Along with the Galaxy S6 this year, Samsung announced a stunning side-kick: the Galaxy S6 Edge. It’s virtually the same device as the S6, but with some gorgeous curved glass on both sides of the display. And unlike the Note Edge, they’re really subtle and actually make the phone look more attractive rather than just plain weird.
Like the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Edge is made almost entirely from glass and metal. It has Corning Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and the back and a metal chassis that gives the phone a sense of sturdiness and a premium feel. It feels great in hand.
It has volume buttons on the left and a power button on the right, with the SIM tray placed on the top edge since the curved screen leaves no space on the sides. The bottom edge is identical to the regular S6.
It has the same resolution 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, the same octa-core Exynos processor, and the same storage options: 32/64/128GB. It also has the same 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization and 4K video recording, and the same 5-megapixel camera on the front.
But let’s get on to the differences. It has 50mAh more power in the battery, which should mean an extra few minutes of life in every charge. It’s also available in Green Emerald as well as the same White Pearl, Black Sapphire, and Gold Platinum as the Galaxy S6. And although I’m sure many will like them, I wasn’t drawn to any of the metallic shiny colors. I’d take plain black or white any day. But they’re attractive in their own way and help differentiate the phones from other devices on the market.
And then there’s that curved screen. It’s not just there to look good, it has a bunch of useful features. You can access your favorite contacts or view details on a missed call. Like the Note Edge, you can have a ticker giving notifications for messages or news articles. But my favorite feature was the way the content on-screen curves around with the display when you’re scrolling or swiping sideways. It’s a beautiful effect and something I really appreciate.
Apart from the colors, I’m convinced this is the best phone we’re going to see announced at MWC this year. It feels like the curved screen on the edges isn’t just a gimmick any more. It serves and aesthetic and practical purpose. It’s subtle, beautiful and super useful.
