Galaxy S6: what we want to see
It's never too early to speculate wildly about the next smartphone in Samsung's Galaxy S series. The Galaxy S5 was definitely a step up from the S4, but we can't shake the feeling that everyone's favourite South Korean manufacturer (sorry LG) is resting on its laurels.
Come on Samsung, market domination should be about more than outspending your rivals on advertising, get back in the game and kick it up a gear!
Thankfully, the early buzz around the Samsung Galaxy S6 is promising. We can theorise for example that a QHD screen is likely, given that LG has brought them to the mainstream in the LG G3.
In fact there's a small chance that Samsung might even go further than that and equip the Galaxy S6 with a 3840 x 2160 UHD display, as the company has previously said that it wants to have UHD screens on smartphones by 2015.
The camera could be getting a boost too, as a report from ETNews claims that it will be getting a 20 megapixel sensor, up from 16 megapixels on the Galaxy S5.
We may also be in for a 64-bit processor, as Google has finally added 64-bit support to Android with Android L. That in turn could mean more RAM, though we can't see it going above the 32-bit limit of 4GB.
As for which processor specifically it will use, our best guess at the moment is that it will feature one of Qualcomm's new high end chips, the Snapdragon 808 or the Snapdragon 810, both of which are 64-bit enabled and expected to arrive in devices during the first half of 2015.
Of course all of this is just speculation and we don't have to strain our grey matter too much to dream up a wish list of other improvements we'd like to see in the Galaxy S6, given the relatively muted response the current S5 met, so if you're reading this Samsung, please take note...
Samsung Galaxy Alpha
Wait... what? The Samsung Galaxy Alpha? If the rumor mill is to be believed before we get any sign of the Galaxy S6 we will be treated to an updated version of the S5, which was initially going by S5 Prime, then Galaxy F, but now looks like it will be called the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.
If the various leaks and sources are correct the Galaxy F will arrive with a premium metal chassis or at the very least a metal frame, to bring it more in line with the build quality of the Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8.
Reports suggest the Galaxy F will also sport a 2560 x 1440 QHD display (something we've seen on the LG G3), quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB RAM and a hearty 3000mAh battery.
Though more recently we've heard that it might only have a 4.7 inch screen and is unlikely to have more than a 1080p resolution.
Originally the Galaxy F's release date was tipped for June, but that's been and gone and a September launch is now looking more likely.
A better body
It would be fair to say that the dimpled back panel on the S5 wasn't universally well received. Everyone has been crying out for a new design in the Galaxy S series for a while now, but Samsung isn't listening.
An S6 with a metal unibody and a premium feel would be a potential crowd pleaser. If a redesign is on the cards, why not take it further and go for a new form factor? A new premium profile could refresh the range and make it feel special again.
Given that the Samsung Galaxy F is rumoured to have a premium chassis it's entirely possible that the Galaxy S6 will too.
A 2K display
No one is impressed by 1080p anymore, not when 4K TVs are in the shops and we've already heard that Samsung's working on 2K and 4K displays for smartphones. We wouldn't have been surprised to see a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution on the S5, but it seems QHD displays are not ready for prime time just yet.
Anything less than a 2K display in the S6 will be a bit of a disappointment given that the LG G3 has a 2K screen. Just make sure it doesn't hurt the battery while you're at it, Samsung.
Hey, we're not here to solve these issues - that's for your fancy R&D labs.
A 64-bit processor
Perhaps the lack of a 64-bit processor in the S5 was an acknowledgement that there aren't many advantages yet, or maybe it was a statement about not copying Apple.
In any case, regardless of benefits perceived and real, 64 is a bigger number than 32 so it must be better, and if our friend's iPhone has one, if you don't put one in the S6 we're not buying it.
While you're there, for heaven's sake add more RAM – 2GB is not enough to satisfy the modern day demands of multi-tasking, especially if you're going for a 64-bit chip.
A flexible design
Remember that Sky advert where the guy folds his phone out to tablet size? That would be a real slice of fried gold and we've heard Samsung has a folding prototype already. Failing that, a squidgy, bendy phone that can take all sorts of damage and return to its original shape unblemished would be nice.
Squeezy controls could bring a fresh tactile element to smartphone ownership. At the very least we expect flexibility to deliver greater durability and new potential shapes, but it has got to be better than the Samsung Galaxy Round.
A bigger battery
We can hold the sum total of humanity's achievements in one hand, accessing all of our scientific knowledge, and our greatest works of art, but only for a few hours at a time. Why are mobile phone batteries still so crap?
We need bigger batteries, more efficient power management, and faster wireless charging. The 2,800mAh battery in the S5 might be a slight step up from its predecessor, but it has an extra 0.1 of an inch of screen to power. You're treading water, Samsung. Free us from the daily charge.
An end to bloatware
No one wants a Samsung-branded app that does exactly the same thing as an existing Google app, only worse. We also expect a device listed as 16GB to have more than 10GB free. The days where Android was rough and ready and Touchwiz really added value are gone.
Stock Android is smooth and delicious, KitKat needs no embellishment. It's time to tone it down a little. By all means stick S Health on there as an optional extra, but please let us uninstall the S apps we don't want and ditch the superfluous doubles.
There is some good news here, as a top Samsung exec has been quoted as saying the firm is looking to ditch the Samsung Hub suite, sparking talk of the end of bloatware heavy smartphones. We can but hope.
A decent pair of stereo speakers
Sadly there's just one speaker on the S5. We don't want to have to wear headphones or hook up speakers all the time. It's a mobile device. The HTC One clearly demonstrated the benefits of dual front-facing speakers. Sony heard it, because the Z2 has them too.
Screens are big enough to watch movies with friends now. How about bringing that sound quality up to scratch? A good set of stereo speakers in the S6 would be welcomed by everyone.
A DAB chip
Wi-Fi isn't always available and mobile data can be costly, so streaming tunes from the cloud or internet radio can be tricky and prohibitively expensive. FM radio seems to be rapidly disappearing from mobile devices and the quality is pretty patchy anyway.
Isn't it about time digital radio made it into smartphones? Access to high quality stations without the fiddling or the network connection would open up a world of music, sport, and talk. DAB chips are coming to smartphones and we'd love to see one in the Galaxy S6.
Always listening
The Moto X was a mixed bag, but it's undeniably cool to be able to talk to your phone and have it blink to life. Google continues to improve Now and add more functionality. If the Galaxy S6 was always listening, we'd get more value out of it.
Voice recognition is improving fast. Given that our smartphones are starting to connect to wearables, home electronics, and cars, the ability to issue voice commands brings us a step closer to the futuristic utopia we've all been dreaming about.
A new UX
We already suggested that Touchwiz is no longer adding much value to stock Android, but that doesn't mean it couldn't. A radical rethink of the stagnant UX could wash away childish fonts and pointless features to deliver something fresh and stylish.
Samsung must have bags of data on how we interact with our smartphones and a cursory glance at popular launchers reveals a world of possibilities. Be bold Samsung, offer us something new and exciting! As long as it isn't a candy-fuelled, garish, neon nightmare, we'll give it a try.
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