Galaxy Note Edge vs Galaxy S5: 5 Things Buyers Need to Know

With a Galaxy Note Edge release confirmed for later this year, consumers are starting to compare it with top devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5. While we can’t make that decision for you, we can provide you with details that could help to make you come to a quicker and perhaps, a better decision. This Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy Note Edge comparison addresses the most important differences, and similarities, that buyers need to know.

Earlier this month, Samsung took to the stage in Berlin, Germany to announce several new products for the fall. First, we saw another intro for the Samsung Gear S, an Apple Watch competitor and a device that appears to be a solid alternative to current Android smartwatches. We also saw the Gear VR virtual reality headset make its first appearance.

The stars of the show though were arguably the new Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 successor, and the Galaxy Note Edge. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is an ambitious new smartphone and one that is set to do battle with the high-end smartphones later this year including Samsung’s current devices.

Samsung’s all new Galaxy Note Edge is a high-end smartphone that shares some features with the Galaxy Note 4 but offers some unique ones of its own. With a release slated for later this year though, the Galaxy Note Edge is going to face some serious opposition, including the Galaxy S5, Samsung’s other flagship smartphone.

Consumers that haven’t already made up their mind are almost certainly weighing the Galaxy S5 against the Galaxy Note Edge. And while we can’t tell you what to do, we can push you in the right direction. Ahead of the Galaxy Note Edge release, we take a look at the five most important things buyers need to know about the Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy Note Edge.

Galaxy Note Edge Release Date

Despite being official, the Galaxy Note Edge release date is still unclear. Samsung confirmed it for later this year though it has not offered any specifics. We have seen it make some progress behind the scenes and Samsung’s new sign up page says that it’s “coming soon” but exact details remain in the shadows as we approach the fall and move further into the fall.

We do have a few clues though. The UK says that it will not have the Galaxy Note Edge in stock during the initial release. It’s not clear what kind of delay it will be dealing with. One retailer claims that the delay will impact other European countries as well, not just the United Kingdom.

Samsung Canada recently confirmed that it won’t be getting the Galaxy Note Edge until 2015. It says that its release will come after the U.S. though it made no distinction between dates. In other words, those looking into the Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy Note Edge are going to have to wait a little longer to compare these two physically.

Two other release items of note. First, the Galaxy Note Edge is confirmed for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, and no one else. And while we could see a carrier like U.S. Cellular pop up in the future, that’s far from guaranteed. What this means is that the Galaxy S5 should hold a carrier advantage in the U.S. and offer more choice to those looking for a new smartphone.

When the Galaxy Note Edge does arrive, it will almost certainly be more expensive than the Galaxy S5. Samsung’s Galaxy S5 can be found for $99 or less on-contact. The Galaxy Note Edge is expected to be more expensive than the Galaxy Note 4 which checks in at $299.99 on-contract through U.S. carriers. The exact price remains unknown.

Galaxy Note Edge Size vs. Galaxy S5 Size

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is a large phone. And while the Galaxy S5 sports a large 5.1-inch display, it’s noticeably smaller than the Galaxy Note Edge. Here is how that size difference looks.

Here’s how the size difference breaks down from a numbers standpoint:

• Galaxy S5 -142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm – 145 grams
• Galaxy Note Edge – 151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3 mm – 174 grams

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is taller, wider, thicker, and heavier than Galaxy S5. These differences are going to be tangible especially when using the phone with one hand or trying to store your phone in a tight jean pocket.

Galaxy Note Edge Specs vs. Galaxy S5 Specs

Not all of you will want or need to compare specs, but if you do, you’re going to find that both of these phones offer some powerful features that will help to make your decision that much harder. We’ll point out some of the key differences and some things that you probably shouldn’t dwell on in the buildup to their release.

Galaxy Note Edge Specs

• 5.6-inch Quad HD display with bent side
• Snapdragon 805 processor (U.S.)
• 3GB RAM
• 16MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization
• 3.7MP front-facing camera
• 32GB / 64GB storage with support for 128GB microSD cards
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat
• Fingerprint sensor
• UV sensor
• Heart rate sensor
• NFC
• Fast charging
• 3000 mah battery
• S Pen

Galaxy S5 Specs

• 5.1-inch Full HD display
• Snapdragon 801 processor (U.S.)
• 3GB RAM
• 16MP camera
• 2.1MP front-facing camera
• 16GB storage with support for 128GB microSD cards
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• Fingerprint sensor
• Heart rate sensor
• IP67 Certification (Dust/Water resistant design)
• NFC
• 2800 mAh battery

Both displays are big but the Galaxy Note Edge provides far more real estate for gaming, browsing the web, and more. Again, that comes with a cost which is its overall size. There are also two more things to keep in mind when it comes to these displays.

