Is a curved edge screen on a Note just style over function?

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

Oh the problems we have these days, lol.

 

[Spencurious]

The curved screen looks amazing and allows a more fully immerse experience when viewing. I love the edge menus as well. They are very handy. Did you not do any research before spending a thousand dollars on a phone?

Good question - and yes I did, but several goes with the Samsung shop demo phone attached to the alarm system by a springy wire, and reading reviews, can never be a substitute for using one in real life.

The reviews are all very positive, and in contrast the reviews for the Sony XZ Premium (my alternative option) were average, with many reviewers saying it looks old fashioned and criticizing it for not having a curved screen. In fact the only negative I could see in any reviews of the Note 8 related to the placement of the fingerprint scanner - which I find to be ideal for my hand.

And yes, like others in this thread, I was seduced by the looks of the curved screen. But it's like waking up next to the hot girl from the club, and seeing her without make-up and the lift-up bra for the first time. The reality is that the curved edge is all about looks, and looks fade with familiarity.

It's designed to differentiate the premium Samsung phones from the teeming hoards of Chinese smart phones, and to create a distinctive offer to compete with Apple. Can't blame Samsung for that, and thankfully the S-pen is a real point of difference with true value for the user - but the curved screen adds no value for us users other than the 'wow' factor when we whip it out in public.

Oh - and I bought mine in Asia and it was well under $1000

 

[chanchan05]

Oh - and I bought mine in Asia and it was well under $1000

That would mean it would be dual sim too!

 

[Spencurious]

That would mean it would be dual sim too!

Well yes .... sort of. If you use the dual sim capability, you can't also use the SD card for memory expansion. My old Samsung Duo phone could have two sim cards and an sd card.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

A lot of buyer remorse here. They are bringing good money on swappa yet, sell it and move on. I wouldn't keep an expensive phone I didn't like, I would sell it and move to another phone that works for me. I personally think that majority of people like the curve screens and doubt Samsung will change it. We will see next year.

 

[Spencurious]

I don't think anyone has said they don't like the Note 8?

But no phone is perfect, and some of us find the style over function of the screen design to be one area that could be better. I think the designers at Samsung know this too, which is why they minimized the curve on the N8.

 

[recDNA]

Just moved from the unashamedly square Sony Z5 Premium to a Note 8, and while I'm impressed with its power and functions, I'm having some issue with the design.

The curved edges look very cool and give the phone a distinctive look, but I'm struggling to see any practical value, and there also seems to be some functional disadvantages?

When using the S-Pen I find that it slips on the curved edge if you try to write too close to the edge of the screen. And when thumb typing the edges sometimes respond to accidental touches from my fat thumbs. Also, some pages from websites have buttons right on the edge of the screen (the little x used to close pop-up adds for example), and these are right on the curve of the screen.

It's still early days for me - so will I get used to it?

Of course it is only for looks

 

[Spencurious]

Of course it is only for looks

Well it is the best looking phone currently on the market. So I guess those curves are like the swooping roofline of a coupe. Looks great, but does nothing for rear passenger headroom.

 

[Baby_Doc]

I haven't come across a function/feature where the curve had been beneficial. I've come across multiple times where it has been frustrating. Particularly when trying to use the pen, it just slides off.

One advantage that you have with a curved screen is edge lighting that is visible even with the screen face down. Try doing this with a flat screen and you can't.

It is a bit tricky to set up, but you can get edge light notifications when calls or messages come in, which is handy during a meeting when you have silenced your phone.

 

[srgonu]

Some of the things I think edge made sense.
- Made the phone narrower and easy to hold
- improved aesthetics and look and feel
- light around edge when placed upside down indicating call. (Using this at work and in a meeting when my phone in silent mode)
- immersive experience when viewing content
- Angle of edge alarm that is readily viewable at night.
- and lastly, it makes your phone standout from others.

Am in awe with its engineering and aesthetics and still didn't get over its beauty and power (Ordered on day one).

 

[dlalonde]

After two months using the S8 I can definitely say it's more of a look thing. I thought the edge features would be useful and I never ever ever ever use it. Plus getting a case for this phone was a bloody pain in the butt as I like minimalistic cases but the corners also being made of glass I had to pad them too... so I'm all for bezel-less obviously but my next phone won't be curved. I wish Samsung had kept the curves optionnal.

