The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge Review
by Joshua Ho on April 17, 2015 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Samsung
- Mobile
- Galaxy S6
- Galaxy S6 Edge
NAND Performance: The First UFS Phone
Storage performance is often a critical area for user performance, as applications cannot be cached in RAM at every possible moment. Camera performance is also often limited by storage performance as RAM buffers can only do so much to maintain performance before it’s necessary to commit photos to non-volatile storage.
However due to the memory hierarchy to some extent, storage performance is often hard to notice once it’s at a point where things are “good enough”. Unfortunately, in some cases we can see OEMs failing to include sufficiently performant solid-state storage, which can be a major pain point in the user experience when random read/write performance is low enough that there are noticeable IO pauses as the system has to wait for data to be loaded from storage.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 family is the first shipping implementation of UFS (Universal Flash Storage) 2.0 standard, which makes the internal storage model less like an SD card in nature. When comparing the eMMC 5.1 standard to the UFS 2.0 standard, we see a move from a the 400 MB/s maximum of the eMMC 5.1 standard with HS400 physical link interface to MIPI M-PHY, which allows for a theoretical maximum of around 720 MB/s and should be more efficient in transmitting data than the current eMMC standard. In addition, UFS makes it possible to do full duplex communication, which means that reads and writes can happen simultaneously. There's also a command queue, which helps to avoid inefficiencies that could arise from waiting for commands once a command has been processed by the storage controller, and utilizes the SCSI protocol to facilitate these new features at the interface level.
As for the Galaxy S6 itself, the UFS implementation Samsung is using is Samsung developed. Samsung's current implementation only supports up to 300 MB/s (or 2.4 Gbps) transfer rates as a theoretical maximum, so from an interface perspective it's still not reaching the full capabilities of the standard. Though even at a cap of 300MB/sec, it still stands to be a significant improvement over typical eMMC solutions.
Finally, on a technical note, the 32GB models are of the model KLUBG4G1BD-E0B1 with a maximum queue depth of 16.
In order to test storage performance, we use Androbench with some custom settings to get a reasonable idea of performance in this area, although this test isn’t an exhaustive examination of storage performance by any means.
The Galaxy S6 performs rather impressively in our standard storage test, but not as fast as one might have hoped. This is due to the nature of the Androbench 3.6 test, which only tests a single IO thread, which won’t use the UFS storage of the Galaxy S6 to its full extent. In order to see the kind of difference that UFS really makes, I ran the same test again on Androbench 4.x, which does support multiple IO threads. However, as our iOS storage test and Androbench 3.6 don’t support more than a single IO thread we will continue to present both results for now.
Overall, there are some immense benefits in storage performance here, especially in random IO performance. The Galaxy S6 has some of the fastest storage available in a phone today as far as I can tell given that this is basically a pure MLC solution, and shouldn’t have any real issue with storage performance holding back the rest of the phone over the course of 1-3 years as long as a reasonable amount of free space is kept to allow efficient storage management.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
306 Comments
View All Comments
twtech - Friday, April 17, 2015 - link
There's nothing compelling about the S6 that makes me want it over the S5. Sure, it's a bit faster, but there is a loss of functionality, and it's easier to break.Realistically, we are at a point where speed doesn't matter that much anymore unless you play games on your phone, and frankly if I wanted an iPhone, I'd get an iPhone.
gnx - Friday, April 17, 2015 - link
The promise of Samsung was always the best hardware performance coupled with the most functions. Design was secondary. It just needed to not be a deal-breaker.It really took off with the S2 because it's exynos and graphics performance was the markedly above others (when Android was still behind), it had the most vibrant screesn (Super AMOLED was central to it's marketing), and added some software tricks (like toggles on the notification screen). SD-card and removable batteries were just one part of the appeal (other manufacturers offered it too).
S3 largely delivered, but S4 and S5 failed cause there wasn't enough differentiation on those fronts. They used the same Snapdragon as others, or their Exynos was no better, their screen were being parlayed as too saturated, and software additions were criticized as gimmicky. SD cards and removable batteries became the only lasting meaningful difference. Design started to become stale and a hinderance.
Looks like S6 returns to the original promise: blazing hardware performance with the new Exynos, amazing screen with the maturation of AMOLED, and software that at least doesn't get in the way. Plus additional features that really make a difference: arguably the best camera (Sammy cameras were never bad, not just ever the best) which appeals to the masses and the Gear VR which appeals to the geeks. And a design that is not a deal-breaker. (S6 does not fall behind, and S6 Edge might even have an advantage design-wise)
I'm not getting one for sure. I'm too wed to the Nexus-line. But this time round, I'd be happy to recommend it to tech-minded friends and tech-ignorant family.
generalako - Saturday, April 18, 2015 - link
The S5 wasn't "too saturated", it was the best display of any smartphone during its release, and still holds that title for any non-Samsung smartphone display -- 1 year after its release.akdj - Sunday, April 26, 2015 - link
"S3 largely delivered, but S4 and S5 failed cause there wasn't enough differentiation on those fronts. They used the same Snapdragon as others, or their Exynos was no better, their screen were being parlayed as too saturated, and software additions were criticized as gimmicky. SD cards and removable batteries became the only lasting meaningful difference. Design started to become stale and a hinderance."
