Wrap Up: The New King (of Gimmicks)

Permit me be edgeless: if you lot are thinking of buying the Galaxy Note Edge, buy a Milky way Note 4 instead.

Many key aspects of the Notation Border are the exact same as the Note iv. You get the aforementioned Snapdragon 805 SoC, which is a performance powerhouse that tops well-nigh of our benchmark charts. Y'all get the same 16-megapixel optically-stabilized photographic camera, which delivers excellent photo quality in most situations. You as well go the fantastic South Pen, and a high quality, high density display.

But the main selling point of the Galaxy Note Edge – the curved Border screen – actually makes the handset worse. The curved display comes with a rim that'south uncomfortable to hold, and the actress width from the brandish's xvi:10 attribute ratio makes the handset more bad-mannered to utilise one-handed. Added to these issues is a ability button relocated to the height console, in mayhap the hardest to reach location possible.

Most of the software features that make apply of the Edge screen could easily be implemented on the regular, non-curved Galaxy Note 4 display. Some of the Edge screen panels – like the favorite app launcher, the music player controls and the quick tools – are genuinely handy, simply could exist implemented as an like shooting fish in a barrel, slide-out panel on any smartphone with the very same gesture.

Of the features that truly do utilize the Border screen and its curve, only the night clock is actually any good. In that location is hope that third-political party developers may take better advantage of the Border than Samsung has managed, though I don't see the entreatment for anyone to carp. The device's limited release and no promise of a sequel guarantees at that place's not a large enough install base to make any serious evolution worth it.

Then far I've got through this entire review without once mentioning the price of the Galaxy Note Border. At $940 unlocked and off-contract (the everyman I could find), the handset is $200+ more expensive than the Note 4. Seriously?

Essentially, the Galaxy Note Border is a Galaxy Note 4 with a gimmick fastened to information technology, reducing the quality of the overall package and sold for a college price. Every bit far as I'yard concerned, there's no reason to buy it, especially when the fantabulous Notation 4 is widely available for a more reasonable cost.

I will applaud Samsung's willingness to try new things and for innovating. They weren't content with releasing minor iterations of the same phones on a yearly bike, and adult something with a cool selling point to test the waters. While I don't call up the Annotation Edge is worth buying, who knows what will happen to this same engineering science downward the rail. Curved AMOLED displays are certainly worth exploring, and I expect forward to what the future may hold.

Pros: Aforementioned excellent performance and photographic camera quality as the Note four. Decent display, and the S Pen is still handy.

Cons: Uncomfortable, awkward design hindered by curved brandish. Well-nigh Border screen features don't actually require the Edge screen at all. Limited ecosystem takes little truthful advantage of the Edge. Besides expensive.