Review of Samsung Ultimate Test Drive

[Sevanw]

I get where you are coming from. I wish you were right here so I could show you. I'm not lying. Not trying to be fowl or call anyone else a liar. Simply stating that my experience has been poor. Does that make me a bad person that has to be called out? I was actually hoping others here would have answers to these problems, instead I get called a liar. Hmm... Something to think about for all of us, no?

The only people supporting your "experience" are the typical Joes that support your way of thinking. Rather than concluding without a doubt you have a bad unit, you've decided to conclude the device does not impress you. As if you're here to get some answers for "help." Seriously? You think it's normal for the phone to act this way? Is this your first smartphone? Do you think this phone has had nothing but stellar reviews because people like having issues you reported? If someone coming from a Windows phone decided to try out an iPhone, and had a similar "unimpressive" experience because of a bad unit, what would you tell them? If they said, "oh I really wanted to like the iPhone, but I can't take how it randomly drops WiFi so often, or I get a red screen and need to reboot, or the keyboard randomly disappears so often, or the icons go big randomly, or the screen becomes unresponsive, or I'm not receiving my texts, or the phone reboots randomly, or the pictures are out of focus, etc... I just can't take it, I'm going back to Windows phone.“ Now would you expect this person to simply know this obviously can't be normal and that he most likely he has a bad unit or would you say, "yeah you're right, your experience is typical of iPhone users, the phone is unimpressive. But at least you tried it and realized the phone is unimpressive." lol. Get real. The fact that you think that iPhone has the better camera and brighter display says it all. Those aren't even up for discussion, the same way it wasn't up for discussion when the consensus was the iPhone had the best camera and display.

 

[Cam Johnson]

The only people supporting your "experience" are the typical Joes that support your way of thinking. Rather than concluding without a doubt you have a bad unit, you've decided to conclude the device does not impress you. As if you're here to get some answers for "help." Seriously? You think it's normal for the phone to act this way? Is this your first smartphone? Do you think this phone has had nothing but stellar reviews because people like having issues you reported? If someone coming from a Windows phone decided to try out an iPhone, and had a similar "unimpressive" experience because of a bad unit, what would you tell them? If they said, "oh I really wanted to like the iPhone, but I can't take how it randomly drops WiFi so often, or I get a red screen and need to reboot, or the keyboard randomly disappears so often, or the icons go big randomly, or the screen becomes unresponsive, or I'm not receiving my texts, or the phone reboots randomly, or the pictures are out of focus, etc... I just can't take it, I'm going back to Windows phone.“ Now would you expect this person to simply know this obviously can't be normal and that he most likely he has a bad unit or would you say, "yeah you're right, your experience is typical of iPhone users, the phone is unimpressive. But at least you tried it and realized the phone is unimpressive." lol. Get real. The fact that you think that iPhone has the better camera and brighter display says it all. Those aren't even up for discussion, the same way it wasn't up for discussion when the consensus was the iPhone had the best camera and display.

Actually the first time someone showed me their Samsung phone and tried to impress me they tried to open gallery and it crashed. Repeatedly. Even after a reboot they couldn't open it. So- as you continue to try to mock me I can tell you that from what I've seen before (not just that time but others as well and now my experience) I was starting to get the impression that this may have been normal.
But alas, you are right, and you couldn't possibly be wrong. Nor could you understand that this may have been something that as a non android user I didn't know could be fixed by downloading a different app. Thanks for being such a pleasant person! I hope to hear from you soon on why I am so incredibly dumb for asking questions about something new.

 

[sartrekid]

Oh boy, did you just tell this person he/she is trolling for giving his/her OWN user experience with lag? You of all people should be understanding of one experiencing lag. Wow.

This is a matter of you completely rejecting someone else's user experience. Who are you to do so? Unlike you, I prefer not to debate user experience. Because it's subjective. You talk as if your experiences are the only legit ones. What a joke. Did it hurt you that much to hear a person was experiencing lag in Safari?

