Samsung has finally taken the veil off its new phablet range that consists of the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. While the former is a successor to the Note 4 of course, the latter is positioned as the larger variant of the S6 Edge that was launched earlier this year.
Both these new offerings run the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS that’s coated with the latest TouchWiz UI. As expected, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ do not carry microSD card slots on them; neither do they feature removable batteries.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
This new premium phablet goes for the metal and glass design that forms the core of the S6 blueprint. It features a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display which renders its visuals in 1440 x 2560 pixel QHD resolution. The familiar Exynos 7420 chipset bearing four 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 cores, four 2.1GHz Cortex-A57 cores and a Mali-T760MP8 GPU has found its way inside it.
There’s 4GB worth of RAM present on it as well. A clickable stylus lodges itself in its body, and a new feature enables users to write on the display even when it’s sleeping. The rear camera is a 16MP sensor supported by a wide f/1.9 aperture and optical image stabilization, while the front snapper is a 5MP offering bearing an f/1.9 aperture lens.
A 3000mAh battery powers this smartphone from within. Though this a downgrade over the slightly larger power pack of its predecessor, this one is trying to make up for it by offering fast charging support, irrespective of whether it’s charging wired or wirelessly.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ can also be described as a Note 5 with a dual-curved screen that does not come with a stylus. It grabs a 5.7-inch 1440 x 2560 pixel QHD Super AMOLED panel that’s curved towards both its sides, and runs on the Exynos 7420 chipset, paired with 4GB worth of RAM.
A 16MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie unit, both bearing f/1.9 apertures have entered the smartphone, along with a 3000mAh battery that of course supports fast wired and wireless charging.
The TouchWiz software of the Galaxy S6 edge+ has been enhanced to take advantage of the dual curved panel. While most of these features carry over from the S6 Edge, a new trait allows you to select app shortcuts that you can access with just one swipe on the curved part of the display.
Other announcements
Both these Samsung phablets will feature fingerprint scanners and NFC in order to provide support for Samsung Pay via Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST). This service is slated to be made available in South Korea on August 20 and in the US in September.
A huge announcement came in the form of a ‘Live Broadcast’ button that will be present in the Camera apps of both these offerings. This will allow you to stream live videos at 1080p full HD to YouTube, as long as you’re a verified user. You can then share a link with your friends so that they can watch your stream.
There was even the showcase of an awkward a keyboard cover for these smartphones. As you can see in the image, it can attach itself to the two devices and give you a tangible keyboard in case you’re into it. It’ll cost $80 when it’s out.
Pricing and availability
Pre-orders for both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ start today in the US on all major carriers. The on-contract pricing you’re looking at is about $250 for the 32GB model and $350 for the 64GB variant. Off-contract, it’s hovering between $700 and $740 (32GB) or $815 and $840 (64GB). They will be released in the country on August 21.
