According to a news report from Bloomberg, Samsung is preparing two new additions to their best-selling Galaxy marque, including a device with what intends to be a ‘wraparound’ display, with the main screen covering three sides of the device. It is unclear at the moment whether the display in question will extend to the side bezels a la the Galaxy Note Edge, or will extend to a secondary screen similar to Yotaphone’s eponymous second flagship, the Yotaphone 2 – minus the E-ink display.
A further rumor is that both phones (with the second single-display model to be released imminently in March at the Mobile World Congress in Spain) will feature an all-metal chassis akin to the Galaxy Alpha, and possess a 5.1″ display, which is shy of the 5.6″ display the current Note Edge totes. The current Note Edge adds a secondary display on the right bezel of the device, which functions primarily as either a menu bar or notifications center for independent use from the main screen. An additional bezel-style screen might enable a wider viewing angle for the main display, or, if wrapped around to the back of the phone, might function as a secondary screen.
The current Note Edge, while a capable smartphone, received polarizing reviews which highlighted the secondary screen’s marketability, but questioned its usefulness. Now tied with Apple as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, it’s clear that Samsung is bringing all guns to bear on their Cupertino-based rivals, and intends on using their expertise in display and chip technology to woo users away from the recently introduced iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
The rumored 5.1″ display size on Samsung’s new models fits directly in-between the 4.7″ and 5.5″ display size of the current iPhone models, and the introduction of an all metal body (though first seen in the Galaxy Alpha) is increasingly reminiscent of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus’ aluminium unibody design.
The forthcoming models are a clear indication that Samsung is quite content to fill as many market niches as possible in an effort to wrest back their former dominance as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, and will continue to sell lower-cost devices in conjunction with flagship phones to appeal to as wide a market as possible. Following the recent appearance of the Galaxy and Edge 6 to Samsung’s website, it appears as if the release of both devices is set for the near future.
More as the story develops.
Follow Bryan on Twitter: @bryansmith1138