The only people supporting your "experience" are the typical Joes that support your way of thinking. Rather than concluding without a doubt you have a bad unit, you've decided to conclude the device does not impress you. As if you're here to get some answers for "help." Seriously? You think it's normal for the phone to act this way? Is this your first smartphone? Do you think this phone has had nothing but stellar reviews because people like having issues you reported? If someone coming from a Windows phone decided to try out an iPhone, and had a similar "unimpressive" experience because of a bad unit, what would you tell them? If they said, "oh I really wanted to like the iPhone, but I can't take how it randomly drops WiFi so often, or I get a red screen and need to reboot, or the keyboard randomly disappears so often, or the icons go big randomly, or the screen becomes unresponsive, or I'm not receiving my texts, or the phone reboots randomly, or the pictures are out of focus, etc... I just can't take it, I'm going back to Windows phone.“ Now would you expect this person to simply know this obviously can't be normal and that he most likely he has a bad unit or would you say, "yeah you're right, your experience is typical of iPhone users, the phone is unimpressive. But at least you tried it and realized the phone is unimpressive." lol. Get real.

Good lord! I mean, seriously... Good LORD!

Can you spot the absurdity in your argumentation? First you lash out at people for criticizing someone's user experience and then go "all in" to criticize and patronize those for posting their user experience just a few minutes later? Oh, the irony. Why would anyone lie about their experience, especially someone who signed up for this Samsung test drive program? And how can having a brand new device that doesn't perform well - regardless of its cause - not affect one's first impressions? I mean, I can understand that one wants to defend something they love, but you're really taking it to extremes each and every time someone doesn't bend over backwards in praise of any of Samsung's flagships.

Seriously, not everyone has an anti-Samsung agenda. These people here obviously "wanted" to try out one of Samsung's flagships and I bet they didn't do so with a gun pointed to their heads... Sheesh.

@Cam Johnson (OP), I do think you have a defective device. I've had to have my Galaxy S6 Edge replaced twice. I'm on my third device now. The first device lagged (GASP!) as hell. I had to return it. The second device had a dead mic. Had it replaced. The third one is incredibly smooth. No lag, no issues whatsoever. Everything works as intended. To me, this is easily and without contest the best phone I've ever had. Everything is stellar about it. I would definitely give it another try. I wasn't impressed with the first device either, but now I'm completely over the moon and couldn't be happier about having been persistent and not giving up on it the first time around.

 

[Cam Johnson]

Good lord! I mean, seriously... Good LORD!

Can you spot the absurdity in your argumentation? First you lash out at people for criticizing someone's user experience and then go "all in" to criticize and patronize those for posting their user experience just a few minutes later? Oh, the irony. Why would anyone lie about their experience, especially someone who signed up for this Samsung test drive program? And how can having a brand new device that doesn't perform well - regardless of its cause - not affect one's first impressions? I mean, I can understand that one wants to defend something they love, but you're really taking it to extremes each and every time someone doesn't bend over backwards in praise of any of Samsung's flagships.

Seriously, not everyone has an anti-Samsung agenda. These people here obviously "wanted" to try out one of Samsung's flagships and I bet they didn't do so with a gun pointed to their heads... Sheesh.

@Cam Johnson (OP), I do think you have a defective device. I've had to have my Galaxy S6 Edge replaced twice. I'm on my third device now. The first device lagged (GASP!) as hell. I had to return it. The second device had a dead mic. Had it replaced. The third one is incredibly smooth. No lag, no issues whatsoever. Everything works as intended. To me, this is easily and without contest the best phone I've ever had. Everything is stellar about it. I would definitely give it another try. I wasn't impressed with the first device either, but now I'm completely over the moon and couldn't be happier about having been persistent and not giving up on it the first time around.

Thank you!

 

[I7guy]

Good lord! I mean, seriously... Good LORD!

Can you spot the absurdity in your argumentation? First you lash out at people for criticizing someone's user experience and then go "all in" to criticize and patronize those for posting their user experience just a few minutes later? Oh, the irony. Why would anyone lie about their experience, especially someone who signed up for this Samsung test drive program? And how can having a brand new device that doesn't perform well - regardless of its cause - not affect one's first impressions? I mean, I can understand that one wants to defend something they love, but you're really taking it to extremes each and every time someone doesn't bend over backwards in praise of any of Samsung's flagships.

Seriously, not everyone has an anti-Samsung agenda. These people here obviously "wanted" to try out one of Samsung's flagships and I bet they didn't do so with a gun pointed to their heads... Sheesh.

