The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, known internally as “Project Zero 2” is official as of last Thursday and as per rumors, the smartphone is a phablet but does not feature the S-Pen stylus signature to the Galaxy Note line. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ takes design cues from Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge (thus the internal name Project Zero 2), which launched in March as the manufacturer’s first device with a dual-edge display. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is now Samsung’s first phablet to feature a dual-edge screen. That’s cool; however, a major question many Samsung phablet fans may have is -- why no S-Pen for the Galaxy S6 Edge+?
“We tried the Note Edge, which was a bigger and more expensive phone. To do all of that in one phone sort of pushes you to the limits of both the functionality and the price,” Samsung senior manager of product marketing, Catherine Schneider told iDigitalTimes at the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5 launch. “That made it sort of an edge case for people to buy. This way it’s just more practical and gives a wider audience.”
Many will remember the curved-display behemoth that was the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. It was large, clunky and featured an S-Pen alongside a big fat price tag of $950 unlocked. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is also quite expensive, with a starting price around $800 unlocked. However, Samsung hopes a premium glass-and-metal design and two curved displays instead of one will peak the interests of eclectic smartphone owners.
Samsung has had some setbacks when it comes to the prices of its flagship smartphones. The manufacturer announced in early August that the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge would receive price drops to bolster sales and to differentiate from the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5. The Galaxy S6 Edge in particular went from a starting price around $800 to $700. While many customers, such as those in Europe love the curved display, many others could not justify the feature, relative to its price.
Reports also indicate production issues affected supplies of the Galaxy S6 Edge, and in turn, sales of the device. However, the launch of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is a good sign Samsung has gotten these production issues under control.
“Component shortages are common issue with introducing a new piece of technology,” IHS senior analyst Daniel Gleeson told iDigitalTimes. “If Samsung announces a curved screen device at an earlier date than its usual announcements, then that will be a big vote of confidence in its supply chain.”
Samsung hopes the Galaxy S6 Edge+ will have the size to make the dual-edge a universally desired feature. The Galaxy Note series, for example, started a niche product, at which many owners of 4-inch smartphone scoffed. But now, the Galaxy Note is not only a well-established product, it has also spawned several imitator devices from competitors. The S-Pen remains a standout feature on the Galaxy Note 5, despite Samsung having other phablets in its portfolio, like the 2013 Galaxy Mega, and now the Galaxy S6 Edge+.
Meanwhile, the large, curved display could be the standout feature of the Edge Series.
“You have those that have no use for the S-Pen and just want the larger screen,” Schneider said. “And it lets you have a much slimmer and thinner form factor.”
Samsung says the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is intended as a multimedia device. The curved display is supposed to maximize screen real estate for viewing a movie or TV show; for example. The Galaxy Note 5 and its S-Pen are intended for more productivity focused, business-centric users.
