Samsung Unpacked

Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Edge S6 Plus

By Anca Gagiuc on Aug 25, 2015 in Technology

Samsung decided it was wise to move the Unpacked event up earlier than usual. In previous years, the unveiling of new devices took place a week before Apple’s fall iPhone launch.

So last week, New York City hosted the Galaxy Note 5 launch extravaganza a few weeks sooner than previous years, introducing a pair of 5.7-inch devices: the flat, S-pen-equipped Galaxy Note 5 and the curved-screen, no-pen Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.

At a first glance, it’s not wrong to say that in many ways, the Galaxy Note 5 is the larger version of the Galaxy S6, just as S6 Edge Plus is the larger version of the S6 Edge.

The Galaxy Note 5 seems like a combination of the Galaxy S6 we’ve seen earlier this year with the Note 4 from last year, showing a familiar shape and size. However, even though Samsung recycled a lot of what we saw in the Galaxy S6, it is working hard at replacing the cheap plastic feel its previous devices had, with a glass back and front, held together by a metal chassis.

Specs-wise, the Note 5 sports the same octa-core Samsung Exynos processor as the S6, with the difference that this time it’s paired with 4GB or RAM. The device comes with 32 or 64GB of storage, not offering the larger 128GB. What’s even worse is that the microSD card support is gone, and this might upset many of its fans. Further, the 3,000mAh battery is smaller than the one in last year’s Note 4, and the removable battery is also gone. As compensation, the company integrated wireless charging and quick charging.

Note 5 has the same 16MP camera with OIS like the S6, and the 5.7-inch Super AMOULED display has the same quad HD resolution. Even though the size is identical to the Note 3 and Note 4, the overall dimensions of the phone are smaller in every way compared to the previous device. It’s shorter, narrower, and thinner and the ergonomics are complemented by the curved back, which makes it easier to hold the phone in your palm. Although the Note 5 is a large phone, it feels less like one. The glass back is definitely better than the plastic one, but at the same time it doesn’t really do a lot of good as it makes it slippery and very prone to collecting fingerprints.

Its S Pen is longer and prettier than the prior ones, located on the lower right of the phone. Samsung says it has improved the pressure sensitivity and writing performance, and also added new features like the ability to pull the pen out and instantly start writing on the display without having to turn it on for quick notes.

Note 5 uses the Android 5.1 Lollipop with TouchWiz interface and customizations on top of it. New features include the ability to live stream video from the camera app to YouTube and a better app for connecting and managing the phone with a PC.

The device comes in four colors—black, white, gold, and silver—and will be available starting on August 21^st; prices will be set by each carrier – a no-contract 32GB will be around $740 or $840 (for the 64GB) at AT&T, and about $20 less at Sprint.

The Galaxy Edge S6 Plus has a larger 5.7-inch quad HD AMOULED screen, increasing the overall dimensions of the phone with just 12mm in length, 5mm in width, and is actually thinner than the S6 Edge (7mm), measuring only 6.9mm. It also comes with a glass body secured by metal. It has volume buttons on the left and the power button on the right. A headphone jack and speaker are on the bottom of the phone, and since the rear camera still bulges out, it’s impossible to lay the phone flat on its back. The battery, even though is not removable, is bigger (but not big enough), clocking in at 3,000mAh; it will recharge as fast as the one on the S6 Edge.

The insides of the phone are imported from the previous model, and this is not necessarily a bad thing. The octa-core Exynos processor with 4GB RAM is here as is the Android 5.1 Lollipop with the same customizations as on the Note 5; one of the is the “Apps Edge”, which lets you quick-launch apps. A simple swipe on the shortcut tab will bring up the most recently used apps. Moreover, the shortcut tab can be placed anywhere in the software, even on the side of the screen.

The Edge S6 Plus comes with the ability to live stream on YouTube from the native camera app. It can stream up to 1080p at 60 frames per second, should you wish to spare the data. Unlike the Note 4 Edge, which was curved on only one side, the Galaxy S6 Edge has curves on both edges. Unfortunately there aren’t many utilities for the extra display space, and only program shortcuts that can be accessed while the phone is face down. This might make it a harder sell, considering it costs about $100 more than the regular S6.

This device too will become available on August 21^st in the same four colors as the Note 5—black, white, gold, and silver. A no-contract 64GB sized Edge Plus will run you $915 at AT&T, or $888 at Sprint. With a two-year agreement, it’s $400 at AT&T or $450 at Sprint. The smaller sized 32 GB will cost $300 with an AT&T contract, and $814 without. Sprint’s 2-year agreement deal is $350, and $792 without a contract.