First, the Samsung’s Galaxy Edge sports a higher resolution. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to blow the Galaxy S5’s display out of the water but it does mean that it will almost certainly offer some benefits like crisper imagery. DisplayMate, one of the leading voices on display technology, calls the Galaxy Note 4 display the best they’ve ever seen.

The other is the Galaxy Note Edge’s bent display. The Galaxy Note Edge comes with a screen that curves down over the edge of the device. Thus the name. The Galaxy Note Edge and its screen can be seen in the video below.

The Galaxy Note Edge screen isn’t going to be for everyone but it does come with some distinct advantages. The bent part of the Galaxy Note Edge’s display not only offers better viewing angles for content, it also provides users with an extremely quick way to access their most used applications, settings and more. All it takes is the swipe of a thumb.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge bent display can also display notifications on the side without pausing or interrupting content that’s running on the main screen. So if you’re watching a movie and you get a text or an email, it will appear on the side as opposed to on the main screen. This is only the beginning as Samsung will deliver a Galaxy Note Edge SDK that will allow developers to take full advantage of the new display type.

The Galaxy Note Edge will feature Optical Image Stabilization with its camera, technology that minimizes shakiness to deliver better looking photos and video. The Galaxy S5 does not come with Optical Image Stabilization.

We should point out that Samsung has added a ton of new features to its popular camera application including new models for selfies. These features could come to the Galaxy S5 at some point in the future though it’s not clear when that might happen.

The Galaxy S5 comes in one size in the United States, 16GB. And while the Galaxy Note Edge comes in two, we only expect one variant in the U.S., likely the 32GB model. Both come with expandable storage and both come with removable back plates.

Galaxy Note Edge Features vs. Galaxy S5 Features

Samsung’s new smartphones always come with brand new features and the Galaxy Note Edge is no different. Samsung has loaded it up with powerful features that will make it an attractive alternative to the Galaxy S5.

If you upgrade to the Galaxy S5, you’ll get one feature that isn’t found on the Galaxy Note Edge. The new Galaxy Note series has borrowed heavily from the Galaxy S this year and the two devices share quite a few features including fingerprint sensor, heart rate sensor, NFC, and more.

• IP67 Certification – The Galaxy S5’s design is both water and dust resistant. This is something that doesn’t come on board the Galaxy Note Edge’s design and it’s something that consumers in rugged environments will want to consider before jumping in with the Galaxy Note Edge.

Now, we want to take a look at a few of the more intriguing Galaxy Note Edge features:

• UV Sensor – Allows you to measure UV radiation with your phone. This is something that could help to prevent health issues and it’s something that isn’t found on the Galaxy S5.
• S Pen – This is one of the biggest differences between the two. The Galaxy Note Edge comes with a bundled stylus called the S Pen that can take advantage of unique apps. It also allows you to write and draw on the screen. It can be seen in action in the video below. The Galaxy S5 does not come with an S Pen and that’s one of the biggest differences between the two.

Galaxy S5 vs. Galaxy Note Edge Software & Updates

The Galaxy S5 comes stock with the Android 4.4 KitKat update. However, its version of Android 4.4 KitKat is going to be a whole lot different than the version found on the Galaxy Note Edge.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge runs Google’s Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system as a base though the software has been modified with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface. And not just any version of TouchWiz, a version that’s designed for the S Pen and mulitasking in mind.

Samsung’s made some significant improvements to this year’s S Pen including increased sensitivity on the Note Edge screen to make the note taking experience on the Galaxy Note Edge feel more like writing on paper. More sensitivity also leads to better looking text from handwriting. Samsung’s also made some significant improvements to the S Pen’s applications including, Air Command, S Note and Voice Memo, and more.

More importantly, the company has improved the Galaxy Note Edge’s multitasking, multitasking that the Galaxy S5, at least for the moment, cannot match. That’s because it boasts a new version of Multi-Window View. It can be seen in action on the Galaxy Note 4 in the video below.

Multi-Window View, at its most basic level, allows users to run multiple applications on screen at the same time. With the Galaxy Note Edge, Samsung has made some admirable changes including the ability to access applications in full, split or pop-up screens. Galaxy Note Edge users will now also be able to reposition apps on the screen with just one swipe.

The Galaxy S5 could get this feature down the road though it’s not clear when the feature might arrive. For information about the Galaxy S5’s software, take a look at our full length review.