Analysis of Samsung Note Edge's curved screen: It's just for show but not practical

If I were to describe the Samsung Note Edge in two words, I would say: weird. However, its weirdness is a manifestation of strength, and you and I cannot help but be impressed by its awesomeness. For domestic manufacturers, I hope you will buy one to study their technology. Even if you don't use it on your phone in the future, you can use it on wearable devices such as smart watches. You can't have every screen be mediocre. The premise is that you must be able to study this technology thoroughly.

Samsung officially introduced that Note Edge provides users with a new way to view information, intelligently interact, and express personality and taste. The side screen provides users with a quick access to commonly used applications, reminders, and device functions. When watching a video, you can directly receive various information through the side screen without pausing the video. In addition, the side screen can set wallpapers independently, and can contain some commonly used functions and software, such as phone, ruler, browser, camera, WeChat, Weibo, etc. Apart from this, there is no excessive introduction.

When Note Edge was first released, my friends were really shocked. Many users said they wanted to buy it immediately to show their personality. Although Note Edge has received good reviews from users, whether it can be recognized by the market still needs specific sales to prove it. But to be honest, the curved screen also makes me a little excited, but I personally think that the significance of this curved screen in innovation and technological breakthrough is far greater than its actual use. Why do you say that?

From the perspective of user experience, first of all, Note Edge has a large screen of 5.6 x 0.1, where 0.1 is the size of the side screen. Such a small screen can only be used as a quick launch bar. As for previewing text messages and notifications, I feel that this is rather awkward. When there are text messages or notifications, you have to turn the phone sideways to read with this awkward long screen, which greatly reduces the convenience. It is more refreshing to open and read directly. Moreover, many mobile phones and third-party software already have small window reading or notification bar prompt functions, which are relatively good experiences.

Because of the 5.7-inch large screen, it is basically impossible to operate it with one hand, so the convenience of using the side screen is restricted and challenged, which is inconsistent with the setting of shortcuts. Moreover, whether you hold it with your left hand or right hand, you will accidentally touch the side screen, which is almost inevitable.

If you look closely at the angle of the side screen, it is about 120° (or even smaller). Such a large angle reflects the technical strength of the curved screen. Compared with the previous curved screen phones of LG and Samsung, the technical improvement is definitely not a little bit. This is also what excited me the most when the Note Edge was released. However, there is a problem in the operating experience. Due to the large-angle curve, there is a big gap in comfort and smoothness when touching the screen compared to a flat screen. You can find a Coke bottle and experience it at the synaptic corner at the bottom of the bottle.

Of course, there is another issue that everyone is more concerned about, that is, it is easy to be damaged. Although Samsung NOTE4 and Note Edge have made groundbreaking use of metal frames, the Note Edge only has a three-free metal frame. The side screen can easily be damaged due to accidents during daily use. Once damaged, the repair cost must be high.

However, even though the Note Edge curved screen has some shortcomings and flaws in terms of user experience, its appearance has truly demonstrated Samsung's hardware technology strength, and its technological breakthrough is of great significance. The application of such a large-angle curved screen is the first time on a smart device, leading the innovative development of mobile phone products. It has opened up a wider application space for subsequent smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and other screen devices.

In comparison, domestic manufacturers are probably only shocked, watching Samsung show off. This is a signal, a spur, warning our manufacturers to really make rapid efforts in technological innovation, not only in curved screens, but more importantly, to seek breakthroughs in technologies that can truly change smartphones and smart devices, rather than just talking about theories and standing still on the slightest achievements.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.