@Cam Johnson (OP), I do think you have a defective device. I've had to have my Galaxy S6 Edge replaced twice. I'm on my third device now. The first device lagged (GASP!) as hell. I had to return it. The second device had a dead mic. Had it replaced. The third one is incredibly smooth. No lag, no issues whatsoever. Everything works as intended. To me, this is easily and without contest the best phone I've ever had. Everything is stellar about it. I would definitely give it another try. I wasn't impressed with the first device either, but now I'm completely over the moon and couldn't be happier about having been persistent and not giving up on it the first time around.

Great rebuttal. I tried for the test drive, but they are out of phones.

The person you quoted seems to have no tolerance for those who doesn't mirror a perfect experience and manages to bring up totally off topic discussion of Apple.

 

[Cam Johnson]

Does anyone know the number to call for the test drive. I saw one posted a while back but can't find it. The one on the T and C is just to the company through which Samsung is doing the trial. I have 409-622-3620. Anyone able to confirm this or give another? I thought the other I saw was an 800 number.
Thanks
Called the number on the Ultimate Test website and the mailbox is full. Email has been sent, so we will see where this goes from here.

 

[ipodlover77]

Man this edge is absolutely infuriating. I hate how one handed typing is hard, not because the phone is wide but because the curved edges make contact with my palms resulting in my hitting the num lock and throwing off the whole sentence.

Also, is it normal that I'm only getting about 3 hours and 20 hours screen on time?

 

[MRU]

Man this edge is absolutely infuriating. I hate how one handed typing is hard, not because the phone is wide but because the curved edges make contact with my palms resulting in my hitting the num lock and throwing off the whole sentence.

Also, is it normal that I'm only getting about 3 hours and 20 hours screen on time?

If it's the normal S6 Edge, that's about my average daily SOT .. Between 3 & 3.5 SOT

 

[mi7chy]

just received my s6 edge plus this morning. It's a huge phone!!! I am coming from iphone 6 so it will take some time getting used to the size of the s6 edge plus. I like the overall design so far but am I the only one who dislikes the display? I mean I like how sharp it is but the color just doesn't feel natural to me. The iPhone has a very natural and comfortable display. I tried different settings but none of them feel that comfortable.

Give it time since you're used to inaccurate colors.

http://www.displaymate.com/Galaxy_Note5_ShootOut_1.htm

 

[I7guy]

just received my s6 edge plus this morning. It's a huge phone!!! I am coming from iphone 6 so it will take some time getting used to the size of the s6 edge plus. I like the overall design so far but am I the only one who dislikes the display? I mean I like how sharp it is but the color just doesn't feel natural to me. The iPhone has a very natural and comfortable display. I tried different settings but none of them feel that comfortable.

I know what you mean I felt the same thing when I played with the phones in the store. I think as the poster above said you will get used to it. Like getting used to bad cooking. I'm not a fan of those displays as over saturated as they seem to be and hope Apple doesn't go down that route in the future.

 

[Klyster]

Apple will have them eventually.......

But not at what they cost presently, it'll eat into their bottom line.

Why wouldn't you want the best display in your phone?

 

[Robsan3]

Give it time since you're used to inaccurate colors.

http://www.displaymate.com/Galaxy_Note5_ShootOut_1.htm

You mean yellow instead of white whites?

 

[sartrekid]

Man this edge is absolutely infuriating. I hate how one handed typing is hard, not because the phone is wide but because the curved edges make contact with my palms resulting in my hitting the num lock and throwing off the whole sentence.

Also, is it normal that I'm only getting about 3 hours and 20 hours screen on time?

The user experience people are having in terms of comfort regarding the Edge seems to be very mixed. I'm female but am very tall and have very, very large hands, and the structure of my hands work very well with the Edge. In fact, I prefer it over the iPhone or normal Samsung S6 shapes. Ergonomically it just fits and I even rotate it often in the palm of my hand because it's almost like a massage stick. A little strange perhaps.

But, what I actually wanted to ask was whether you could exchange the Edge for a different version like the Note 5 that is said to be highly comfortable for most hands or the regular S6? I somehow don't think that, if you dislike the "feel" and sensibility of the touch screen of it now that it'll change over time.

 

[ipodlover77]

The user experience people are having in terms of comfort regarding the Edge seems to be very mixed. I'm female but am very tall and have very, very large hands, and the structure of my hands work very well with the Edge. In fact, I prefer it over the iPhone or normal Samsung S6 shapes. Ergonomically it just fits and I even rotate it often in the palm of my hand because it's almost like a massage stick. A little strange perhaps.

