It’s been two months from the review of the Galaxy Note 4 | Samsung Galaxy Note 4: The Review of HDblog.it | a product that still accompanies us daily and that we chose to buy from the many smartphones out in 2014. Although this still not everything is perfect, Note 4 is a product that has convinced you to IFA although the maximum curiosity was all turned to Galaxy Note Edge. Today, finally, we can offer our review after using it for a long time and many of you have already seen in some breakfast in Milan in November and December. Curved screen and features the top enough to justify the € 869 required to list Italian? Let’s find out in the review.
Hardware, Materials and Ergonomics:
Galaxy Note Efdge is virtually identical to the Notes 4 and consequently some parts of the review will be seen very similar that the product is the same except for the curved display and the side trim. Edge offers the best hardware available today by integrating the latest technologies on the market and in fact proposing the most advanced and comprehensive mobile device. Not only 805 Snapdragon 2.7 GHz with Adreno 420 GPU to 600MHz, but also 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory expandable. Everything associated with a qHD display, 5.7-inch Super AMOLED screen and a second side curved AMOLED that integrates seamlessly with the main. All powered by a rechargeable, removable, to 3220mAh. and able to offer a 16-megapixel camera in 16: 9 with stabilizer Optical , a 3.7-megapixel front room and various sensors placed in correspondence of the flash and the top of the front hood. Hard to want something more:
- Size : 151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3 mm
- Weight : 174 g
- SoC : Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 APQ8084
- processor : Krait 450, 2700 MHz, Number of cores : 4
- Graphics Processor : Qualcomm Adreno 420, 600 MHz
- RAM : 3 GB, 800 MHz
- Internal Memory : 32 GB
- Memory Cards : microSD
- Display : 5.7 inches, Super AMOLED, 1440 x 2560 pixels
- Battery : 3000 mAh
- Sitema operating : Android 4.4.4 KitKat
- Camera : 5312 x 2988 pixels, 3840 x 2160 pixels, 30 fps
- SIM Card : Micro-SIM
- Wi-Fi : a, b, g, n, ac, Dual band, Wi-Fi hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct
- USB : 2.0, Micro USB
- Bluetooth 4.1
- Web : GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
The comparison with the Notes 4 shows the small but important differences in design, materials and aesthetics that make two different product for ergonomics, functionality and touch & amp; feel.
As Notes 4 and unlike Galaxy S5, Edge is not certified IP67 and therefore is not waterproof and, with respect to Notes 3, does not have the USB 3.0. Two details that are not particularly deficient even though the ability to withstand immersion could be a plus interesting.
However Samsung has chosen the same design of the Galaxy Alpha and therefore we have a frame, where present, all-metal that makes the structure more solid and premium smartphone. Remains unchanged the chance to open the back cover to replace the battery, insert the MicroSIM or increase memory. As per Note 3, the white version has a lower rear grip than the black version which is more rubber and, according to taste, even more aesthetically pleasing (and compared to notes 4 Edge Black is in our opinion the right choice to do) .
With a size of 151.3 x 82.4 x 8.3 mm, notes Edge does not have the same handling of Note 4 as the upper width due to an “extra display” makes it less easy to grip and the smartphone is quite large and difficult to grip with one hand. Ergonomics is therefore even worse if there is a gem almost bizarre software: you can flip the phone upside down so you can use the side panel even if we are left-handed. Added to this are the many utilities that allow you to resize the UI in various way to easily access functionality even with one hand.
Since several generations of Samsung are always continuous improvement of display both in terms of quality and resolution. Notes Edge is no exception and in fact, can further improve the panel integrating the one hand and on the other the technology Super AMOLED qHD resolution. Although a density of 515ppi may well be useless, the coupled diagonal wide, streamlined interface, processor powerful and broad autonomy does absolutely regret the Full HD display.
The screen of Note Edge is not only very bright, especially with automatic setting of brightness which further increases the backlight in strong light, but is also improved at the array level and perceived quality thanks to a different optimization of individual pixels . For the first time on a Amoled our image test grid is played perfectly and also the other photos show color quality extremely pleasant and well balanced. Obviously we always talk of a display but basically saturated the available settings in the settings can settle a bit ‘all users.
There are also great whites that now no longer tend to celestial how past generations but rather, perhaps veer more towards the gray cream (slightly) making clear images even more interesting. Blacks obviously absolute and thanks all’Amoled you will have a color depth unattainable by any other IPS display even now excellent in recent generations.
