Just got my Samsung Galaxy S5 recently and all I can say is that, its having heaven in your palm!
The camera has evolved to give clearer, faster snaps. The fitness-tracking abilities of the S5 are enhanced over the Galaxy S4 by packing in a more powerful S Health strattera app and a dedicated heart rate monitor on the rear. A fingerprint scanner adds to the most secure Galaxy phone ever made.
The battery is larger, the screen bigger and brighter, the processor quicker and the design altered.
The spec sheet certainly doesn’t let it down: a 2.5GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 2800mAh (removable) battery, 16 / 32GB of memory (with up to 128GB extra through microSD), one of the world’s most vibrant screens that’s been extended to 5.1-inches and added biometrics.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a more solid phone than the Galaxy S4, that’s for sure, and looks more well-packaged thanks to the wider back and the grippier, pock-marked battery cover.
Those that have previously been fans of the Samsung Galaxy range before will find a lot to like here though. The home button – which now houses the fingerprint scanner, remember – is solid and easy to press, and the power key remains on the right-hand side of the phone, raised slightly and very easy to hit.
One of the key changes to the Galaxy S5 is the fact that it’s now water-resistant, with IP67 rating meaning you can dunk it water for a short while, although going swimming with it isn’t advised.
It’s also dust resistant too, which makes the uncovered headphone port all the more impressive as it makes the S5 much easier to use without having to pull open a flap to listen to some tunes.
The USB 3.0 connection – which will look odd to some, but is the same used in the Galaxy Note 3 to give more power quickly while still allowing standard microUSB cables to be used – is covered to facilitate this IP rating, and it’s a little stiff to get off.
The capacitive buttons still flank the home key as before, but are slightly different now. Gone is the menu key, replaced by the multi-tasking button that seems to be Google’s new favourite in Android 4.4. You can still use this as the menu key with a long press.
The other big design win Samsung still maintains with the Galaxy S5 is a removable battery. This is mostly for peace of mind nowadays, given that the battery life is so good on the S5, but if you’re worried about failure then this is a good option.
It also means the ugly FCC regulation stamp can be hidden from view, and you won’t need a SIM tool to get your card out – plus it’s easier to pop in a microSD card too.
The cover does give me slight cause for concern when you consider it from a water-resistant point of view, as it can be hard to make sure all the clips are securely fastened when snapping it back on.
A warning message does come up on the screen to remind you of this, but it can take a couple of passes to make sure it’s completely fixed on.
In summary, if you’re looking to get the S5 and wondering if its really worth the price? Definitely Yes! Is it worth an upgrade from the S4? Indeed! Personally, right now, it’s the best Android device on the market in both departments, performance and usability. It has raised the bar really high in comparison to its competitors in the high-end range and one can only imagine what the S6 is going to pack since the S5 is clearly proving to be a show-stopper!
I recently toyed and teased my cousin when he bought a new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 saying him that you are such a stupid freak to not wait for something called S5 and buy a Tab. 😛
And thanks to you, I am going to show this post and make him read the awesomeness lying in here.