But, what I actually wanted to ask was whether you could exchange the Edge for a different version like the Note 5 that is said to be highly comfortable for most hands or the regular S6? I somehow don't think that, if you dislike the "feel" and sensibility of the touch screen of it now that it'll change over time.

I actually wanted to trial the s6 instead of the s6 edge. Unfortunately the edge was the only one available.

I handled a note last week. For the same reason I switched from the iPhone 6 plus, the note 5, while narrower than the iphone 6 plus, was still uncomfortable to me as one handed ability is still very important. Even though the note 5 has that one handed mode, it still wasn't really helpful in terms of one handed ness. I ended up selling the note 5 as it was a bit too unwieldy.

 

[jamezr]

I actually wanted to trial the s6 instead of the s6 edge. Unfortunately the edge was the only one available.

I handled a note last week. For the same reason I switched from the iPhone 6 plus, the note 5, while narrower than the iphone 6 plus, was still uncomfortable to me as one handed ability is still very important. Even though the note 5 has that one handed mode, it still wasn't really helpful in terms of one handed ness. I ended up selling the note 5 as it was a bit too unwieldy.

My experiences are just the opposite. I have both the Note 5 and IP6 Plus. I find the Note 5 easier to handle with one hand. The curves edges on my 6 plus make it harder to hold with one hand and harder to pick up from a flat surface like my desk. The not so curves edges on the N5 give a little grip. The N5 is lighter and shorter than the 6 plus despite having a larger screen. It all comes down to preferences.

 

[ipodlover77]

My experiences are just the opposite. I have both the Note 5 and IP6 Plus. I find the Note 5 easier to handle with one hand. The curves edges on my 6 plus make it harder to hold with one hand and harder to pick up from a flat surface like my desk. The not so curves edges on the N5 give a little grip. The N5 is lighter and shorter than the 6 plus despite having a larger screen. It all comes down to preferences.

Ah sorry. Early morning. Can't translate my thoughts to writing very well. Haha.

BOTH the iphone 6 plus and the Note 5 are uncomfortable for me. That's the reason why I switched from the iPhone 6 plus to the regular 6. To be perfectly honest, there are some situations where even the 6 is uncomfortable. To put into perspective, the 5, while the screen is minisucle, felt the best for one handed use, TO ME.

The note 5 definitely felt better in hand than the 6 plus. Mainly because of the curves on the back and the fact that it was actually a bit narrower while housing a bigger screen. That being said, the size was still too large for one handed operation. Software gimmicks like the note 5's "shrinking screen for one handed use" and the 6 plus' "double tap to bring the screen down" was just a bandaid. It really didn't help in day to day one handed use.

 

[jamezr]

Ah sorry. Early morning. Can't translate my thoughts to writing very well. Haha.

BOTH the iphone 6 plus and the Note 5 are uncomfortable for me. That's the reason why I switched from the iPhone 6 plus to the regular 6. To be perfectly honest, there are some situations where even the 6 is uncomfortable. To put into perspective, the 5, while the screen is minisucle, felt the best for one handed use, TO ME.

The note 5 definitely felt better in hand than the 6 plus. Mainly because of the curves on the back and the fact that it was actually a bit narrower while housing a bigger screen. That being said, the size was still too large for one handed operation. Software gimmicks like the note 5's "shrinking screen for one handed use" and the 6 plus' "double tap to bring the screen down" was just a bandaid. It really didn't help in day to day one handed use.

I have found the one handed mode on both phones to be lacking tbh. What phone is your daily driver?

 

[ipodlover77]

I have found the one handed mode on both phones to be lacking tbh. What phone is your daily driver?

It was the 6 but then I sold it in preparation for the 6s. I thought that this would be a good time to try something new and thought hey, maybe even the galaxy could be my new DD instead of the 6s.

Unfortunately using the s6 edge soured my experience from the get go. The curved edges are truly an inconvenience in one handed typing, which surprisingly I do very often.

My whole experience isn't soured though, there were some solid takeaways. More so from the galaxy s6 line in general. Camera is great. Double tap home to open camera is great. Screen is nice. etc etc.

Two things that stood out at me though was that the speaker was pretty pitiful and the way the phone and the UE boom works is a bit weird. On the iphone + ue boom, when you increase the volume on the speaker, its as though you increased it on the phone. It works in tandem. On the galaxy, its as though i have to increase it on my phone first and then I can increase it further on the speaker. Its a bit cumbersome. Also, the auto correct isn't as aggressive as iOS and I found myself mistyping quite often (with the google keyboard. Not samsung).

Also, what was the point of having the edge lighting only work when the phone is face down. Who even puts their phone that often?

 

[jamezr]

It was the 6 but then I sold it in preparation for the 6s. I thought that this would be a good time to try something new and thought hey, maybe even the galaxy could be my new DD instead of the 6s.

Unfortunately using the s6 edge soured my experience from the get go. The curved edges are truly an inconvenience in one handed typing, which surprisingly I do very often.

My whole experience isn't soured though, there were some solid takeaways. More so from the galaxy s6 line in general. Camera is great. Double tap home to open camera is great. Screen is nice. etc etc.

Two things that stood out at me though was that the speaker was pretty pitiful and the way the phone and the UE boom works is a bit weird. On the iphone + ue boom, when you increase the volume on the speaker, its as though you increased it on the phone. It works in tandem. On the galaxy, its as though i have to increase it on my phone first and then I can increase it further on the speaker. Its a bit cumbersome. Also, the auto correct isn't as aggressive as iOS and I found myself mistyping quite often (with the google keyboard. Not samsung).

Also, what was the point of having the edge lighting only work when the phone is face down. Who even puts their phone that often?

I haven't noticed on my UE speaker. Its not the boom...its smaller. I 'll have to check that out using both my IP6 Plus and Note 4. I was very excited to get the S6 edge but quickly was annoyed with the false touches on the sides too. Went with the regular S6 but then found it wads really too small for me. I like the bigger phablets like the Note 5 and iPhone 6 Plus tbh
Right now for me I switch between my IP6 plus and N5 as a DD....

 

[billy the fish]

One thing that sucks is texting a picture. It is downsized and sent in crappy pixelated form. This is 2015, and the stock messaging app doesn't allow even semi-decent pics to come through. Maybe I'm unlucky, and others have better luck, but every picture I send and receive is compressed to 30 kb. what the heck? I don't want to download a 3rd party app to do the work of a simple messaging app... (especially cause all of the big ones have crappy reviews as of late of a lot of crashing).

who's texting pics these days, u can Gmail a pic in about 5 seconds..

 

[Jeremy81]

I've liked my Test Drive Note 5 well enough that I went ahead and ordered one which I received today. I picked up the 64 GB Black Sapphire. I've attached comparison pics of my Pearl White test drive vs the Black Sapphire. The black looks slimmer and sleeker in person than the white version. If you are worried about fingerprints the white version is the way to go because it really hides fingerprints. The Verizon logo and FCC and regulatory logos and text are much more subtle on the black version. Also, I tried going ahead and filling out for the Samsung Google Play promo and it won't let me do it yet. Apparently, you have to complete your entire test drive program before you can apply for the promos.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

who's texting pics these days, u can Gmail a pic in about 5 seconds..

I text pics everyday via whatsapp or iMessage, it's not as uncommon as you'd think.

 

[AnyTechFan]

I've liked my Test Drive Note 5 well enough that I went ahead and ordered one which I received today. I picked up the 64 GB Black Sapphire. I've attached comparison pics of my Pearl White test drive vs the Black Sapphire. The black looks slimmer and sleeker in person than the white version. If you are worried about fingerprints the white version is the way to go because it really hides fingerprints. The Verizon logo and FCC and regulatory logos and text are much more subtle on the black version.

Man you jumped the boat quick, you should had waited for the 6s to come out to compare and you should had gotten the developer version of you plan to root your note.

 

[billy the fish]

just received my s6 edge plus this morning. It's a huge phone!!! I am coming from iphone 6 so it will take some time getting used to the size of the s6 edge plus. I like the overall design so far but am I the only one who dislikes the display? I mean I like how sharp it is but the color just doesn't feel natural to me. The iPhone has a very natural and comfortable display. I tried different settings but none of them feel that comfortable.

you are acustomed to average screens, that doesn't mean they were any good or accurate in Colour.. display mate has called the s6 screen perfect... read into that what you will..

 

[billy the fish]

You are not alone, a lot of people prefer the Lcd screen as it is more natural, even with photos.

until the iPhone has a super amoled screen, then let's see how that opinion changes...