Samsung Galaxy S6 Review

History is chock-full of famous comebacks, from Manchester United's epic stoppage-time Champions League win in 1999 to every single Rocky Balboa fight ever staged. The success of Samsung's S6 followed on from the relatively underwhelming releases of the S4 and S5, proving that things really do get better with time. Not content with re-establishing Samsung's reputation for excellence in the smartphone market, the S6 also blazed a trail for the premium handsets that are now available across multiple brands. All that and more is why a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S6 is a stellar choice.

How the S6 broke the mould

Samsung has always excelled in the field of screen technology, and this reputation was earned long before the launch of the S6. However, the handset arguably elevates this technology onto a brand new level, and there are a couple of key reasons for this. For one, the 5.1-inch display now packs more pixels than ever before, with an impressive resolution of 1440x2560 and a PPI of 577 contributions to one of the sharpest and most eye-catching interfaces on the market to this day. The Super AMOLED display offers clear and crisp colour contrasts, meaning that even dark scenes can be viewed clearly (which comes in handy when streaming your favourite horror flick).

A more secure handset

Biometrics is now the watchword for security and screen unlocking in the smartphone market, and in some respects it was the S6 handset that first mastered this cutting-edge technology. Make no mistake; the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S6 is excellent, whether you consider its accessibility, speed or consistent level of accuracy (even in challenging circumstances). Like most modern devices, the S6 employs a single touch method for verifying your print, allowing for rapid access to your screen and exceptional levels of accuracy. A light touch is also enough to unlock your phone, which is great for those of you who don't like to be heavy-handed when using the handset.

Fast and wireless charging for the masses

The concept of a 'fast-charging' smartphone is appealing, especially for those of us who dread the loss of power on the seemingly endless commute home from work. When combined with wireless charging, this creates a win-win scenario that allows you to power your phone quickly and conveniently wherever you may be. To this end, the S6 has packed both versions of wireless charging into a thin and sleek frame, which is itself an impressive accomplishment. This provides the optimal level of flexibility to users, who can use either the Tylt stand or an additional battery pack to access vital power sources when they need them the most.

A durable and long-lasting battery

Although the S6's 2,550mAh battery unit is noticeably smaller than the 2,800mAh alternative featured in the S5 device, it's still offers more than enough charge to get you through the day, with an estimated 17 hours of moderate usage on a single charge. This declines incrementally when streaming films or games, so you may need to manage your activity when looking to make it home with your power bar relatively intact.

The Smart Manager will change the way you work

This provides an ever-so-neat segway into the 'Smart Manager' feature on the S6, which serves as a single interface through which you can monitor your activity and keep a keen eye on the handset's performance. This useful app enables you to perform a number of important tasks, from tracking the security of the phone and its battery life to monitoring remaining storage and real-time RAM usage. What's more, a single tap will 'clean' all of these options to optimise performance and your available space, providing incremental (but potentially crucial) improvements that can make your remaining battery life stretch further. To summarise, a refurbished Samsung S6 remains a true behemoth of a smartphone, and one that is largely credited with heralding Samsung's shift towards the premium end of the market.

5 real-life highlights

1. The S6 definitely has a brilliant and ground-breaking display, with Super AMOLED technology offering crisp colour contrasts
2. A cutting-edge fingerprint sensor provides secure access to the handset
3. The Galaxy S6 features the popular Smart Manager app, that lets you track security and RAM usage in real-time, along with a number of additional features
4. Despite being relatively sleek and slim, Samsung managed to pack both versions of its wireless charging technology in
5. Whether you're a selfie or a portrait lover, the superb camera on the Galaxy S6 features a HDR option that improves the clarity of your images