Always speaking of the display include the excellent response of the touch screen panel, the absence of any delay and the perfect synchronism with the interface software.
The unique feature of this device and that distinguishes it so important to Note 4, the display is curved side which adds an additional interaction surface for the user. Samsung has not only integrated technology particularly complex and expensive to produce, but has also developed a software able to get real advantages in everyday use of this extension of the main display.
Compared to what you might think, the curved screen not only works in a totally separate from the main display, but it can also be an extension that adapts to different screens and applications. This allows you to get used to having a further touch surface that is really handy in many occasions. Home also trivially on the possibility of having shortcuts, folders and applications “out” from the display and always just a tap allows to speed up many operations.
The display side also is a true extension of the main and actually interacts with the panel 5.7 inch as a single units as dragging, opening folders and more go to intersect seamlessly.
Many then the settings that help you make panels of various kinds that can be useful, notifications, links, simple sentences or feed reader and more. Even independent developers are working with Samsung.
Notes Edge is one of the few devices furniture that integrates a Wacom digitizer into the display. One more reason to appreciate the thickness of only 8.5mm which manages to encompass all components without sacrificing either the battery.
The new panel further improves the experience of writing with the S Pen. Not only do we have more software features that allow you to cut, store, share and manage applications in multitasking with even more complete and “simplicity” (say that to learn all we lose several days), but doubled the pressure points. Note Edge recognizes it in 2048 against 1024 of Note 3 ; also with the S Pen is activated vibration that allows us to understand better when we are supporting the tip on the screen.
In general, therefore, the reactivity was increased a lot with a latency virtually nothing and extreme precision; all seasoned software for writing and drawing rich in options, pens and tools.
Battery, Audio, Reception and Sensors:
Notes Edge manages to have very good autonomy but less than 4 Notes and in line with Note 3. The new Snapdragon processor 805 coupled to the optimization of the interface Touch Wiz seem to work well with interesting results but superlatives. Stress in the day we were able to get to dinner despite a “second” display that consumes still more notes 4 and a 3000mAh battery against 3220 of Note 4.
To these considerations, however we add the software options that allow you to further restrict consumption.
We speak of course of the Ultra energy savings and the ability to use all interface grayscale in order to limit the consumption of the display.
Another important feature that adds to Note 4 compared to its predecessor, concerns the Quick Charge . Activate the option in the settings, you can reload the Notes Edge of 50% in about 30 minutes time. This is a really cool feature that, combined with the duration so wide, makes it really hard to stay without battery during a work day.
If the autonomy is an added value, hard not to commend also the audio portion . Unfortunately Samsung has chosen to place the speaker in the rear of the device. A solution that may not convince everyone that sees it in excellent audio power and volume up and undistorted the added value that eliminates the initial doubts.
Also in the capsule does not have problems and the call is audible , clear and of good quality. Then also excellent reception which is a complete network management, the ability to leverage separately or jointly Wi-Fi and data to improve the download speed and more. Wi-Fi Dual Band with a good range (in line with S5), GPS instant and bluetooth of last generation.
We mention in this section also sensors.
Notes Edge offers a reader footprints digital precise recognition even if it remains the clip + Swype to be made to unlock the device. Unfortunately this choice in the long run becomes uncomfortable and the fingerprint reader you delete it from the options unlock as it becomes great in other departments and applications (security and not only). The heartbeat sensor offers two other options : measuring the level of oxygen in the blood and detection of UV rays indicating whether harmful or not. It really is not just the sensor that monitors the heartbeat to make these measurements but the positioning is next and therefore is the same part that detects these data further exploiting the flash.
Samsung continues to insert functionality, sensors and expand the multitasking feature. If on the one hand for the advanced user anything more is a benefit, other notes Edge (even more of Notes 4) is undoubtedly the “smartphone” more complex available on the market. Who will buy it could never find or use certain features but, unlike other device manufacturer Korean, fluidity and responsiveness of the system will always be guaranteed. In addition, the software owners are limited and stored in a special section of the Samsung Apps where you can download them at a later time. A choice that makes sense and that limits the presence of useless app in the menu but that may not be immediate for the less experienced user that no longer even on previous Samsung app family.
That said start talking multitasking .
