The edge feature is a bit different in each iteration of the series. Still, it started as a way to see notifications without unlocking the phone and evolved into a mini command center. Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S8 and S8+ feature curved screens, despite lacking the Edge designation. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ are Samsung’s 2017 flagship phones. The two devices share many features, such as camera resolution, and perform similarly in battery life and other benchmarks. However, the S8+ is noticeably larger. Its 6.2-inch screen puts it squarely in phablet territory, though the S8’s 5.8-inch screen pushes boundaries. While these phones aren’t technically Edge models, they look the part with screens that wrap around the sides, with barely noticeable bezels. Aside from overall size (and weight) and display size, the two models have a few other differences. The S8 has 64 GB of memory, while the S8+ comes in 64 GB and 128 GB. The S8+ also has a slightly longer rated battery life. The Edge functionality is taken up a notch here, with more than a dozen Edge panels to download. By default, it displays your top apps and contacts, but you can also download a note-taking app, calculator, calendar, and other widgets. The phones are rated to survive up to 1.5 meters underwater for 30 minutes and are dust resistant. The chief complaint from reviewers is that the fingerprint scanner on both devices is too close to the camera lens, making it hard to find and easy to smudge the lens. The sensor has to be on the back of the phone because the bezels are razor-thin. The 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 Edge is a significant upgrade over the S6 edge, with a bigger screen, a larger and longer-lasting battery, and a more comfortable grip. Like the Galaxy G8 and G8+, it has an Always-On Display, so you can see the time, date, and notifications without unlocking the phone. The Edge panel is easier to access than on previous models. You no longer have to return to the home screen. Instead, you swipe in from the right side of the screen. It can display news, weather, a ruler, and shortcuts to up to 10 of your favorite apps and contacts. You can also add shortcuts to actions such as composing a message to a friend or launching the camera. Other notable features include:
A camera with fast focus and shutter speed, plus excellent photos. A Selfie Flash mode for better-lit pictures of you and your friends. 4K resolution video The ability to survive up to 1.5 meters underwater for 30 minutes. Dust resistance to keep the grit out. Support for wireless and fast charging. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Octa-core processor runs cooler and faster than previous versions. 4 GB of RAM vs. the S6 Edge’s 3 GB. A MicroSD slot that accepts cards up to 200 GB.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ feature two curved edges, compared to the Galaxy Note Edge’s one. The Note Edge also has a removable battery and a MicroSD slot, which both the S6 Edge and Edge+ lack. The S6 Edge+ has a larger screen, but it’s lighter in weight than the Note Edge. The S6 Edge comes in three memory capacities: 32, 64, and 128 GB. The Edge+ is available in only 32 or 64 GB. The Edge+ has a more powerful battery: 3000mAh vs. the S6 Edge’s 2600mAh. That’s necessary to power its giant screen (6 inches bigger than the S6 Edge’s), though both displays have the same resolution. The Edge panel on the S6 Edge and Edge+ has limited functionality compared to the S7 Edge and the Note Edge. You can designate your top five contacts and get color-coded notifications when one of them calls you or sends a message, but that’s it. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is an Android phablet that introduced the Edge panel concept. Unlike the Edge devices that followed it, the Note Edge had only one curved edge and was regarded more as an experiment than a fully fleshed-out device. Like many older Galaxy devices, the Note Edge has a removable battery and a MicroSD slot (accepting cards up to 64 GB). The Note Edge’s edge screen has three functions: notifications, shortcuts, and widgets. The idea was to make it easy to view alerts and conduct simple actions without unlocking the phone. You can add as many app shortcuts as you want on the Edge panel and create folders as well. You can also you can view the time and weather. In the settings, you can select which types of alerts you’d like to receive, so it’s not too cluttered.
