Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+ in India. The smartphones resemble the Galaxy S8‘s design with a new camera setup with variable aperture. After launching its flagship series, the company is updating its older portfolio with the newer version of Android OS. Samsung follows the two-letter OS upgrade for its flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S8 was released with Android Nougat and the device has received an update for Android Oreo.
According to an official document found on Samsung’s website, the company is planning to upgrade at least 6 devices, which have completed the two year’s OS cycle. However, unlike the S8 or the S7, these devices will not receive the latest Oreo update. Instead, these OS builds will be based on an older Android version with security patch and bug fixes. Though these devices are listed to receive the software update, no time frame is mentioned.
Left to right: Update for Galaxy S6 Edge, Update for Galaxy S6 Edge+, Update for Galaxy S8
According to the document, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge will receive Android 7 Nougat update G9250ZCU2ERB2. The update weights at 1233.30MB, which upgrades the smartphone from Android Marshmallow to Android Nougat. However, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5 are expected to receive the incremental software update. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Note 8 will receive Android 8 Oreo update with Samsung Experience UI 9.0. In fact, the update for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy Note 8 is already live in most of the countries.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ is the company’s first big S series phone, as an add-on to the Galaxy S line of devices. Last year the company thought it better to launch an edgier Note in the form of a Note Edge. However, this year Samsung found it more favourable to make a bigger S6 edge.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ also marks a new chapter, one where the line between a smartphone and a phablet is basically blurring out. Samsung has slowly killed the category it created with the Note in 2010. Large screen phones are now mainstream and Samsung is basically reinforcing that with the S6 edge+.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ is designed to one up the iPhone 6 Plus in terms of specifications and hardware. The Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge both had huge success in the global markets and Samsung expects no less from the Galaxy S6 edge+.
The elder and bigger sibling is identical to the Galaxy S6 Edge, so identical that you won’t be able to tell them apart unless you put them together. There is a massive screen size different however a minor change in actual dimensions. The S6 edge+ just like the S6 Edge is flanked on both sides with edge displays.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ does become slightly more difficult to handle, and hence Samsung has added one handed operation and screen size reduction, similar to Apple’s double tap to pull down screen on the iPhone 6 Plus. This feature was also seen on the recent Galaxy A8 from Samsung.
The Galaxy S6 edge+ is actually slimmer at just 6.9mm vs the 7 mm of the Galaxy S6 and the feel in the hand is very premium. Samsung has really done a good job with the design of the S6 Edge and hence they, didn’t change anything, but make the phone bigger with the S6 edge+.
Everything from the display resolution to chipset and cameras are identical to the Galaxy S6 Edge, however thanks to the new large display of the S6 edge+ the pixel density drops to 515 ppi vs the mammoth 577 ppi on the S6 Edge. The Edge Plus variant also sports a larger 3,000 mAh battery to combat the drain from the larger QHD Super AMOLED display. An additional 1 GB of LPDD4 RAM, takes it upto 4 GB on the edge+ however the phone is missing the 128GB storage option as only the 32 and 64 GB variants will go on sale.
The software department on the edge+ too remains same as the S6 and the S6 Edge, with a cleaner and simplified UI and new apps window to the edge display Samsung is trying to leverage the screen real-estate. You will also still get a Flipboard news feed to the left of the home screen and gestures like flipping a ringing phone to mute the call. Double clicking the home button will quickly launch the camera.
You still get the fingerprint scanner and ability to remember internet passwords and Samsung Account details using your fingerprint as a security mechanism.
Some would argue that the Galaxy S6 Edge was the right size handset and that it fit well in almost all departments. Whether you were an executive or college student, the S6 and the edge variant seemed to be the right size for your hands.
With the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ the company is trying to reach to those who liked the iPhone 6 Plus and those who loved the Note category but found it to be a niche. With the S6 edge+ Samsung is trying to make the page size phone more mainstream, and by the looks of it, it seems to be headed in the right direction.
Stay tuned for our Full Review of the Galaxy S6 edge+
The Unpacked Event, saw the launch of two devices – the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. The S6 Edge+ is the bigger and the edgier sibling to the glamorous Galaxy S6 Edge.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is noted to have a bigger display but yet is a smaller and more compact when compared to devices like the iPhone 6 Plus which have a smaller 5.5 inch display. The S6 Edge seemed to be the only premium look and feed Samsung device which even came close to the iPhone 6. But, with the S6 Edge+ it seems like that mission might have reached closer to its target, especially by excluding the expandable memory feature.
The device seems almost impeccable when it comes to its design – the S6 Edge had an aluminum frame and was protected by the Gorilla Glass 4 on both sides, this feature has been retained by the S6 Edge+ too. However, the new device looks sleeker with a display that extends up to the edges of the curved screen.
The S6 Edge had been applauded as being the first dual edged display smartphone and the S6 Edge+ continues to be applauded with a slight change of making the edges softer and thereby enhancing the visual appeal of the smartphone, the bigger stance of the phone allows for more display real estate.
Fast Wireless Charging
Samsung has kept most of the hardware intact loosing some pixel density to the larger display. However the LPDDR4 RAM sees a bump up to 4 GB and so does the battery by about 400 mAh.
The new S6 Edge+ features fast wireless charging, which is a mix of the fast charging seen on the S6 along with a new wireless charging standard developed by Samsung, which is said to fully charge the handset in about 120 minutes wirelessly.
SideSync
The S6 Edge+ along with Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 5 both support a new feature called SideSync which is much like Apple’s continuity however it goes further by letting you use your phone from the computer screen and share files. This feature is also said to work on both Windows and Mac platforms.
For a comparison between the specs, take a look at the spec sheet below:
Features
Galaxy S6 Edge
Galaxy S6 Edge+
Display
5.1 inches (1440X2560 pixels)
5.7 inches(1440X2560 pixels)
Processor
Exynos 7420
Exynos 7420
OS
Android OS, v5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to v5.1.1 (Lollipop)
Samsung has been gearing up to reveal its flagships for 2015; the rumour mill has been abuzz with details of the new phones. There have been several images leaked of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus and today, the spec sheet for both phones have been leaked.
Speculated specifications for the Galaxy Note 5:
Display
5.7-inch Quad H, 2560 X 1440 pixels resolution
Processor
Samsung Exynos 7420 octa-core SoC
Storage
32GB of internal storage
RAM
4GB
Rear Camera
16MP OIS
Front Camera
5 MP
OS
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with TouchWiz UI
According to leaks the Galaxy Note 5 will feature a 5.7 inch diplay with a 2560 X 1440 pixels resolution with a pixel density of 515 ppi. The phone is said to be powered by the Exynos 7420 Soc, also found in the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Other features include a 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, a Mali-T760 GPU and 32GB of internal storage, a 16 MP primary camera and a 5MP front-facing camera, all supported by the Android 5.1.1 version.
Image Source: Antutu.com
The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, on the other hand, is said to be similar to the Note 5 with a smaller display of 5.5 inches and a 2K resolution with 534 ppi. It is said to be powered by the Exynos 7420 chipset along with a 4GB of RAM space, Mali – T760 GPU, 16MP and 5MP cameras.
Image source: antutu.com via gsmarena
If leaked AnTuTu scores are to be believed, then it is said, both the devices will manage to increase and outperform current Samsung performance. The Note 5 is said to have a score of 69,702 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus has a 68,345.
Samsung has not verified any of the rumours, so we might have to wait till the August 13th unveiling to confirm all of it.
With the earlier announcement of the cheaper version of the Galaxy S5, that is, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo, leaks about the device have been pouring in. Just recently an online retailer, Belsimpel, a Dutch e-commerce website, has leaked the price of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo, quoted at EUR 429 (roughly Rs. 30,000). The device has been on pre-order on a lot of e-commerce websites and is rumoured to start shipping by the end of next month.
According to leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo has a similar design as the Samsung Galaxy S5. However, it runs on the Samsung’s octa-core Exynos 7580 processor instead of the Galaxy S5’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC. The modem is advertised to be supported by Cat.6 LTE speeds of up to 300Mbps and a front camera of 5MP.
Other specifications include a display of 5.1 inch Super Amoled full-HD (1080×1920 pixels) resolution, and 2GB of RAM, being quite similar to the Samsung Galaxy S5.
The smartphone is said to come with Android 5.1 Lollipop. Camera-wise it features a 16MP rear camera with Auto-focus, which has been paired with a 5MP front camera. Samsung wasn’t available for comments to confirm the rumour and are said to be working on the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus and Galaxy Note 5 due to release on August 13th 2015.
