Samsung Galaxy S6 Live Event

Join us here at 6:30PM Barcelona time on Sunday (12:30PM in New York) for full coverage of Samsung's big launch event at Mobile World Congress. The Korean company's 2015 flagship smartphone will be unveiled, but it's unlikely to come alone. What else will Samsung have up its sleeve? 5:44:34 PM CET

One down, one to go! There’s a whole lot going on today ahead of the official kickoff of Mobile World Congress 2015, but there are clearly two main highlights that are generating the most buzz. The show actually doesn’t open until tomorrow, though many companies are making their announcements today in an effort to get a jump on things. The biggest news so far has come from HTC, which unveiled its new HTC One M9 and its first wearable device, the HTC Grip, earlier on Sunday. Now, it’s Samsung’s turn to make waves as the company unveils its next-generation flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge.

Don’t miss our hands-on previews: Samsung Galaxy S6 hands-on: Meet the smartphone to beat in 2015 Samsung Galaxy S6 edge hands-on: We finally found the Galaxy we’ve been looking for BGR exclusively reported all of the key specs for these two flagship smartphones back in January, and there has been a steady flow of leaks ever since then. In fact, we have already seen the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge in the flesh thanks to a few big leaks late last week. As great as these two phones look, however, those leaks likely won’t make today’s official unveiling any less exciting. Samsung’s big Galaxy S6 event, which is formally being called “Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2015,” is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. EST / 9:30 a.m. PST. You’ll find live streaming video from the show embedded below. As was the case with this morning’s HTC One M9 event, we’ll also be supplementing the live streaming video with our own live blogging. So, beneath the video, you’ll find all of the key information Samsung announces like Galaxy S6 specs and launch information. Get ready for a wild ride!

Samsung Galaxy S6 Update

The Samsung Galaxy S6 release date is fast approaching. The S6 is bestowed with a premium, metal design, much like the new Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The metal S6 body has been tipped by 'sources within Samsung’s supply chain’. We will be updating this page with all the latest Samsung Galaxy S6 release date details, leaks, and news as new information emerges. Bookmark it now to ensure you are kept in the loop on all things S6. First off, I am not a professional reviewer, nor am I employed or compensated by Samsung or any other company. Instead of boring you with facts - which you can find anywhere on the Net - I will just give you some real-world impressions on how it looks, feels, and runs. With that out of the way, let's get to the point and the nitty gritty, shall we? Lets start with Samsung Galaxy S5:

* THE SCREEN - that is the very first thing you will notice when you look at the S5. Samsung has found its niche with AMOLED screens, which are BRIGHT & SATURATED. Everything almost literally jumps out at you, and sometimes even too much so. I had to switch to the "natural" setting, as the "vivid" and even "standard" profiles are too saturated(and FAKE) for me. It's better as a demo unit to draw you in, but for everyday use, I recommend switching to the natural profile. FACTS: The Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with Full HD resolution - 1080 x 1920 pixels or ~432 ppi pixel density, plus Gorilla Glass 3 to protect the screen from scratches.

