OT: Samsung S6

essex-commuter

Want to treat myself to a new phone. Colleague has just bought a Samsung S5 Neo, I really like it.

I buy my phones SIM free. I can get an S6 for just £70 more than the Neo.

Battery life seems to be a concern with the S6 compared to the S5 which is excellent.

Does anyone have any day to day experience with an S6?

timothyw

This isn't particularly helpful to you, but as a Galaxy S5 owner I think the s6 is a bit rubbish, and an unfortunate break from some of the line's best features:

-not waterproof anymore
-can't replace the battery
-no micro sd slot - I have an 128gb card in mine with all my music, it cost me about £50.

Still, it is apparently quite shiny. If you can get the S5 instead, that would be my recommendation - it's a great phone. First android phone i've had where I haven't bothered to root it and install custom rom - it just hasn't been necessary.

bendertherobot

As a previous iPhone 4, 5s and LG G4 owner I can say that the S6 and particularly the Edge, are lovely lovely phones. Wonderful cameras. Fast processors. I wouldn't go back now.

Battery life? Put a wireless charging dock on your desk at work.

Wrath Rob

I got my S6 last week, upgrading from an S4. Waterproofing is fixed by a phone case. Yes a memory card would have been nice but I've got the 64gb version so I don't think it should be a major issue. I've never replaced the battery in a phone so for me this is a non issue.

The camera is great and the Pro mode fixes one of my gripes with most phone cameras, the finger print sensor works, battery life lasts a day for me, the wireless charging is a bit of a gimmick but I now charge my phone at my desk which I didn't before, even though I had the cable. Without the top up charging I get a days charge from it so its on a par with 90% of other smart phones out there.

In short, I think its great.

bendertherobot

Bear in mind, with any S6 purchase you get 130GB of MS Drive storage. As long as you keep moving stuff of your phone, great.

And, if you're a music consumer, the 64GB isn't much more than the 32.

essex-commuter

Storage isn't really a problem for me.

My only concern was the battery life really, but I can charge at work and at home....would just have to be mindful I suppose.

For £70 extra I suppose the S6 seems worth it.

drlodge

I've just upgraded from the Galaxy Note II to the S6 Edge+ 64GB :-) I really wanted a removable battery and microSD card slot, but not having them actually isn't an issue.
- phone is easily rechargeable using a wireless base or fast charge cable
- main reason for SD card was music, but I've got everything on google play music which means I can stream my collection without having it on the phone, and there's enough memory to download my favorite music for off line use.

The edge functionality is a bit naff, I don't actually use it. Cost me £680 sim free, + £20/month for an unlimited data package from three. That equates to just over £48/month over 2 years all in.

chris_bass

I think the best value for money at the moment is the Moto X Style, can be had for £350:

https://www.clove.co.uk/motorola-moto-x-style

I'm toying with the idea of getting it, if the nexus 6p was a bit cheaper I might go for that.

bendertherobot

Yeah, that reminds me, Google play music also free on the Samsung for 6 months. Very tidy. Great if you have unlimited 4g etc. And works with Sonos if you have one

smiley_boy2501

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19719692#p19719692]TimothyW[/url] wrote:

This isn't particularly helpful to you, but as a Galaxy S5 owner I think the s6 is a bit rubbish, and an unfortunate break from some of the line's best features:

-not waterproof anymore
-can't replace the battery
-no micro sd slot - I have an 128gb card in mine with all my music, it cost me about £50.

Still, it is apparently quite shiny. If you can get the S5 instead, that would be my recommendation - it's a great phone. First android phone i've had where I haven't bothered to root it and install custom rom - it just hasn't been necessary.

Agree with the above. That and the fact it was 15 quid cheaper a month I very recently chose an S5. I love it.

itboffin

I have an S5 as my work phone which has been fine since i disabled all the samsung guff they install and upgraded without root to a more pure Android experience, the trouble now is my own Nexus 5 which is frankly the best phone i've ever owned just sits on top of the fridge unused next to my previous nexus 4 which imo was good but lacking grunt.