General beat me to part of your comment but it's almost like you own an S3, is that correct? Have you managed to 'stay away' from the Internet for three years when it came to technology too? If so, good on ya bro! Wish I could!
The S4 was a Grand Slam. Hence the 'letdown' with S5 sales figures. That said, the two of them are significant improvements on their predecessor. ESPECIALLY AMOLED's technology, and now we're seeing the fruits of Sammys work on Exynos, the internal 'speed' of the storage and memory as well as camera, incredibly quick wifi and LTE speeds and the display, man the display. As an owner of both the iPhone 6+ & Note 4 (biz/personal), I've seen the improvements first hand. In all facets of smartphone usage. Speed, software, displays and cameras and their abilities, the fluency of the OS (I'm weird as I like TouchWiz and iOS, stock Android and OS X, even Win 8....1. Hated '8';)
Point being, the difference between the three you compared is night and day. My Note 1's subsidy couldn't end quick enough. Impulse purchase at the time and I hated it. It would time out before an app could present the dialog box to accept permission, gingerbread w/TW was a mess, as the SoC couldn't cut through the peanut butter (code). Android wasn't perfect yet, but the difference between my Note 1 (same guts as the S3) & original Xoom was unreal. TW killed that phone. The S3 was much better as the stylus software wasn't killing it, but the Note 2/S4 update was HUGE! From the SoC to the camera, the display (AMOLED has matured EVERY year. So much so DisplayMate pre iPhone 6+, could be the same I've not looked ...has the Note 4 as one of, if not THE best display on the market ...and most reviews pegged the Note 4 as the Android phone to beat as an all rounder, IF you can handle the size (it feels much smaller than it is, I've owned 1, 3 and 4 my wife the 1, 2 and 4). The S5 was a 'lot' of half baked but cool ideas. It was a killer display. Phenomenal processing and memory, decent camera in most situations (forget low light), and an extraordinary amount of 'features' added by the OEM. Fingerprint reading and All the Galaxy apps that brought the engines power to it's knees. From S Voice to S Note, S Finder to Smart Stay added to AT& T's plethora of crap, it never really had a chance to 'spread its wings'. All other phones using the SD 800-805 are beasts, including the Note 4, an even further improvement to a near perfect display (consumer) calibration, with Samsung dropping many of the heavy code or worthless crap found on the S5. Also an extra GB of RAM, quick internal storage and a healthy quick MicroSD, fast as hell radios both wifi and cellular provided an enjoyable experience and with the LP 5.01 update I received a week ago, it's the first Android phone over a ½ year later that not only hasn't slowed, but has become MUCH faster, more responsive.
Design wasn't EVER a hindrance. Quite the opposite. As an iPhone owner and two phone daily carrier, the design allowed for fast, safe access to battery and external storage. That's not a hindrance. Now I'd agree it didn't 'help' Sammy that metals and other plastics well formed and nicely crafted by other OEMs started to become the norm. I've always enjoyed the craftsmanship and 'design' from both Samsung and Apple and they've been extremely different.
While reviews would talk about the faux stitching, mock leather, plastic flimsy backs...I don't recall ever reading about the necessity of that typed of manufacture. I've never had a Sammy back 'break' precisely because of its flexibility. Made it easy to access internals and not break it after a few open and closes and the stitching or rather textured plastic exterior made the type of material used easy to grip, tough to slip. I like aluminum too. Both have benefits. Both have drawbacks. But I wouldn't call battery replacement a detriment. We've got several extra Note batteries around the house and other than backpacking (GPS only, airplane. No cell service allowed, it's good to shut it down!) and I can easily get a couple days of use from the Note or iPhone these days. Need more juice there's many hundreds of car chargers, 'power packs' and now like the Note 4, USB 2 Quick Adaptive Charging (I owned the Note 3 and USB 3 while present wouldn't work at USB 3 speeds for transfer and ultimately no benefit to speed of transfers between computer and phone. It was picky on which computers it would even 'tell' it was '3' and showed as '2'). The QC cable and adaptor need to be used but 30 minutes 0-50% and about 90 to get to 100% is phenomenal. As with most OEMs not sporting the Nexus badge, it's lame relying on the OEM to push the latest version of Android 'out' OTA (another reason USB 3 isn't necessary! Who's plugging in anymore? MicroSD can be easily plugged in for faster media transfer from the computers but who needs the cord? Other than charging, either with Android or iOS? Neither require computers not have they since, huh, ironically enough, the S3 era;). And Kies sucks! iTunes is the Mona Lisa of software in comparison.
