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With Samsung’s Aug. 13 global launch of its new flagship Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 5 smartphones, all four major U.S. mobile carriers have now announced preorder and shipment programs for the new handsets.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Note 5 share the same basic platform, including 5.7-inch quad HD Super AMOLED displays, 4GB of RAM—up 1GB from previous versions—and more powerful octa-core Exynos 7420 processors. Also included on both models are a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5MP front camera with additional improvements such as a quick launch feature to capture photos faster with fewer finger taps to unlock the phones. The phones include 32GB or 64GB of built-in non-expandable storage. Both devices are extensions of existing flagship models introduced earlier by the company.
AT&T preorders are available immediately and devices will ship Aug. 21. AT&T is offering the Galaxy S6 Edge+ in Black Sapphire or Gold Platinum for $0 down on AT&T Next 24, 18, and 12 purchasing plans. The 64GB model will cost $30.50 a month for 30 months ($915 total), $38.13 a month for 24 months ($915.12 total) or $45.75 per month for 20 months (total $915). The 32GB version will sell for $27.17 per month for 30 months (total $815.10), $33.96 a month for 24 months (total $815.04) or $40.75 a month for 20 months (total $815).
The new Galaxy Note 5 is available in Black Sapphire or White Pearl for $0 down on AT&T’s purchasing plans. The 64GB Note 5 is $28 a month for 30 months (total $840), $35 a month for 24 months (total $840) or $42 a month for 20 months (total $840). The 32GB Note 5 is $24.67 a month for 30 months (total $740.10), $30.84 a month for 24 months (total $740.16) or $37 a month for 20 months (total $740).
AT&T is also offering a limited time $300 bill credit promotion to DirecTV and AT&T U-Verse TV customers who switch their wireless lines to AT&T when buying one of the new handsets. A $200 trade-in credit is also available to customers who trade-in an eligible smartphone on one of the new devices.
Existing AT&T customers who upgrade to or buy a Galaxy S6 Edge+ or Note5 on AT&T Next are eligible for a minimum $200 trade-in credit on an eligible smartphone trade-in.
In addition, new customers who switch to AT&T from another carrier and buy one of these phones on an AT&T Next plan will receive a $100 bill credit and $200 buyback credit when they trade in a smartphone, according to AT&T. All of the special promotions end on Aug. 27.
Sprint is offering preorders for the new phones with shipments beginning immediately for devices ordered on Sprint’s Website, while they will be available in Sprint retail stores and other stores starting Aug. 21. Sprint customers who activate a Galaxy S6 Edge+ or Galaxy Note 5 through a qualifying Sprint Lease or Sprint Easy Pay plan also will receive a $200 minimum credit when they trade in a working smartphone, an early upgrade at 12 months and a free Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 with activation and a new two-year service agreement, according to the company.
Sprint customers can obtain the new phones through a Sprint Lease, Sprint Easy Pay, a two-year service agreement or without an annual contract. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ costs $792 without a contract for the 32GB model, or $888 for the 64GB model. With a two-year contract, the 32GB model is $349.99, while the 64GB model is $449.99. On a Sprint Lease, the 32GB model is $0 down and $30 a month or $35 a month for a 64GB model. Under Sprint’s Easy Pay plans, a 32GB S6 Edge+ is $33 a month for 24 months (total $792), while the 64GB version is $37 a month for 24 months (total $888).
The Galaxy Note 5 costs $720 without a contract for a 32GB version, while the 64GB version is $816 from Sprint. With a two-year contract, the 32GB Note 5 is $249.99, while the 64GB model is $349.99. Under a Sprint Lease, the 32GB model is $0 down and $25 a month, while the 64GB model is $30 a month. Under the Easy Pay plan, a 32GB version is $30 a month for 24 months (total $720) or $34 a month for the 64GB model (total $816).
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ will be available in Black Sapphire or Gold Platinum, while the Galaxy Note 5 will come in Black Sapphire or White Pearl.
Samsung S6 Edge+, Note 5 Smartphones Available for Preorder
T-Mobile is offering the new devices on its JUMP! On Demand purchasing program, which allows users to upgrade to their next smartphones more frequently. All buyers who preorder the new phones through T-Mobile by 2:59 AM EDT on Aug. 21 are also eligible to receive a free year of Netflix service.
Under the JUMP on Demand program, customers who purchase a new 32GB Note 5 or S6 Edge+ smartphone through Sept. 30 can get special pricing of $0 down and $25 a month for the Note 5 or $0 down and $28.50 a month for the Galaxy S6 Edge+, each for 18 months.
T-Mobile customers can see the new handsets in its stores immediately, while preorders are available immediately for shipment on Aug. 21. Customers also can choose to buy their new phones through T-Mobile’s regular financing plans. The 32GB Note 5 is $0 down and $29.17 a month for 23 months (plus a 24th payment of $29.08), for a total of $699.99, while the 32GB Note 5 is $0 down and $32.50 a month for 23 months (plus a 24th payment of $32.49), for a total of $779.99.
Verizon preorders for both devices are available immediately, with shipments on Aug. 21. Verizon will offer the S6 Edge + in Black Sapphire (32GB & 64GB) or Gold Platinum (32GB), while it will offer the Galaxy Note 5 in Black Sapphire (32GB & 64GB) or Pearl White (32GB). Both models are now available for previews in Verizon stores.
Verizon will sell the 32GB S6 Edge+ for $32 a month for 24 months (total $768), or for $36 a month for the 64GB version (total $864). The Note 5 will sell for $29 a month for 24 months for the 32GB version (total $696) or for $33 a month for the 64GB version (total $792).
The company is also offering a limited time trade-in offer of $200 when purchasing a new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge + or Note 5. Customers can also receive a one-time $100 bill credit within 2-3 bill cycles for each new smartphone purchased and activated when transferring their service from another carrier.
Both the S6 Edge+ and the Note 5 also integrate the upcoming Samsung Pay mobile payment service, which the company announced will launch in the U.S. on Sept. 28. Samsung Pay is being built to allow users to pay for purchases using their Samsung smartphones in just about every retail location through its acceptance of multiple payment systems, from NFC to traditional credit card readers and swiping terminals, according to the company. Samsung Pay also integrates Samsung’s Knox mobile security platform, which uses one-time codes to authenticate purchases rather than transmitting a user’s personal or credit card information.
The handsets also include Samsung’s new SideSync 4.0 application, which allows users to easily sync their smartphones to a PC or tablet to answer calls, send texts or access files and data, making it easier to live with multiple devices.
The S6 Edge+ has the dual curved side screen edges of earlier Edge devices, while the Note 5 includes an improved and more sensitive S Pen for writing on its screen.
The S6 Edge+ adds 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 it shares with the new Galaxy Note 5, both devices also share a 3,000mAh battery and run on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The S6 Edge+, which is 6.07 inches long, 2.98 inches wide, 0.27 inches thick and weighs 5.4 ounces, is available in Black Sapphire or Gold Platinum colors.
The Note 5 receives some key usability improvements for its built-in S Pen stylus, improving its performance for users. 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, 0.29 inches thick and weighs 6.03 ounces, is available in Black Sapphire or White Pearl colors.
The Note 5 also has an optional snap-on accessory from Samsung that gives the device the tactile feel of a physical keyboard when desired. Easily installed around the phone with a click, it can be detached quickly and clipped on to the back of the phone for storage. Once attached to the Note 5, the plastic keyboard transfers the 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 latest S6 Edge+ and the Note 5 phablet arrive just four months after the long-awaited launch of the company’s redesigned Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones in April.