Samsung is learning from past mistakes - but also makes new ...

I already owned a lot of quality smartphones in the past, as well as the Galaxy S5. Although this, technically speaking, a top unit was, the spark is somehow never quite jumped on me. Among other things bothered me practiced with TouchWiz drastic changes in familiar Android user, the many not deinstallierbaren Apps and due to the materials used is not very high-quality appearance. Finally, I therefore used a Moto X of the second generation, which convinced me in every respect. I used it very much, but it has recently broke through my own carelessness.

The Galaxy S6 convinced me now much more than the S5. Before I go into detail, here's a summary of the points that have been improved and the (in my eyes) still existing or newly added error.

Fixed "Error"
- Choice of material (now metal and glass instead of plastic)
- TouchWiz (now much closer to the look and feel of the original Android 5)
- Pre-installed software (now much less and largely uninstallable)

new "error"
- Memory not expandable
- Battery not replaceable (but I do not so critical)
- Still very conservative design, not a "looker"
- Battery very weak dimensioned

Below now my detailed assessment of the device.

Physical
I am very pleased that Samsung's flagship finally donated a price adequate housing. Had the S5 with me at that time the nobler Sony Z1 therefore only replaced because it was lighter and more compact than this, so the S6 will now appear similar noble as it was the Z1. Nevertheless, the choice of materials has no negative impact on the weight, say, the S6 is not much harder than it was the S5.
Seen from above, however, the S6 looks hardly different from the S5. Presumably, Samsung here design technically (like Apple also) deliberately on continuity and high level of recognition. In the case of the iPhone that is certainly justified, but the design of the Galaxy S series is not very exciting in my eyes. The S6 I would now even be described as highly conservative. My Motorola Moto X2 pleases me in this respect much better.
The processing is exemplary and faultless. Even after a long search I notice no drawbacks such as high gaps or imprecise fitted elements. Again: all very high quality!

Technology
In this area, the Galaxy S6 as currently scores no other smartphone! Processor, graphics chip and screen are the finest thing you can currently find in a smart phone! In AnTuTu benchmark reached my S6 values ​​which range from sensational 68,000 points. This means in the daily operation of course a superfluid, absolutely judder work. Even demanding games like "Need for Speed ​​Most Wanted" is a real pleasure for the eyes! However, I must say that I can say as well about my Motorola Moto X2. This reached the 60,000 points at AnTuTu not, but the operation you realize no significant difference.

Display
The display is a delight! In my view, nothing beats a AMOLED screen! Since it (without backlight) is an active display, enormous contrasts and black levels are achieved. With 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, Samsung has now increased the resolution again, surpassing even the full HD standard. Individual pixels or staging are by now absolutely no longer an issue.
Also Samsung has managed the display to provide enormous brightness, which manifests itself in the fact that the display remains clearly visible even in bright sunlight. The AMOLED typical disadvantage of a slight color cast when viewed obliquely, however, remains. The color saturation is set by default is still too high, although it seems to me not to be quite as intense as the S5. Those who prefer a more lifelike, but can choose the default "photo" in the "Screen Mode".

Aussstattung
The S6 comes with the latest Android version 5.0.2. Fortunately, Samsung has its own TouchWiz interface largely purifies. The differences from the stock Android have diminished compared to the S5. This is switching from other brands very accommodating, I think. It is also not so much useless "Bloat" software. The whole advertising apps like "Zalando" or "kaufDA" are uninstallable even without root privileges.
Much better than even the S5 now works the fingerprint sensor. Meanwhile is sufficient a simple touch of the Home-Button to unlock the screen. This is more reliable than the earlier strike Drüber necessary. The still existing pulse sensor I feel as "toys", but also the now works better.
Samsung offers with "S-Voice" own voice control that has already does not convince me at S5. However, that time it contained "Dragon Dictate", which was much better suited for text entry as the primary voice recognition from Google. That has now changed. Google recognizes become quite reliably even in the German version of Android punctuation and grew significantly in the quality of speech recognition. Consequently, "Dragon Dictate" no longer included in the S6. The device control via S-Voice is not better than that of Google Now. The TTS feedback come even in a no longer contemporary, quäkigen computer voice that is hopelessly inferior to Google. But you can also use the Google S6, which I would strongly recommend.
Unfortunately, the possibility of a memory expansion is dispensed via SD card. This is really annoying and for me the key point, which is why I can not grant full five stars. I personally extend the 32GB, but who wants to have this example his entire music collection on the go (this I use a separate iBasso DX50), which is therefore not come.

Accumulator
The battery life has me at first very disappointed and I was about to give the device only 3 stars. The S6 struggled to come up with a single charge throughout the day. The my Moto X2 battery lasts loose by two days.
After a few charging cycles, I can now say that the runtime is steadily increasing. Meanwhile, it is sufficient for 24 hours. This is the absolute minimum in my eyes. This, and that you can not change the battery pack, is probably due to the ultra flat design of the S6. With the permanently installed battery I can live with, because when I look back time, I have only changed once a battery in my life, and indeed in a Nokia device due to a recall.
The battery is charged by a little more than an hour if you use the supplied charger. Wireless charging is also possible with Samsung supports the most common standards.

Camera
Generally me the cameras of smartphones do not care so much, because I am an amateur photographer and therefore, in terms of quality, quite challenging. But the camera of the S6 surprised me very much! First, it provides an optical image stabilizer, a high light intensity and a lot of opportunities to intervene in the automatic. Secondly, the quality of the recordings is outstandingly good! I have never seen a cell phone camera that can be so take good pictures! Of course, here is a little with effects nachgeholfen (noise reduction, artificial sharpening), but this is done in a much smaller scope than in devices of the competition. Ultimately convinced the quality of the recordings, they can even compete with better compact cameras perfectly!
Videos have also a very good quality. But I'm not a filmmaker, so I can not give such an informed judgment in this regard.

Reception, telephony
The reception power in wireless is very good, with UMTS and LTE as well. Since there is nothing to complain about. The voice quality is very good in both directions. The built-in (mono) speaker is okay, but not outstanding good. At higher volumes, it is easy times to distortions which I would not expect in this price range.

Overall, Samsung did a successful successor to the S5 here. Technically, the S6 represents the currently feasible. The case is now extremely flat and made of quality materials. The still somewhat stale design is already there rather a matter of taste. Annoying is actually only the non-expandable storage. The battery life is at the bottom end of what I would not call, even in the face of not just low price, acceptable.