To date there is no smartphone in the world can match the qualities of productivity of Note Edge / 4. Further implementations do sometimes make it almost too small display of the smartphone and on several occasions we almost wanted a more inches of the surface to be able to interact with the app or even more so even better. Learn all the tricks, secrets and ability to resize the UI will be a real discovery because, when you think you have seen them all, here’s a new one comes up. In fact almost all the major app can be resized (and many in the Play Store are compatible with the Windows Multi Samsung) through various ways:
- You can make one Swype from the top and change the size of the window
- You can combine two applications through the use of the side menu that appears with a Swype or long press the back button
- You can take advantage of the new multitasking button to activate the multi-view of a single app
- You can press the “ball” to activate the scaling function to icon
- You can use the S Pen to access a menu of additional management app open
These are supplemented by the lateral part of the display that are not strictly related to multitasking allows you to:
- Have applications always on tap
- have folders accessible
- exploit applications adapted to this section
In addition to this reduction of the video during playback, more features in the individual app, how to a hand and a series gesture to be activated from the settings menu. Just to remember them all pass some time and maybe in the end it will only use a couple of the most comfortable according to your habits.
While this superabundance scares, the other the renewed Touch Wiz is actually lighter and perhaps thanks to the Snapdragon processor 805 have a high reactivity. Indeed, everything moves without any problem and in the video you can appreciate how, by just started, Edge notes can always be very responsive, fluid and ready even with continuous opening of programs. Therefore no objection regarding the pleasantness of use and also the web browsing has no problems. The installed browser is customized by Samsung to which you can also combine Chrome optimized for Samsung.
The navigation is very convincing with quick movements always fluid, instant zoom and general softness perfect. The QHD resolution also allows you to read all written, even the most minute, without any problem, therefore avoiding unnecessary zoom. So much then your browser options that match perfectly with multitasking and all the S Pen suite that lets you manage the copy and paste in an extremely productive with more portions of the same page and glued a selectable one operation.
Interaction with S Pen:
All you have good notes in 4 relation to external Stylus was taken by Samsung on Edge. Not only the panel recognizes 2048 Wacom pressure points, but we also have more tools available to management even more intuitive and easy. The already known features of writing, design and multitasking described above, coupled with new options for selecting and cropping. Than before now it is possible to store and save our clippings or selections in a “drawer” that allows you to perform more operations simultaneously and then glue the pieces individually or all together in many programs such as Mail, Notes, and Messages more.
The features Air Command remain all but additionally it also adds text recognition within the cutouts made. Basically if we will select an area with links, phone numbers, addresses or appointments, the system will allow you to enter that data in text format wherever we want, then interpreting the image in a smart way.
In this Edge but still improves because the side panel fits the content and application allowing to “put out” some useful tools. For example, in the notes of the options we will have to side; the camera shutter button on the screen will be curved and many other programs follow the same logic.
Functionality very useful for everyday productivity and as always dedicated to a particularly demanding public and that always wants everything at hand .
Notes Edge uses the same room of Note 4 and here we have qualitative differences. There are 16 megapixels as Galaxy S5, but there is also the implementation of the optical image stabilizer (OIS). An added interesting that allows you to have more stabilized image and video best (we’ll get to shortly).
Starting from the camera, the software interface is pretty much the same of Note 4 with lots of options, shooting modes also be downloaded from Samsung Apps, and many settings present. Do not miss the processor dedicated to the focus that is almost instantaneous and the ability to make video in 4K, slow motion at 720p and photos using both cameras at the same time.
The quality of the shots is really very high and the colors are beautiful and the point and shoot very easy and almost always in focus and immediate. In most settings and options are moved on the screen side and therefore are not superimposed on the screen.
As for the videos we have Sound great, stabilization improved since the beginning of Notes 4 and a good resolution:
Notable instead the multimedia department. Despite the gallery Samsung has never been faster, Edge also notes on the first opening is lightning fast with perfect interaction and many options for automatic tag photos and subdivision. There seems to present the defect of Note 4 sees a slowdown between camera and switch to the gallery after a few days of use. Also good video playback that allows you to show any movie to almost all resolutions, including 4K.
Nothing to say even for the gaming department that harnesses the power of the new GPU Adreno 42. Surely you’ll be fine with titles of the last generation for a long time.
The Edge Notes will not be remembered for being the best selling smartphone of all time but Samsung is now the only manufacturer that is able to integrate a new technology through developing software ecosystem around a suitable and able to exploit its potential. Edge is an expensive product, great, hard to hold and particular but is its uniqueness that make it truly unique. Attention to every detail, accessories and cases and devote a micro ecosystem owner to make the curved Galaxy Note Edge the perfect choice for enthusiasts of mobile technology who want the most advanced on the market can offer.
Rating: 9.1
745 € . (update 12 December 2014, 16:28 hours)
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