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.