After a long urged Samsung to perform this test, we had almost given up the idea of offering a little more media space to this unusual Phablet. Especially since it was almost a matter of not market the cousin of Galaxy Note 4 presented at the IFA and tested in our columns last November. Given these some difficulties, so we do not hide our delight when the French subsidiary of the manufacturer has finally agreed to lend us a copy. And as well tell you right away, we met with the Galaxy Note Samsung Edge all boldness
For beyond the physical feature of Edge Note, this curved screen that covers almost whole side of the smartphone, we also experienced a slightly different grip habits. And this is obviously the difference that brings a fuller grip, more interactive, more informed of the smartphone. This touch is used much more space. And we will dedicate a portion of that test this border and features. But first, let’s get to the technical booth to see what the beast is made:
- Super AMOLED curved screen of 5.6 inches with resolution of 1600 x 2500 pixels with a resolution of 524 dots per inch
- Protection Glass Gorilla Glass 3
- Dimension: 151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3 mm for a ratio screen / size of 77.2%
- Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core Krait 450 2.7GHz
- GPU Adreno 420 600 MHz
- 3 GB RAM
- 32-64 GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD)
- Image Sensor 16 megapixel compliant 4K video, slow-motion at 720p at 120 frames per second, Optical Image Stabilizer
- 3.7 megapixel Webcam compliant 2K video with optical aperture of f / 1.9
- Compatible LTE Category 6, Bluetooth 4.1 (BLE and ANT +), WiFi MiMo ac, Glonass GPS, NFC, infrared
- Heart, barometer, compass, gyroscope, UV sensor, fingerprint reader
- S-Pen stylus integrated
- 3000 mAh Compatible Quick Charge 2.0
- Android 4.4.4 KitKat wrapper with Touchwiz for Galaxy Note
- Weight: 174 grams
Here we find the exact platform Galaxy Note 4, with two small exceptions. First the size of the screen pass from 5.7 to 5.6-inch. If the original ratio was kept, the Edge would have a 5.5 inch screen. What affects the resolution of the screen going from 515 to 524 dots per inch. Then, the battery loses 7% power. Which could encumber autonomy. However, being slightly smaller screen, this could be balanced. Note the Edge is also slightly shorter on leg 2 mm, 3.5 mm wide, 0.2 mm thinner and slightly lighter than 2 grams.
detail could not change anything …
Visually, this change of screen ratio seems more important than the data sheet. The slab is actually much broader. The screen earns 10% in width through the border. From the front, the smartphone is very similar to Note 4, except the right. The telephone headset is always stressed the logo of the Korean company and to the left of the various conventional sensors and webcam. The borders around the screen are always thinner than previously and touch navigation buttons still encircle the standard hardware button that hides the fingerprint reader.
At the rear, same thing: in addition to the side where the screen is curved, the resemblance to the Note 4 is striking. The organization of the elements (NPC, cardio sensor, speakers, flash, Samsung logo) is the same, and the effect of faux leather detachable shell. Because, yes, the polycarbonate shell we love is always detachable. Below you will find access to microSIM slot, microSD port and the removable battery (provided there is an advantage …). Unlike the Galaxy S5, and the Edge Rating Rating 4 are not waterproof.
The slices are substantially the same, with a metal edge which borders the display as a whole. On the left you will find the volume control. Above, the 3.5mm jack port and the Power button (since it is not possible to put right). Down the micro USB port and the stylus. This is the same as the Note 4. On the right, the screen follows a beautiful curvature that comes almost touching the back of the smartphone. The border between the screen and the back cover is really fine. Samsung managed by a real design prowess.
… but that changes everything!
The smartphone grip is very different rating 4. For two reasons. First, the mobile is slightly less high and wider. Achieve with the right thumb the upper left corner is just as difficult, but the upper right corner is easier to access. Second reason, new interactions appear on the curved strip of the screen. And it changes a lot of things, as we will see throughout the test. Please note that due to restricted borders, the smartphone still manages to get into the pocket of jeans. Be careful with back pockets …
Smartphone screen based on the same technology as all the top models from Samsung Super AMOLED. As always, this technology brings to the bright colors of the screen, deep blacks and high contrast ratio. Viewing angles are always very open, especially on the right side, of course. We would go further and say that the Edge Note slab may be slightly higher than the Note 4. And of course, the touch surface responds instantly. Small slowdowns which we used to Galaxy S4 are permanently buried in the high end. And that’s good.
smarter Touchwiz on the edges
When a smartphone, we practically find the same overlay that of Note 4 . However, you will quickly notice some changes in the organization of the Home screen. The Google toolbar is now down. The quick shortcuts (phone, contacts, messages, internet) have disappeared, as well as application icons usually on the front line (Play Store, Camera, Email and Google folder). The phone icon is relegated to the lower left. That of the application menu to its opposite.
Interface Note the Edge with the sidebar with notifications (left) and shortcuts
But where are the usual shortcuts (which are part of the classical telephony experience)? They are on the edge of the screen. And surprise, you now instead to place more, because the shortcut bar is extensible: slide up or down to find out more. The little star at the top is used to add others.
