Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy Note5 and new mobile payment system unveiled

Samsung unveiled its newest smart products this morning in New York City — the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note5 smartphones — as well as the company's new mobile payment system, Samsung Pay.

The Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Galaxy Note5:​

• Offer 14.8-cm, HD screens and are thinner and lighter than their respective predecessors.
• Have four gigabytes of RAM, the most ever included in Samsung mobile products.
• Come with the ability to shoot video in 4K. 
• Run on the Android 5.1 operating system. 

The Note5 has a flat screen for writing with the accompanying digital pen and a curved glass back, intended to make it easier to handle in one hand. 

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It also has a host of new features, including the ability to take notes with the pen even when the screen is off and improved screen capture technology, allowing users to take images of lengthy lists in a single snap rather than with multiple photos. 

Justin Denison, Samsung's vice-president and head of mobile products, also demonstrated a new keyboard attachment available for the Note5, which gives the option of "precision typing" on a physical keyboard while using the high definition screen at the same time. 

Denison was among a series of Samsung executives who unveiled the new products at an event at Lincoln Center on Thursday morning. The presentations ended with the announcement that the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch would be unveiled in Berlin on Sept. 9. 

The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is a larger and upgrade version of the curved-screen Galaxy S6 Edge that Samsung released in March, which ditched plastic for the sleeker metal and glass look commonly associated with Apple products. 

The phone comes with a few interesting new features, including Live Broadcast, which gives users the opportunity to livestream video from their phones on YouTube. There is also Apps Edge, a feature that lets users swipe the edge of their screen to bring up a customized list of favourite apps and contacts, even with other apps open. 

Both the S6 Edge+ and Note5 have wireless charging capabilities at the fastest speeds ever supported. The devices can reportedly go from empty to full charge in two hours, 30 per cent faster than previous wireless charging speeds.

"We're betting on a cord-free future," said Denison, adding that a number of massive companies like Starbucks and Ikea are experimenting with wireless charging technology in their brick and mortar stores.

Both devices will be available in Canada and the U.S. on Aug. 21, while U.S. preorders begin today at 3 p.m. ET. 

New mobile payment system

The tech giant's new mobile payment system, Samsung Pay, will be accepted almost anywhere.

"If retailers can swipe a card, most likely they will accept Samsung Pay," said vice-president Injong Rhee, who unveiled the new product. 

Protected by the hardware-based security system Samsung Knox, Pay will also support store-branded credit cards, membership and gift cards. 

According to Rhee, Pay is safer than alternative mobile payment systems because it does not store or transmit credit card or private information during transactions.

Samsung Pay is set to go live in Korea on Aug. 20, and will be available in the U.S. on Sept. 28, followed by China, Spain and the U.K., Rhee said. ​