Over the past year or so I have been convinced that there is no need for an average user to buy a very expensive smartphone. One of the technological advancements of recent times has been the ability to offer more at very affordable prices and the Chinese manufacturers excel at the this with their new Android creation.
But there is still a significant, and high value, market for the top-end smartphones. And this is the season where most companies will bring in upgrades of their flagships. With the iPhone 6s Plus just a couple of weeks away from its India launch, we look at the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, its nearest competitor.
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ is a stylish phone. The curved edge screen does set it apart from anything else in the smartphone market. But the rest of the phone too has a design value that makes this look and feel like a top-end phone. Take it out of your pocket and there will no doubt be a few people in the room staring at your hand. It is that kind of a device.
Specs: 5.7 inches Super AMOLED display (1440x2560p, ~518 ppi) | Exynos 7420 processor (Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2.1 GHz Cortex-A57) | 4GB RAM | 32GB internal storage | 16MP rear camera + 5MP front | 3000 mAh battery | Android 5.1.1.
Price: US$854.00 (converted from Indian Rs)
What is good?
There is a lot going for this phone. But the first thing that really hit me was the screen. Wake up in the morning and look into this amazing Super AMOLED screen and you will feel cheerful. Samsung has a way with creating stunning displays and this one is right up there.
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If you are paying so much for a phone, then we shouldn’t even be discussing performance. With the Samung Galaxy S6 edge+ you really don’t have to bother. I used this phone as my primary device during a week-long foreign assignment where I was reporting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I did everything with this phone from writing stories to shooting and sharing video and, of course, posting all sorts of stuff on social media. The phone never complained. In fact, it gave me the feeling that it relishes stress. This phone is a workhorse, despite its good looks.
The camera is top notch, and I say this after having seen a lot of very good Android cameras this year. This phone will have no issues taking on the competition in most use cases. In good light, the detailing is perfect, so much so that for most of my assignment I used this as the primary imaging device. It is not easy lugging a DSLR when you are on the road the whole day hopping taxis and trains, trying to keep up with the most active head of government in recent times. This is the sort of camera that gives you the confidence to leave your DSLR safely back home.
I am not a big fan of Android tweaks that are more about trying to be different than adding functionality. However, Samsung has done just about enough on this phone to added a layer of functions that improve your productivity tremendously. Right from the keyboard that keeps learning as you go by giving you suggestions that really make life easy to the split screen options that makes multi-tasking such more effective, this phone has features that makes it ideal for people who are working on the move.
What is not that good?
I am not saying the battery life on the phone is bad. But at times, in certain conditions, it does tend to lose juice rather quickly. I had this experience when the WiFi was patchy and also when the camera was being used a lot. So the phone gives about 12 hours in normal conditions and about 8 hours when it is really stretching itself. However, the battery saving mode on the phone can really give you a couple of hours more when the going gets tough — just make sure you set the phone to go into battery saving when it is in the last 30 per cent.
The camera is not all that great in low light. I tried to click some pictures of the PM speaking inside the SAP Centre in San Jose and the images came all blurred. I could not click anything of the blood moon. So if you like low light photography, this phone has issues.
There isn’t much else wrong with this phone. And it better be that way for I think this phone is still priced a bit too high. It would have found more takers closer to the Rs 50,000 price point. But then if you can hold on for a couple of months, maybe it will be there.
Special Mention
One the Note 4 Edge, the edge made real sense because it was functional. However, I have been a bit skeptical about what a thinner edge can do in phone like the Samung Galaxy S6 edge+. But I have changed my opinion after having used the edge effectively for over a week. The ability to add five favourite contacts and apps to the edge, which you can summon with just a swipe, adds real value to this phone.
The ability to add five favourite contacts and apps to the edge, which you can summon with just a swipe, adds real value to this phone.
You will end up using this feature more and more as you live with the phone. And I am convinced the edge is is not a gimmick anymore. I loved the alerts coming on the edge when the phone screen was switched off. However, it would be better if we see more apps making use of the edges.
Should you buy
If you are looking for a top of the shelf phone that you can use effectively, then this is one of the best options in the market. Buy this for its superb performance and camera as well as unique look. This phone will certainly give good competition to the new iPhones gives is edge over the new Apple devices.
- Indian Express