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

[Tim1954]

I'm not that keen, it's ok while I am upright, but one I lie down, I must grip the phone more and constantly getting unwanted touches. Pain in the ***...

 

[chyeo1979]

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.

Are there other phones with Samsung's kind of curve edge?

 

[MEnavybear68]

I loathe the curved edges. It's impossible to find a screen protector that allows normal functioning touch use. If I could I'd return my Note 8 and never look back. If gimmicky tricks are all Samsung has to offer then their phones have no future. I will be dumping the Note 8 asap which makes me sad because I've been a fan of the Note phones since day 1.

 

[Iva_LadyDiCaprio98]

I personally love the curve of the screen and hope they don't go back to flat. It makes the phone feel sleek and slimmer and besides I never put myself in a situation where I will drop my phone. I treat my phone like I should treat a near $1000 phone.

 

[chanchan05]

I'd really laugh a lot when the time comes that everybody else will be using edged screens then suddenly Samsung would switch back to flat.

 

[Spencurious]

I tried the first curved Samsung phone in Korea back in 2013, and was very impressed. It was the Galaxy Round. But that phone curved the other way to make a dished shape, and the whole phone followed the curve. It was the most comfortable phone ever for thumb typing - as our thumbs naturally move in a curve, so the screen-to-thumb-tip distance stayed constant.

It would also fit neatly in a back pocket as it conformed to the Korean standard ar$€ curvature.

The Galaxy Round was a Korean only model, and then the Edge was launched with the curve going the wrong way, and the rest is history.

 

[anon(5719825)]

I have a Note 8 and a S8+. I also still have a few S7 edge phone laying around. I've never used the edge panels for anything.

The phone that I actually did use the edge panel on was the Note Edge back in the day. That actually had a lot of functionality to it.

 

[anon(5719825)]

I personally love the curve of the screen and hope they don't go back to flat. It makes the phone feel sleek and slimmer and besides I never put myself in a situation where I will drop my phone. I treat my phone like I should treat a near $1000 phone.

That's how I was up until this last Christmas Eve. I was walking up some stairs and tripped and landed on my left hand which carrier my S7 Edge. The Spine case did nothing to protect the phone. The glass shattered on the exact lower left corner just under the lip that covers the phone there.

No one intends to put themselves in that situation. It can happen to anyone. It's an accident.

 

[Iva_LadyDiCaprio98]

That's how I was up until this last Christmas Eve. I was walking up some stairs and tripped and landed on my left hand which carrier my S7 Edge. The Spine case did nothing to protect the phone. The glass shattered on the exact lower left corner just under the lip that covers the phone there.

No one intends to put themselves in that situation. It can happen to anyone. It's an accident.

I understand accidents happen. I've had the s7 edge, the s8+ and now Note8 and I try to be as careful as possible. Truth be told, I've seen more iPhone screens shattered than Samsung curved displays. It depends on how it falls and what it hits when it falls which causes the break, but for the past 2 years of having curved displays I haven't had any issue with screen breaking. I try to keep my phone in my coat pocket or my purse when I am outside walking to prevent any mishaps lol I would be so mad to break this phone. I've dropped it a few times on tiile and it fell face down but thanks to my cases, nothing happened but the sound it made when it fell made my heart stop for a sec lol

I've had 5 smartphones in my lifetime so far and none of them have cracked screens because I keep myself out of the possibility of breaking my phone- whenever I am outside my phone is always in my pocket unless I am waiting for the bus or something. I understand very well that accidents happen which cause the breaks, etc, but I try to eliminate accidents as best I could and it's worked for me so far

 

[Ruff_Genius]

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

No lie the curves are more vulnerable (I cracked my S6e and Note 8 ones, I'm also pretty clumsy) but I find them more convenient for accessing the shortcuts than a flat screen. I used the multi window thing on the S4 (I know it's not the same but same applies for the panel apps) to access different apps quickly and not being able to "feel" the area to access the panel as with the panel for the edged devices kinda removed from the experience. Also, it being on the edge sorta makes it easier to intentionally access it as opposed to just swiping left or right. Granted that it also makes it easier to do so unintentionally, it's still better for me than a flat.

 

[MsBlingberry]

You'll get used to it. It's more of a style thing but I absolutely love it! Sets the phone apart from others and is gorgeous to look at. I use the s pen regularly and I don't even notice the curves anymore when writing. Personally I would never go back to a flat phone.

 

[103Softail]

Yes, definitely worth the added functionality for me - 2 examples off the top of my head - 1. I'm on a call, s pen out to write a note on screen or in notes, scroll from edge to bring up calendar to check dates. 2. I'm buying online, price is in different currency, scroll edge to bring up unit converter to check price.

 

[103Softail]

I'd really laugh a lot when the time comes that everybody else will be using edged screens then suddenly Samsung would switch back to flat.

Then they'll most likely lose this customer......I'll go back to HTC!

 

[anon(5719825)]

Then they'll most likely lose this customer......I'll go back to HTC!

I would love for the Note to go back to a flat screen. The curved edge makes it difficult many times when using the pen especially when capturing an image or something to send to someone or make something out of. There are times I will get out my Note 4 just to be able to do something that involves the pen because there is no curved edge.

 

[chanchan05]

The swipe from edge menu existed on Samsung long before they did curved edges. My flat Tab 4 has a swipe from side menu.

Then they'll most likely lose this customer......I'll go back to HTC!

 

[103Softail]

The swipe from edge menu existed on Samsung long before they did curved edges. My flat Tab 4 has a swipe from side menu.

Swipe from edge feature doesn't have to be synonymous with curved edge. This is about curved edges. I like curved edges & edge swipe. I also like the Porsche 911 turbo S.....

 

[chanchan05]

Swipe from edge feature doesn't have to be synonymous with curved edge. This is about curved edges. I like curved edges & edge swipe. I also like the Porsche 911 turbo S.....

I was basing my answer on your previous post on supposed "added functionality". All those features were available on Samsung before the Edge screens. Personally I don't care either way if it has an Edge or not. The Edge has no added functionality, and is a purely cosmetic choice.

Whether you like it or not is simple preference.

 

[103Softail]

I was basing my answer on your previous post on supposed "added functionality". All those features were available on Samsung before the Edge screens. Personally I don't care either way if it has an Edge or not. The Edge has no added functionality, and is a purely cosmetic choice.

Whether you like it or not is simple preference.

Yes agreed - that's like saying the dock gives no added functionality.
And a 30 year old Porsche still got me from A to B in relative quickness

 

[Brew Swayne]

My only real complain about the Note 8 is the curved edge screen. Trying to use the S Pen for a side to side screen selection is nearly impossible.

It definitely does make the screen pop a little more than a flat screen, no doubt about it - so it would be great for the S series phones - but it really doesn't belong on the Note.

Luckily, it's a relatively minor issue. I can't say it ruins my experience with the phone, but it does annoy me from time to time.

 

[jsigmo]

I also find the curved screen more annoying than functional. It makes the edges of the screen much harder to access with the pen or even my finger with the phone in a case that protrudes far enough forward to provide some face glass protection. I can't even move an icon from one screen to another with my finger because some of the active area is down in a crevice with many cases.

I'd love to have this exact same phone, but without the curved face of the screen.

For me, it's just cosmetic fluff that serves no practical purpose and makes the phone a lot harder to use.

They could address this in firmware by giving us an option to set all of the curved areas to be "off limits" for real screen display, and instead mapping that area for some kind of notifications or the like only. We would lose some screen resolution, but it would make the phone a lot easier to use. I would enable that option if it existed.