Samsung always has two flagship smartphones for each year, but since late 2014, you can add two more to the mix -- the "Edge" variants, which feature one or more curved glass edges on the side of the display.

Currently, there are two "Edge" devices available from Samsung: the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and the six-month old Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. So which one has (pardon the easy target)... the edge?

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge vs Galaxy Note Edge:

Design

Both phones are quite alluring with their new curvy features, but not only does the Galaxy S6 Edge have two curves on its touchscreen -- Samsung redesigned the Galaxy S lineup for this year, and the cheap feeling plastic has been replaced by an all metal solid chassis and Gorilla Glass 4 on both sides.

The Galaxy Note Edge, while a lot more solid-feeling than most of the previous plastic Samsung devices, it's still a plastic Samsung device.

However, if you're looking for practical things like a removable battery and microSD expansion, you'll want the Note Edge, because along with Samsung's iPhone-rivaling redesign of the S6 Edge came iPhone-like limitations. You can't open up the back anymore, so the battery you have is the battery you'll have for the life of the phone.

Other considerations to remember: The Galaxy Note series are phablets, so the device sporting a 5.6-inch display will be large in your pocket, and quote noticeably heavier than the Galaxy S6 Edge. However, that comes with a bonus, since you can use the Galaxy Note Edge's stylus and really take advantage of having a small(ish) computer with you everywhere.

Final design consideration? One Edge doesn't look as cool as two.

Point: Galaxy S6 Edge (but with reservations)

Hardware Specs

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and its Edge variant have some of the best hardware currently offered, but Samsung's Galaxy Note series, even at half-a-year older, is known for bringing some heavy-hitting specs as well.

Both have 3GB of RAM and a 16-megapixel camera, with all the features expected standard on a premium phone like LE Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, fingerprint scanner, and an infrared blaster.

When it comes to processors, it's a hard call: The S6 Edge sports Samsung's latest 64-bit Exynos 7420 octa-core system on a chip, which outperformed Qualcomm's current Snapdragon 810 -- which Samsung ended up dropping from the Galaxy S6 altogether. But the Galaxy Note Edge has a Snapdragon 805 clocked to 2.7Ghz, and there's not a chance the device will feel slow on any application for the foreseeable future.

Speaking of seeing, the Galaxy Note Edge's larger display is capable of Quad HD (2560 x 1600p) resolution, making it ready for the mobile VR age. The S6 Edge isn't much to sneeze at though, with its own 2K resolution on a 5.1-inch screen (2560 x 1440p).

Point: Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

The Edge

Of course, the most important aspect of these phones is the sloped screens, which are similar, but have some differences that set them apart.

Both devices display notifications on their curved edge, which are customizable to display updates from your social media, stocks and RSS feeds. Both also have a "night clock," which, when the phone is face down on a table, for example, will display a dimmed clock with just the bare essentials.

The Galaxy Note Edge was Samsung's first commercial attempt at an "edge" device, and the single edge provides a tools panel with practical things like a flashlight, voice recorder, stopwatch, and ruler.

For some reason, Samsung didn't find the practicality of the tool set worth keeping for the Galaxy S6 Edge, so instead, they built in a VIP contacts section, where each of five selected contacts gets a customized color that lights up on the edge whenever you're getting a call or text. It's useful, but a little more flash than substance.

Point: Samsung Galaxy Note Edge

Conclusions, Availability, & Price

If you're looking for high functionality and a little style, go for the Galaxy Note Edge. If you don't need a big-screened supercomputer in your pocket (just a small one will do), and like the premium feel of an iPhone or HTC One, the Galaxy S6 Edge is definitely the "edge" you want.

Both devices are available on multiple carriers in the U.S. right now, and both devices will run a pretty penny, even with a carrier-subsidized contract signing or renewal.

The Galaxy S6 Edge runs between $200 and $300, depending on the carrier and if you opt for 64GB of storage instead of the base 32GB model. Unlocked, it costs a whopping $800.

The Galaxy Note Edge has had a little time for market values to depreciate, but it's even more expensive unlocked, running anywhere from $800 to $1000! On contract, you can get the Note Edge for about $400.