 

[SteMag64]

The only thing i like about the curved screen on my S7e is the night clock. very convenient when i wake up att night and just take a glance at my mobile laying on the bedside table.
But that i can live without, my next phone will be with a flat screen, i am tired of dealing with screenprotectors and cases that won´t cooperate

 

[Morty2264]

Though I've never owned an Edge device, my mom has the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and really loves it! However, she doesn't use the edge features - she likes to just text, call, and browse the web and doesn't really go gung-ho for bells and whistles like that. But I think one of the reasons why she bought it was because she not only liked Samsung, as she's used their devices in the past; but she also liked how it looked and how easy it was to carry around (ie, it wasn't a phablet).

I personally don't mind curved screens; but I do take heed when considering them. My Honor 8 has a curved screen and though it's a beautiful phone, my screen protector has cracked a bit; I think because of said curve (or, you know, because I'm clumsy lool). So as helpful as they would be, I feel like screen protectors and watching the overall care of the phone would make me slightly nervous.

But I think that if I did have a Samsung device that had an edge, I'd make use of it. I'd like the shortcuts or the quick access to important contacts and features.

 

[Enlil242]

Curved screens makes it a b*tch to find a decent tempered glass screen protector that works / looks good...

 

[JLD94]

I don't see why they couldn't have the edge panel functions with a flat screen. for me the edge screen has no function other than Samsung thinks it looks good and gives them a one over the other manufacturers. it's fine though. my main issue with it is I think the screen is more vulnerable to drops as cases generally stay below the edges

So they can easily do it on a flat screen, I have a Galaxy Tab S tablet from 2014 that has has it on there from day 1. So the way they market it as part of the edge screen is a gimmick

 

[JLD94]

I personally do not like the edges. I purchased a S8+ when they came out. Was having issues with 2 different ones so eventually returned, but I did not like the edge. The edge is a big stumbling block for me. I want to like them but I just don't. I am thinking about getting a S9+ when they come out but the edge has me worried that I won't go through with it because of that.

I was in bestbuy a couple of weeks ago, and was looking at the iphone X... I like the flat screen and 'bezeless' look even with the notch. Anyway a friend of mine ended up being there and seeing me and came up and was like 'the samsung section is over there'. He has a S7, and same thing.....he doesn't like the edges...doesn't want them but not sure what he's going to do when it's time for a new phone because of them.

 

[matchtrader2000]

I don't see why they couldn't have the edge panel functions with a flat screen. for me the edge screen has no function other than Samsung thinks it looks good and gives them a one over the other manufacturers. it's fine though. my main issue with it is I think the screen is more vulnerable to drops as cases generally stay below the edges

Agreed completely, I have been using an app called Swiftly Switch, which provides IMO much more robust edge support and works just as well on a flat screen as it does on a curved one (possibly even better). They have a free version with diminished features that works just fine, but for the cost, the pro version has been great for me and I have used it on many phones for the last few years. It is literally the first app I install on any new phone.

 

[Kappelle Simpson-El]

The new Edge is totally useless. The Note Edge was actually functional. The calls were handled on the edge, while your screen was used for whatever you were doing when call came in. The Note Edge aslo had apps in the Edge without swiping, it had News feeds etc., that did not effect what you had in the main screen. The way the screen has functioned since the S6 Edge, is the same way it functioned since the S3 with the slide out window, with the exception of the night clock. The night clock isn't really needed with the addition of the AOD. I wish the edge functioned like the Note Edge...

 

[MillerHydeman]

This is certainly a nifty way to use the edge. I look forward to trying it. I was using the Samsung Galaxy 8 and never really used the edge. Just moved to the Note 8, so I will try it.
BTW - love Samsung but absolutely leverage the Note's pens more and missed it with the S8.

 

[kirksucks]

Completely useless gimmick. It makes using the Note 8 S-Pen more difficult because the pen tip follows the curve and screws you up. I hate it. Serves no functional purpose. It also creates an impact point for scratches and breakage. A flat screen would be protected with a small lip on a basic TPU case but none of the lightweight TPU cases go high enough down the sides. Thanks to the Apple-like ubiquity of Samsung, now everyone else is copying this design.