The Edge uses Samsung's flexible-display technology, which came out with much fanfare last year but has seen little use beyond a phone and a fitness device with displays that were slightly curved.
With the Galaxy Note Edge, the Korean electronics company is offering a practical use for the curvature. While the main screen remains flat like previous phones, the right edge extends and curves until it reaches the back. That creates a side display so information such as weather and time can be seen from the side when the phone is laid on a table - such as a nightstand next to the bed.
(In comparison: Samsung Galaxy Note Edge vs Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Sony Xperia Z3 vs LG G3)
With the side display, the phone's camera functions more like a stand-alone, point-and-shoot camera, as the shutter button and other functions appear on top when the phone is held horizontally. Developers of other apps will be able to specify how the side display gets used.
(Also see: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Offers Little to Excite New Users)
The side display also provides one-tap access to various apps normally found on the home screen, as well as to functions such as the flashlight and the stopwatch, akin to what Apple offers in the iPhone's Control Center with a swipe up from the bottom.
Samsung didn't announce prices or specific release dates.
As far as specs are concerned, the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge features a 5.6-inch Quad-HD+ (1440+160x2560 pixel) Super AMOLED display, and is powered by a quad-core 2.7GHz processor. It will be available in 4G LTE and 4G LTE Cat. 6 (LTE Advanced) variants.
The rest of the specifications of the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge are identical, except that the latter will also come in a 64GB built-in storage variant. It has dimensions 151.3x82.4x8.3mm, and weighs in at 174g. It also has a slightly smaller battery, with a 3000mAh offering.
(In comparison: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Note Edge)
The Galaxy Note Edge will be available in Charcoal Black and Frost White in select markets through Samsung's retail channels, e-commerce and carriers later this year.
The company has also launched the Samsung Gear VR alongside the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.
Written with inputs from AP
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