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Here's why Samsung should have made a curved-screen Galaxy Note 5

samsung galaxy note 5 vs galaxy s6 edge plus screen
© nextpit

A while ago I predicted that there would only be one device launched at Samsung's 2015 Unpacked event: the Galaxy Note 5 Edge. I was convinced that Samsung would boldly adapt the Note series to the new Edge idea and the world would never be the same again. It turned out I was wrong – Samsung launched a Note 5 and an S6 Edge+, but not the hoped-for Note 5 Edge – but the fact that I was wrong actually raises some interesting questions.

Over the last few months I had started to waver in my original prediction, and thought that maybe Samsung had a good reason to produce two large-screened devices instead of just one combined. When I finally saw the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ though, I knew I had been right all along: there really shouldn't be two phones.

samsung galaxy note 5 vs galaxy s6 edge plus corner
The two phones are near identical, inside and out. / © ANDROIDPIT

Not only are the two phones nearly identical to look at, they're the same internally. They share a specs sheet, right down to the tiniest detail, which in itself pretty much all comes from the Galaxy S6. Except for the obvious difference of a curved screen on one and a stylus on the other (and the software features each pairs up with), the two new phones are the same.

So what gives? Samsung told me that it had identified two distinct user groups for their devices: casual consumers of media – games, movies and so on – and multi-tasking business types. That, combined with the relative lack of Note series penetration in Europe, led the company to build a bigger S6 Edge to sit, rather awkwardly, alongside the Note 5, instead of making a Note 5 Edge.

samsung galaxy note 5 air command s pen
Apparently Europeans don't like to multi-task. / © ANDROIDPIT

The idea behind having these two devices is that multi-taskers will use the S Pen on the Note 5, and everyone else can watch wall-to-wall movies on the curved display of the S6 Edge+. But wouldn't putting a curved display on the Note 5 satisfy both groups? Why make two phones when one would suffice? Because Samsung, that's why.

I'd argue that if customers don't like the S Pen, they could just choose not to use it. Both devices are going to cost about the same (the S6 Edge+ is just a little more expensive), so you can't argue that customers would be paying for stylus features they didn't use if both features were combined in one device. But Samsung clearly doesn't think that a Note 5 with a curved screen makes sense.

But is the S6 Edge+ the answer to this problem? The decision to bring out a larger version of a phone – with a practically identical specs sheet –  six months after the original is a weird one.

samsung galaxy s6 edge plus vs s6 edge screen front
Do we really need a Galaxy S6 Edge+? I'm not so convinced. / © ANDROIDPIT

Samsung could be accused of trying to mirror Apple, whose product portfolio has both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but Samsung invented the larger-display category when it came out with the original Note, so that's not the case. However, that doesn't stop the S6 Edge+ seeming out of place and pointless.

Is there really that much of a market for a bigger S6 Edge? And if so, why is that perceived market global, while the market for the Note 5 only in North America and parts of Asia? By denying Europe a Note 5, Samsung has essentially killed any chance it might have had of luring consumers back to the Note series. You can't win a race you're not in.

androidpit samsung galaxy note edge review 10
Somehow we don't think we'll see a second version of the Note Edge now. / © ANDROIDPIT

Which brings us to the Galaxy Note Edge. As exciting as it was, it was a niche product; Samsung admitted this all along. But the fact that the Note 5 doesn't even have one curved screen suggests that Samsung doesn't think the S Pen and curved edges play well together. Which also makes it unlikely that there'll be a Galaxy Note Edge 2.

If I'm right about this – and I ought to remind you how we started this little story – I'll be disappointed on two fronts. I won't have gotten my Galaxy Note 5 Edge and I won't even get the runner-up prize of a Galaxy Note Edge 2. You should take a look at our article on five things the Note Edge can do that the Note 4 can't to see why this is a letdown.

samsung galaxy s6 edge plus side
Why can't we just have an S Pen and an Edge display together? / © ANDROIDPIT

So what is the future of the curved screen if it is not applicable to the Note series? Is the Note series on the way out? Are the S series and Note series slowly converging? There's not much to distinguish them from one another anymore. Next year's Unpacked might give us the answers – but it might just throw up even more questions.

What do you think Samsung is up to? Will we never see another Note Edge?  

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Kris Carlon

Kris Carlon
Senior Editor

Kris is a former AndroidPIT Editor who came to the team via a lengthy period spent traveling and relying on technology to keep him in touch with the outside world. He can usually be found juggling three phones at once and poring over G+ posts, Reddit and RSS feeds.

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  • 7
    J Gabri-El Aug 20, 2015 Link to comment

    I don't agree. I feel there is a difference between the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ that we're just not seeing. I don't know what it is, but I felt that the Note series worked differently and that's why we have two devices. How do you feel?


  • 9
    Richard Page Aug 17, 2015 Link to comment

    Samsung should of made on device....the Note 5 Edge w/20mp camera back, 8mp front, 4G ram, 3500 battery and sd card. In my opinion that would of satisfied more users and keep all the greatness Samsung once had.


  • 3
    FABIO FERREIRA Aug 16, 2015 Link to comment

    I think samsung did to mistakes. First i am waiting samsung galaxy note 5 edge. Second i am waiting a 20mpx camera. Samsung keep pushing their phones price up but this is the 4 phone with 16mpx camera what is not something good to get new customers.

    Leland Whitlock


  • An Droid 14
    An Droid Aug 15, 2015 Link to comment

    Samsung did not become the biggest cellphone manufacturer in the world by listening to critics. Where as we live in the now, they plan for the future, and their motives are not always apparent immediately. Lightning quick internal memory, and optimisation of components to be more power efficient is a case in point.


    • 5
      OTACORB Aug 16, 2015 Link to comment

      Samsung became the biggest because they sell so many low end phones. These more expensive phones have actually reduced their profit over the last couple of years as they try to keep up with Apple. Samsung really shouldn't worry about Apple and just do what they need to do. Also don't forget the specs on the phones are a must for Samsung because of the inefficiency of TouchWiz and Android Lollipop. You must have all that ram and processor or the experience would be horrid.

      Leland Whitlock

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