When choosing a product, functionality is not the only important aspect in the decision. Aesthetics are just as important as functionality. Sometimes it is even the predominant factor. When a product, however, is able to seamlessly combine functionality with form by blending materials, craftsmanship and performance,  it transcends past all other products in its category.

Pens for example, ultimately accomplish the same purpose; conveying one’s thoughts tangibly onto paper. Yet, a pen can range from being plastic and disposable, to an artfully elegant writing instrument that would make any notable scholar fill with envy. In the end, they both have the same function, yet their aesthetics are greatly varied.

The same principles can be applied to smartphones. There’s something special about unboxing a premium smartphone, holding it in your hands for the first time, and admiring that perfect balance of texture, weight and functionality.

It’s clearly the desire to achieve this premium feel, which underpins Samsung’s two new flagship phones, the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge – and the company has clearly succeeded.

“Until now, we were focused on delivering everything we could offer but this time, we returned to the very beginning to capture the essence of what Samsung wanted to extend to its consumers,” said Lee Min-Hyouk, Vice President of the design team of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Communications Division.

The result – the Samsung Galaxy S6 – is a phone that is the very embodiment of design perfection. It’s sleek, slim and stylish. It ticks all the boxes with regards to being eye-catching and iconic. Plus its hardware delivers the high-end performance that people have come to expect from Samsung.

Arriving at this point, although challenging, is a clear indication of Samsung’s determination to create the best products possible for consumers. Project designers started with a blank canvas, and examined every element and aspect that was needed to accomplish this task. The end result was the stunning and beautiful Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge.

Samsung’s design journey to the Galaxy S6 started with metal. It’s now the primary choice for high-end smartphone makers around the world, simply because it feels solid and premium. But building a metal phone wasn’t a decision that Samsung wanted to rush into. Metals don’t usually go well with mobile phones, because sometimes they block cell phone signals and feel cold when grasped. Durability can also be an issue, as many scratched or bent smartphones show – even when it comes to the latest best-selling models.

Samsung’s answer was to choose a material – 6013 aluminum – that’s usually found in aircraft fuselages, mountain bikes or yachts. The Galaxy S6 is the first smartphone made from this extremely hardwearing metal. Its strength is some 50 percent higher and its durability about 20 percent better than 6063 aluminum, the material used by other smartphone makers.

Glass Enhanced Design

Then there’s the glass. Gorilla Glass 4 – the toughest out there – was used to enhance the sleek and premium look. This mix of metal texture and deep-color glass, once considered an improbable combination, has resulted in a truly unique and fascinating blend in the Galaxy S6.

This purpose of this combination is not only aesthetics, but also for better performance. It enables people to feel more stable when held. Moreover, this combination solved a cell phone signal blockage issue.

Metal can also be more sharply processed compared to the glass. The perimeter edges are slightly higher than the glass surface, allowing the metal edges to be the first point of contact if the device is dropped to the ground; a true example of “design with purpose.”

The glass body of the Samsung Galaxy S6 is intriguing thanks to the materials it uses, and how it is put together. The secret behind the luscious glass panel is a new method of Color, Material and Finish (CMF). The UV-molding technique, which is generally reserved for high-definition TVs, was introduced for the S6’s nano-thin multi-coating process. Samsung layered micro patterns inside the glass, and coated it with several layers of nano-thin material.

A closer look reveals how the back panel reflects the light in breathtaking fashion – almost like a diamond carved by an artisan. The back of the device also presents a variety of mesmerizing colors that change their hue depending on the lights and how it meets the devices.

Five colors were chosen for the new Galaxy lineups – black sapphire, white pearl, gold platinum, green emerald, and blue topaz – according to Samsung’s color trend research. These extraordinary color options make the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge really stand out. Together with the unusual texture of the phone’s back, the result is a striking look and feel.

For the glass, meanwhile, state-of-the-art processing technologies were used for the glass panel finish. The 2.5D glass production process gives the Gorilla Glass the optimal curvature and results in a comfortable, seamless grip. The 2.5D glass embraces both the front and back of the Galaxy S6, and the back of the S6 edge.

Unique screen

The Galaxy S6 edge gets its distinctive look from the perfectly formed, curved front panel; however, that also means that it is very difficult to manufacture. Samsung had to work hard to find the optimal curvature, and then discover a 3D manufacturing process that allows it to happen. It requires thermo-forming at 800-degree Celsius and some intricate post-processing to create the Galaxy S6 edge. The result is the world’s first dual-curved-edge smartphone.

The sides of the Galaxy S6, in turn, boast a flawless metal cut that combines good design and practicality. Samsung’s developers say that they wanted to create a curve which resembles the surface of water sloping on glass. Its curved sides tone down the sharp look of the metal. This curve flawlessly meets the flat-cut metal on the side. It’s a combination that gives the Galaxy S6 an amazingly premium feel in your hand, not least as the buttons are perfectly positioned too.

