Galaxy Note 4 vs Note Edge Release: What Not to Expect Now

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release date imminent and the Galaxy Note Edge release date now confirmed for October, we want to take a look at what we expect from these two key release dates, their similarities and their differences. Here’s what not to expect from the Galaxy Note 4 release date versus the Galaxy Note Edge release date.

Back in early September, Samsung announced several new devices including its Gear VR accessory for the Galaxy Note 4, its new Gear S smartwatch and two new Galaxy Note models. The Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge are the company’s two new flagships and they’re heading to shelves to battle top competitors this fall.

Samsung will pair the Galaxy Note Edge with the Galaxy Note 4 to battle the likes of the iPhone 6, LG G3, and Samsung Galaxy S5. They’ll also be rivals to each other. We’ve heard from a number of people that are interested in buying one or the other or both. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Both devices come with an array of impressive hardware and software features.

The Galaxy Note 4 is also a high performance smartphone and comes loaded with high-powered specs including a 5.7-inch Quad HD display, a brand new 16MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization, a new S Pen stylus, Android 4.4.4 KitKat software that’s backed by TouchWiz, a brand new design that comes with both plastic and metal materials, and more.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge is a concept phone and one that should be intriguing to those that are looking to upgrade to a high-end smartphone. The new Galaxy Note Edge features a Quad HD resolution, a 2.7 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805 with 3GB of RAM, Android 4.4.4 KitKat with Samsung TouchWiz, 16MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization, massive battery, and a thin 8.3mm frame. It also comes with an S Pen stylus and a bent display that offers new viewing angles.

In September, Samsung failed to confirm key release details for both devices. However over the past four weeks, we’ve finally been able to patch together most of the important pieces. Today especially provided a huge spark, a spark that’s prompted us to take another look at our expectations regarding both release dates.

Here, we want to take a look at what we do not expect now from the Galaxy Note 4 release vs Galaxy Note Edge release. This should help prepare buyers for the next few weeks as Samsung works to deliver both of these smartphones.

Widespread Galaxy Note Edge Release

We’ve said this a million times but we think it’s worth repeating. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is going to land in 140 countries or so over the next four weeks. It’s a widespread, mainstream, mass produced smartphone that Samsung is hoping will take some of the wind out of the iPhone 6’s sails. We don’t expect anything less than your typical, global Galaxy Note 4 release.

The Galaxy Note Edge will not be the same. Samsung still hasn’t come right out and confirmed the limited release to the world but the writing is on the wall. All of the Galaxy Note Edge release date information that we’ve absorbed over the past month points to an extremely limited smartphone and one that’s coming to high-end battlegrounds.

Right now, the Galaxy Note Edge is confirmed for the U.S., China, Japan, Korea, the UK, and Canada. It could show up elsewhere but at this point, those appear to be the focus.

If you do not live in a high-end market, you should not expect the Galaxy Note Edge’s arrival. The Galaxy Note 4 will likely be available but the Galaxy Note Edge will probably miss you. It’s time to temper those expectations moving forward, people.

Galaxy Note Edge Release Far Behind Galaxy Note 4

We’ve learned that the Galaxy Note Edge release date, the first global Galaxy Note Edge release date, won’t be too far behind the Galaxy Note 4 release date. This is great news because it means that in some markets, consumers are going to be able to physically compare the Galaxy Note 4 to the Galaxy Note Edge in the next few weeks, ahead of the holidays.

Right now, Japanese carriers KDDI and NTT DoCoMo are the only two carries confirmed for a release in late October though we don’t expect other regions like China and Korea to be too far behind. Korea is Samsung’s home base and a place where it hopes the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge will catch on. China is a massive market and one that Apple is looking to conquer as well.

Galaxy Note Edge Release Months Away (U.S.)

Do not expect the Galaxy Note Edge release date in the U.S. to be too far behind the Galaxy Note 4 release date on October 17th. While Samsung still hasn’t confirmed a specific date, we’ve discovered evidence that hints at a release in the near future.

Earlier today, we spotted the AT&T Galaxy Note Edge cruising through the FCC. This is a necessary step towards its release and it means that a Galaxy Note Edge release in the U.S. is that much closer. The others haven’t crossed yet but we should see them make their moves in the next couple of days. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 FCC filings took place within a few days of each other. And once they were complete, Samsung made an announcement regarding its release.

All along we’ve predicted a Galaxy Note Edge release date in November ahead of Black Friday and the holidays and it looks like there’s no reason to expect anything else at this point. We’re still early in October and with a few weeks to go, we should see the rest of the FCC filings emerge with pre-orders starting shortly after that.

Do not expect U.S. carriers or carriers outside of the U.S. to skip Galaxy Note Edge pre-orders. KDDI and NTT DoCoMo are currently taking pre-orders ahead of its release in late October and we should see other carriers do the same.

No Way to Buy Early

The Galaxy Note 4 release date lands for U.S. customers starting October 17th. And while the price is expensive, there’s already a way to buy the Galaxy Note 4 ahead of time. Expanys is charging an arm and a leg for the international model but it’s there and it’s available right now for those that want to pick one up early.

We don’t expect anything different from the Galaxy Note Edge. With Galaxy Note Edge release dates delayed in regions like the UK and Canada, early orders could be crucial for some of you. We already know that Clove UK is going to be sourcing stock from the international community and suspect that other retailers will offer consumers around the world a chance to buy the Galaxy Note Edge.

Just don’t expect the Galaxy Note Edge to be cheap, especially if retailers are charging $850 for the Galaxy Note 4. We’ll keep an eye on early orders as we push deeper into the fall.

Galaxy Note Edge Price vs. Galaxy Note 4 Price

Again, we want to reiterate that we do not expect the Galaxy Note 4 price to be equal to that of the Galaxy Note Edge price.

Now that the smoke has settled, we now have a clear view of how much the Galaxy Note 4 is going to cost in most countries including the United States where it costs $299.99 on-contract, about $35 per month on installment plans and between $700 and $830 off-contract.

We still don’t know how much the Galaxy Note Edge is going to cost but again, every single bit of information that we’ve seen points to an extremely expensive price tag which, again, makes sense given the curved display, the rest of the features, and its limited edition tag. Remember, this is the same phone as the Galaxy Note 4, it just comes with a different display.

Do not expect the Galaxy Note Edge price to mirror the Galaxy Note 4’s in the United States or elsewhere. We suspect that it will be one of the most expensive smartphones on the market when it arrives.

Same Amount of Galaxy Note Accessories

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a mainstream device and therefore, there is going to be more incentive for accessory manufacturers. Accessory manufacturers typically follow the money, it’s why there’s a flood of accessories for devices like the iPhone but very few for lesser known devices like the Kyocera Hydro.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge is going to be limited, it’s also coming with a funky curved display. And while we think there will be accessories available to customers upon its arrival, we simply do not expect there to be as many as the Galaxy Note 4. New form factor, a limited amount of customers, little incentive to go all out.

Same Deals

Mass produced Android smartphones almost always hit the market for an expensive price before dropping down considerably in the weeks after launch. We don’t expect the Galaxy Note 4’s $299.99 price to hold for long, especially with Black Friday and the holidays coming up. Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will probably play a role in that as well.

The Galaxy Note Edge is not a mass produced smartphone and it’s probably not going to be a cheap one either. We simply can’t see retailers knocking the price of this phone down to absurd lows anytime in the near future. It’s limited edition and there’s going to be no incentive for companies to chop down the Galaxy Note Edge price tag.

Similar Color Options

The Galaxy Note 4 was announced in black, white, gold and pink. Black and white will be the only colors available at launch though we suspect that the gold and pink models will be out within the next few weeks, perhaps ahead of the holidays so that Samsung can capitalize on the heavy foot traffic that’s bound to be at retailers and carrier locations.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge was only announced in black and white. No gold or pink options to be found. Given that this is a limited release, we aren’t expecting Samsung to come through with a ton of different options. We think it’s going to be a no frills kind of release and so we’re not expecting any surprises going forward.