* The Look - the S5 has a more squared-off edges look than the S4, which is more squared off than the S3, but all three are not as angular as the S2. In terms of roundness-to square-ness, it goes from the S3 - S4 - S5 - S2 (the original S just looks like an iPhone 3GS). Check out my images for an easier comparison. The S5 is the tallest and widest, but not the thickest of the Galaxy S's. The best thing I can say about this is it's an evolution. Beauty is subjective, so judge for yourself. The front side is almost the same as any other Galaxy phone: You have the physical Home button, flanked by the "back" and "menu" capacitive buttons. Probably the most improved aspect of the design is in its functionality - it is now dust-proof, and water-proof up to 3 feet! FACTS: The dimensions are 5.59" x 2.85" x 0.32"(142cm x 72.5cm x 8.1cm), and weighs 5.11oz(145g). * The Feel - Samsung has taken a lot of flack for making the Galaxy S line so cheap looking and feeling with its plastic bodies, for being the top Android phone maker. HTC has been known to have the best craftsmanship with their all-metal One phones. Perhaps Samsung feel they are so dominant that they don't have to spend more to mass-produce metal phones, but since they don't want to come off as too arrogant, so their compromise is a dimpled, faux-rubber backside like the Nexus 7(2012) and its very own Galaxy Note 3. It definitely gives a better feel - it doesn't slip and slide in your hands or pockets anymore - but it cannot compare to the feel and craftsmanship of the HTC One(both the m7 and m8). It is on the right track though, so let's hope that rumored luxury "F" line or next year's S6 will continue to get better. * How it Runs - This phone is fast, fast, FAST! With a 2.5gHz Snapdragon 801, it has the fastest processor out there right now. It terms of real speed, I cannot say if it is faster than the HTC One m8 or the Sony Xperia Z2, but it is definitely up there. When you touch an app icon to launch it, it launches nearly instantly. To really see how this phone flies, just open the gallery app and scroll through all your photos and you'll see what I mean. Usually the gallery is where most phones stutter as it tries to load all your photos and albums - but NOT the S5!

* The Camera - FINALLY! Samsung has decided to make a decent camera, and not just as an afterthought. This 16mp camera is really awesome, so much better than the S4. I would always get washed out images with my S3/S4/Note 2, but with the S5, it actually looks like it's from a decent point-and-shoot dedicated camera with crisp, bright, and saturated images. Low-light shooting is also vastly improved, although not as good as the new HTC One m8. 16mp means 5312 x 2988 -resolution images, so you can actually blow them up or crop them down without fearing the dreaded pixelation monster. There are a myriad of other cool and useful camera features that I will save for you to find out(like macro and "Google Street View" modes :]). And lastly, the focus is quick, quick, QUICK! Nearly instantaneous focus allows you to capture those hard-to-capture moments easier. A definitely thumbs up to Samsung for paying attention to the camera and its functions.

* Software - I'm still trying to figure out everything, as there is A LOT of stuff under the hood. Samsung's TouchWiz user interface this time around is A LOT less intrusive though, as much as can be without being totally stock Android, I guess. The layout and iconography are flatter and simpler, and for the better in my view. There is also a new sensor on the back, just beneath the camera lens. It is a heart-rate monitor/pedometer, and it comes with its own health app called S Health. There is a new battery-saving mode which can save you precious minutes when you're caught in a bind. All in all, I think this version is a lot nicer-looking, more responsive, and better than the precious S phones. Everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S6 The Samsung Galaxy S6 release date is fast approaching, and with 2014 quickly drawing to a close rumours and leaks have started to surround the next big talking point on the tech calendar.

With the eagerly awaited iPhone 6 rival expected to touch down in early 2015, latest Samsung Galaxy S6 rumours have suggested the handset could pair an all new, premium design with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, high-speed storage and Google’s Android 5.0 Lollipop OS direct from the box. Given that the first S6 pictures have leaked and the phone has prematurely appeared under the codename ‘Project Zero’, it is expected that the Galaxy S6 will be a comprehensive refresh over the Galaxy S5 – a handset which has failed to ignite substantial consumer interest. The S6’s screen is one such area expected to be given a sizeable update. Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s6-release-date-rumours-news-specs-and-price#T6GBO3LDUHSvzTlT.99 Earlier this year the LG G3 introduced the 2560 x 1440p QHD display to the mainstream smartphone space. Such a component has since been bestowed on the Galaxy Note 4 and recent S6 leaks have suggested the upcoming phone will follow suit. That is not all the phone’s screen could have to offer. It has been suggested a Galaxy Note Edge mimicking double-edged display could also be heading towards the Galaxy S6. While some reports are farfetched and others more likely, what is almost certain is that the Samsung Galaxy S6 will be unveiled in Q1 2015 as a direct rival to the Nexus 6, remaining consistent with previous launches. What’s more, with both the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy Note 4 having bestowed with metal-framed designs recently, it is now widely expected that next year's Galaxy S6 release will echo its siblings and adopt its own premium materials. We will be updating this page with all the latest Samsung Galaxy S6 release date details, leaks, news and rumours as new information emerges. Bookmark it now to ensure you are kept in the loop on all things S6. Samsung Galaxy S6 Release Date As you would expect, Samsung has yet to offer any official details on the distant Samsung Galaxy S6 release date. That doesn’t mean we don’t have a good idea as to when the phone will launch, however. Like Apple, Samsung has become a creature of habit, with the company’s annual product cycles bringing a level of expectation to certain points in the year. For example, September and the Berlin-based IFA conference means a new Note. Since the Samsung Galaxy S2, the Korean manufacturer’s flagship phone line has been reserved for unveiling during – or within weeks of – the Barcelona-based Mobile Word Congress conference in February. As such there is no reason to believe this will be different for the S6. With MWC 2015 to be held between March 2 and 5, we would anticipate that the Samsung Galaxy S6 release date could be confirmed during the manufacturer’s dedicated press conference on either Sunday 1 or Monday 2 March. This tradition could be thrown off by falling profits, however. With Samsung predicting a 60 per cent drop in annual earnings, analysts have suggested the S6 release could be pushed forward in order to stem the rot. “Samsung’s profits in the mobile division will continue to deteriorate during this period of changing their line of smartphones,” Lee Min-hee, an analyst at IM Investment and Securities, told The New York Times. Speaking with Bloomberg, Claire Kim, an analyst with Daishin Securities Co in Samsung's native Korea added: “We all know Samsung’s third-quarter earnings will be pretty ugly. The earlier release of its new phones could be reflected in its third-quarter earnings, it could give them a slight boost.” Reflecting this need for a fast phone introduction, recent leaks have claimed Samsung could pin a surprise S6 launch on us as early as CES 2015 in January. According to claimed Korean insiders, the S6 will take a formal bow in Vegas. However, given the less than official avenue of these claims, and the slightly questionable nature, we would suggest taking them with a hearty pinch of salt for now. We will of course update this post as soon as more concrete Samsung Galaxy S6 release date details are available.

