Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

It’s 2015 and almost every smartphone is able to perform multitasking, run 3D games, full HD video playbacks and what not. They serve way more than a necessity and often seen an extension of your personality. This is something that pushes smartphone makers to bring exciting and first of their kind products.

Samsung in 2011 introduced its Note series which was criticized by most; but proved a milestone for the company and a base for today’s large screen devices. And now once again, the Korean giant has something unique to offer.

More than just a gimmick

Samsung has been tinkering with flexible AMOLED panels from a while as seen in its curved TVs, wearables such as Gear Fit, Gear S and a smartphone Galaxy Round.

The latest is Note edgewhich integrates a 5.6 inch 2560x1440 (QHD) Super AMOLED panel that completely bends at the right edge. This edged part though fused as one single display unit, is separately operable with the help of underlying software customization.

And with its own set of personalization options, it serves a myriad of tasks which comes handy in day-to-day usage. In short I found it as a live floating notification bar which displays a lot of information right in the reach of your thumb.

What does this edge offers

The curved edge displays a host of information which lets you interact with your smartphone in a whole new manner. There are a number of panels in ‘Edge’ settings and you can apply 9 of them that can be navigated by simple swipes.

Various panels for the curved edge screen

During the review, I found Favorite apps, direct call, S Health, Twitters and Yahoo news panels most handy. In addition, a simple swipe from top gives you torch, alarm, voice recorder, stop watch and a creatively designed ruler to take measurements.

The time, date and temperature on the curved edge.

Other than this, the curved edge also serves as the bed side clock and displays time, date and the temperature. You have to select a window in the 'Edge' settings menu for which you want the clock to appear.

What suffers in the wake of futuristic design?

Edge is little wider than the Note 4 and it makes it tough to handle with one hand. Moreover the curved screen pushes the power button to top edge which is difficult to reach.

The width of the phone makes it difficult to handle it with one hand.

Samsung should have provided some software tweak on the edge itself to lock and unlock the phablet. Lastly, there is always a feeling that you will break the device if it meets any accidental hit on the right edge.

Performance:

Likewise Note 4, Edge packs similar configuration; Snapdragon 805 coupled with 3 GB of RAM that handles everything without working up a sweat. And with the S Pen’s nifty features, Note Edge is the best productivity mobile device.

Samsung Touchwiz UI is not the best as it still suffers from occasional lags; however it is definitely the only UI that utilises a big screen in the most efficient manner.

The 16 MP camera packs Sony's IMX240 sensor and is a decent shooter. The flash and heart rate sensor sits below the camera.

Note Edge has the similar IMX240 camera sensor from Sony which offers decent picture quality, fine detailing and vivid colours.

Unlike Note 4 which has a 3220 mAh battery unit, Edge is backed up by 3000 mAh capacity. The effect is quite noticeable as on similar usage patterns that includes music playback, browsing, e-mails, a little gaming and of course calling; Edge did not survived for a complete day.

The 3000 mAh battery did not last for a day

However the fast charging is very effective and charges the phone in a short time. But it does only with the charger that comes with the package.