Samsung launches Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Note 5 phablets

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5 phablets — With near identical size and specifications, stylus or curved edges, the choice is yours according to Samsung. Photograph: Alex Hern for the Guardian

Samsung has launched two new phablets, the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+, in its war with Apple and LG to maintain its large-screen smartphone crown.

The Korean company made the surprise move of releasing a larger variant of its popular Galaxy S6 Edge rather than simply sticking with its Note line of phablets, which launched in 2011 and defined the new half phone, half tablet category.

The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is a bigger version of the 5.1in S6 Edge, with a 5.7in quad HD AMOLED screen with curved edges. The S6 Edge was a surprise success, expected to only account for a small proportion of sales compared to the standard S6 with no curved edges. A large proportion of pre-orders and initial device sales swung in the S6 Edge’s favour causing Samsung to struggle to meet demand.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ — The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is the spitting image of the S6 Edge, just bigger with a 5.7in screen. Photograph: Alex Hern for the Guardian

The S6 Edge+ has similar specifications to its smaller sibling, with Samsung’s own Exynos octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM and a choice of 32 or 64GB of storage.

Despite already having larger, phablet-size smartphones such as the Note and Mega series, by releasing a “+” version of the S6 Edge Samsung is in direct competition with Apple’s 4.7in iPhone 6 and 5.5in iPhone 6 Plus.

Phablets accounted for 21% of US smartphone sales in the first quarter up nearly four times year-on-year, according to data from Kantar Worldpanel.

For Samsung, its curved screen edges, which are unique to the company, are a differentiator that offers added functionality without detracting from the smartphone’s core functions. But Samsung will have to prove that the edges are more than an aesthetic choice or gimmick, and can be of use for more than a few limited apps.

Note with stylus survives

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 — The Galaxy Note 5 resembles the Galaxy S6 with metal edges, a glass back and a stylus embedded in the end. Photograph: Alex Hern for the Guardian

Samsung also released an update to its Note series of phablets, which have styluses. The Note 5 has very similar specifications to the S6 Edge+, but lacks the curved screen edges, resembling the standard Galaxy S6 in look and shape.

The Note 5 has flat 5.7in quad HD AMOLED screen and a redesigned stylus that docks into the bottom of the device.

“The new aluminium frame surrounding and housing the display is 1.7 times stronger and 1.3 times more scratch resistant than that of past Samsung devices,” said David Kang, vice president of Samsung mobile. “Our manufacturing processes have also meant that we can create a super slim base, meaning that both these 5.7in devices are narrower than some 5.5in devices.”

The new releases mean Samsung now has two top-end phablets, a category where Android smartphones can still command a premium as the low end and smaller smartphones become squeezed by cheaper Chinese competitors.

Samsung Pay on a Galaxy S6 Edge+ using the fingerprint sensor and near-field communications (NFC). Photograph: Alex Hern for the Guardian

Both new phablets support Samsung’s new contactless and magnetic stripe payment system, a touch fingerprint sensor as well as wireless charging. They both have 16-megapixel rear cameras with optical image stabilisation and five-megapixel selfie cameras.

The Galaxy S6 Edge+ will be available globally from late August, with the Note 5 launching initially in the US and Asia.