As far as your SoC comments, just to add...Apple's the onIy OEM to successfully design their own chip and it's low level programming and architecture. They've got a single phone to worry about typically (different this year after the 5s/c test run) and they're able to control the Eco system relatively easily with onIy their 'own' to worry about) and a tablet they've used the same chip with certain upgrades or bulking up the SoC or increasing RAM. Samsung indeed has used the same Snapdragon processors as others but they used only the very best, top shelf parts in their flagships. They've never been shy about RAM, more cores or bigger, better and brighter displays.
They're efforts have paid off with Exynos. A company doesn't build a billion or two transistor piece of silicon on a die the size of your thumbnail overnight. They've done a damn fine job 'keeping up' with Qualcomm IMHO ...to th extent when the 810 exhibited bizarre heat/throttling issues, they were able to immediately slide their own 64bit SoC in for ALL markets (it's been in the S3, 4, & 5 ...too lazy to research but I don't think Sammy used nVidia's Tegra at any point) quite nimbly for such a massive release.
The 'saturation' issue very much went the way of the dodo two years ago or so with the S4, the Note 2. The S5/N3 were another HUGE step up and as General and I've echoed, the N-4 was even better and besting most of the flagship LCD panels. With a display setting the user can control you can 'over' saturate things if you'd like but go back and compare how good this transitions actually were objectively. Here and at DisplayMate.
You missed the actual displacement of LCD's dominance by Super AMOLED during the exact time period you specify. Apple is using it in their watch. It's gorgeous and the S5 software additions, we do agree, are/were, and they leaned 'gimmicky'.
The improvement was evident with the Note 4 six months later and even more so with the S6.
I am curious though, has Samsung dropped the lollipop update for the S5 like the Note 4 in America? Or European countries with the Snapdragon 801/5? If so, and you've downloaded it, has Sammy remedied that bloat by a significant margin? I was happy with 4.4.4 on the N4, but 5.0;1 is like lightning (Nova launch 70%/Google Lauch 30%)
I can't imagine there's a beast trapped in there. The Note 4 has the same motor albeit a 50% bump in RAM. Seems like a simple S/W update as the sales stailed would've helped a company and millions of end users. I think they're trying (HARD) to optimize T/W and abide by Google's rules as muc as feasibly possible when you're using the OS with things like SPen, fingerprint scanning genesis, touch to share NFC or '(S)urrond(S)ound' @ the party!
chizow - Friday, April 17, 2015 - link
Nicely written, fair and balanced review.I was disappointed when I heard Samsung went with a unibody design and removed the option for removable storage and replaceable battery, but I understand the decision and ultimately the market has spoken and agreed with this decision. Personally, the changes would've been unremarkable to me as I would throw a Spigen case on the phone anyways, so the least striking changes to the face would've been the only thing I would've noticed over my S4.
At the same time, I realized without these features, there was really much less reason to go with a Samsung/Android device, so along with the option to BYOD for work, I went ahead and got an iPhone 6 Plus. I guess I was ready to go with a phablet and there was a number of annoyances I had with Android (just too bloaty and too many hidden CPU drainers leading to awful battery life). My work iPhone on the other hand would go DAYS without needing to be charged.
Samsung also has an awful track record of supporting their existing products as they are always rushing towards "The Next Big Thing"; this has held true for a number of their products from SSDs, to phones, to Smart TVs. They just don't care once they have your money, they figure bad support is just forced obsolescence and a way to get more of your money in 2-3 years.
My iPhone 6 Plus hasn't been perfect and there are some oddball bugs I am running into (like Pandora burning CPU/battery randomlly), but overall I'm happy with the decision. We'll see where things stand in a few years when I am ready for another phone upgrade.
Drumsticks - Friday, April 17, 2015 - link
The Galaxy S4 just received the lollipop update. That makes for at least 2 years of updates, which is much better than they used to be.chizow - Saturday, April 18, 2015 - link
But that's just another example of Android's disjointed hodgepodge support model. Only more recent hardware supports their latest updates and then it is still up to the OEM and then the carrier's discretion to push the OTA update. End result is late updates that are already borderline irrelevant or no update at all.IOS isn't perfect either and has had some bunk updates but I got the iOS 8.3 just three days after it was covered here.
Ammaross - Friday, April 17, 2015 - link
"...annoyances I had with Android (just too bloaty and too many hidden CPU drainers leading to awful battery life)""..some oddball bugs I am running into (like Pandora burning CPU/battery randomlly)"
Trade one demon for a devil. If I had to deal with the same thing either way, I'd go with the one you can actually have a chance at fixing yourself rather than just having to deal with it. :P
chizow - Friday, April 17, 2015 - link
Well at least with iOS it is a well-documented solution that just involves closing and re-opening Pandora, vs. the solution to bloaty Android CPU suckage the answer is root your phone and become your own 24.7 tech support . :pPeichen - Saturday, April 18, 2015 - link
chizow is right. I tried to use a Note 3 to replace my iPhone 5 before iPhone 6 came out and after spending 2 weeks rooting, loading launchers, mod and so on I decided I don't want to waste any more time tweaking a phone. I had enough of that from high school and college days overclocking my water cooled computer. My time is a lot more valuable now.