Samsung Adds Power, Samsung Pay to Galaxy S6 Edge+, Note 5

Both new Galaxy smartphones get key updates, including a bump up to 4GB of RAM and new support for easily syncing the devices to tablets and PCs.

The Edge gets a new Edge Apps feature that allows users to store oft-used apps on one of its edges so they can be accessed quickly. In addition to the core features the two devices share, they also both come with a 3,000mAh battery and run on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The S6 Edge+, which is 6.07 inches long, 2.98 inches wide and 0.27 inches thick and weighs 5.4 ounces, is available in Black Sapphire or Gold Platinum colors.

The Note 5 comes with the integrated S Pen stylus that has received some key usability improvements. The S Pen now uses a click to allow easy removal from the phone’s chassis and automatically prepares the display for immediate use once it is deployed. It also features enhanced handwriting and user commands and now has the ability to add shortcuts to frequently used apps. The Note 5, which is 6.03 inches long, 2.99 inches wide and 0.29 inches thick and weighs 6.03 ounces, is available in Black Sapphire or White Pearl colors.

Users who want the tactile feel of a physical keyboard can add this optional snap-on accessory from Samsung that gives the Note 5 a whole new feel. Easily installed around the phone, it can be detached easily and clipped on to the back of the phone for storage.

Once attached to the Note 5, the plastic keyboard transfers the tactile button pushes from the user’s fingers straight to the virtual keyboard of the smartphone, providing accurate key inputs and giving users another option for using their phones.

The Galaxy S6, which was released in April, was a big step up from the Galaxy S5 that preceded it, with a 64- bit Exynos 7 eight-core processor; higher performance; a chassis made of aircraft-grade aluminum; a higher resolution 5.1-inch, quad HD Super AMOLED display; and a raft of other improvements.

The flashier and more sculptured Galaxy S6 Edge, which also debuted in April, incorporated the first display by Samsung that wrapped around both front side edges of the handset, giving users the ability to configure the edge display area to deliver incoming messages or other information.

Last November, Samsung melded the wrap-around screen technology of its S6 Edge phone with the large screen and stylus features of its Note series to create the Galaxy Note 4 Edge, adding the wrap-around screen feature to the right front edge of the handset. The Note 4 Edge features a 5.6-inch quad HD Super AMOLED screen, a 2.7GHz quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM.