The Samsung Galaxy S6 is turning 2 years old, which means that customers who purchased the smartphone with a two-year contract will enter a market that will soon have the Galaxy S8 as an option.
For Samsung fans who loved their Galaxy S6, here are seven reasons why it would make sense to upgrade to the Galaxy S8 after their two-year contract expires, along with one reason why it might be a better idea to switch to the Galaxy S7 instead.
Seven Reasons To Upgrade Galaxy S6 To Galaxy S8
The Galaxy S8 has a much bigger display, with a 5.8-inch Quad HD+ screen compared to the 5.1-inch Quad HD screen of the Galaxy S6. For customers who would want an even bigger screen, the Galaxy S8+ measures 6.2 inches.
Samsung's latest flagship smartphone also features a faster processor, as it is powered by a 2.3 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 compared to the 2.1 GHz octa-core Exynos 7420 of the Galaxy S6. The Galaxy S8 also boasts of increased RAM, going to 4 GB from 3 GB in the Galaxy S6.
The Galaxy S6 comes with three internal storage options of 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB, while the Galaxy S8 only comes in a 64 GB model. However, the Galaxy S8 features expandable storage that can support microSD cards of up to 256 GB, while the Galaxy S6 does not have such a capability.
The Galaxy S8 also comes with a bigger battery of 3,000 mAh, which promises longer usage time compared to the 2,550 mAH battery of the Galaxy S6.
The Galaxy S6 has a 5 MP front-facing camera and a 16 MP rear-facing camera, while the Galaxy S8 will come with an 8 MP front-facing camera and a 12 MP rear-facing camera. Despite seemingly better specifications, the Galaxy S8 actually features an improved camera with a better autofocus system, larger pixels, and a faster f/1.7 lens.
Despite the larger screen of the Galaxy S8, the smartphone is only 155 grams or 0.34 pounds, heavier than the Galaxy S6, and is even slightly narrower. Samsung was able to accomplish this better design for the Galaxy S8 by eliminating the side bezels and removing a significant portion of the top and bottom bezels.
One Reason Not To Upgrade From Galaxy S6 To Galaxy S8
The Galaxy S8 is a much better smartphone compared to the Galaxy S6 in most aspects, but there is one feature that might have customers think twice of upgrading from the Galaxy S6 to the Galaxy S8.
In order to cut down on the bezels of the Galaxy S8, Samsung decided to entirely remove the Home button, replacing it with on-screen buttons. This made it necessary to move the fingerprint sensor, previously on the Home button, somewhere else on the Galaxy S8, and Samsung decided to place it at the back, next to the rear-facing camera.
Users who will use the fingerprint sensor to unlock the Galaxy S8 will have to reach a bit with their finger to place it on the sensor. In the process, they may likely smudge their camera lens due to how close it is to the sensor.
Should You Upgrade From The Galaxy S6 To Galaxy S8?
Galaxy S6 owners who have grown accustomed to a physical Home button and a fingerprint sensor at the front may find it difficult to adjust to the changes that Samsung made to the Galaxy S8. As such, the Galaxy S7 may present itself as a viable alternative option.
However, the time of adjustment, or an occasional smudged camera lens, is a small thing compared to how much better the Galaxy S8 is than the Galaxy S6.