Samsung Galaxy S6 News The Samsung Galaxy S6 has a number of big changes in store, according to latest leaks and insider reports. With the Galaxy S6 reportedly being pieced together inside Samsung HQ under the codename 'Project Zero', it is believed the phone will be the biggest update yet to the company's flagship phone line. According to reports by SamMobile, unnamed insiders have stated: “Samsung is developing its next-generation flagship device from scratch, with an entirely new vision.” They added: “Project Zero is an indication that Samsung is trying to achieve something unique and different with the Galaxy S6.” What's more, Samsung itself has already teased aspects of its future smartphones, a list expected to include the Samsung Galaxy S6. Making the announcement during its annual Analyst Day in Korea last November, Samsung revealed that in late 2014 its first phones to run 2560 x 1440 pixel WQHD displays will land. This timeline came to fruition with the Note 4. Although not the company's first device to feature such a screen, the Samsung Galaxy S6 looks set to make the jump beyond the S5’s 1080p Full HD offering. Despite being the company’s flagship phone, it appears that the Galaxy S6 will fall between Samsung’s technology cycles. Although Samsung has confirmed it will bring 3,840 x 2,160 pixel UHD displays to its smartphone offerings during 2015, it is believed the Samsung Galaxy S6 will arrive too early to benefit from this next-gen panel. Instead, however, the S6 looks likely to mimic the rumoured LG G3 with a QHD display. Offering a further insight into the Samsung Galaxy S6’s screen, Samsung’s promise to continue its push into AMOLED displays leaves little doubt in the technology within the phone’s panel. As such deep blacks and reasonable kindness to the battery can be expected. Further screen changes expected to be bestowed on the Galaxy S6 include the move to more streamlined bezels. Giving the plus 5-inch display added pop and allowing a larger panel to be sqeezed into a managable form factor, the slim bezel design has been teased by a leaked Galaxy S6 picture (above). Although echoing a number of design traits from the existing S5, the leaked S6 image shows a handset with slimmer edges and more rounded corners. Further hinting at a design refresh, lower than expected S5 sales have reportedly forced Samsung to reassess its smartphone efforts, with the company said to be ready to put more emphasis on high-end design and premium materials. "They made one mistake, one product that didn't hold up to expectations and they are paying the price," Counterpoint analyst Tom Kang said speaking on the slow S5 sales recently. "They will have to move forward and leave behind what has failed and focus on the next product." It's not just analysts predicting a renewed smartphone effort from the Apple and HTC rival, Samsung itself has pledged to improve its handsets moving forward. "We will strengthen our product competitiveness by reinforcing our premium brand reputation, powerful product line-up, and cutting-edge technology," an official Samsung spokesperson stated. Now, claimed insiders have told Chinese media that the Samsung Galaxy S6 will be bestowed with a premium, metal design, much like the new Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The metal S6 body has been tipped by 'sources within Samsung’s supply chain’. If moving to a new, metal form, Samsung will hope to avoid to construction issues which have troubled the release of the Galaxy Note 4.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Specs The Samsung Galaxy S6 specs sheet will feature a number of cross over features from the S5, with a wealth of new offerings thrown into the mix. Given the focus Samsung heaped on the S5’s water resistant coating, fingerprint scanner incorporating home button and rear-mounted heart rate sensor, you can all but guarantee that all three will make another appearance next year and hopefully in improved forms as well. In terms of power, however, things are all change, and the chipset likely to feature within the Samsung Galaxy S5 has already been unveiled. In early April, processing giant Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 808 and Snapdragon 810 CPUs. These chips are set to appear in their first handsets during "early 2015," a window that fits the expected Samsung Galaxy S6 release date. With the Samsung Galaxy S5 running a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset following the S4’s own Snapdragon 600 internals, the Samsung Galaxy S6 looks set to run either the 808 or 810 units. Knowing what processor the handset will run has seen a number of further Samsung Galaxy S6 specs teased. According to Qualcomm, the processing units will allow for everything from UHD 4K displays to be supported to the introduction of Cat 6 LTE connections and the option to run up to 55-megapixel camera sensors. At present the 64-bit, six-core Snapdragon 808 processor is looking the more likely to feature, with support for display resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 pixels fitting with claims of a WQHD S6 screen. The 808 will also introduce LPDDR3 memory, a range of battery management improvements and an Adreno 418 GPU that will boost graphical performances by a reported 20 per cent. Samsung though likes to bring a second flagship phone option to certain territories. In the case of the S6, this could be the company's new Exynos 7 octa-core processor. The Exynos 7 comes with an octa-core CPU with four Cortex-A57 and four Cortex-A53 cores inside. The 20nm manufacturing process also means the Exynos 7 is much less of a battery drain than its forebears too. There is currently no word on the phone's camera, although we would be surprised if the S6 didn't improve on the S5's existing 16-megapixel snapper. Samsung Galaxy S6 Price The Samsung Galaxy S6 price is one area where there are currently few details available. Given the flagship nature of the ‘Galaxy S’ range, however, there is no point holding out for a wallet-friendly fee. At launch the Samsung Galaxy S5 cost £579 on a SIM-free basis. As such, we can’t see the Samsung Galaxy S6 price starting off much lower than the £600 marker. For all the latest Samsung Galaxy S6 rumours, including details on the phone’s specs, discount and release date, bookmark this page now as it will continue to evolve as new information emerges. The ultimate question is whether this phone is a worthy upgrade over the S4. As my review title suggests, it is an evolution, an incremental upgrade over the S4. So with that said I cannot whole-heartedly recommend it if you already have a good phone, or even over the S4. But I do feel this upgrade is more vast and much better than from the S3 to the S4, so in that sense Samsung has done a much better job this year. If you are switching from an older phone that was made at least 2 years ago, then I would tell you jump right in and try the S5 - it will not disappoint you. But for those with already a good phone, and/or say you just finished year one of your 2-year contract, then I would say think hard before you make the leap. For my money, I think the Note 4 and S6 will be the bigger upgrades more worth waiting for.