Finally, the concept of ‘Beauty Meets Purpose’ was born. Galaxy S6 and S6 edge deliver a balanced design with identity. So can a smartphone combine form and function in a way that exudes premium and craftsmanship? On April 10, consumers will have the chance to judge for themselves.

* All functionality, features, specifications, and other product information provided in this article including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Samsung announced its entirely redefined smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge. Creating a new standard for design, craftsmanship and performance, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge seamlessly blend premium materials with the most advanced Samsung technology to offer consumers an unmatched mobile experience.

“With the all new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, Samsung is offering what’s next in mobility, along with a new standard to drive the global mobile agenda,” said JK Shin, CEO and head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung. “By listening to our customers, and learning from both our success and missteps, we continuously push forward new technologies and ideas. With a reimagined design, robust partner network and novel services, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge offer users the ultimate experience in smartphone options.”

Beauty Meets Purpose

Carefully crafted from metal and glass, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge blend purposeful design with powerful features. The Galaxy S6 edge, particularly, shows unique and outstanding beauty while also providing a solid grip and an immersive viewing experience with the world’s first curved display on both sides. Its glass body, made from the toughest glass to date, Corning® Gorilla Glass® 4, is available in an array of colorful jewel tones, including White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Blue Topaz and Green Emerald, which elicit a unique visual texture as it reflects natural light. This timeless design required first-of-its-kind glass crafting technology and unmatched quality control, setting the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge apart from every other mobile device on the market. The premium device aesthetics deliver true value and are complemented by a totally new and lighter interface that greatly enhances usability and functionality. A refined and fully optimized user experience simplifies applications and offers features and settings in a more intuitive way.

Vivid Images with a Fast, Bright Camera

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are equipped with an incredibly vivid, bright and fast front and rear camera. The F1.9 lenses and high resolution sensors on both front (5MP) and rear (16MP) cameras provide the most superior image quality in a smartphone, even in the dark. In addition, Auto Real-time High Dynamic Range (HDR), Smart Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and IR Detect White Balance provide advanced light sensitivities and crisp camera solutions. Furthermore, a new “Quick Launch” feature give users fast, direct access to the camera from any screen in just 0.7 seconds* by simply double clicking the home key button. These advanced camera functions enable users to capture their most precious and personal moments in uncompromising quality, however and wherever they want.

Super Charging and Cord Free

With fully embedded WPC and PMA certified wireless charging technology, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are setting a new industry standard for universal wireless charging. The devices work with any wireless pad available in the market that supports WPC and PMA standards. They also sport incredibly fast wired charging, 1.5 times faster than the Galaxy S5, providing about 4 hours of usage after only 10 minutes of charging.*

Cutting-edge Core Technology

The thin (6.8 mm/7.0mm edge) and lightweight (138g /132g edge) Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge integrate the most advanced, cutting-edge, Samsung core technology available today. The world’s first 14nm mobile processor with 64-bit platform, new LPDDR4 memory system and UFS 2.0 flash memory provides higher performance and enhanced memory speed with lower power consumption. Moreover, the world’s first mobile 1440P/VP9 hardware based decoder enables users to enjoy high resolution streaming video while also using less power. In addition, the 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen offers users the highest pixel density of 577ppi. Enhanced outdoor visibility with a brighter display (600cd/mm) lets consumers experience content without compromise – anywhere, at any time.

Easy and Protected Mobile Payment

Samsung Pay, a new, easy-to-use mobile payment service that will be compatible with more locations than any competing offering in a single application, will launch on Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge in the United States during the second half of this year. Protected by Samsung KNOX, fingerprint scanning, and advanced tokenization, Samsung Pay works with both Near Field Communication (NFC) and Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology to make it device, merchant and card issuer agnostic.

Enhanced Security

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are built on the upgraded Samsung KNOX, end-to-end secure mobile platform, offering defense-grade features for real-time protection from potential malicious attacks. Both of these new devices are also ready for immediate enterprise adoption, with market leading MDMs and KNOX enhancements enabled at launch to simplify and improve mobile device management. Additionally, the Find My Mobile feature secures lost devices and protects personal information through a number of services, including the all new remotely controlled “Reactivation lock.” With an enhanced touch-type fingerprint scanner, it also provides quick authentication and saves encrypted data in secure device storage.

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge will be available globally starting from April 10, 2015 with 32/64/128GB storage options available in White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Blue Topaz (Galaxy S6 only) and Green Emerald (Galaxy S6 edge only).

Full details and product images are available at www.samsungmobilepress.com.

*Average speed based on internal testing conducted by Samsung. Results may vary by device or situation.

Samsung Galaxy S6 & Galaxy S6 edge Product Specifications

Galaxy S6

Galaxy S6 Edge

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

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