Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4
A TEST REPORT from Jan Unger 
on September 07, 2015, 13:46 | 8 comments
Samsung's new XXL top model in 2015 is called the Samsung S6 Edge Plus. Both in terms of camera and display, the smartphone is at the absolute top level. But how does the new flagship fare against the previous star from Samsung, the Galaxy Note 4? Can the Note 4 still keep up or is it already old school?
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Display with and without edge
The trade press was in part surprised when Samsung presented the new Galaxy S 6 Edge Plus. With a 5,7 inch diagonal and a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, the Super AMOLED display is almost completely similar to that of the Galaxy Note 4 except for one point. Because the S6 Edge Plus, as the name suggests, has a display that is slightly curved at the edges.
This means, for example, that status messages can be read from the side without having to take the smartphone out of the cell phone pocket. The Note 4, on the other hand, does not have Edge, but this does not detract from the overall impression. Both smartphones shine with Super AMOLED, crisp colors and high contrasts. A clear victory looks different.
Image: flickr.com / Kārlis Dambrāns (CC) - Grade 4
Camera: 16 megapixels vs. 16 megapixels
Even when comparing cameras, there is no big surprise. Both smartphones have a main camera with the same resolution. Only with the front camera does the S6 Edge Plus beat the Note 4 by one megapixel and reach 5 MP. The Note 4, on the other hand, uses a 4 MP front camera. However, the difference is only insignificant. Both front cameras can be seen with selfies and fully serve their purpose here.
It looks the same with the main camera. Here, too, both smartphones make a top figure. The image sensors of both devices take very good pictures both in daylight and at night. With a slightly better front camera, the S6 Edge Plus is slightly ahead in comparison.
Galaxy S6 Edge Plus with faster Proprocessor
The contrast in the computing power of both flagships is astonishing. While the Note 4 has a 8 coreProprocessor 4 coreProcessor (thanks to Mike B.) with 2,7 GHz each, the S6 Edge Plus only has an 8-core processor with 2100 Mhz each. The difference, however, is the architecture of the chip in the S6 Edge Plus. While in the Note 4 it's still Qualcomm's probeats the Snapdragon 805, the S6 Edge Plus features the newly manufactured 64-bit Exynos from Samsung Proprocessor.
This brings the S6 Edge Plus to almost 69.000 points in the Antutu benchmark. The Note 4, on the other hand, only manages 48.000 points. However, it should also be mentioned that Samsung has given the new S6 Edge Plus 4 GB of the new DDR4 RAM, while the Note 4 only has 3 GB of the somewhat older RAM module.
Image: flickr.com / Kārlis Dambrāns (CC) - Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
Storage and battery performance in comparison
It remains incomprehensible why Samsung only offers the S6 Edge Plus in a 32 GB variant and why the memory cannot be expanded. If you want to watch a lot of films on the go or listen to music, you could quickly reach your limits here. The Note 4 also only has 32 GB of internal memory, but this can be expanded using a microSD memory card proexpand easily.
When it comes to the battery, both devices are about the same, although the Note 4 has a slightly stronger battery with 3220 mAh installed, but the Proprocessor in the S6 Edge Plus is a bit more frugal, which means that it has the same endurance with 3000 mAh. However, in contrast to the Note 4, the battery in the S6 Edge Plus is permanently installed and therefore cannot be replaced.
Image: flickr.com / Kārlis Dambrāns (CC) - Grade 4
Conclusion: Grade 4 only slightly beaten
Which smartphone is now the better? This decision is probably in the eye of the beholder. Anyone who likes a curved display and relies entirely on computing power should be better served with the S6 Edge Plus. However, the differences in performance are not really noticeable in everyday life.
Even with complex graphics in games, the Note 4 should still have sufficient power for a long time. In addition, the memory in the Note 4 can be expanded and the battery can be used without it Proproblems to be replaced. If you also consider the price level, the Note 4 is simply the more sensible choice at the moment. Due to the new models, the price of the Note 4 will drop even further. Here you could soon hit a real bargain.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus: (Image material: © Samsung Galaxy S6 edge + (Kārlis Dambrāns / Flickr, CC BY 2.0))
Galaxy S6 Edge Plus: (Image material: © Samsung Galaxy S6 edge + (Kārlis Dambrāns / Flickr, CC BY 2.0))
Samsung Galaxy Note 4: (Image material: © Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (Toshiyuki IMAI / Flickr, CC BY 2.0))
Galaxy Note 4: (Image material: © Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (Toshiyuki IMAI / Flickr, CC BY 2.0))
The sense behind it, to compare a phone that stands out with a rounded display with a phone that impresses with pen input, does not make sense to me. But then not even mentioning the pen input is very weak. Imagine a car magazine comparing compact cars with station wagons and hiding the cargo space.
Hello Christian,
thank you for your criticism! In this test, it was not intended to compare a telephone with pen input with a smartphone that has a rounded display. This article compares the S6 Edge Plus (new XXL smartphone 2015) with a Galaxy Note 4 (still a top device).
The pen input was unfortunately not mentioned, we are sorry.
Kind regards,
David from TechnikNews
And the pen functions are irrelevant at all?
Hello Florian,
Unfortunately no, the functions of the pen, also known as the “stylus”, were not mentioned in this test.
Kind regards,
David from TechnikNews
Hello Florian,
did I miss something? Where is the so-called stylus located in the S6 Edge +, please?
As far as I know, this is missing in the Edge series, which effectively means that this point also belongs review, at least from the point of view of giving weight to the curved screen.
The test itself is really good, but from my point of view the above point is definitely one of them and would ultimately lead to the fact that, depending on what you personally prefer, the stylus or the curved screen, neither of the two smartphones is currently the really better one Product is. At least that's my personal opinion.
Best regards,
Alex
Hello Alex!
Thank you for your feedback on this review.
As you have already said correctly, the "Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge" series does not have an S Pen - the Note 4, on the other hand, has a stylus.
Kind regards,
David from TechnikNews
In the Note 4 no 8-core beats Proprocessor but only a 4 core a 2.7 GHz. But there is another variant with Samsung's own 6-core Proprocessor.
Hi Mike,
thank you for your comment. I have corrected the error in the post.
Kind regards,
David from TechnikNews