Hands On With the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
by Joshua Ho on August 13, 2015 11:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Samsung
- Galaxy
- Mobile
- Galaxy Note 5
Software
Continuing along the software train of thought, TouchWiz on the edge variant sees new edge features, namely the ability to adjust the position of the edge drawer swipe, the ability to use the edge drawer in applications, and the addition of an app drawer to the edge drawer. I’m not really sure if these features are enough to move the edge display from a mostly cosmetic change to a functional one, but the edge app drawer presents at least the possibility of additional functionality.
On both devices, I also noticed that the iconography has changed from the Galaxy S6. The change isn’t really radical here, but it is enough to be noticeable in comparison to previous iterations. The software remains relatively similar to the Galaxy S6 in UI performance, which probably isn’t a surprise given the shared SoC, display resolution, and UI/frameworks.
SideSync has also been updated significantly for the Note 5 and the edge variant, with the ability to automatically reconnect on a shared network instead of manually connecting to the phone with the SideSync client after every disconnect, drag and drop wireless file transfer, and phone call/text messaging over the SideSync client. As far as I can tell, these could be worthwhile features but without testing it’s hard to say if it will make a big difference in user experience.
Another interesting software feature that Samsung demonstrated for audio was UHQA, or Ultra High Quality Audio. I normally don't bother to talk about these features because it's pretty easy for them to end up as gimmicks, but this feature is effectively designed to try and reduce the effects of lossy compression when high frequencies have been cut off. As seen in the photo above, when UHQA was off the sample music topped out at around 8-10 KHz, while with UHQA on we see harmonics extending up to 20 KHz. Subjectively, it did seem that this interpolated version was much closer to a lossless music file, but my ears aren't particularly astute in that regard.
Both devices will also support live YouTube broadcasting as a camera mode, which seems potentially useful, especially with 1080p60 broadcasting quality but for some reason the units that I saw were limited to 240p, which may be due to the nonfinal state of the software.
Samsung Pay
With the Galaxy S6, I mentioned that there were magnetic secure transmission (MST) capabilities which would allow for the phone to allow for contactless payment even on legacy payment terminals that only allow magstripe cards, but I didn’t feel that it was worth mentioning as a real reason to get the phone as Samsung Pay was announced with the Galaxy S6 but without any demonstration or support soon after launch. With the Galaxy Note 5 and the edge variant, this changes. Samsung is hoping to begin user trials of Samsung Pay with NFC and MST contactless payment in the US this month, with a US launch in September. According to Samsung, feedback from user trials in South Korea was overwhelmingly positive, with only a small number of legacy terminals that needed software updates to support MST transactions.
From the demo that I saw, Samsung Pay is actually quite promising as it didn’t seem particularly sensitive to orientation as long as the back of the phone was reasonably close to the magstripe reader on the terminal. Activation is relatively simple, and is accomplished by simply swiping on the display when the screen is off and tapping the card you want to use, then authenticating with Pin or fingerprint. This isn’t as fast or simple as some competing solutions, but given the constraints of MST it makes sense. It’s worth noting though that in October magstripe cards will see a liability shift that is likely to drive NFC/EMV adoption much more strongly in the US, although Samsung predicts that the shift will still take a year or two in which MST will still have significant utility. It’s also worth noting that any device with a tripped Knox flag will be unable to use Samsung Pay.
Accessories
A number of accessories were also on display which were at least somewhat interesting. In addition to fast wired charging, Samsung seems to have developed a fast wireless charger, although it isn’t clear what the power output is compared to the previous standard wireless charger.
There were also external batteries with fast charging at what appears to be 9V and 1.67A, so this is probably supports QC 2.0.
There were various cases on display, but the only one worth really focusing on as far as I can tell is the keyboard case for the edge variant, which effectively makes it possible to turn the phone into a sort of throwback to Palm Treos, as the color and general design of the case really does give it a retro feel. Outside of design, typing with it was a fun experience but I didn’t really feel any faster than I did with an on-screen keyboard. I suspect that this will have a significant niche audience for those that are still clinging to phones like the Droid 4, but mainstream appeal would be relatively limited for this kind of accessory.
Wrapping things up, the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ will be available in the US on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular. The Note 5 will be available in Black Sapphire and White Pearl, and the Galaxy S6 edge+ will be available in Black Sapphire and Gold Platinum.
Consumers will also be able to start trying out the Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge+ on August 14th in various carrier outlets and electronics retailers, with preorders starting today at 3PM EST, with availability starting on August 21st. On Sprint, the Galaxy Note 5 will start at 249.99 USD on contract, and the Galaxy S6 edge+ will start at 349.99 USD on contract. On T-Mobile, the Note 5 will start at 25 USD/month through September 30, and the Galaxy S6 edge+ will start at 28.5 USD/month.
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The0ne - Thursday, August 13, 2015 - link
Hate to say it but you're just wrong on so many fronts. First and foremost people have the want/need for things that they may or may not use. This goes for everything. You do this, I do this, especially with tech. Now, specifically with storage I sure as hell want more space than I would want just in case I do need them. Sure I may not use them all the time but they are there and available when I need them. This is the key point. I care more about spending the hundreds of hours to manage and organize my music, movies, photos and so on, a ritual I do every single freaking year.In a perfect world where you are as organized as you imply then yes maybe that will work. Implying that people don't use their phones to watch videos and other stuff is ludicrous. The market is huge. I like having a SD slot to be able to carry more. It doesn't hurt that I don't use it all but it sure as hell does when I need the space and I have none. Why do you think PC enthusiasts buffer on their purchases? Why are we all on Anandtech?
And yes don't dictate to others what you think they should have or be doing. Keep it your opinion and don't make it sound as though those of us that do are nothing but lazy, messy aholes who don't know what the hell they're doing. I had an IT guy once brag about his IT job and his responsibilities in a meeting. To put this person in their place I answered him by saying I'm an Engineer, design engineer; I can design and program what you think you know. IT guys, most think they know it all. Bunch of idiot kids is what I think personally.
The problem with you line of thinking, and I really have no beef with it other than most people aren't so organize, is that you believe you are what you state. As much as there is no God I say 99.9999% say that you're no different from the average person. Humans have the urges, the wants, the needs. Yours may not be storage but when you lust after something and want a little bit more than you're part of it. There is no shame to this, it's human nature to want things, hence driving innovation as well. You may want to consider Australia since innovation is almost dead there. They like it organized and neat.
tenoutoften - Friday, August 14, 2015 - link
OK fella, whatever you say. I'm voicing an opinion, it just happens to not be the same as yours - that's what happens in the real world, not everyone agrees with each other - I bet you make a great engineer, listening to no-one else's opinions other than your own.jimbo2779 - Friday, August 14, 2015 - link
You are voicing your opinion that you find no need for the SD card slot and as such nobody else should.My most recent phone didn't have an SD slot, I routinely fill its internal storage with pics and videos of my kids and family that I would much rather not have to wipe every month or two. My baby girl adores looking at videos of family and friends and to have to wipe it so often is incredibly frustrating.
Filling it with video and images also means that I cannot store much music at all on it so if I go for a jog or to the gym I often have to stick to just a couple of albums worth of music or change it up all the time.
It is a major inconvenience to not have it. Some users may not want it, they are free to get a phone without one, those that do want an SD slot do want one. How can you argue against that?
My wife has a fairly low to mid range phone that is cheap as chips, she then puts an SD card that is reusable in her next phone and all of a sudden she also can take lots of photos and videos. She has more storage in her phone than mine and it cost her about half of what mine does.
My next phone will have SD support, it is that simple.
Some people want it, you can voice your opinion that you do not need it but when you live in an area where relying on your cellphone signal for even phone calls is hard enough using the cloud is just not something that is even remotely an option.
The0ne - Sunday, August 16, 2015 - link
Lol. I have no issue with you voicing your opinion but to tell everyone else that it is unnecessary because you seem to think you don't need it is ridiculous and arrogant. It is fine if you like it that way but don't assume others do. And then you got upset and tell me that I don't listen to others? Where did you even get that interpretation from. My argument is as general as it can be...we're humans, we have wants and needs. How this translate to I don't give a fck about anyone else is beyond me. You have a serious problem. Good day.sonny73n - Saturday, August 15, 2015 - link
Good job correcting that jerk. Two thumbs up!However, I don't think he can realize how narrow-minded he is.
Devo2007 - Thursday, August 13, 2015 - link
Having my entire music collection with me allows me the freedom to listen to whatever I want, whenever I want. I don't always know what I want to listen to before I head out.Just because you don't feel the need to do this does not mean it's pointless to everyone!
tenoutoften - Thursday, August 13, 2015 - link
Taking the entire contents of my fridge with me to work gives me the freedom to make what I want for lunch because I don't always know what I want to eat midday before I leave.I'm not saying it's pointless, it's just an expensive way of doing it and in my opinion there are other, better options.
jimbo2779 - Friday, August 14, 2015 - link
I didn't realise Devo2007 was having to lug around a huge suitcase full of LPs to listen to his music collection. Oh that's right, we are in 2015 and we can have the convenience of carrying the media we want so we can listen to what we want without having to rely on potentially crappy signal.Stop assuming your use case is the only one that matters. Local storage is far cheaper and much more convenient than cloud storage, if you can have there is no reason not to have it.
tenoutoften - Friday, August 14, 2015 - link
I wasn't assuming my case was the only one that matters, you need to learn how to read instead of attempting to sound smart, which you clearly aren't - hop back on your horse white knight and jump on another band wagon somewhere else.jimbo2779 - Friday, August 14, 2015 - link
I read the countless comments on every phone review where lots of people are saying they regularly make full use of the sd card support in their phones.You yourself said in your opinion 90% of people could be using alternatives so even in your first world experience there is 10% that could make use of sd card support. Step outside the city and that increases. Get into a town like mine where you barely get cell phone signal and the cloud is not an option in the majority of places you go.
Start adding ask this III and there are a lot of people that could make use of SD support. Add in even more that have a basic phone and the cheapest contact going and the case for SD support gets even stronger.
There are countless use cases for SD card support. I am not white knighting for anything, your opinion that SD card support is pointless, outdated or whatever your argument is is just wrong, lots of people want it for a very good reason.