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Mobile Technology

Samsung shoots for the phablet limelight with the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge+

By Chris Wood
August 13, 2015
Samsung shoots for the phablet limelight with the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge+
Samsung president JK Shin showing off the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
Samsung president JK Shin showing off the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
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Despite having a larger display, the S6 edge+ has a smaller footprint than the iPhone 6 Plus
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Despite having a larger display, the S6 edge+ has a smaller footprint than the iPhone 6 Plus
Both devices feature fast wireless charging
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Both devices feature fast wireless charging
Samsung unveiled two new large-screened devices at its event in New York
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Samsung unveiled two new large-screened devices at its event in New York
Running on the latest 5.1.1 Lollipop version of Android, the Note 5 packs the same 5.7-inch Super AMOLED 2,560 x 1,440 display as the Note 4
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Running on the latest 5.1.1 Lollipop version of Android, the Note 5 packs the same 5.7-inch Super AMOLED 2,560 x 1,440 display as the Note 4
There's also a curved glass back on the Note 5, designed to make it easier to grip with one hand
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There's also a curved glass back on the Note 5, designed to make it easier to grip with one hand
Both phones feature LTE Category 9, as well as 16 MP front and 5MP rear and rear cameras
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Both phones feature LTE Category 9, as well as 16 MP front and 5MP rear and rear cameras
With a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy S6 edge+ is basically a blown-up S6 edge
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With a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy S6 edge+ is basically a blown-up S6 edge
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Samsung president JK Shin showing off the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
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Samsung president JK Shin showing off the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+
View gallery - 9 images

Sofar, Samsung's 2015 top-tier smartphones have impressed, offeringgreat build quality, stunning looks and great cameras. Now that we'reheading towards the end of the year, it's time to turn to the phabletside of things. Gizmag is on the ground at the launch event in New York with the company outing two new smartphones – theGalaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+.

Running on the latest 5.1 Lollipop version of Android, theNote 5 has the same specs as the Note 4: 5.7-inch Super AMOLED 2,560 x 1,440 display. Given how nice-looking that device's display was, we can't complain on this count. The Note 5 is powered by a 64-bit octa coreprocessor paired with a whopping 4 GB RAM. There's LTE Category 9 onboard, as well as 16 MP front and 5MP rear cameras.

Running on the latest 5.1.1 Lollipop version of Android, the Note 5 packs the same 5.7-inch Super AMOLED 2,560 x 1,440 display as the Note 4
Running on the latest 5.1.1 Lollipop version of Android, the Note 5 packs the same 5.7-inch Super AMOLED 2,560 x 1,440 display as the Note 4

TheNote line's signature S Pen stylus returns, witha few improvements included. The stylus features a clicking mechanism thatmakes it easier to remove from the phone, and it's moreprecise than previous versions. There's also a new added ability totake notes on the screen without unlocking the display.

Perhapsthe most notable upgrade on the new Note comes in its build quality,with the handset featuring aluminum sides and a glass back, just likethe Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. There's also a curved glass back here,designed to make it easier to grip with one hand. We loved thehigher-end feel of Samsung's 2015 flagships, so it's great to see theNote 5 follow suit.

Samsung unveiled two new large-screened devices at its event in New York
Samsung unveiled two new large-screened devices at its event in New York

Samsungalso announced a Blackberry-like keyboard case for the Note 5. It clips onto thefront of the device to provide a physical keyboard when you need it,and can be clipped onto the back of the phone when you don't.

Asexpected, Samsung had a second handset to show off at its New Yorkevent, revealing the Galaxy S6 edge+. Aside from that curved display,the specs – from chipset to optics – are identical to theNote 5.

With a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy S6 edge+ is basically a blown-up S6 edge
With a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy S6 edge+ is basically a blown-up S6 edge

Userswill be able to pin apps and contacts, accessing them by swiping infrom the curved edge, and there's a new live broadcasting featurethat works with YouTube. The big difference between the Note 5 andedge+? Well, aside from the obvious curved edges, there's no S Penincluded here, calling the device out as a direct competitor toApple's iPhone 6 Plus.

One other big feature was also announced in the form of fast wireless charging.The tech is included in both new handsets, and allows users to get afull charge in just two hours.

