The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy A5 (2016) were popular mid-range and flagship contenders, respectively. Both offered compelling features for their time, but significant differences exist. This comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall value to help you decide which phone is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S6 boasts a significantly more powerful processor and a superior camera, making it the performance champion. However, the A5 (2016) shines with its exceptional battery life and potentially better value proposition, especially considering its age and likely lower price on the used market.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - G920V, G920P | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G920V | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13 - G920V | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / UMTS / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 25 - G920R | UMTS 2100 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, March. Released 2015, April | 2015, December. Released 2015, December |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 143.5 x 70.6 x 6.9 mm (5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 in) | 144.8 x 71 x 7.3 mm (5.70 x 2.80 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 155 g (5.47 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~576 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~70.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~72.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A57 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) - China only |
| Chipset | Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm) | Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm)Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) - China only |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP8 | Mali-T720MP2Adreno 405 - China only |
| OS | Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop), TouchWiz UI | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.0 | eMMC 5.0 or eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP, (macro)
2 MP, (depth)
2 MP |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), 1/2.6", 1.12µm, AF, OIS | 13 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), AF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., OIS, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | Dual-LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, f/1.9, 22mm (wide) | 5 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide) |
| Video | 1440p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | ANT+
Samsung Pay |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired
Wireless | 18W wired |
| Music play | Up to 57 h | Up to 75 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 700 h (2G) / Up to 650 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 23 h (3G) | Up to 16 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2550 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum | Black, White, Gold, Pink |
| Models | SM-G920P, SM-G920V, SM-G920R, SM-G920W8, SM-G920R4, SM-G920T1, SM-G920AZ, SM-S907VL | SM-A5100, SM-A510F, SM-A510M, SM-A510Y, SM-A510FD, SM-A5108, SM-A510S, SM-A510K, SM-A510L, SM-A510 |
| Price | About 410 EUR | About 160 EUR |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body) | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.47 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.22 W/kg (head) 0.66 W/kg (body) | 0.29 W/kg (head) 0.47 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -53.0dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 91h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.789 (sunlight)3.789 |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 66dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 833Basemark X: 4947 |
Samsung Galaxy S6 (USA)
- Superior Performance
- Excellent Camera
- Premium Design
- Sharp QHD Display
- Shorter Battery Life
- Older Device
- Potential for Software Support Issues
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
- Exceptional Battery Life
- Sleek Design
- More Affordable (Used)
- Good Value
- Lower Performance
- Less Powerful Camera
- Older Device
- Potential for Software Support Issues
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S6 features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with QHD resolution (2560 x 1440), offering vibrant colors and sharp details. The A5 (2016) has a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD resolution (1920 x 1080). While both are AMOLED, the S6's higher resolution provides a noticeably sharper image. The contrast ratio data provided (Infinite nominal, 3.789 sunlight) is unusual and likely inaccurate for both devices; both offer excellent contrast typical of AMOLED screens.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy S6's camera is a clear winner. It features a 16MP rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a faster aperture, resulting in better low-light performance and sharper images. The A5 (2016)'s camera is decent, but lacks the S6's advanced features and image quality. Both offer photo and video capabilities, but the S6 is noticeably superior.
Performance
The S6's Exynos 7420 chipset with its powerful Cortex-A57 cores provides a significant performance advantage over the A5 (2016)'s Exynos 7580 or Snapdragon 615. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the S6. The A5 (2016) is adequate for everyday tasks but will struggle with demanding games or applications.
Battery Life
The A5 (2016) stands out with its exceptional battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 91 hours. This is significantly better than the S6, which typically offers a day's worth of use at best. If battery life is a top priority, the A5 (2016) is the clear choice.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S6 (USA) is ideal for users prioritizing performance, a premium design, and a top-tier camera. It's a good choice if you can find one in good condition and don't mind the shorter battery life. The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is best suited for users who value long battery life, a more budget-friendly option, and a sleek design. It's a solid choice for everyday use and media consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Galaxy S6 still worth buying?
The Galaxy S6 can still be a decent performer if you find one in good condition and don't need the latest features. However, be mindful of its age and potential software support limitations.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Neither phone receives active software updates. Both are considered end-of-life devices. Security updates are unlikely.
