Samsung Releases Two New Phones Ahead of Apple's iPhone 6

By Jeffery Scott, CP Contributor Thursday, September 04, 2014

Samsung held concurrent events in New York, Beijing, and Berlin on Wednesday to unveil the new Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge, less than a week before Apple unveils its new iPhone 6.

The Galaxy Note Edge features all new technology with a curved right edge screen that wraps to the side. The curve displays information independent of the phone's main screen and can feature different apps. You can also customize it to feature your most used apps, stream social media content like tweets, and set up your choice of tickers such as sports scores and breaking news. The screens work together as well, such as in portrait mode in the camera app; the curved screen displays options for you to change filters, select a photo mode, and more. According to verge.com, Samsung used software to separate the two displays which allows them to connect simultaneously or independently.

The Galaxy Note 4 and the Galaxy Note Edge share the same 16 megapixel camera, processor, heart rate monitor, software, new multi-window feature, and memory. The only places where the phones differ is in the technology of the screen and the size (the Edge is 5.6 inches, the Note 4 is 5.7 inches). Both phones boast a Quad HD, 2560 x 1440 display.

The rumored iPhone 6 will have two versions as well, one measuring at 4.7 inches and the other at 5.5 inches. Apple is releasing its larger version of the iPhone to compete in a market where the biggest criticism of the iPhone is its screen size. Executive Vice President of Media John Pleasants said bigger and brighter screens are important as over 700 million people look at Samsung screens everyday, CNBC.com reported.

Ryan Biden, senior director of Strategy and Operations at Samsung, says the phone features extended battery life and an improved camera, among other things. Both phones can be charged to 50 percent in an half an hour. They come pre-loaded with Samsung's new streaming music app "Milk Music." No pricing information was given at the time of the events.