Samsung estimates Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge sales could reach 70 million

Samsung might have had a rough year in 2014, but things are certainly looking up for 2015 so far. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are both finding warm reception across the globe. In particular, the Galaxy S6 Edge is said to be surpassing expectations, thanks to its unique design that helps it stand out in a crowd.

Industry watchers initially predicted Samsung would sell as many as a combined 50 million Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge units by the year’s end but, according to The Korea Times, Samsung has even more optimistic goals of the device. An unnamed Samsung exec reportedly stated “The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are drawing positive responses. I have no doubt that they will be the biggest-sellers in the Galaxy series ever,” with the exec going on to state they estimate sales will be in the “70 million plus” range.

It’s still too early to say if Samsung’s predictions for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge will come to pass, but things are sure looking quite positive. For example, T-Mobile recently revealed that its early Galaxy S6 sales had nearly doubled what the Galaxy S5 was able to accomplish in the same time period. Pre-orders in South Korea have also been reportedly very high. Certainly a far cry from the reception seen by the Galaxy S5 which went on to sell 40% fewer units than Samsung had anticipated.

That said, not everyone is sold on the Galaxy S6’s metal and glass redesign, especially those who favor removable batteries and microSD card slots. Still, it’s pretty obvious that the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge mark a noticeable change in the way that the public, both casual and techie, feel about the company. On a personal note, I’m seeing a great number of colleagues and friends that are considering purchasing, or have already, a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge. Many of these same people previously criticized Samsung for the Galaxy S5.

What do you think of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge? Is Samsung heading in the right direction?

The eBay price of this Galaxy S6 Edge is out of this galaxy

kickmobiles-ltd (eBay)

For some, the Galaxy S6 Edge might be priced out of this world. It’s unlocked, SIM-free price is about $900 for the 32GB model. Prepare yourself then, for a product so expensive that it’s simply outside the Milky Way. Retailer KickMobiles is currently offering a “Limited Edition” SIM-free 128GB Galaxy S6 Edge in Gold Platinum for the incredible price of $7989, with the eBay auction currently listed as Buy It Now status.

Before we get into details, it’s important to note that despite the pictures suggesting the product is of a purely platinum color, the culprit seems to be little more than the lighting used, which tones down the gold surface. Indeed it might take a few looks before you see what’s going on. For all intents and purposes, this device would appear to be the exact same thing you can have for just ten Benjamins as opposed to… a few month’s salary. Still, there are some perks for the lucky one who opts to buy this:

kickmobiles-ltd (eBay)

As you can see, the box is serially numbered, with this being the first of 500 units. Indeed that’s why the seller has apparently sought to justify the meteoric price, as other numbers from the 500 limited edition are being offered for a scant $2500 (and amazingly several have sold). Included in the box is a wireless charging pad (inevitably the same one Samsung was giving out free to pre-orders), a Samsung BlueHouse invitation, a Clear View cover, and a custom engraving voucher. Samsung BlueHouse is a sort of VIP club for UK Samsung customers that gives members special customer care and access to early previews of new devices.

Without a serial number on the device itself, the actual limited edition nature of this product is seemingly a marketing one at best.

kickmobiles-ltd (eBay)

The device itself doesn’t appear to have any serial number on it, at least judging by the pictures the seller has provided and the description. This makes the offer a bit of a hard sell, to be honest, as aside from the potential for engraving (something which could technically be done without Samsung’s involvement) there is literally nothing special about this product whatsoever. The “Limited Edition” nature is only the packaging and the bonus items. The last picture in the gallery below has a close up of the included “slate” (as the seller calls it) with the serial number.

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So there you have it. This is by far the most expensive Galaxy S6 Edge we’ve seen put up for sale so far. For that kind of money, the infamous Vertu smartphone could be yours for just a bit more, as could perhaps a Gold Apple Watch as either option would have far more “bling” factor. Any takers? Just make sure you have a little extra to spare, as the shipping is an additional $39.00… before any applicable customs tax.

Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge accidental protection plans now available

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are here, and they seem to be doing very well so far, garnering the attention of both casual consumers and even techies that previously might not have considered picking up a Samsung handset. The reason for the Galaxy S6’s warm reception is a combination of slimmed down software and more elegant hardware. Of course, that more elegant, glass-wrapped design comes at a potential cost: it could possibly be easier to break than a typical plastic-clad Samsung device.

Worried about a broken back or display with your new Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge? While HTC offers Uh-Oh replacement protection for free with the One M9, Samsung fans have the option of paying for extra protection through a “Samsung Plus Mobile Elite” extended warranty. The warranty program gives you two years of protection against accidental damage, and will replace the phone up to three times over the course of the warranty. This includes protection against liquid damage, cracked displays, cracked backs, mechanical damage, and the list goes on.

