This year has turned out to be a banner year for Samsung’s line of Galaxy smartphones. Across the board, the 2015 lineup has managed to impress both an initially skeptical crowd of tech-savvy consumers and the larger public, who seems ready and willing to try something a little different. Samsung’s goal this year appears to be intelligent experimentation, as every model incorporates some killer new feature that you initially didn’t even know you wanted but now can’t imagine living without.
It’s a refreshing break from other smartphone manufacturers that seem more averse to taking any kind of risk with their flagship phones. Here are just a few of the things we really liked about each of this year’s smartphone offerings from Samsung:
Note 4
The Galaxy Note 4 is perfectly designed for the more business-minded smartphone user. It has a roomy 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display that makes productivity easy and — dare we say — enjoyable. The included S Pen provides a more natural, intuitive alternative for all of your note-taking, illustrating and presenting. And Samsung’s much improved Ultra Power-Saving Mode means you always have enough battery to make one last call or send one last important email, even after a 14-hour transatlantic flight. The 2.7 Quad-Core Process feels perfectly tuned to run Android’s Lollipop OS, allowing for responsive, lag-free multitasking and some of the most brilliant high-definition video you’re likely to see on any smartphone this year. And did we mention the 16-megapixel rear-facing and 3.7-megapixel wide-angle, front-facing camera? Without a doubt, the Note 4 has what it takes to keep up with your professional life, but it’s down to party too.
S6 Edge+
Think of the S6 Edge+ as the Note 4’s fun-loving younger sibling. He’s got the same genes as his big brother, but he really likes to march to the beat of his own drum. You can tell just by looking at the S6 Edge+ that it’s not quite like other smartphones. The curved screen makes the 5.7-inch screen look like it goes on forever, but zoom in and you’ll see that the two edge screens are for more than just looks. When the phone is locked, these screens continue to provide scrolling news, sports, social media and text messages. The screen bezel even contains a multi-colored LED light that can be paired with your favorite contacts. Inside, Samsung has supercharged the technical stats on the S6 with 4GB of RAM and an unsurpassed Exynos 7420 Octa-core 64-bit processor. That means it can handle graphic-intensive games and high-definition video without batting an eye. It also has a 5-megapixel front-facing, wide-angle lens for epic selfie sessions.
GRAND Prime
Sure, the GRAND Prime isn’t quite as technically stacked as the Note or the Edge+, but it’s still one of the zippiest, feature-rich smartphones available. The GRAND comes standard with a 5-inch display and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It also has a high efficiency battery that can charge up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes and the 1.2 GHz Quad-core processor is downright fast for a phone at this price point. At the end of the day, it’s a perfect smartphone for the cost-conscious consumer who still needs an array of features for work and play.