Samsung unveils sleek new Galaxy phones to battle Apple

reuters.com ^ | March 2, 2015 | Se Young Lee and Harro Ten Wolde

[Berlin_Freeper]

South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled its latest Galaxy S smartphones, featuring a slim body made from aircraft-grade metal, in a bid to reclaim the throne of undisputed global smartphone leader from Apple Inc.

Designed from scratch in an operation dubbed "Project Zero", the Galaxy S6 and its curved-edges variant are critical for Samsung's plans to reverse plunging smartphone revenues that led to its first annual earnings fall in three years in 2014.

A warm initial reception sent Samsung shares rising as much as 3.9 percent on Monday to their highest in nearly nine months. Some technology publications described the phones as Samsung's best-looking to date after its previous flagship device, the Galaxy S5, failed to impress.

[for-q-clinton]

Right. And in comparison the 1020 easily wins. Doesn’t mean the Samsung stinks but if photos are very instant than the 1020 is the way to go.

[Political Junkie Too]

I don’t understand why they are using a battery that cannot be removed and replaced!

It's probably because "always on" phones can be "always traced." Removing the battery takes the phone truly off the grid.

-PJ

[OldMissileer]

As much as I like my S5 and the brand Samsung has created with the Galaxy S series, the S6 fails in 2 major ways and ways I have dogged the iPhone from the get go. No removeable storage Micro SD card, and no removable battery.

All of our smart phones, except one for my daughter (Motorola), have been Samsung and I have loved them. I currently use a Note 4 and the other three use the S5. One of the biggest things I look for is the removable Micro SD card and a battery that can be replaced.

I have yet to see the specs on the new Samsungs and if they do not have the removable card and battery I will not even look at them as a viable purchase.

Thank you for the heads up regarding the specs.

[moovova]

No micro SD slot, plus a battery capacity reduction...

[ThunderSleeps]

Thanks, I was just about to start looking up differences to see if I might want to upgrade to an S6. But a replaceable battery is a must-have. Memory expansion by micro-SD is also almost a must-have unless it has a ridiculous amount of internal storage cheap.

Sorry Samsung, been with you for years, in fact you are the only brand of smartphone I've ever owned. But if you've taken away two of my top 3 "must-have" features... Looks like the S I have now will be my last.

[wolfman23601]

The one thing I want to know is whether or not the screen is more durable. I love the S3 and my wife has an S4, but I have gone through 2 and am currently using a third with a cracked screen. In comparison, my old Droid 2 was dropped countless times including while jogging on a gravel road with several bounces and the screen never cracked once. If the S6 fixes that, I’ll probably buy it. If not, my next phone will likely be a Motorola.

[ThunderSleeps]

Same here. Top 3 things I look for in a smart phone:

1. Android. Not windows - no, more like never windows. If my only choice in a smart phone was windows or nothing I'd skip having a smartphone. Seriously. Not an Apple fanboy either. I might, might go apple if it were apple or nothing. Call that a 1 in 10 shot.
2. Replaceable battery. I have replaced the batteries in nearly every battery powered device I own. I have replaced the batteries in every single phone I've ever owned. Their batteries get too much abuse - partial charge/discharge cycles, temperature extremes in my car, rapid charging/discharging, trickle charging... Same thing with the NiMH batteries in my flashlights. After a year, 18 months of sub-optimal usage patterns they should be replaced. When they are replaced the improvement is noticeable. You don't notice the gradual degradation of capacity, but you sure notice it when you restore it.
3. Expandable storage. Historically, internal storage has been very expensive compared to micro-SD capacity. I don't care about storing stuff in the cloud. I don't always have a wi-fi or even high speed 4g connection, and my data plan isn't huge anyways. If I want to have a few pictures, some music, a couple of movies on my phone, a few apps, some maps, etc. I want them on my phone, not subject to the vagaries of my internet connection.

Seems to me I'll be looking seriously at Motorola. My wife had a Moto for a contract cycle. I liked it, I thought it worked well. She went back to apple after it though. Oh well, to each their own. ;-)

[conejo99]

I’ve replaced batteries three times for different family members phones. I figure I’ve saved over $1000 with this capability.

My family has owned three Galaxy S2s and a Galaxy S4. We will never purchase a Galaxy S6.

[TalBlack]

Geez, I just bought an S4 a few months ago. They’re already on to S6? I’m ancient history already...

[nascarnation]

I remember back in the 50s and 60s, before all the govt regulations, the manufacturers restyled cars every year. “Planned obsolescence” I think it was called.

[Stentor]

If we were Apple-bots, we’d say it was for some good reason, change our thoughts appropriately, and continue to worship at the creepy little shrine in our basements.

Funny and also true. Looks like the Note 4 is my last Samsung unless the whole industry goes non-removeable battery and no extra storage.

[leapfrog0202]

I was told the battery is not removable in any Motorolas now. Our Droid RAZR M has 6 screwd preventing us from even getting into the back of it. If we did open it I doubt there’d be a removable SD card.

[musicman]

"Samsung unveils
sleek new Galaxy phones
to battle Apple"



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[RedMDer]

I have a Droid RAZR also and once the SD card is inserted it cannot be removed. The guy took the SD card from my other phone (Blackberry), inserted it into the Droid and said he could not get it back out. Ugh. The other phone is a ‘work’ phone for my job.

[RedMDer]

LOL! Looks great on paper.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I’ve owned iPhones, and Galaxy’s, right now my main phone is a Galaxy s5 active SM-G870A, and I totally agree with you on this.

It is really handy to be able to switch batteries and the Saturday card thing is a no brainer.

[Moltke]

I think in the battery discussion “cannot be replaced” should be “difficult to replace” (in most cases) - which means it may cost a few bucks to a technician if one doesn’t want to follow one of those youtube DIY tutorials, but the phone isn’t worthless once the battery goes.

[hoagy62]

I just got a S4 mini. I absolutely love it.

[hoagy62]

I just got a S4 mini. I absolutely love it.

[leapfrog0202]

Motorola sure lost my business after this phone.