Always on Display Galaxy S6 Edge Plus

Samsung'south Galaxy devices

Review: 6 things to know about the Galaxy S6 Edge+

Samsung's latest curved-screen smartphone looks slap-up, but does that get in a improve device?

Contributing Editor, Computerworld |

Samsung is offering non one just two big high-cease smartphones this year -- and while the Galaxy Notation 5 is the more than prominent product of the pair, the Galaxy S6 Border+ is an center-communicable alternative.

The Galaxy S6 Border+ (try saying that five times fast!) follows in the footsteps of Samsung's regular Galaxy S6 Edge: It adds a curved display to an existing formula. It'southward hitting and distinctive, to be certain, only what's information technology actually similar to use? And is it worth owning? With an off-contract price ranging from $719 to $888, depending on the carrier and model you select, these are questions you won't want to take lightly.

After using the phone aslope the Galaxy Note 5 for the by several days, here's what I've discovered -- and what I'd suggest.

1. The Edge+ is basically just a bigger version of the original Milky way S6 Edge -- with amend stamina.

If you've seen the original Galaxy S6 Edge (or read my review of that device), y'all more or less know what you're getting with this newer model. In terms of physical form, it'south the same exact telephone -- merely larger, with a 5.seven-in. screen instead of 5.one.

That bated, you've got the same glass back, the aforementioned metallic frame and the aforementioned glass front that slopes subtly over both sides. If yous put the regular Edge into a magic enlarging car, this is what would come out.

The only significant difference is that the Border+ lasts a lot longer on each charge; while the regular Edge skimped a bit in the bombardment department, I've had no problem making it through full days of moderate to heavy utilize on the Border+ without running out of juice.

ii. The Edge+ is pretty much the same phone every bit the Note 5, too -- only without the stylus and with the curves reversed.

If the Edge+ looks extra-familiar correct now, it should: It follows the same basic blueprint as the just-launched Galaxy Note five. The two phones share the aforementioned size, same blueprint elements and same internals. In fact, the just thing setting them apart is the fact that the Note includes a stylus and has the curved glass panel on its back instead of its front end.

02 galaxy s6 edge galaxy note 5 — The Edge+ (at left) has the curved glass console on its forepart; the Notation (at right) is curved on its back.

The placement of the curved glass is an interesting point, especially when information technology comes to real-world use. When I tested the original (smaller) S6 Border this spring, something seemed strange to me well-nigh the form -- the way the phone felt when I picked information technology up, held it and used information technology. Just I couldn't put my finger on what exactly was weird.

After treatment the Edge+ aslope the Annotation and experiencing that curved panel on the Note's back -- the same configuration, in other words, just flipped around -- it struck me: The Edge concept is completely backwards from an ergonomic perspective. Whereas having the curved glass on the back makes the Note feel more natural and comfortable in the hand, having it on the front makes the Border experience less so.

The sloped glass on the front causes the role of the frame where you remainder your fingers to feel unusually narrow and sharp. It likewise leaves you with a flat dorsum panel pressed awkwardly against the bend of your palm. No joke: Information technology feels every bit if Samsung built a backwards phone, with the screen on the wrong side. The counterintuitive nature of the arrangement is immediately apparent when you hold the two phones together -- and once you've seen it, it'southward impossible to unsee.

iii. Like the smaller S6 Border, the curved screen looks absurd merely isn't the virtually practical thing in the world.

Even without the ergonomics, the Edge+'due south curved display actually makes the phone harder to utilize in many normal day-to-day situations. Don't get me wrong: Information technology's a sleek and distinctive design, and quite impressive from a technological standpoint. Merely class shouldn't arrive the manner of role -- and that's precisely what happens here.

When you're looking at text on the Edge+ -- be it on a Web page, in a document or in any random app -- parts of words frequently fall forth the sloped areas of the glass and end upwardly curving over the edges as a result. That makes things more difficult to read than if they were on a regular flat surface. The aforementioned sort of consequence happens with photos and videos, also, which tin be visually jarring.

03 galaxy s6 edge curve — On-screen elements tin can curl around the curved screen of the Edge+.

The phone'south curves create a similar challenge when information technology comes to active input: Whether yous're using the on-screen keyboard or trying to tap icons in an app or website, buttons and keys often extend partially into the sloped sections of the screen and become bad-mannered to press as a result. I've often found myself having to tap something multiple times to get information technology to work -- and suffice it to say, that's neither fun nor productive.

four. The S6 Edge+ gives yous the same outstanding camera, display quality and fingerprint sensor you'll go in Samsung's other current flagships.

Remember when I said the Edge+ is pretty much the same phone as the Note 5? That means information technology has the same uncommonly good photographic camera, which delivers consistently superb images in virtually any condition. It'southward the aforementioned imaging setup yous'll notice in the Milky way S6 and regular S6 Edge too.

In fact, as far equally hardware goes, everything not specific to the Edge+'south curves or size is consequent with the other flagships -- including the splendid display quality, the easy-to-apply fingerprint sensor and the by and large impressive functioning.

v. The software on the Edge+ is virtually identical to what'due south on Samsung'south other electric current flagship phones, salvage for a few unnecessary actress features.

It's not merely the hardware that carries over from one phone to another: The Milky way S6 Border+ too runs the same basic software seen on the regular Galaxy S6, the regular Galaxy S6 Edge and the Galaxy Note 5 (minus the stylus-specific additions).

The but area in which the Border+ veers from Samsung'south standard setup is that, like its smaller sibling, the device has a handful of extra features meant to highlight its unusual display. And merely similar on the regular S6 Border, those features feel like a stretch -- similar Samsung was struggling to come up up with a way to justify the curved screen'southward existence.

Near of them are gimmicky things you'll never use -- similar a weird tiny bar you can activate to see notifications and news headlines while the rest of the brandish remains off -- and the couple that could be useful take nothing to exercise with the curve itself and could just as easily be accomplished using third-party apps on any device.

The virtually benign of the agglomeration is probably the "dark clock" choice, which shows a small dim clock on the side of the screen when the display is off. Information technology'due south certainly nothing transformative, only information technology could potentially come in handy if you like leaving your phone past your bed at night.

6. For virtually people, the Milky way Note 5 is going to be the improve option.

Await -- I go it: It's easy to become enamored with the Galaxy S6 Edge+. Its curved-screen design actually does look cool, and if you consider the device only briefly or without context, information technology seems like the more memorable phone of Samsung's plus-sized pair.

One time you first using the device in the real globe, though -- and comparing it directly with the almost-identical Note and its flat front and curved back -- it becomes clear that the Border+'due south blueprint doesn't make for the about platonic experience. You're gaining class at the expense of function, which is a costly tradeoff to make.

And speaking of cost, the Edge+ is actually more expensive than the Note 5, as well, so you're also paying in a literal sense.

If you're just head-over-heels in beloved with the Edge+'s design and don't heed the downsides that back-trail it, then this might exist the device for you. Bend-related quirks bated, it'southward a summit-notch phone with a lot of compelling qualities.

But for most people seeking a standout smartphone from Samsung, the Notation 5 is the more than appropriate fashion to become. It gives yous even so positives in a far more sensible (and notwithstanding quite attractive) body -- and even if you never touch its stylus, it'south going to provide a superior overall experience without the added annoyances.

(Encounter our Milky way Note 5 review for pros and cons inherent to the plus-sized Galaxy line every bit a whole.)

Contributing Editor JR Raphael serves upwardly tasty morsels almost the human side of engineering science. Hungry for more? Join him on Twitter or sign up for his weekly newsletter to get fresh tips and insight in your inbox every Friday.