Samsung’s latest devices come at an interesting time. The Galaxy Note 5, in particular has been announced nearly one month ahead of its usual early-September launch schedule, while the Galaxy S6 Edge+ brings yet another new spin to the market.
The devices follow the mixed reception to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, which were well received by tech enthusiasts, but still did not perform as well in the market as many expected. Analysts predicted the smartphones would ship up to 70 million handsets in 2015, but figures have been adjusted to about 45 million handsets shipped by year-end.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are among the first-high end devices to be announced for the tail end of the year, which is dominated by smartphone launches as manufacturers prepare for the holiday season.
“The earlier launch is likely designed to give the new device(s) more time to gain momentum ahead of the iPhone launch,” IHS senior analyst Daniel Gleeson told iDigital Times. “The Note 4 launched last year at the same time as Apple introduced its own large screen handset and this doubtlessly had an impact on the Note 4’s success.”
A Samsung product-marketing representative also told iDigital Times during a briefing in New York prior to launch that one of the primary ideas behind the devices is to stay ahead of the curve.
While many aspects of both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ are very familiar, the devices do bring new tweaks to both hardware and software that consumers should appreciate.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is a device intended for productivity and multitasking. The device includes updates to its popular S-Pen feature such as a push-to-eject mechanism, which also wakes up the device to be ready for writing without having to open the lock screen. The S-Pen is designed like a ballpoint pen, with a more sensitive and precise point and an entertaining click-top.
Samsung has also updated the Air Command feature on the Galaxy Note 5, now allowing users to add up to three custom app shortcuts to the menu. Users can also prompt Air Command easily by simply tapping any part of the Note 5 screen with the S-Pen. Other new software features on the Galaxy Note 5 feature include a self-explanatory write on PDF feature, and a scroll capture feature that allows users to capture the entire length of Web pages and documents, even part that are off screen.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ is a device intended for multimedia. In addition to the People Edge contacts shortcut feature introduced on the Galaxy S6 Edge, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ include an Apps Edge, which allows users to set up shortcuts to their favorite and most used applications. The Apps Edge is prompted by a simple side swipe from either of the device’s curved edges and can be accessed from any screen.
Other new features on both devices include Ultra High Definition (UHD) audio, and Samsung’s new live broadcast feature, which allows users to share real time videos via YouTube.
On the hardware side, the smartphones both feature the Samsung’s Exynos 7420 chip, a 64bit and 14nm processor first introduced in the Galaxy S6. The 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560x1440 resolution) displays are reminiscent of the Galaxy Note 4, while the dual-edge screen on Galaxy S6 Edge+ is derived from the Galaxy S6 Edge and the Galaxy Note Edge.
New to both devices is 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, for faster and more efficient processing. They also include 32GB and 64GB storage capacities. Samsung says it is evaluating by market whether there is a need for 128GB models. For cameras, the devices feature a 16-megapixel rear lens with optical image stabilization and a 5-megapixel front lens; both cameras features the f/1.9 aperture introduced on the Galaxy S6, which allows for sharper photos.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ feature 3,000mAh batteries with fast charging and fast wireless charging capabilities that allow the devices to charge up in relatively the same time as the much smaller Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge devices. This indicates a 10-minute charge can add 4-hours of battery life to the smartphones, while they can charge from 0-to-100 in half the time of an iPhone 6.
The devices feature all standard connectivity will also introduce LTE Category 9 to several markets including the U.S. In some markets the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ will run on speeds up to LTE Category 6.
The devices include the near-field communication (NFC) and (magnetic secure transmission (MST) capabilities to power Samsung Pay. Samsung will begin testing its mobile payment system in the U.S. in August, ahead of a September launch.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will be available in black sapphire and white pearl color options in the U.S., while the Galaxy S6 Edge + will be available in black sapphire and gold platinum. Markets outside of the U.S. will also have a gold option for the Galaxy Note 5 and a silver option for both smartphones.
