Galaxy S6 certainly doesn’t have the best battery on the market, coming in at just 2550mAh. The ZeroLemon Battery Case will provide an extra 2800mAh of battery capacity, bringing the phone’s total to 5350mAh. You can also remove the battery from the case to use it externally, if you’d like.
Samsung Galaxy S6 videos!
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You’ll notice that the price of the case reads $29.99 (normally $59.99), but you can save even more than that. By using the coupon code NHASAPTH at checkout, you’ll save an extra $10 on the case, bringing your total to only $19.99. Before you buy, note that the case isn’t compatible with the S6 Edge. Check out the link below for more info.
Samsung Galaxy S6 sales reportedly fall short of expectations in South Korea
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have certainly been at the top of tech headlines since they were first unveiled back at MWC. Bringing improved specs and an attractive new design, we’ve heard numerous reports about how successful the latest Galaxy S devices have been with Samsung exceeding pre-order expectations both in Korea and around the globe. However, now that the dust has settled a bit, things may not be as rosy as they seem.
Read also: Android innovation: Sony and HTC risk falling behind even more
Just last week we learned that the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge had achieved a combined 300,000 pre-orders, leading at least one Samsung exec to boldly state that the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge could reach over 70 million units sold. Unfortunately, a new report from Korea indicates that out of the 300,000 pre-orders, only 200,000 units have been sold. This suggests early forecasts may have been inaccurate.
The Galaxy S6 continues to be well received among tech fans and casual consumers alike, and so we certainly wouldn’t be worried if we were Samsung.
Does this situation sound at all familiar? It should, as we saw a similar scenario with the Samsung Galaxy S5. Initially sales seemed to be strong for the Galaxy S5, and then things slowed down — considerably. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Samsung’s latest Galaxy is following in the same footsteps.
The Galaxy S5 actually saw a ramped up and more aggressive launch (120 vs 60 launch markets) over the Galaxy S4, which is why sales initially seemed stronger. In contrast, we’ve actually heard reports about how there is a great demand for the Galaxy S6 Edge, more demand than Samsung can meet at this point. As Samsung increases production of the Galaxy S6 Edge, sales will only get better.
Beyond this, the report from Yonhap News mentions that South Korea’s telecom watchdog has been working hard to improve transparency, banning carriers fro paying subsidies far exceeding the legal ceiling.
Latest Galaxy S6 videos
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This lead carriers to keep the subsidies modest at 210,000 won ($193.90) upon release, below the maximum legal ceiling of 330,000 won. As carriers increase subsidies, resulting in a lower price for contract-signing consumers, the Galaxy S6 sales should improve even further.
Bottom-line, these are still early days for the Galaxy S6 and there are a number of factors that could have lead to slightly less impressive sales than initially believed. The Galaxy S6 continues to be well received among tech fans and casual consumers alike, and so we certainly wouldn’t be worried if we were Samsung. Despite this latest report, all indications point to one of the most successful Galaxy S launches in history.
Own a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge? Check out our list of best cases and wireless chargers!
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