With media hype reaching an all-time high, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is finally here, and while it’s a lot like it’s predecessor, the S4, it’s also vastly better. Inside the polycarbonate casing is a brand new and better processor, a huge 2800mAh battery, and most importantly, a fingerprint reader that attempts to keep pace with Apple’s iPhone 5s. Read on for our impressions:
Display
The display on the S5 is gorgeous and very ample. Measuring 5.1-inches, the Galaxy S5′s display is slightly larger by about a tenth-of-an-inch than the Galaxy S4′s. This may not seem like much, but it does make a difference, and it actually increases the PPI from 432 to 441, making it qualify for “full HD” designation.
The AMOLED display panel is very vivid, offering a wide viewing angle, and looks extremely good when playing games or watching videos. Additionally, the display’s sensitivity is superb, making it easy to fly through applications and other functions.
Build
The Samsung Galaxy S5 sports a perforated backing and ribbed metal bevel , much like the S4, but there are some differences, such as the cover for the USB 2.0/3.0 compatible slot. This cover makes the S5 IP67 rated, so it will survive a submerged dip in the water. Samsung is careful not to call in watherproof, however.
On the rear is a new 16MP camera, and below it a flash and heart rate sensor. Place a finger on the heart rate sensor, and it activates the included Samsung S Health app, which shows your heart rate on the screen. It also doubles as a pedometer. Another addition is the fingerprint reader, housed as a built-in to the Home button. Once programmed, it’s a easy as swiping across the home button with your finger to unlock the phone.
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Performance
Beneath the hood, the S5 packs a 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 Quad-Core processor supported by 2GB of RAM, which is a minuscule 0.2ghz faster than the HTC One M8’s processor. And while Samsung’s TouchWiz Android skin slows it down a tad, it’s still lightning fast….except when you’re in dual window mode. This function is the Achilles heal to speed, so be sparing when using this feature, unless you don’t mind the sacrificed speed.
Battery-Life
The S5 does a killer job balancing juice life with horsepower, thanks to system-based software PowerXtend by Lucid. The S5 can reach stand-by times of a week, and full functioning power at around 9-hours. Additionally, the TouchWiz battery options are very impressive as well.
There are actually two battery saving modes on the Galaxy S5: Power Saving Mode, which reduces extraneous features, such as auto updates and wireless; and the other, Ultra Power Saving Mode, a more extreme feature, which reduces the Galaxy S5 to a minimum function level where it kills any background processes, and converts the phone’s display from full color to black, gray and white scale. Enable this option, and you can go 2 days without a charge.
Software
I’ve never much liked Samsung’s TouchWiz Android Skin, but the S5 is not bad. For instance, the battery saving options are without a doubt an example of what software tweaks and features can benefit you and your phone. However, Samsung’s TouchWiz still feels a bit clunky, and as mentioned, it’s probably the biggest hurdle in terms of the S5’s processing speed. Many times it’s a chore to do the simplest things, such as make a call, change a setting or scroll through the vast menus.
Shooter
The Galaxy S5′s camera, with it’s 16-megapixels, is twice that of the iPhone 5S, and is four times the resolution of HTC’s One M8 . It can also record UHD video with the addition of a compatible display, and there are plenty of camera effects, including one that allows you to blur out the background to focus in on the main object you’re shooting.
Image production is fabulous, better than the HTC One M8, and very comparable to the iPhone 5S. The S5 also does pretty well in low-light, and it displays and distributes colors famously, like most Galaxy products we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing.
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Bottom Line
The Galaxy S5 is an outstanding handset, but it doesn’t knock our socks off like Samsung’s marketing promised. Having said that, even though the S5 is not groundbreaking, it does provide a revolution in battery life management, and it performs well, with some cool features to boot…like the heart rate sensor, fingerprint reader and nice camera effects. You can purchase the Galaxy S5 for $99.99 (2-year contract) through Verizon here, or through Amazon [amazon_link id=”B00IZ1XVAC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]here[/amazon_link].
This review unit was provided by Verizon for review, and no compensation has been given for the above opinions or content
Check out Samsung’s Official Hands-On Video…
http://youtu.be/QrMOu4GU3uU
