Samsung announced Wednesday three new products, including the Galaxy Note Edge, a phone with a side display to give users easy access to Twitter, news, heavily used apps and more. The company also unveiled an updated, but less premium version of their Note series of phones, the Galaxy Note 4, and a virtual-reality headset, the Gear VR.
The new products were announced a week ahead of a September 9 Apple event expected to feature the much-anticipated new iPhone.
As the world’s largest smartphone maker, South Korea’s Samsung appears to be seeking innovative ways to expand its lead in the competitive mobile business. The unveiling on Wednesday comes a week after Samsung announced it Gear S, a wristwatch, that will allow users to make calls without a smartphone.
There were no specific prices or release dates given for the new products, although The Wall Street Journal cited a company spokeswoman as saying that the new Note 4 phone would be available in October. The headset and the Edge are expected after that.
The new Note 4, meanwhile, will feature improvements including better screen resolution, pixel density and an optical image stabilizer for the phone’s camera — apparently a first for a smartphone, according to the company. The Edge, meanwhile, will feature a signature curved 5.6-inch screen on the side and is expected to sell for a higher price.
The Note devices will also be made with a metallic frame, like the recently announced Galaxy Alpha. In the past, the phones have been criticized for being made from plastic, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The virtual reality headset features a head strap for customers to mount the Galaxy Note in front of their eyes for movie-watching and gaming.