Which to buy: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge or Galaxy S6 Edge Plus?
So, Samsung this morning introduced a plus-sized variant of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. It’s appropriately named the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. It’s bigger, and it’s better. But how much better? That’s the question we hope we can help you answer. There are going to be a handful of deciding factors when you’re going through the motions of picking one, so let’s lay them out.
Size
This is the biggest factor to consider, both figuratively and literally speaking. The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus is considerably bigger with a display size of 5.7 inches vs 5.1 inches on the original. This means it’s not going to be quite as comfortable to hold. That said, this is still one of the most comfortable phablets to hold out, and it’s all a matter of you adjusting and getting used to it.
For what it’s worth, the display on these things have identical resolution at 2560 x 1440, though the original S6 Edge naturally has higher pixel density (which means there’s less of a chance you’ll be able to see individual pixels with the naked eye). Regardless, the pixel density on both these phones is so high that it’ll produce a very pleasing picture and enough sharpness to poke your eyeballs out.
So it comes down to how it feels in your hand, and unfortunately that’s something only you can decide. You’ll have your chance to check them out in person at Best Buy and carrier stores as soon as tomorrow, so carve out some time during your Friday lunch to take a look for yourself.
Features
Surely Samsung had something new to introduce with a bigger phone, right? Well, there’s some… but not a lot, and the bit we do get is so minuscule that we doubt it’d be worth consideration.
For starters, the camera has improved image stabilization. This is great if you’re big into video, but the original Galaxy S6 Edge already has very capable optical image stabilization. Whether that little bit of added improvement is worth spending more money for the big boy version is up to your personal taste and needs.
Other improvements include a 30% improvement in wireless charging speed as it’s not possible to take your phone from 0 to 100% in 120 minutes. Wireless charging will always be a bit slower than what you get from a cable, but a 30% improvement is nothing to sneeze at. If you have a phobia of phone cables then this is going to be a major deal maker for you.
We do get some added benefits on the software side of things. The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will have Apps Edge, which is basically a new row of icons next to People Edge which will allow you to launch 5 of your favorite apps from the Edge display. Not totally useful or groundbreaking stuff there, but it is a perk. There’s also the improved Samsung SideSync 4.0, which now works with Mac OS X and brings faster connectivity.
The thing with software features is that Samsung will likely update their older handset with the new features as they’ve done in the past, so if you’re patient it’s likely the original Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge will get most, if not all, of them.
One other thing the original S6 Edge might not get, though is the Keyboard Cover. Just look at this thing:
It looks odd here, sure, but if you’re homesick from a Blackberry-esque keyboard and you can’t quite get with full touch solutions, this will be a biggie for you. Otherwise, it’s just a bulky and somewhat ugly case. Your call.
From there it comes down to…
Other Specs
…and this is where most of the differences stop, believe it or not. We’ve got the same 16 megapixel camera on the rear and 5 megapixel camera on the front, both of which are equipped with f/1.6 aperture and optical image stabilization (again, the S6 Edge Plus has a slight improvement for that bit.
They both have a fingerprint scanner, NFC, MST for Samsung Pay, Bluetooth, GPS 32GB or 64GB storage options. They even share the little things like a heart rate sensor, and major things like the Exynos 7420 Octa-Core chipset.
There is a difference in RAM, with the S6 Edge Plus enjoying a full 4GB vs 3GB on the original, so if multitasking is important for you then that’s a very big consideration. There’s also the bigger 3,000mAh battery in the plus vs the origina’s 2,550. Otherwise these should offer mostly the same bit of oomph in terms of hardware.
Price Tag
For some people, it’ll be as simple as one detail: how much does it cost? You should know the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus is going to be pricier than the original, not just because it’s bigger and better, but because Samsung made a conscious effort to cut the price tag on the original after questionable financial performance. The S6 Edge will be a more affordable purchase, so if your only interest is saving money then this is the one you’re springing for.
If money is no object and you don’t mind a big phone, though, the S6 Edge Plus is going to be great for you, so splurge!
Ultimately, it’s up to you
The important thing to remember in all of this is that neither phone one-ups the other in such a way that it’d be wrong to buy the model that’s not considered latest and greatest. There are many reasons why someone would pick up an S6 Edge over an S6 Edge Plus or vice versa. Whatever you decide, just remember that it’s what’s best for you that counts, and as long as you understand that then you should feel secure buying either one.