Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Note Edge: Key Features and Specs

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 & Galaxy Note Edge

1. Basic Overview

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge are flagship phablet smartphones developed and marketed by Samsung Electronics, unveiled on September 3, 2014, at the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) trade show in Berlin. Positioned as the fourth generation of Samsung’s iconic Note lineup—renowned for integrating large screens and stylus functionality—these devices marked key milestones in Samsung’s mobile design and technology roadmap.

The Galaxy Note 4 (model SM-N910F for global variants) refined the Note series formula with a premium metal frame, enhanced S Pen capabilities, and a high-resolution display, targeting business users and creative professionals seeking productivity and multitasking tools.
The Galaxy Note Edge (model SM-N915F) was a bold experimental variant featuring a curved side display—a precursor to Samsung’s later Edge and Fold series. This unique design extended the main screen to the right edge, enabling quick access to widgets, notifications, and shortcuts without interrupting the main display experience.

Both devices launched with Android 4.4.4 KitKat and Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, and received software updates up to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Discontinued in 2016 with the launch of the Galaxy Note 7, they remain notable for their role in popularizing stylus integration and curved display technology in mainstream flagships.

2. Key Hardware Specifications (Global Variants: SM-N910F/SM-N915F)

Component	Galaxy Note 4 (SM-N910F)	Galaxy Note Edge (SM-N915F)
Display	5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED; 2560×1440 resolution; 515 ppi; 16M colors; Gorilla Glass 3	5.6-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED (Curved Edge); Main display: 2560×1440 (524 ppi); Edge display: 160×2560 pixels; Gorilla Glass 3
Processor	Samsung Exynos 5 Octa 5433 (Octa-core: 4×2.7 GHz Cortex-A57 + 4×1.3 GHz Cortex-A53) / Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 (regional variants)	Same as Galaxy Note 4
Memory (RAM)	3 GB LPDDR3 RAM (non-upgradable)	3 GB LPDDR3 RAM (non-upgradable)
Storage Options	16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB eMMC 5.0; microSD card slot (expandable up to 128 GB)	32 GB / 64 GB eMMC 5.0; microSD card slot (expandable up to 128 GB)
Rear Camera System	16 MP rear camera; f/2.2 aperture; optical image stabilization (OIS); 1/2.6-inch sensor; LED flash; 4K video recording (30 fps); 1080p video (60 fps)	Same as Galaxy Note 4
Front Camera	3.7 MP front camera; f/1.9 aperture; 1080p video recording (30 fps)	Same as Galaxy Note 4
S Pen Stylus	Integrated S Pen with 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity; supports Air Command, Screen Write, Smart Select, Action Memo, and Pen Window	Same S Pen functionality as Note 4; edge display optimized for S Pen shortcuts (e.g., quick note-taking)
Battery	3,220 mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery; 15W wired fast charging; Qi wireless charging support	3,000 mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery; 15W wired fast charging; Qi wireless charging support
Connectivity	4G LTE Cat 6 (up to 300 Mbps download); Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.1; NFC; USB 3.0 (Micro-USB port); GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	Same as Galaxy Note 4
Dimensions & Weight	153.5 × 78.6 × 8.5 mm; 176 grams	151.3 × 82.4 × 8.3 mm; 174 grams
Build & Durability	Metal frame; plastic back panel; Gorilla Glass 3 front; IP67 water/dust resistance (select variants only)	Metal frame; plastic back panel; Gorilla Glass 3 front/curved edge; IP67 water/dust resistance (select variants only)
Security & Sensors	Fingerprint sensor (home button); accelerometer; gyroscope; proximity sensor; barometer; compass; RGB light sensor	Same as Galaxy Note 4
Audio	Single bottom-firing speaker; 3.5 mm headphone jack; Dolby Digital Plus support	Same as Galaxy Note 4

3. Core Software & Feature Highlights

3.1 S Pen Productivity Tools

The Note 4 and Note Edge retained the S Pen as a core differentiator, with enhanced functionality over the Note 3:

Air Command: A floating radial menu that launched S Pen features with a button press, including Screen Write (annotate screenshots), Smart Select (crop and save content as images/GIFs), Action Memo (convert handwritten notes to actionable tasks), and Pen Window (launch floating apps for multitasking).
2048 Pressure Sensitivity Levels: A significant upgrade from the Note 3’s 1024 levels, enabling more precise drawing, writing, and editing—ideal for digital artists and note-takers.
S Pen Keeper: A notification alert if the S Pen was left behind, preventing loss of the stylus.

3.2 Note Edge Exclusive Curved Display Features

The curved side display was the Note Edge’s defining innovation, with use cases tailored to quick access and multitasking:

Edge Screen Widgets: Customizable shortcuts for weather, news, stock prices, and favorite contacts, accessible with a swipe from the right edge—no need to unlock the phone or navigate menus.
Edge Feeds: Real-time updates for social media, sports scores, and notifications, displayed vertically on the edge to avoid cluttering the main screen.
Night Clock: A always-on edge display that showed the time and date in low-power mode, functioning as a bedside clock without draining the battery excessively.
Gaming Controls: For select games, the edge display could be mapped to virtual buttons (e.g., for shooting or racing games), improving gameplay ergonomics.

3.3 Android 4.4 KitKat & TouchWiz UI

Multitasking Improvements: Samsung’s Multi Window feature allowed running two apps side-by-side on the large display, with resizable windows for flexible productivity.
Enhanced Camera Software: Features like Selective Focus (simulate shallow depth of field) and Shot & More (edit photos after capture) expanded creative control for users.
Secure Folder (via Update): Later software updates added an encrypted folder for storing sensitive files, protected by the fingerprint sensor or password.

4. Market Reception & Controversies

4.1 Critical Acclaim

Galaxy Note 4: Praised for its premium metal frame (a departure from Samsung’s all-plastic designs of the era), sharp Quad HD display, and improved S Pen accuracy. Reviewers noted that it set a new standard for phablet productivity, with strong battery life and camera performance.
Galaxy Note Edge: Lauded for its innovative curved display, which was seen as a glimpse into the future of smartphone design. The edge screen’s practical shortcuts and low-power night clock were highlighted as standout features, though the limited app support for edge functionality was noted as a drawback.

4.2 Controversies

Fingerprint Sensor Reliability: The home-button fingerprint sensor was criticized for inconsistent performance, especially when the finger or sensor was wet. Samsung released software updates to improve accuracy, but issues persisted for some users.
Note Edge App Compatibility: Third-party app developers were slow to optimize for the curved edge display, limiting its utility beyond Samsung’s preloaded features. This prevented the device from reaching mainstream success, despite its innovative design.
Battery Drain on Note Edge: The curved display’s always-on features (e.g., Night Clock) caused faster battery drain compared to the Note 4, with users reporting shorter screen-on time in daily use.
Thermal Throttling: The Exynos 5433 processor in global variants was prone to overheating during intensive tasks (e.g., 4K video recording, gaming), leading to temporary performance throttling.

5. Legacy & Positioning

Software Support Precedent: While the Note 4 and Note Edge only received two major Android updates, they set the stage for Samsung’s later commitment to longer software support (up to 5 years of security patches) for flagship devices.

Curved Display Precursor: The Note Edge’s curved side display laid the groundwork for Samsung’s Galaxy S Edge series (e.g., S6 Edge, S7 Edge) and eventually the foldable Galaxy Z series, establishing Samsung as a leader in experimental smartphone form factors.

S Pen Standardization: The 2048 pressure sensitivity levels became a baseline for subsequent Note models, and the Air Command interface evolved into the S Pen Pro features seen in modern Galaxy S Ultra and Z Fold devices.

Phablet Market Dominance: The Note 4 solidified Samsung’s dominance in the phablet segment, proving that large-screen smartphones could appeal to productivity-focused users beyond just media consumption.