Samsung Galaxy S6 'Project Zero' UK release date, price and specs rumours: Unpacked 2015 set for 1 March with teased curve

When is the Samsung Galaxy S6 coming out? We round up everything there is to know about the Samsung Galaxy S6 'Project Zero' smartphone and its S6 Edge and S6 Active variants, including UK release date, price and specs rumours, plus concept images and case details, which suggest the speaker and rear camera have been moved. Also see: Samsung Galaxy S6 mini UK release date, price and specs predictions

Every major flagship smartphone for 2014 has now launched and is available to buy, including the iPhone 6, Google Nexus 6 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Many of you will be interested in when Samsung will launch a follow-up smartphone to the Galaxy S5 and you've come to the right place. Also see: Best smartphones 2014 and Best Android phones 2014.

Read: HTC One M9 release date, price, specs rumours.

Samsung Galaxy S6 UK release date: When is the Samsung Galaxy S6 coming out?

Samsung, like other hardware manufacturers has got into a rhythm of launching a new flagship smartphone once per year. Just as the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and iPhone 6 were expected to launch in September and did so, we (along with many others) expect the Galaxy S6 to launch close to MWC. See: What to expect from MWC 2015.

This is now as good as confirmed as Samsung has sent out invites for its Galaxy Unpacked 2015 event (see below) which will take place on 1 March at 6:30pm CET in Barcelona where MWC is held. The show itself starts the following day on 2 March.

The Korean tech giant has launched previous Galaxy S phones near to the Barcelona show; in fact, the Galaxy S5 was announced in the Spanish city at MWC 2014. MWC 2015 is scheduled for 2 March so we fully expect the Galaxy S6 to be unveiled close to this date at an Unpacked event.

There is the odd murmur that Samsung will bring it forward due to disappointing Galaxy S5 sales, and that it might appear at CES 2015. But while Samsung was alleged to be showing the S6 behind closed doors, there was no mention of the next Galaxy flagship in its CES press conference.

Samsung Galaxy S6 UK price: How much will the Samsung Galaxy S6 cost?

Samsung tends to stick to the same pricing for its Galaxy smartphones, which means we expect the S6 to come in at £549 SIM-free. This price will drop below £500 within months, and this time next year will be closer to £400. According to Android Pit, the Galaxy S6 will start at 749 Euro which is around £565. See below for all the rumoured prices.

Samsung Galaxy S6 32 GB: 749 Euro
Samsung Galaxy S6 64 GB: 849 Euro
Samsung Galaxy S6 128 GB: 949 Euro

Samsung Galaxy S6: Specs

Plenty of whispers are circulating the rumour mill on what specs and features the Samsung Galaxy S6 will offer. Some sound farfetched; others are more likely. Now a detailed leak by SamMobile reveals what Samsung is planning for the Galaxy S6 so read on. The specs revealed by the site are backed up by a screenshot from the AnTuTu benchmark app. Read: LG G4 release date, price and specs rumours.

Samsung Galaxy S6 screen

It seems perfectly plausible that the Galaxy S6 will use a SuperAMOLED screen, Samsung's favoured display technology. As for size, the trend is for new models to have bigger displays so with the Galaxy S5 at 5.1in, the Galaxy S6 could be as large as 5.5in, matching the LG G3 or somewhere in between. 

Speaking of the LG G3, there are two main contenders for the Galaxy S6 screen resolution: Quad HD (1440 x 2560) matching LG's flagship smartphone or 4K (2160 x 3840). The former seems more likely to us, now that Samsung has introduced it in the Galaxy Note 4, but full-HD is certainly not out of the question. SamMobile touts it will be Quad HD but doesn't know what size.

GSMArena also believes the S6 will have a 5.5in screen with a Quad HD resolution and 534ppi pixel density, plus Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

There are rumours of a flexible or curved display which Samsung has been developing and we've seen on the Galaxy Round, and yet more rumours that there will be a version of the S6 with a curved edge, just like the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. Whether the firm utilises this on the flagship Galaxy S6 is unclear but the invitation for Unpacked 2015 (see above) suggest some kind of curved element.

Samsung Galaxy S6 design and build

The Samsung Galaxy S5 got slammed in reviews (including ours) for its plastic build quality and this is something which should be improved when it comes to the Galaxy S6. Rumours suggest the firm could be using graphene as a material. More likely, however, is that Samsung will continue the metal design used by its Galaxy Alpha in the Galaxy S6.

"The IM Division’s Mobile Business, which had weak earnings in 2014, will focus on recovery by differentiating its mobile devices using new materials and designs," said the firm on its Samsung Tomorrow blog.

There have been many leaked images that back up this theory; those below were discovered by NoWhereElse.

