
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge + Review: Is Bigger Actually Better?
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- This is Samsung's (SSNLF) Galaxy S6 edge +, the larger version of its recent well-reviewed and well-received double-curved screen smartphone.
It's one very powerful Android (GOOGL) - Get Report smartphone, running Android Lollipop. The GS6 edge + has a beautiful 5.7-inch, quad HD AMOLED touchscreen, versus the a 5.1-inch screen on its smaller sibling. Inside, there's a 2.1 GHz, eight-core, Samsung-made Exynos processor mated to 4 GB of RAM, 32 or 64 GB of built-in storage, a 16 MP camera on the back (with an f1.9 lens and capable of shooting 4K video) plus a 5 MP front camera.
The GS6 edge + is a sealed unit. The SIM card is accessed through a small slide-out tray on the top edge. We found the fast-charging internal battery pack was able to last through an entire day's worth of normal-to-heavy use.
One of Samsung's most feared past features -- bloatware -- has thankfully been reduced on the company's most recent models. That's not to say that the phone doesn't come loaded with featured apps such as Samsung Milk Music, Samsung Gear, S Health, S Voice and others, including the new Samsung Pay, but these titles no longer overwhelm the system and storage space. On the other hand, there are also a number of AT&T (T) - Get Report apps that arrive pre-loaded. Those can be disabled, but not completely uninstalled.
The fit and finish on the test model is impeccable -- it looks and feels like it's a precision device. The touchscreen, while not as three-dimensional looking as the smaller edge, is still a thing of beauty. The 16 MP rear camera improves upon Samsung's reputation as a provider of high-quality smartphone cameras and optics. The photos and videos we recorded were amazingly sharp and accurate no matter what the outdoor conditions.
Bottom line: Samsung's Galaxy S6 edge + phablet is not perfect, but it's a great, big smartphone. AT&T's full asking price for the 32 GB model is $814.99, or $100 more for the 64 GB model. Sprint (S) - Get Report charges $792, while T-Mobile's (TMUS) - Get Report published price is $779.99, and Verizon's (VZ) - Get Report full retail price is $768.
Overall Score: 8.5/10
Get your Galaxy S6 edge + case from Amazon.
This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.