Let us go forward in the discovery of this sidebar. When not in use, it displays a few words that can be personalized (as here “LesMobiles.com”). The phrase is different depending on the status of the device in standby or running. When the mobile is unlocked, it displays in real time the latest notifications it is possible to hide. Note When the Edge is locked, it also provides access to the same shortcuts: touch one of them and drag to the main screen to unlock the Edge Rating and open the selected application
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Application of the bar, decimeter Edge and activation of nocturnal hologe
Other use: slide to the right and the left to navigate to different toolbars, some of which are developed with partners ( like Yahoo). All are useful: we installed one that displays the weather and notifications. But there are a dozen more and more pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy Store.
uses multiplied through toolbars
When shortcuts are displayed, there are two other important icons. Below, an arrow upwards which, if pulled, shows a wheel to access the settings of the sidebar. Here it is possible to install panels, change text, activate the night clock, etc. The lefty mode is accessible from this location. Top are two horizontal bars. If you pull both bars down, you display five icons that are applications dedicated to the Edge display: a decimeter, a stopwatch, a switch for the flashlight, a dictaphone
Paramètre custom text, shortcuts and toolbars (called panels)
The use of this bar here is very convenient, but does not differ from a secondary display. But we went a little further. On the Samsung Galaxy Apps, you will find applications mainly developed by Samsung to use the sidebar. Naturally, we downloaded a game Extreme Racing. Here, use is still fairly simple, since the side bar is used to display additional information. But this bar is clearly able to offer a new and innovative grip, as we shall see in video and picture at the end of this test.
Extreme Racing
Relatives performance Galaxy Note 4
For the rest, no need to go into detail, the Edge Note also being a Note. All initiatives taken at Note 4 are present, whether the interface, stylus or applications. We invite you to read our review of Note 4 to become familiar with them.
AnTuTu 3DMark and
Technically, Edge Note is almost as good as the Note 4. On the latest AnTuTu benchmark, the cousin gets 49,046 points, while the Note 4 reaches 47,964 points. In comparison, the Nexus 6 gets 49 722 points. The Snapdragon 805 thus obtains a better score here for a reason that is unknown. We believe that between 4 rating was more loaded with native applications than is the Edge Note. Which is confirmed by the Nexus 6, the lightness of the overlay is legendary.
On 3DMark, Edge Note reaches 19,414 points, and therefore fails to exceed 20 000 points, which is what surprising from the Adreno 420. Note 4 and Nexus 6 get for their shares, respectively, 20,248 points, 23,062 points. Note the Edge is slightly below. Is the management of secondary screen cause? We do not think, though all indications so. New in our testing, we launched the Video Tester AnTuTu. Note the Edge gets the rating 492 points with some flaws in audio codecs, but decoding of 4K files. We will not fail to compare that score to the next high-end smartphones that pass our hands.
A handy sidebar multimedia
The score 3DMark is perhaps slightly disappointing, but the behavior in multimedia Edge Note is simply excellent. Dead Trigger 2, our test game is much more fluid here than in many smartphones. Maybe even a little too much at times, significantly increasing the speed of the game. Extreme Racing has also found a very good example to test the performance of the mobile. Including the autonomy that we find a little bit just so you apply the smartphone continuously.
Dead Trigger 2
In the video, we were pleasantly surprised, despite the absence of many relatively common audio codecs, such as AAC, AC3 and DTS. The default player decodes MKV, AVC HD (up to 1080p) and displays the encapsulated subtitles. This was the case with the Note 4, but it is not so common. Finally, little touch “Edge”: the video player control keys (and audio) are offset on the curved portion of the screen. This is great. Naturally, the quality of the screen plays a lot in this particularly good impression.
Photo: we take the same and start again
Even finding a picture : the dedicated application cleverly uses the sidebar where are located the trigger and a few quick adjustments. If you want access to all the settings, the menu opens with the wheel. It is very convenient. For the rest, again, refer to Note 4, as the built-in functions are the same.
Application Photo Edge Note
Even application and even 16 megapixel sensor with optical image stabilization. We are also here on familiar ground. The result is good, no unpleasant blur with lots of detail and even dive. However, the result is as always rather disappointing for a high-end smartphone. The colors are dull and smoothness contrast. The brightness of the scene is uniform and rather well managed, to the detriment of clear spaces. Result: the clouds in the sky are not drawn. Hopefully the Galaxy S6 will fix that.
Photo taken with the Galaxy Note Edge
Audacity and intelligence and innovation
If this test ends with the only facet of the smartphone that lacks excellence, Edge Note is clearly a great surprise. We’re still not fans of the removable plastic shell and prefer the finest materials in a high-end model, but the audacity of Edge Note manages to erase that feeling. Because, yes, it is daring … and a snub to those who think that Samsung has become incapable of causing an upset.
Mastered, curved screen Galaxy Note Edge brings a new dimension to the handling of Touchwiz, either with or without S-Pen. The idea of deporting some commands and notifications in this area easy to reach with the thumb of the right hand (lefties will have to adapt or return the mobile with the disadvantage of experiencing the telephone receiver down) is excellent. Toolbars to install, accessible from a side slip are also a rich innovation.
Of course, the rich Samsung ideas have a cost. 850 euros in 32 GB and excluding operator subsidies, 100 euros more expensive than the Note 4. From 350 euros with a package and a 24-month commitment. The smartphone is clearly too expensive given current standards. But technically and ergonomically, it really changes the game. It remains to democratize.
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