<div>A quick week after a global launch, Samsung has brought the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus to India. It’s to cost Rs 57,900 and will be available from the 28th of August. A wireless charger (recommended) and a case will cost extra.</div><div> </div><div>The S6 Edge Plus is one of two devices recently launched in New York by Samsung, the other being the Galaxy Note 5. Of the launch of the Note 5, there is no date being given. “Very soon” is what Samsung India execs promise.</div><div> </div><div>As the name suggests, the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus is a larger version of the S6 Edge, but it does have additional features. The Edge devices are the result of Samsung’s research on bendable or flexible screens, showcased about two years ago in what is a world first. The “Edge” refers on Samsung’s smartphones refers to the way the screen wraps around the edges. This not only gives a bezel-less look with more screen space, but actually allows the side to be used for additional information, once apps that are meant specially for this purpose are downloaded.</div><div> </div><div>To see the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus is a different experience from viewing it in videos or pictures online. The device, specially in its titanium version, is stunning. The 5.7-inch screen is the best available at 2560x1440 at 518ppi density. Although it is said often enough that the human eye cannot tell the difference beyond a point, a comparison with the Note 4 shows this to be untrue. The camera on this device is currently the most capable around and takes crystal clear video and photos – and live streams straight to YouTube. This is a clever new feature that gives Periscope and Meerkat, live streaming apps, a run for their money and can easily be pushed downwards to the previous devices, but Asim Warsi, Vice President of Marketing, IT and Mobile at Samsung India said there was no current guidance on any such thing and the feature would be, for now, exclusive to the new devices.</div><div> </div><div>The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus comes to India in a 32GB version and any higher internal storage will not be possible as there isn’t an expansion slot in this unibody design – nor a way for a user to swap the battery inside. “We have brought in the 32GB version keeping in mind the user demand and have no guidance to give on other variants at the moment,” said Warsi. The lack of storage expandability and access to the battery are two major complaints regarding this otherwise top notch device. However, the wireless fast charger with the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus gives a charge quick enough (90 minutes) to counter the need for a user to swap batteries.</div><div> </div><div>Samsung has been facing considerable pressure from newer players such as OnePlus, Xiaomi and others in the smartphone space, as they offer considerable hardware specifications for one-fourth the price of a Samsung flagship. Looking at the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, one can see immediately that they don’t match up, but for those who can’t afford these devices, the options offered are certainly getting better and better. Warsi expresses confidence about the potential of the new devices “The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have done better in the Indian market than any many other devices before. Prebookings for those phones were unprecedented in India,” he says.<br><br> “After the launch as well, these phones have done very well.” And consumer interest in India in large format devices is very strong. So we are quite excited by the potential of the S6 Edge Plus. In fact, the combination of the large screen and its dual curved screen is going to be greater interest to the consumer.” Apple, Samsung’s biggest rival, is expected to soon launch its successors to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.</div>
BW Reporters
Mala Bhargava has been writing on technology well before the advent of internet in Indians and before CDs made their way into computers. Mala writes on technology, social media, startups and fitness. A trained psychologist, she claims that her understanding of psychology helps her understand the human side of technology.
