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S6 possible to still use ?
- Thread starter max2
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Yes, but I wouldn't make it long-term as the latest OS it has is 8.0 and while it may have the current Play Services framework on board it won't support all of the features that a newer OS and apps designed for them support. Also, apps are likely starting to drop support for that version of the OS.
It is a bit of a workaround but I would look into Lineage OS as an option for your S6. will have more recent security patches and such.
I still use a note 4 running 6.0.1 with no problems, but not for banking etc.
Of course I also use snow leopard and mountain lion on my old macs, so I am a bit of an oddity.
Simple answer is No!
If you are going to use the s6 as your primary device it is not going to work well.
Security is going to be a problem. App support is going to be a problem. No 5g support.
Personally I would not use the device other than at home.
If you are going to use the s6 as your primary device it is not going to work well.
Security is going to be a problem. App support is going to be a problem. No 5g support.
Personally I would not use the device other than at home.
If you don't need 5G that's not a problem. Many are happy with LTE still.
It supports VoLTE (heck, so does the much-older Galaxy S5).
Don't let the fear mongering about security bother you. If I were still interested in smartphones, my S5 would still be plenty good. Just don't click strange links in emails, or visit porn sites, or install sketchy APKs and you'll be fine. There's far more telemetry and background data going on in a modern phone so you're actually more at risk with a modern one.
The only downsides of the S6 are battery life (the phone was the first to ditch the removable battery and any left over models are long past the useful life and it wasn't that great to begin with), zero water resistance, and zero expandable storage. But it has a headphone jack and IR blaster still! So enjoy the ability to mess with bar TVs!
App support will be fine if your uses are not expecting much. Don't expect most games to still work, and don't expect many banking/shopping apps to work (Walmart and Kroger as well as Little Caesar's work fine and the Green Dot and Amex Serve APKs still support 8.0)
Don't update any apps. Leave them at the factory version. otherwise the phone will lag. Turn off Play Store updates or better yet don't sign into a Google account and use an app store like F-Droid or Aptoide.
If you just need it to text, call, play music, and browse the web, it's perfect for that. Old smartphones are great ways to digital detox, or prepare yourself to downgrade to a flip phone later.
Just to help with security, I'd keep mobile data off, and use secured wifi when possible. Many top-tier Antivirus apps like Avast or MalwareBytes still support the S6 so that should help as well.
It supports VoLTE (heck, so does the much-older Galaxy S5).
Don't let the fear mongering about security bother you. If I were still interested in smartphones, my S5 would still be plenty good. Just don't click strange links in emails, or visit porn sites, or install sketchy APKs and you'll be fine. There's far more telemetry and background data going on in a modern phone so you're actually more at risk with a modern one.
The only downsides of the S6 are battery life (the phone was the first to ditch the removable battery and any left over models are long past the useful life and it wasn't that great to begin with), zero water resistance, and zero expandable storage. But it has a headphone jack and IR blaster still! So enjoy the ability to mess with bar TVs!
App support will be fine if your uses are not expecting much. Don't expect most games to still work, and don't expect many banking/shopping apps to work (Walmart and Kroger as well as Little Caesar's work fine and the Green Dot and Amex Serve APKs still support 8.0)
Don't update any apps. Leave them at the factory version. otherwise the phone will lag. Turn off Play Store updates or better yet don't sign into a Google account and use an app store like F-Droid or Aptoide.
If you just need it to text, call, play music, and browse the web, it's perfect for that. Old smartphones are great ways to digital detox, or prepare yourself to downgrade to a flip phone later.
Just to help with security, I'd keep mobile data off, and use secured wifi when possible. Many top-tier Antivirus apps like Avast or MalwareBytes still support the S6 so that should help as well.