Samsung Galaxy Note Edge has a curved edge display, but do you really need it?

The 5.6-inch Note Edge is a variant of the Galaxy Note 4, the latest iteration of Samsung's large-screen stalwart. 

The Edge's main display curves around the right edge of the phone to create a side display for notifications and one-tap access to apps, headlines and tasks.

That side screen is useful in a few ways. When using the camera horizontally, the shutter and other controls are up top, just like a regular camera. 

When listening to music, playback controls are instantly available. At night, the weather, current time and wake-up time are displayed on the side, so you can easily check as the phone lays on a nightstand.

The Edge needs more apps to take advantage of that side screen. 

There are about a dozen, but few of which I care to have. And the side text is sometimes upside down when the phone rests face up. 

It's a first-generation feature, and it'll take time for Samsung and app developers to figure out what works best.