Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the original Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge goes up against the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+. Samsung decided to bring out the Galaxy S6 Edge as a companion device to the Galaxy S6…no one was surprised as rumors, leaked pictures and specifications were already out. However, once in your hand, you knew you were handling something special and those dual curved display edges gave the S6 Edge that special wow factor. The quality was evident and it was immediately deemed a premium device.
Then Samsung surprised us a second time when they released their new Galaxy S6 Edge+ as a companion device to their new Galaxy Note 5. Last year, Samsung released a Galaxy Note Edge, but decided that sales did not justify continuing it another year – they felt the S-Pen compartmentalized the device, so they decided to keep the dual-curved display of the S6 Edge, remove the S-Pen and make it as large as the Note 5. Whether this was a good idea or if they will cannibalize each other remain to be seen, however, sales of both seem to be fairly brisk.
This comparison will be a little different than most because there are so many similarities between these two devices, it is foolish to list them below under each device, so we will discuss them under a section I have named Similarities, and then point out the differences between them under each device. Check out the complete list of specifications listed below as we strive to pick a winner in this comparison.
Specifications
Similarities
The best place to start is on the outside and then we will work our way to the inside. Both devices are identical looking except in length – consisting of a metal frame and Gorilla Glass display and non-removable back. The displays are dual curved on the left and right edges that serve a couple of functions – it gives the illusion of no bezel, makes it easy to swipe from the left or right sides and also serves in a productive sort of way, as well. You can receive notifications on the edges, set your bedtime clock and alarm and reserve spots for your five most used contacts for quick access. Both devices look very cool and reek of quality.
The displays are works of art and have been called some of the best displays ever tested. They use Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology and have a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels with the smaller S6 Edge coming in with 577 pixels-per-inch (PPI) and the larger display on the S6 Edge+ measuring in at 518 PPI. Both devices use Samsung’s homegrown 64-bit Exynos 7420 octa-core processor with four cores clocked at 1.5GHz and four cores clocked at 2.1GHz. Both devices use Samsung’s new and faster DDR4 RAM (3GB in the S6 Edge and 4GB in the S6 Edge+). Both devices use Samsung’s new and much faster UFS 2.0 Flash memory with no way to expand. You can choose 32GB, 64GB or 128GB in the S6 Edge and only 32GB or 64GB in the S6 Edge+.
The cameras in both devices may be identical or they may be slightly different…Samsung used both Sony and Samsung sensors in the S6 Edge, but are now claiming that all S6 Edge+ and Note 5 devices are using Samsung’s own ISOCELL sensor. At any rate, you are getting one of the best cameras you can find in a smartphone – 16MP sensor, quick autofocus, a wide f/1.9 aperture, LED flash, Live HDR and OIS. The front-facing camera (FFC) is a large 5MP with a wide-angle lens, Live HDR and a f/1.9 aperture for great group selfies or video chats.
Both devices have a quick charge battery and wireless charging for both Qi and PMA standards. Each has a single speaker mounted on the bottom of the device and they give a good, but not great sound. Each has a fingerprint sensor that is PayPal certified, Samsung Pay ready, a heart rate and oxygen saturation sensor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC capable and they both have a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. Both devices have a non-removable battery.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
The Galaxy S6 Edge is smaller in every dimension except the thickness (7 mm versus 6.9 mm)…hey, it is a difference. It measures 142.10 x 70.1 x 7 mm and weighs in at 132 grams. The display measures 5.1-inches and that means 577 pixels-per-inch (PPI) with its QHD display. With the processors being the same, we turn our attention to the memory area – the S6 Edge uses 3GB of memory, which is one gigabyte less than the S6 Edge+. With no room to expand this year, you have your choice of a 32GB, 64GB or 128GB model.
The S6 Edge also has the usual suspects, including the built-in IR Blaster, which Samsung decided to leave out of the S6 Edge+. The S6 Edge has Bluetooth 4.1 versus the 4.2 in the S6 Edge+ – not much difference but we are grabbing for ideas here. It has a smaller, 2600mAh, non-removable battery versus the 3000mAh non-removable battery in the S6 Edge+. It is available in Black Sapphire, White Pearl and Gold Platinum and it will cost you $672 off-contract.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
The main difference in the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is in its size – the display is larger at 5.7-inches than the 5.1-inch found on the Galaxy S6 Edge…giving the S6 Edge+ a pixel density of 518 PPI. This makes the entire device larger with dimensions of 154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9 mm and weighing in at 153 grams. The S6 Edge+ uses the same processor, but it does add a gigabyte of RAM, bringing the total to 4GB. Another difference is in the internal memory options – the S6 Edge has options of 32GB, 64GB and 128GB, but due to slow sales, for the S6 Edge+, Samsung dropped the 128GB option.
Some of the usual suspects are there, but different, such as Bluetooth on the S6 Edge+ is the newer 4.2 and Samsung decided to remove their usual IR Blaster. The S6 Edge+ also has a larger, 3000mAh non-removable battery. The S6 Edge+ is available in Black Sapphire or Gold Platinum and will cost you $768 off-contract for the 32GB model.
…And The Winner Is…
Summary
I have to pick the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge as the winner of this comparison, if for nothing else to save yourself $100 and to have another option in colors. Both devices are excellent smartphones, but as a daily driver, the 5.1-inch display would be a little easier to lug around all day. You are getting the same display with higher pixel density, the same fingerprint sensor with Samsung Pay built-in. It also has the IR Blaster built-in, which was left out of the S6 Edge+, and I hardly doubt that you will miss the extra gigabyte of RAM.
If you like the larger display, then by all means the Galaxy S6 Edge+ will satisfy – it has one more gigabyte of RAM and no IR Blaster and will cost you about $100 for that extra 0.6-inch of display…only you can decide.
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