Bothhandsets are scheduled to go on sale next week, on August 21 (carriers will be announcing pricing on their own terms). Be sure to check back soon for Gizmag's hands-on impressions of Samsung's two new phablets.

Source:Samsung

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Mobile TechnologySamsungSamsung Note
2 comments
Chris Wood
Chris specializes in science and consumer technology for New Atlas, but also likes to dabble in the latest gaming gadgets. He has a degree in Politics and Ancient History from the University of Exeter, and lives in Gloucestershire, UK. In his spare time you might find him playing music, following a variety of sports or binge watching Game of Thrones.

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2 comments
MichaelTatalias
All looks "nice", and Samsung seems to be giving these devices top management support at the launch, so they are keen on them, and this indicates their importance to Samsung.
However, what wasn't clear - but implied: - is the battery removable or fixed behind the iCopy-Apple glass screen front and back? (removable battery/SDcard has been a key USP sales feature of Samsung for me) - what is the battery life like - compared to Note4 primarily, before comparing to other devices? (does it have the limp-home-in-B&W option?) - can the memory/hard-drive be upgraded with SDcards? - is it waterproof, IP67 etc? - can it take multiple Sim-cards simultaneously (for international travelling and operator flexibility)?
And how much faster in practice is the new chip and 4Gb of RAM over the Note4 - doing like-for-like operations? How much more accurate is the stylus? Please find a way to quantify such that it makes real-world-sense. More details about the keyboard, please: - is it a wifi/blue-tooth connection that drains the battery? Or a physical connector that makes for a fast link and no additional drain on the battery? (does it bring extra battery to the game - like Asus' tablets do?) - what is the keyboard experience? how fast to type, and what is the feel and accuracy like?
And any significant upgrades to the Note-software and ease-of-use for productivity tools?
Whilst some buyers do like the glass-and-aluminium look-and-feel red-carpet codswallop, many of us other buyers in the rest of the real world are interested in how it takes the traditional Samsung strengths forward, and how usable it is. (I agree with your opinion that the Note is the best bit of innovation since the iPad...) As you can detect, I am very happy with replaceable plastic covers at the back, and I prefer strong screens that don't go all crazy-pave at the 1st hint of real use - the whole glass-and-aluminium cosmetics are completely lost on me. (most likely I shall cover it in a Otterbox-type protection right off, so the pseudo-glam looks are pointless).
Bottom-line: does this Note5 take the Note concept forward? Is this the one to replace physical paper-based note-taking; combine the phone and tablet into one device that does both jobs better and makes for a more useful device (the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, etc); and allow me to combine it as a tool in my pocket with a larger laptop that can do the heavy lifting for very serious work, when not out-and-about and on-the-go?
Note/Hint to Samsung - make a basic plastic version with replaceable battery, with extra SD card space, and multiple sim-card options, that is waterproof, and a super-strong screen. Then make a glass-and-aluminium/rose-gold red-carpet darling and charge oodles for it.
willemco
Samsung shot itself well and truly in the foot by removing replaceable battery and external Micro SD Card. I never was bothered by the 'plastic' and who was? Most people pack their investment in a casing anyway. I always looked at quality of the guts of the phone, versatility and (of course) the possibility of exchanging the battery at little cost and extending the memory through external Micro SD Card.
Never had much use for the S-pen and would have preferred some degree of waterproof instead. Samsung is concentrating on the WRONG things! Samsung used to be innovative... but alas... that seems to be something of the past...
Why sticking with that outdated USB connector (which in the dark can be a real mission) and introduce a reversible one? Why still not have a battery that lasts a week? Why not introduce a back that allows the user to place it on a table on an angle? Fortunately my (cheap) casing makes that possible... Why not COMMIT yourself to at least the next Android upgrade? So far THAT has been one of my main gripes
But it seems that Samsung is NOT LISTENING to their OWN CLIENTELE but rather follow the iPhone crowd.
So it's GOODBEY from me... My (excellent) Note4 will be my LAST Samsung phone and will hopefully till Xiaomi and/or Huawei have caught up. I'm sure they'll be happy to fill this huge gap that Samsung has left (and for a much cheaper price... ).
R.I.P. SAMSUNG