At Samsung’s Global Galaxy Unpacked Event, we got to see two new flagship devices that aren’t afraid of baring their curves — the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. 2nd Opinion got a VIP hands-on of the Galaxy Note 5 phablet. From my short time playing with the device, here’s what I have to say:
Underneath the Note 5’s metal finish, Samsung borrowed hardware from the S6. Given that this year’s entries into the flagship S Series already have specifications that will last well into next year, I’m not surprised that Samsung retains them. It has the Exynos octa-core (2.1GHz quad + 1.5GHz quad) processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 16MP rear shooter and 8MP front shooter with OIS and f/1.9 aperture, and a 3,000mAh battery. The same goes for the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, with the exception that the Edge+ has a 64GB variant. Earth-shattering hardware isn’t the focus of the Note 5 and Edge+ as its specs are already leading the industry. We’ll have greater hardware in next year’s devices. There are much more features that make this a great phablet.
First and foremost, the phablet is big. It sports a 5.7″ Quad HD Super AMOLED Display. Samsung calls it a “paradox of size.” It has a large screen, yet the phablet itself is smaller (compared to its competition, the iPhone 6 Plus). Normally, I’m wary about phablets because of their daunting size. However, the Note 5 was surprisingly easy on the hands. It fits in my pocket without much of a fuss. The screen display is bright and the colors are more natural. Saturation doesn’t scream in your face or mellow out to a whisper. As Goldilocks would have it, the Galaxy Note 5’s screen is perfectly balanced. The Note 5 is curved at the back making it a perfect fit in one’s grip.
The next feature Samsung boasts of the Galaxy Note 5 is the enhanced S Pen. Pioneered in the first Galaxy Note, the S Pen sought to be the best combination between a stylus and an actual pen. For this iteration, the stylus is stored in an unobtrusive position at the bottom right. It’s not difficult to fish it out even with short nails either. It has a new click-to-pull out system. You click the tip like a button and it pops out a bit so you can easily pull it out.
As for features, the slim S Pen is packed with features tailored for productivity. Pulling it out from the device automatically opens up a black notepad when the screen is turned off. You can start using it right away which comes in handy with quick thoughts, snap meetings, and remembered memos. When the screen is on, you can access the Air Command screen by pressing a button on the side of the screen or clicking the icon on the screen. It stores all of the capabilities that the S Pen can do, as well as three additional apps. These are Action Memo (a quick Post-It you can write notes on), Smart Select (selecting part of the screen to capture and save), Screen Write (writing on the screen then capturing and saving it for future use), and of course, the S Note or Samsung’s notepad app. I should also note that the Screen Write function is enhanced to save more than what’s just on the screen. It has a Scroll Capture function which allows you to save pages or content long enough that you can scroll down (for example, a web page that’s longer than the screen).
Handling the S Pen is like holding a thin pen, but it feels natural. I don’t feel like I’m writing on a screen when I used it. It has that natural handwriting feel down pat. I was even playing around with the clickable tip because it felt that much like a real pen.
Another gizmo on the package is Samsung’s camera, a feature which was much praised in this year’s S6 and S6 Edge combo. The rear shooter is at 16-megapixels while the front is at 8-megapixels. This makes a return in the Galaxy Note 5. A quick test shows exactly why it’s a must for smartphone photography aficionados. Entertainment is also a balanced deal with an UHQ Upscaler, technology that transforms regular music files to UHQ quality.
Rounding out the whole deal is the Note 5’s and the S6 Edge+’s bigger 3,000mAh battery. Samsung has also infused it with faster charging, wired or wireless. Samsung has tested it to charge for 90 minutes from 0 to 100% on wired charging and 120 minutes on wireless.
Now, you may wonder how different it is from the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+. It’s what I’d call a paradox of difference. On paper, there’s not much differentiation between the two yet the differences are glaring with how they’re used. The Galaxy Note 5 is definitely for productivity pushers. I’d take it with me when I’m in a meeting or taking down an interview. The Edge+ however is more casual and multimedia-oriented. The curved screen virtually obliterates bezel which makes it a perfect viewing companion. Plus, it has a new Apps edge feature. The S6 Edge had the Contacts Edge which allowed users to access their favorite contacts right from the edge screen. The Apps edge is similar but it stores favorite apps rather than contacts.
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is an amazing phablet. It won’t break the industry but it’s revolutionary in its own right, thanks in part to the enhanced S Pen. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ may not have an S Pen, but its curved screen technology is always a crowd pleaser that ultimately appeals to a lot of Samsung fans.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ will be available starting September 5. Starting August 17 to August 30, Samsung will be accepting pre-orders. The Galaxy Note 5 will cost P36,990. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ will cost P39,990 for 32GB and P44,990 for 64GB.