Pricing for the Samsung extended warranty plans are set at $99 for the Galaxy S6 and $129 for the Edge. The only other catch is Galaxy S6 owners will also have to pay $75 plus tax each of the three times you utilize the accidental damage warranty, while Edge owners will pay $95 plus tax.

For more details, be sure to head to Samsung’s website. What do you think, is it worth getting an extended warranty, especially for those of us who prefer to buy our handsets off-contract and outright? Or are folks better off to just save their money?

For those that do decide to bypass a warrany program or carrier insurance, you might at least want to take a look at our list of best cases for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

If you’re experiencing poor battery life on your Galaxy S6, try updating this app

You’ve had your brand new Samsung Galaxy S6 for a few days now, so how are you liking the battery life? We know Samsung upset a ton of consumers when it decided to make the batteries in its newest two flagships non-removable, and it sure doesn’t help that both the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge only offer up average battery life. If you’ve been experiencing battery woes on your new handset, Samsung may have done something to help fix it.

If you own a Galaxy S6, S6 Edge or a number of other recent Samsung devices, head on over to the Google Play Store and select the My apps menu. There should be an update available for an application called “Samsung Push Service”. If you have an update available, you’re going to want to install it. According to the changelog, Samsung has “applied patches to reduce data usage and power consumption”, as well as added in a few bug fixes.

We’re not entirely sure that updating this app will be the saving grace for the S6’s battery life, but it’s definitely worth a try. Once you download the update, be sure to let us know in the comment section if you experience any less battery drain than before.

Samsung adds more themes to the Galaxy S6 and is now taking submissions

The Theme Manager is just one of the new features packed into Samsung’s Galaxy S6 flagship, but only a modest selection of options were available when we got our hands on the phone. As expected, Samsung has updated the Theme Manager with an array of new choices, coinciding with the handset’s global roll-out.

Inside the theme store you’ll find plenty of new entries, such as Deer Dream, Retro and Pixel Art, to name just a small selection. Samsung has also teamed up with well-known brands to release a LEGO inspired look and a healthy selection of Avengers character themes to choose from. We’ll be taking a more detailed look at just how powerful Samsung’s Theme Engine is a little later.

While we’re on the subject, Samsung is also inviting designers to pitch their own themes for the Galaxy Theme store. Authoring tools for the Galaxy S6 had been rumored just a few weeks ago.

Designers can send their portfolio off to Samsung and successful applicants will be invited to have their themes posted in the store. There do not appear to be any limits on what you can enter with regards to content, as any characters or brands are apparently welcome. You can check out this link for more details.

Samsung’s Theme Manager originally appeared in the Galaxy A series and now looks to be a staple feature in Samsung’s mid and high-end smartphones. Given the divided opinions about Touchwiz within the Android community, perhaps the extra choice will address some people’s complaints.

Let us know what you think about Samsung’s themes and if there are any custom submissions that you would really like to see.

Here’s how much it costs to replace the battery or screen on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

Let’s reflect on the battery issue… how much will it cost?

Samsung’s pair of Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones have a lot of things going for them: a new design, premium build, a QHD SAMOLED display, brand new flash storage, great cameras… the list goes on and on. One thing that long time Galaxy fans will be quick to point out, however, is the non-removable battery. In the effort to make the phones as thin as possible, and keep design aesthetics in tow, a unibody make was selected. With all reports indicating the flagship is mighty hard to disassemble, it leaves some hardcore users wincing at the thought of the device not lasting them past the evening.

Thanks to a spokesperson at Samsung, we now have a better idea of just what kind of situation the daunting “battery replacement” crisis will in-tow: for the first year, the battery is covered under warranty and a free replacement will be offered should the capacity fall under 80% of the initial starting point. Shipping is not included, although Samsung neglected to specify just how much said courier fee would cost. After the warranty period ends, a new battery will cost $45 plus shipping.

Suffice to say this isn’t for the faint at heart, or short of patience.

It is not currently known just how Samsung would deal with the battery issue: in the past there have been reports of OEMs opting to provide refurbished devices with new batteries when the swap method isn’t so simple. Given how difficult it is to open the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, perhaps this method would be used. On the other hand, perhaps Samsung will indeed just replace the battery on your unit. Regardless, it’s essential to back up the data and all contents within prior to sending the phone away for servicing.

It was also revealed that it will cost $199 to get a screen replacement for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, with a one-day turnaround.

For those living in either Los Angeles, California or Plano, Texas (like one intrepid tech-compatriot does), you can actually take your device to a repair center there for same-day fixing. Samsung has plans to open more facilities in additional cities in the US as time progresses. This plan might also indicate that upcoming devices could use the same sealed-in battery element as opening additional facilities just for the pair of S6 phones would be quite costly even if they are very popular.