Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Review: A glimpse into the future

We might have seen concept images of ‘bendable’ displays and such, but, other than dramatic improvements in pixel ratios and screen size, not a lot has changed with the primary mobile screen in the recent past. That’s why the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is impossible to ignore; it’s literally a ‘cutting edge’ device with a second screen that drops off the first screen almost like a waterfall. Crash test dummy or a revolutionary smartphone? More importantly does the Note edge warrant the 15 percent premium over the Samsung Galaxy Note 4?

While both the Note 4 and Note Edge were unveiled together, the Edge hit the shelves almost a couple of months later. It’s almost like the Edge has arrived after the dust from the ‘Battle Royale’ between the iPhone 6 Plus and the Note 4 has settled. The Note Edge is easily one of the most gorgeous devices from the ‘Sammy’ stable. It’s just one continuous piece of glass that seamlessly wraps the right spine and joins the back of the device. The metallic rim is akin to what we’ve seen on the Note 4 and the Alpha while the ‘faux’ leather back is probably the only jarring note. The power key moves to the top (the power button on the Note 4 is on the right spine) while the volume rocker sits on the left.

Just like the Note 4, the Quad HD+ display with 2560 X 1440 pixels (plus the additional 160 pixels on the Edge panel) is easily one of the finest out there. Apple fanboys might say ‘over saturated’ but a HD movie or a graphically intensive game on this 5.6-inch display takes some beating. The whopping 525 Pixels per Inch ensures images and text are equally vibrant. Samsung gives the Note Edge the same ‘hardware love’ that it reserves for its mighty flagships. A 2.7GHz Quad Core processor teams up with 3GB of RAM to deliver blazing results irrespective of whatever you throw at it; it’s always game on! There’s 32GB of onboard memory and the convenience of Micro SD card support (up to 128GB). If there’s one crib, it’s the battery; the 3000mAh battery doesn’t quite deliver the same battery life as the 3220mAh battery in the Note 4. It’s certainly not a deal breaker though.

The 16MP shooter is one of the big improvements we noticed from the Note 4. It’s the same story with the Edge, which leverages from Optical Image Stabilisation making a visible impact on low-light photography. While there’s no camera hot key, the soft keys sit on the Edge screen,  ensuring minimal clutter while you compose your images. Selfie-fiends will love the ‘Rear-cam selfie’ mode. It allows you to shoot selfies with the primary camera in case the 3.7MP front facing cam isn’t good enough for your moment of self actualisation! The other big improvement is the S-Pen which makes both these devices particularly relevant for creative professionals. The new avatar has 2000 levels of sensitivity, twice as much as the S-Pen embedded in the Note 3. This offers more tricks and performance enhancements like the calligraphy tool that can make almost anyone’s handwriting look prettier.

The Note Edge’s calling card is its rolling display that converts the right spine into extra screen real estate. It takes some getting used to, just like the device’s wide form factor; one-handed navigation is clearly not an option. Samsung has worked hard to create a set of ‘Edge panels’ that allow you to bring your favourite App icons to the edge. You also a get a host of updates – weather, stocks, and sports, from the ‘Edge’. Samsung has a small workaround for left-handers; you can access the edge panel by turning your device upside down. It’s not the best solution given that the hard keys on the device might be cumbersome to access.

The Note Edge’s rolling display manages to create an interesting user experience- a niche in your device where key alerts and notifications reside. It’s one of those rare devices that offers a peek into the future (Rumours abound that Samsung might be unleashing more devices with this rolling display) without being completely ‘gimmicky’. It comes with all the killer hardware that we love on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 except a battery that is slightly underwhelming. Whether you should fork out an additional Rs 8,000 over the Note 4 might be down to be a personal choice and your fixation with the future.     

What we liked: 
Eye-popping display
Novelty and convenience of the second (rotating) screen
Top of the line hardware
Solid camera
Enhanced S Pen​
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What we didn’t like:
Battery life a notch below the Note 4
Unwieldy for single-handed navigation
The ‘faux’ leather back  

Specifications:
Display: 4.8-inch Quad HD+, Super AMOLED, 2560 x 1440 pixels + 160 pixels (Edge panel) / 524 PPI
Memory: 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, plus support for Micro SD cards up to 128GB
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 805. Quad Core 2.7GHz
Camera: 16MP main with LED, 3.7MP front facing

Price: Rs 64,900/-