Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Ron Amadeo

Earlier this month, Samsung held an event to show off the Galaxy Note 4, Note Edge, Gear VR, and Gear S. We've seen launch date announcements for the Note 4 and Gear S, and the Gear VR is still making the press rounds, but we haven't heard anything about the curved-screen Galaxy Note Edge.

ZDNet Korea (via PC World) has the scoop on what's going on with the product, and it looks like the Note Edge will be very hard to get. The device will be a "limited concept" that won't see Samsung's usual mass production, according to Samsung Electronics President DJ Lee. It sounds like the release will be similar to the Korea-only Galaxy Round, Samsung's curved-screen device from last year.

The Note Edge's claim to fame is the curved AMOLED display, which wraps around one side and runs little "ticker" apps that display information like sports scores, apps, or tweets. Though it sounds intriguing, we didn't immediately like several things about the Note Edge. The lopsided design leaves a lot to be desired, and the curved screen meets the back of the phone at a sharp edge which digs into your hand and makes the phablet-sized device uncomfortable to hold. The screen curve extends into the normal app area, too, which distorts the right side of apps. Also, crucially for Samsung, the device lacks little to differentiate it from the Note 4. The two devices are the same size, and both have a stylus, but only one looks like it was left out in the sun for too long.

https://twitter.com/SamsungMobile/status/515074944485449728

Not releasing the device to a wide audience is probably the right move, as we have a hard time believing this would sell in large numbers. The price will likely be sky-high, too, thanks to the curved display; for comparison, the Galaxy Round—basically a curved Note 3 without the stylus—retailed for $1,000.

With the Galaxy Round and the Note Edge, Samsung seems to be taking a page from the car industry and building "concept devices." They're experimental, low-volume products that can help guide future product decisions and show off a vision of what the company thinks the future may look like. It also allows the company to gather feedback and brag about the products on social media.