What would a 5.7-inch ‘Galaxy S6 Plus’ mean for Samsung?

#GalaxyS6Plus #Smartphone – What would a 5.7-inch ‘Galaxy S6 Plus’ mean for Samsung? – Reports suggesting a new Galaxy S6 variant is in the works leave us with more questions than answers. All the same, a 5.7-inch ‘GS6 Plus’ remains an intriguing possibility.

Remember how Samsung was supposed to release the Galaxy S5 Prime last year, but then didn’t? And then howthat device was supposed to have turned into the Galaxy F, which in turn vanished like a startled vampire around the time the Galaxy Note 4 debuted?

Well, twelve months on, it’s time for another white whale of a Samsung super-flagship. Say hello to the rumored Galaxy S6 Plus (or Galaxy S6 edge Plus, depending on which rumors you’re reading) supposedly hitting sometime this quarter with a bigger screen and S6 edge-style dual edge displays.

Rumors are rumors, and should be treated as such in the absence of any firm evidence. Nevertheless, the prospect of a “plus” model Samsung flagship so soon after the vanilla GS6’s launch – and indeed so close to the inevitable Galaxy Note 5 – is an intriguing prospect. Let’s dive into what it could mean for Samsung and its competitors.

The specifics

According to reports from SamMobile, the “Plus” version of Samsung’s flagship will pack a 5.7-inch screen with dual edge displays. (Earlier reports pointed to a 5.5-inch panel.) Photos of the purported phone obtained by YouTuber Marques Brownlee show a device that’s the spitting image of its smaller counterpart. Reports state that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808, a chip currently found in only the LG G4, is headed to the GS6 Plus in place of the Samsung Exynos SoC used by the regular GS6.

Software-wise, the phone will allegedly run Android 5.1.1 out of the box, and the leaked images show slightly revised icons, with a more rounded, lozenge-like appearance.

Finding a place in Samsung’s phone lineup

Whereas last year’s Galaxy S5 Prime rumors focused in improvements to the screen resolution, processor and build quality, the GS6 Plus’s advancements appear more nuanced. That it looks like a supersized Galaxy S6 edge sends the message that Samsung is broadly happy with its new design language – as it should be – and instead wants to widen the GS6 line’s appeal.

While many in the West see the 5-inch area as the sweet spot for smartphones, larger handsets are hugely popular in Asia. That includes the all-important Chinese market, where Samsung faces tough competition not just from Apple, but a host of nimble local players offering 5.5-inch-plus handsets.