What Makes Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ Worth Your Cash

Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ is expensive, but that’s because of its high-end design and its many features, including its “Edge” and support for Samsung Pay.

Customers who already own a Galaxy S6 Edge or are wondering whether they should go with that device or the Galaxy S6 Edge+ should know that both handsets are running Android’s Lollipop. However, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ ships with a newer version of Lollipop, offering enhanced security and usability. It’s unknown whether Samsung will automatically update the Edge+ to Marshmallow when that operating system launches later this year. Image 1: Please use this image:

Since the Galaxy S6 Edge+ comes with a larger display than its predecessor, it’s also larger overall. The Edge+ is slightly taller than the Galaxy S6 Edge at over 6 inches and is 3 inches wide, compared with 2.76 inches in the previous model. Due to the addition of some extra components, the Edge+ is also slightly thicker at 0.3 inches. While the phone is still awfully slim, its dimensions suggest it may be a tad too large for some people with small hands.

The Galaxy S6 Edge+ comes with a 5.7-inch screen, much bigger than the 5.1-inch option in the Galaxy S6 Edge. Better yet, Samsung has delivered a quad-HD display with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels. The bigger, nicer screen should make for an appealing video-viewing experience.

With a 3,000mAh battery, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ should last all day without trouble. Considering most other high-end smartphones come with batteries in the 2,500mAh range, it’s a smart move for Samsung to deliver a higher-end battery that can last longer. After all, the more talk time a customer gets, the more value he or she will see in it.

Don’t expect to get an extra powerful processor in the Galaxy S6 Edge+, which ships with the same octa-core processor found in the S6 Edge. The processor has a 2.1GHz quad-core component alongside a 1.5GHz quad-core chip to deliver its octa-core processing.

So, why is the “Edge” a better option for customers? For one, the feature adds extra usability to the handset that users wouldn’t find with typical smartphone screens’ bezels. The Edge can be used to list contacts that users call often and can light up in different colors to alert owners to a particular person’s call. The Edge is also customizable, so if users want it to include an icon to a camera or something else, it can accommodate that.

The Galaxy S6 Edge+ has enterprise features baked into its software to make it a bit more appealing to the corporate world. The device has integration with Samsung’s enterprise-security service Knox and allows for remote device management. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the corporate world will love the Galaxy S6 Edge+, but it may make it more attractive to the IT department.

Arguably the most important addition to the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is support for Samsung Pay, the mobile-payment platform that will allow users to make payments with their credit cards from the devices. Samsung Pay is the company’s answer to Apple Pay and Google Pay, and the Galaxy S6 Edge+ will be among the first Samsung handsets to support the platform.

In order to be successful in the U.S., companies must deliver devices that have strong carrier support. The Galaxy S6 Edge+ works on the nation’s top five carrier networks —Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular.

Considering its many features and its high-end design, one should expect to spend significant cash on the Galaxy S6 Edge+. But it’s still worth noting just how expensive the smartphone is. The 32GB version of Samsung’s handset goes for $768 off-contract or $32 per month with a carrier service contract. The 64GB version retails for $864 or $36 per month. To put that into perspective, the 64GB iPhone 6 Plus—the closest competitor to the Galaxy S6 Edge+—is available for $850 or $35.41 per month.