Samsung Galaxy S6: Likely Features to Challenge Apple iPhone 6 Line

By Don Reisinger

It will be interesting to see how Samsung positions the Galaxy S6 against the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The device will come with a screen size of 5.1 inches, according to reports. That means the handset could be pitted against either the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 or the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, since it splits the difference between the two screen sizes. It appears that Samsung wants to make the pitch that the Galaxy S6 is just the right size between the smaller-sized iPhone 6 and the phablet-scale iPhone 6 Plus.

Other reports suggest that Samsung will announce two versions of the Galaxy S6. The first will come with a standard bezel-equipped front plate, while the other will have a screen that is extended to the edge on one or two sides, similar to last year’s Galaxy Edge handset. Samsung’s edged display could help it draw a contrast against the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, both of which have thin but noticeable bezels.

Samsung will make the sales pitch that its product will be a more powerful alternative to the iPhone 6. Samsung’s Galaxy S6 is rumored to come with an octa-core Exynos processor built by the company’s processor division. Apple is notorious for keeping details on its chip line close, but its A8 is a 64-bit processor that doesn’t have eight built-in cores. That’s a difference Samsung will make clear with its announcement.

Samsung is rumored to be working on a new version of its TouchWiz Android skin that will be stripped down to improve performance. TouchWiz has been criticized by reviewers in the past for failing to quickly adapt to user inputs like iOS does. That could change with the Galaxy S6, if the rumors are true.

When it comes to camera quality, the Galaxy S6 will be an obvious winner. The smartphone is being rumored to have a 21-megapixel rear-facing camera, as well as a 5-megapixel front-facing lens. The iPhone 6, meanwhile, has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.2-megapixel front-facing lens. That’s a major difference.

In a blog post recently, Samsung confirmed that its upcoming products will come with wireless charging. While the company didn’t mention the Galaxy S6 by name, all signs point to that handset being the leader for its newly minted wireless charging. Apple’s iPhone 6, meanwhile, is still tethered to a charging plug, and there are no signs that will change anytime soon.

The very latest reports show that Samsung is experimenting with a metal case for the Galaxy S6. That means the company’s stubborn adherence to plastic cases will finally come to an end in the Galaxy S6, providing a more refined look and putting the device in a better position to compete with Apple’s iPhone 6. Whether the design will actually match the iPhone 6 in overall aesthetic appeal, however, remains to be seen.

After Samsung and Microsoft recently announced the end to a months-long patent-royalty battle, a few reports suggested that the companies had also agreed to bundle Microsoft services in TouchWiz. According to those reports, standard versions of Microsoft’s Office suite will come with the Galaxy S6, putting it in direct competition with Apple’s iWork suite.

Samsung and Apple are both building up mobile payments businesses, and 2015 is expected to be the year when the competition in that field heats up. Samsung has all but confirmed that all of its upcoming devices will support Samsung Pay, and its recent acquisition of mobile payment startup LooPay suggests it’ll play a crucial role in its portfolio. Of course, Apple Pay is central to Apple’s own market strategy.

T-Mobile has already hinted that it will be carrying the Galaxy S6, but according to reports, the other top U.S. carriers will also get to sell the Galaxy S6. That’s a crucial move for Samsung. To take on the iPhone 6, the company must be carrier-agnostic and allow any and all carriers to sell the latest Galaxy model. It would be a big mistake for Samsung to grant an exclusive distribution deal to one of the big carriers.