Consumer product review website Consumer Reports has traditionally given top marks to smartphones under the Galaxy S line of Samsung, and the current flagship devices Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are no exception.
However, while Consumer Reports gave high grades to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, the scores of the two devices are surprisingly not as high that of their predecessor, the Galaxy S5.
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge both feature ultra-sharp quad HD displays at 550 pixels per inch, along with several charging options for the convenience of users. The smartphones can be charged up to 50 percent of the capacity of the battery in just 30 minutes using the included 9-volt USB 2.0 charger. They can also be wirelessly charged using charging pads of either the Powermat or Qi format.
Innovations such as the aforementioned have allowed the Galaxy S series of Samsung to become the top alternative to its rival, the iPhones of Apple. Samsung has traditionally included the latest pieces of technology in its smartphones, while Apple has focused on design, high-end components and simple operation.
Consumer Reports gave lower scores to Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge primarily because the company went away from this direction with the new flagship smartphones, as the devices significantly resemble Apple's iPhones more than their predecessors.
While the new Samsung flagship devices can be commended for being constructed out of aluminum and glass for more elegance in their design, other modifications that made the smartphones resemble the iPhone lowered their ratings to place them on the same level as, ironically, Apple's iPhone 6.
Examples of modifications that hurt the scores of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge include the usage of non-removable batteries and memory expansion options. This would require users to take their unit to a service center for a battery replacement and purchase a more expensive version of the smartphone for bigger memory, similar to an iPhone.
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are also not water-resistant when the Galaxy S5 carried that feature. The battery life of the two devices is good, but below the performance of that of the Galaxy S5.
Coming in second place in the smartphone rankings of Consumer Reports is the LG G4, which shares the position with its predecessor, the LG G3. The Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5 Sport all share fifth place.