The site has since leaked new images purporting to be the Samsung Galaxy S6's new metal housing:

More recently, a mystery device that appears in the below video clip about using Samsung's My KNOX could well be the Samsung Galaxy S6 - complete with slim bezels and a half-metal frame. (Thanks to PhoneArena for this leak.)

Indeed, AndroidPit has revealed that two Samsung Galaxy S6 designs are in the works, with the final design yet to be decided. One has a metal unibody chassis; the other is half metal with a removable plastic rear like the Galaxy Note 4.

Also like that device, AndroidPit claims the Galaxy S6 will have a UV sensor and fast-charging. The S6 will also feature a microSD slot and unidirectional headphones.

Case maker Spigen is suggesting this is how the Samsung Galaxy S6 will look, with the dual-LED flash moved to the other side of the camera:

MobileFun is now stocking Samsung Galaxy S6 cases from both Spigen and EnCase for as little as £12.99. It notes that: "The placement of the camera flash is different, and there are no longer cut-outs for the speakers on the back of the case suggesting a change in position for these as well."

Assuming the speaker has moved to the front of the phone, this adds weight to the theory that Samsung is targetting audiophiles with its Galaxy S6. The smartphone is also expected to be bundled with Sennheiser earbuds.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Active

The Samsung Galaxy S6 will not be waterproof, according to WebTrek (via Sammobile). This seems an odd move, given that the S5 had IP67 certification. However, the site claims there will be an Active version of the S6, as there has been with previous Samsung Galaxy phones (also see Samsung Galaxy S5 Active).

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

But it appears yet another variant of the Samsung Galaxy S6 is in the works. Sammobile has confirmed that Samsung is working on a version of the Galaxy S6 known as the Galaxy S6 Edge, which is similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge in the sense it has a curved side, but here two edges are curved. This will make it better suited to both left- and right-handed users. According to Sammobile there will also be a Glance Lighting feature that lights up the edge panel upon receiving calls and notifications when the phone is placed screen down. The lighting can be colour-coded by contact, too.

3G.co.uk has released the concept image at the top of this page, plus the following Samsung Galaxy S6 teaser video:

A new concept image comes from vouchercodespro.co.uk, shown below:

According to GSMArena, the Samsung Galaxy S6 will be available in Charcoal Black, Copper Gold, Electric Blue and Shimmery White.

Samsung Galaxy S6 mini

It's highly likely there will also be a Samsung Galaxy S6 mini - check out our Samsung Galaxy S6 mini predictions.

Samsung Galaxy S6 new fingerprint sensor

According to Sammobile Samsung is updating the fingerprint sensor in the S6 to work with touch- rather than swipe-based input, making it more akin to Touch ID used by the iPhone 6. This means you'll be able to record an entire rather than partial fingerprint, and should mean it will work a lot better. Its functionality will otherwise remain the same.

Samsung Galaxy S6 software

Samsung is making Tizen products but it's almost certain that the Galaxy S6 will stick with Android. Google has announced Android 5.0 Lollipop so Samsung has plenty of time to get this version pre-installed and we expect a new version of Samsung's TouchWiz interface.

According to Business Korea, the Samsung Galaxy S6's TouchWiz interface will be stripped right back, removing unnecessary features to offer a stock Android-like experience as found on the Nexus 6. Sammobile seconds this idea, making many of its add-on apps available as downloads rather than preinstalling them.

Samsung Galaxy S6 new payment system

According to GSMArena, the Korean media is reporting that Samsung has lined up Visa to work alongside it in creating a new payments system for the Galaxy S6. It will be similar to Apple Pay, but use LoopPay technology. This payments system will also be available on the Galaxy S5 and Note 4.

Samsung Galaxy S6 processor, memory and storage

Under the bonnet we think the Galaxy S6 will be powered by one of Qualcomm's 64-bit processors (Android Lollipop will support 64-bit) which have already been announced and scheduled to arrive inside devices in the first half of 2015 – how convenient. Android L vs Android 4.4 KitKat comparison review: What's the difference?

The Snapdragon 808 and Snapdragon 810 are the two options here and Samsung could launch each in different markets. The former supports up to 1600 x 2560 displays and the latter allows for full 4K.

SamMobile claims the Galaxy S6 will come with its own new Exynos 7420, a 64-bit chip with four Cortex-A53 and four Cortex-A57 cores. However, there will also be a Snapdragon 810 version which is the one we could end up getting in the UK.

However, overheating issues with the Snapdragon 810 could lead Samsung to shun Qualcomm in favour of its own Exynos chip in 90 percent of Samsung Galaxy S6 handsets at launch. Once Qualcomm has ironed out problems with the 810 it will gradually replace the Exynos in newer batches of the Samsung Galaxy S6.

In its latest earnings call Qualcomm suggested it had lost a big client, which could well be Samsung.

On the storage front, the phone is rumoured to come in 32-, 64- and 128 GB models to choose from. Samsung is likely to equip the Galaxy S6 with 3GB of RAM, plus a microSD slot that accepts up to 128GB.

Samsung Galaxy S6 cameras

The majority of the rumours suggest the Samsung Galaxy S6 will feature a 20Mp rear camera. However, SamMobile says the firm is currently deciding between the existing 16Mp and the new 20Mp camera, and believes it likely that the firm will stick with 16Mp with optical image stabilisation like the Note 4.

Front cameras are increasingly important and the Galaxy S6 looks set to get a 5Mp shooter to match the freshly announced Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5.

Samsung Galaxy S6 other specifications

According to GSMArena, the Samsung Galaxy S6 will also feature dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS and an IR blaster.

Samsung Galaxy S6 software: enhanced themes

According to Sammobile, Samsung is prioritising enhanced themes customisation with future devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S6. A Themes Center will let you change system sounds, fonts and Events (such as Christmas or Valentine's Day).

There will also be a Themes Store, which has the following icon:

Samsung Galaxy S6 accessories

Sammobile has leaked the following list of accessories for the Samsung Galaxy S6.

• • EF-CG920B — Zero-F S View Cover Case ‏
• • EP-PG920I — Zero-Flat S Charger Pad Power ‏
• • EF-WG920B — Zero-F Flip Wallet Case ‏
• • ET-FG920C‏ — Zero-F Screen protector ETC
• • EF-YG920B — Zero-F Protective Cover [PULeather] Case ‏
• • EF-QG920B — Zero-F Protective Cover [Clear] Case
• • EF-YG925BMEBUS — Zero Protective Cover [PULeather] Case ‏
• • EF-WG925BSEBUS — Zero Flip Wallet Case PVR
• • EF-QG925BGEGWW‏‎ — Zero Protective Cover [Clear]Case

The Samsung Galaxy S6 will also be sold with Sennheiser earbuds, according to Sammobile, in a bid to appease audiophiles. The earbuds reportedly look similar to those supplied with the Amazon Fire Phone and the Apple EarPods. They will also feature apt-X, which may mean they work wirelessly.

Furthermore, Sammobile says accessories will be the S6's strongest suit. You'll be able to purchase add-ons that let you monitor your blood sugar and upload that data to the cloud for a doctor to view, get a secondary E Ink display for reading books, and there will be detachable lenses that turn the Galaxy S6 into the Galaxy S6 K Zoom. Other accessories in the works are said to include sports equipment such as bicycles and steppers.

Sammobile also claims the S6 and S6 Edge will support Samsung's Gear VR.

Samsung Galaxy S6 model names

Upleaks has published the following list of model numbers for the Galaxy S6:

SM-G9200 – China

SM-G9208 – China

SM-G9209 – China

SM-G920A – AT&T

SM-G920D – NTT DOCOMO

SM-G920F – A lot of countries/regions

SM-G920I – A lot of countries/regions

SM-G920K – KT

SM-G920L – LG Telecom

SM-G920M – Brazil

SM-G920P – Sprint

SM-G920R – US Cellular

SM-G920S – SK Telecom

SM-G920T – T-Mobile US

SM-G920V – Verizon

SM-G920W – Canada etc

SM-G920X – Demo Only, not for public 

SM-G9250 – China

SM-G925A – AT&T

SM-G925D – NTT DOCOMO

SM-G925F – A lot of countries/regions

SM-G925I – A lot of countries/regions

SM-G925J – KDDI

SM-G925K – KT

SM-G925L – LG Telecom

SM-G925P – Sprint

SM-G925R – US Cellular

SM-G925S – SK Telecom

SM-G925T – T-Mobile US

SM-G925V – Verizon

SM-G925W – Canada etc

SM-G925X – Demo Only, not for public

Samsung Galaxy S6 to come with StoreDot super-fast-charging technology?

That'll be a no, but it would be cool if it did.

StoreDot's FlashBattery, which is able to fully charge your phone in one minute, is much thicker than same-capacity lithium batteries used in smartphones. Right now it wouldn't be able to get you through the day without several recharges, although StoreDot has given itself a 2017 goal to match the size and capacity of lithium-ion.

Sure, it's interesting to note that the FlashBattery was on show by appointment only at the same tradeshow that the Samsung Galaxy S6 was rumoured to be available for private viewings: CES 2015. StoreDot also used a Samsung Galaxy S5 on which to demonstrate its tech. And it said it was in talks with all the big players at CES 2015. But, let's use some common sense here: it probably just used the S5 because, unlike many of its rivals, its battery is removable. 

So while you will likely see this super-fast charging tech in future Galaxy devices, it certainly won't be in the S6. Check out the video below to see how it works.

post from sitemap