Latest Samsung phones well accepted in US outlet

LAS VEGAS — The latest Samsung Electronics Galaxy smartphones — the S6 Edge Plus and the Note 5 — were attracting favorable responses in the first month since they were released in the U.S.

At a Best Buy Mobile store in this city, where the CTIA Super Mobility 2015 is under way, the world’s largest smartphone maker has set up a corner dedicated for its latest mobile devices.

“Customers are showing great interest in the latest Samsung Electronics Galaxy phablets. Today alone, we have sold four S6 Edge Pluses and five Note 5s, which is a relatively high figure compared with other models or brands,” an employee at the electronics outlet said, Tuesday.

Phablet is a combination of phone and tablet and generally refers to a smartphone with a display larger than 5 inches.

Samsung Electronics unveiled the Note 5 and the S6 Edge Plus, a larger version of the Galaxy S6 Edge with two curved side displays, in an unpacked event in New York last month. The timing was earlier than expected and has been interpreted as a move to predominate the phablet segment before the launch of Apple’s iPhone 6S and larger 6S Plus series.

While distributing the 5.7-inch S6 Edge Plus more widely in the global markets, Samsung Electronics has launched the Note 5 for more selective markets first, including Korea and the United States.

The company also ran a promotional event offering U.S. customers a month-long hands-on experience of the new handsets to boost customer awareness.

According to the Best Buy employee, the Note 5s are selling slightly better than the S6 Edge Pluses in this early stage.

“Many customers are considering between the two models, and as of now, more of them tend to buy a Note 5,” she said. “I believe it is because the Note 5 is available at a cheaper price even with higher hardware specifications. Another reason for this I see is that there are not many options available for cases for the S6 Edge Plus to protect the curved edges.”

A local customer, who was trying an S6 Edge Plus at the store, said, “I have used a Galaxy Note 4 with satisfaction. So I am now thinking of buying another Samsung smartphone. I will buy an S6 Edge Plus once I find a suitable plan from my carrier.”

Another customer at the store said he will wait for the new iPhone to be released so he can make a better comparison.

“I am thinking of getting a phablet and both new Galaxy smartphones look good to me now,” he said. “But I will wait more for the iPhone 6S Plus and will visit the store again.”