The History Of Samsung Galaxy Edge Phones

Amongst the flashy new Galaxy S25 series phones at the event in San Jose, a sleek new prototype was suspended under a metal arch alongside a couple of dummy handsets. The name attached to this sleek new phone was Galaxy S25 Edge – Samsung’s slimmest new phone. Rumoured to measure just 6.4 mm in thickness, which is considerably slimmer than the Ultra variant. 

In a world where phones are getting increasingly obese, the Galaxy S25 Edge is a refreshing much-required change. However, is ‘Edge’ the right name to denote it?

As fast as my memory serves, Samsung used the ‘Edge’ moniker not too long ago for its glamorous Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series phones. Back then, the Edge used to denote the curved edge displays that not only hid the side bezels but also added functionality to your phone’s side! 

Curved displays have gone out of fashion and Samsung isn’t in the mood to bring them back. Hence, ‘Edge’ will now be reserved for Samsung’s slimmest Galaxy S smartphone. 

As someone who adored those beautiful curves on Samsung’s flagship phones of the yesteryears, it seemed just the right moment to take a stroll down nostalgia and treat ourselves to the history of Samsung’s Edge series devices – when Edge referred to the curves and not the skinny factor!

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History of Samsung Galaxy Edge phones

Samsung’s love for curved edge displays began at CES 2013 with the Youm concept, a prototype that successfully showcased how bendable displays can add more functionality to a smartphone. After careful consideration, Samsung decided to put this concept into action and hence came the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

Release year: 2014

Since it was a risky experimental bet, the Galaxy Note Edge’s display was given a curved edge to one side only. The 5.6-inch display, which had a flexible AMOLED panel with Quad HD+ pixel resolution, gently fused with the right frame under a curved glass. Hence, from the right perspective, it seemed as if the phone’s display fell over to the side, eliminating the side bezel. 

The curved edge display promised a lot of functionality even when the phone wasn’t used. Samsung’s Edge Panel implementation in TouchWiz, which could be drawn from the curved side of the display, added app shortcuts, unique widgets and access to several S Pen shortcuts. As part of the Always-On Display functionality, a Night Clock mode showcased the time widget on the curve even when the phone was kept with its face down.

The Galaxy Note Edge drew curious onlookers and early adopters, which then signalled Samsung to make the Edge a prominent feature. 

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Release year: 2015

A year after the Galaxy Note Edge, Samsung adopted the curved edge for its Galaxy S series devices. The Galaxy S6 Edge was revealed as a fancier version of the regular Galaxy S6, featuring a display that curves on both sides. The curvature was toned down a bit but the curved edges still featured the Edge Panel and some OS-level special effects for notifications. The lack of a S Pen stylus reduced the curve’s functionality but they added to the phone’s desirability. A Galaxy S6 Edge+ was later revealed with a larger 5.6-inch display and a bigger battery, positioned as a more premium offering. 

The curved edges became a signature Samsung addition and made the Galaxy S6 Edge one of the most desirable phones of its time. Samsung smelled success and doubled down on its curved-edge display formula. 

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Release year: 2016

The following year, Samsung refined the formula and came up with the Galaxy S7 Edge. To uncomplicate the lineup, the Galaxy S7 Edge came as standard with a 5.5-inch curved edge AMOLED display. No more curved edge luxury for those who sought the compact 5.1-inch Galaxy S7. IP-rated certification for water and dust rating was provided despite the phone featuring a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a micro USB port. 

The Galaxy S7 Edge became Samsung’s life support post the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco. As part of the Note 7 replacement program, Samsung exchanged the problematic Note 7 devices with the Galaxy S7 Edge and urged potential Galaxy Note consumers to consider the S7 Edge for 2016. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Release year: 2016

With the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung dropped the ‘Edge’ moniker, thus signalling a total adoption of the curved edge design. The curvature of the ‘Edge’ was dialled down a notch and when paired with the boxy design ethos of the Galaxy Note, it worked wonders. Prior to the reliability fiasco involving the battery, the Galaxy Note 7 went viral across the world and seemed like a better deal than the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. A larger display, the S Pen stylus, lots of features, a superb build and the latest chipset made the Note 7 a dream phone. The desirability factor was off the charts and Samsung sold the phone like hotcakes. 

The post-Galaxy Note 7 era

Even though the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco had cost the company major losses, Samsung stuck to its curved edge design for both the future Galaxy S and Galaxy Note devices. The Galaxy S8 series adopted the curved edges as a standard design feature and kept it until the Galaxy S20 series, after which the curved edge display was reserved solely for the Galaxy S Ultra devices. The curvature of the curved edges declined gradually and in 2024, Samsung got rid of the curved edges from the Galaxy S24 Ultra. 

As for the Galaxy Note lineup, the curved edge re-emerged on the Galaxy Note 8, stayed on the Note 9 as a standard feature and was relegated to the Note Plus versions from the Galaxy Note 10 series and beyond. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was the last Note phone to exist and feature curved edges. 

The future of Edge phones

Edge for Samsung means something entirely different now – it’s about being skinny rather than flaunting curves. We are excited to see how Samsung’s Edge 2.0 pans out for the brand and whether the concept of a slimmer device finds favour with the premium phone market. A slimmer phone seems highly desirable on paper but in reality, it also translates to slimmer battery capacity, lesser space for camera sensors and a tricky packaging for all components.

As for curved edge displays, you can find them on affordable midrange phones wearing Chinese name badges. 

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