The Samsung Galaxy Note 6 could see an increase in display size as well as an increase in battery capacity, if recent rumors are true. Dutch tech blog GSM Help Desk suggests that the smartphone may include a 5.8-inch curved display and a 4,000mAh battery. If true, the Galaxy Note 6 could take cues from the current Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, which include similar features.

Samsung Galaxy Note 6 Display Overdue For A Change?

It’s been at least three years since Samsung has increased the display size of its popular phablet line. Both the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note 3 all featured 5.7-inch displays. Prior to that, the Galaxy Note 2 featured a 5.5-inch display. The original Galaxy Note, considered the first phablet, featured a 5.3-inch display. Today, devices like the LG G5, which also features a 5.3-inch display, is considered a standard slate smartphone.

Curved Display Samsung Galaxy Note 6 Would Be A Second-Generation

The display size increase could also have something to do with the rumor of the Galaxy Note 6 display having curved edges. The Note line has traditionally had a flat display, but consumers have already seen Samsung experiment with display sizes and curves. The very first curved display smartphone by Samsung was the Galaxy Note Edge, which released in 2014 and was based on the design of the Galaxy Note 4. It featured a single curved edge on its right side.

Samsung seems to have figured out the curved display works best on a phablet device, which has more screen real estate. The Galaxy S7 Edge has been lauded for its large screen and its slight aesthetic updates, which include less dramatic curves than older Edge devices.

Argument For Flat Screen Samsung Galaxy Note 6

However, after the Galaxy Note Edge, Samsung has focused on making its curved edge devices light and flat. This could be counterproductive to the Note line, which has always been a little thicker due to housing the S-Pen stylus in its chassis. Samsung has also refrained from making curved display smartphones with an S-Pen since the Note Edge due to price. The smartphone topped $945 for its base model in 2014. At a time when Samsung is working to maintain its recent profits , releasing a mass-market smartphone that consumers can’t afford likely wouldn’t be the best idea.

In later models like the Galaxy S6 Edge +, Samsung said it decided to not pair a curved display with an S-Pen because it’s price would have been too high. Curved display smartphones are typically more expensive than their flat counterparts, by at least $100. The currently Galaxy S7 sells for about $695 unlocked, while the Galaxy S7 Edge sells for about $795 unlocked, depending on the carrier. Galaxy Note devices typically start around the same price as Edge devices. Adding a curved display could easily add another $100 to the Galaxy Note 6.

Bigger Battery For Samsung Galaxy Note 6 To Support Curved Display?

At this point, all claims about the Galaxy Note 6 are mere speculation. However, it would make sense, if the smartphone were to have a curved display, for it to also receive a significant bump in battery power. Samsung typically outfits its curved display smartphones with a larger battery than the flat models. The Galaxy S7 houses a 3,000mAh battery, while the Galaxy S7 Edge has a 3,600mAh cell. A larger battery for the Galaxy Note 6 would be commonplace but a 4,000mAh battery would be a significant upgrade. The Galaxy Note 5 is known for maintaining a fair amount of battery life with its 3,000mAh cell. It is possible the Galaxy Note 6 wouldn’t need that big an upgrade, unless it had a specific feature that required a lot of battery power, like a curved display.

Curved Display Samsung Galaxy Note 6 Because No Galaxy S7 Edge+?

Prior to the February launch of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, there were rumors that Samsung would release these two devices, plus an even larger Galaxy S7 Edge+. These rumors quickly died; instead, Samsung introduced a larger Galaxy S7 Edge. As rumors begin to heat up for the Galaxy Note 6, there has been no further indications that Samsung would release a Galaxy S7 Edge+. It would appear that Samsung is scrapping the “plus” idea altogether. However, many months remain before the Galaxy Note 6 will be announced and released. A lot can change in that time.