I'd say the Nexus 5 beats the S5 on all but a couple of points, not waterproof and no ant+ now i have those features i wouldnt buy another phone without them.

secretsam

Well, I'm totally baffled by phones now. I have an S3 mini which is fine, but a bit slow and battered. Am thinking of handing it on to the kids as I've finished my contract. My missus has an S2 which is on its last legs.

So: what should I get instead? It used to be easy, but now there's Galaxy S models and Galaxy A models, and all sorts of others???? Please someone explain!

dhope

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722577#p19722577]SecretSam[/url] wrote:

Well, I'm totally baffled by phones now. I have an S3 mini which is fine, but a bit slow and battered. Am thinking of handing it on to the kids as I've finished my contract. My missus has an S2 which is on its last legs.

So: what should I get instead? It used to be easy, but now there's Galaxy S models and Galaxy A models, and all sorts of others???? Please someone explain!

S series = top end
A series = mid range
Note series = big
other names = dunno, random stuff, probably entry level

Get the second latest S series if you're not sure. It'll be fast enough and you'll probably find a decent deal

chris_bass

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722577#p19722577]SecretSam[/url] wrote:

Well, I'm totally baffled by phones now. I have an S3 mini which is fine, but a bit slow and battered. Am thinking of handing it on to the kids as I've finished my contract. My missus has an S2 which is on its last legs.

So: what should I get instead? It used to be easy, but now there's Galaxy S models and Galaxy A models, and all sorts of others???? Please someone explain!

save your money and get a moto g:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorola-Moto-Generation-SIM-Free-Smartphone/dp/B014KT0KWE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444826088&sr=8-1&keywords=moto+g+3rd+generation

great spec for the price and will be a marked improvement on what you have been using

essex-commuter

Went and looked at the S6 and just didn't like the look of it, I am in the minority there I think.

I ended up going with the Moto Style. Waiting for it to arrive.

Thanks for all the help / suggestions.

chris_bass

let me know what you think of it, i'm considering getting it too. looks a great phone for the price.

bigmat

Which is the better phone, S5 or S5 Neo? I think the Neo is the more recent version, RRP seems to be higher although I can source one slightly cheaper than the standard S5. Any thoughts?

porlyworly

I bought one of these last week & picked up an unlock code off the bay of dreams for £3.

For £100 it's pretty incredible

http://www.trustedreviews.com/vodafone-smart-ultra-6-review

hegyestomi

Or if you need a cheap alternative you can try the new OnePlus2: got a full HD screen and 64GB storage, 4gb ram and cost under £300. It worked/still works for me great when I looked at no-contract phones.

drlodge

S3 neo is £130, pretty good bang for the buck. I use it as my "cycling phone" as I don't want to carry around my S6 edge+

itboffin

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722714#p19722714]PorlyWorly[/url] wrote:

I bought one of these last week & picked up an unlock code off the bay of dreams for £3.

For £100 it's pretty incredible

http://www.trustedreviews.com/vodafone-smart-ultra-6-review

Yeah those zte Vodafone's branded are very good value esp if you're able to root them, my daughter has the power 4 version

bigmat

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19722714#p19722714]PorlyWorly[/url] wrote:

I bought one of these last week & picked up an unlock code off the bay of dreams for £3.

For £100 it's pretty incredible

http://www.trustedreviews.com/vodafone-smart-ultra-6-review

Where can you get this for £100? Also, if you have a link for a reliable unlock deal then that would be great!

keyser__soze

LG G4 is also hovering just under the £300 mark sim-free. Excellent phone, having a better camera than the S6/iPhone 6 plus removable battery and SD card slot, and likely to get an upgrade to Android M very soon. Loses out a bit to the S6 in raw processor grunt. Wouldn't hesitate in getting another should anything ever happen to mine.

porlyworly

It was on offer a few weeks ago but has gone back up to £125 now. Still a bargain at that price

http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/shop/pay-as-you-go/vodafone-smart-6-ultra-payg

Unlock code was £2.49, item below, paid around 7pm and it turned up the next day.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252106469826

itboffin

Latest android update v6 just installed on my nexus 5 I'd say its a bit faster but doesn't look that different to lollipop

Time will tell

Wheelspinner

ZTE stuff is sold here branded as Telstra. It's cr@p. 3 out of 3 failed within a few months, just dead. Never again.