Reviews By Ryan Whitwam Apr. 14, 2014 10:30 am
Samsung’s annual Galaxy S refresh is a big event in the world of Android phones. Samsung is the only phone maker outside of Apple that has won over mainstream fans with its mobile devices — there are regular people who eagerly await the release of the next Galaxy so they can upgrade. Perhaps that explains Samsung’s approach to the Galaxy S5, which is much less of a departure than previous iterations. While there’s less here that’s new, the Galaxy S5 might be exactly what it needs to be. Let’s take a closer look at the new superphone in town.
[h=3]Specs and debatable design[/h]The Samsung Galaxy S5 is specced like all the other high-end phones you’re going to see in the first half of 2014 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 2800mAh removable battery, and 16/32GB storage options. Unlike an increasing number of smartphones, the Galaxy S5 packs a microSD card slot for more storage, though it’s less useful on the newest builds of Android. The basic specsheet is a solid foundation for layering on all the features that set the Galaxy S5 apart.
The overall design of the Galaxy S5 is Samsung through and through. The device has a more rectangular shape than past devices, but it’s very similar to the Galaxy Note 3. The edge even has the same silver-ish plastic ripple pattern. The back is actually an improvement over the Galaxy S4. It’s not nearly as slippery, but the dimple pattern doesn’t look awesome. It feels like something in between soft touch plastic and the slippery stuff Samsung used to make battery covers out of. The speaker is also back there, and it’s fine — about what you’d get on any number of other devices. It’s loud enough, but the back vibrates if you crank it up.
The Galaxy S5 is IP67 rated for dust and water-resistance. That means it can be under three feet of water for 30 minutes. This, of course, relies on the device being sealed up. The back plate needs to be snug, and the port cover on the bottom should be firmly inserted. This is a nice feature to have, and the more solid design could be why I don’t notice any of the characteristic Samsung creaks when squeezing this phone. I understand the need for a port cover, but it’s pretty annoying to open and close every time — and no wireless charging built-in? Come on, Samsung.
[h=3]Screen, sensors, and battery[/h]Dominating the front of the phone is a 5.1-inch 1080p AMOLED display. There were rumors that Samsung was going to move to a 1440p screen, but that doesn’t mean this panel should be a disappointment. Indeed, Samsung has solved many of the issues I and others have long had with AMOLEDs.
For starters, the clarity is excellent, as are the viewing angles. The color range and brightness of this new AMOLED are much improved, even compared to the Galaxy Note 3, which is only a few months old. AMOLED is always a little more warm than LCDs, but Samsung has controlled that better this time around. There are still times the reds and oranges pop too much, but it’s not as obvious.
The display can also get blazing bright — over 400nits, making it fine for outdoor use. On the other end, the screen can be made incredibly dim, which is excellent for using in a dark room. Older AMOLEDs are prone to distortion at very low brightness levels, but the GS5 does very well. There’s a bit of a purple ghosting around fast movement, but it’s barely noticeable.
Below the screen you’ll find the home button (more about that in a moment) and two capacitive buttons. Thankfully, Samsung has at least opted to include back and multitasking, rather than back and menu. This is more consistent with Android’s direction, even though the controls aren’t on the screen.
I’m not wild about having a physical home button because it’s just that much harder to press if you’re reaching for the phone from an odd angle. Behind the home button is a fingerprint reader that can be used to unlock the phone and secure apps. Unlike Apple’s Touch ID, this is a traditional sensor that you have to drag your finger across.
Next page: The Galaxy S5 camera…
More...
[h=3]Specs and debatable design[/h]The Samsung Galaxy S5 is specced like all the other high-end phones you’re going to see in the first half of 2014 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 2800mAh removable battery, and 16/32GB storage options. Unlike an increasing number of smartphones, the Galaxy S5 packs a microSD card slot for more storage, though it’s less useful on the newest builds of Android. The basic specsheet is a solid foundation for layering on all the features that set the Galaxy S5 apart.
The overall design of the Galaxy S5 is Samsung through and through. The device has a more rectangular shape than past devices, but it’s very similar to the Galaxy Note 3. The edge even has the same silver-ish plastic ripple pattern. The back is actually an improvement over the Galaxy S4. It’s not nearly as slippery, but the dimple pattern doesn’t look awesome. It feels like something in between soft touch plastic and the slippery stuff Samsung used to make battery covers out of. The speaker is also back there, and it’s fine — about what you’d get on any number of other devices. It’s loud enough, but the back vibrates if you crank it up.
The Galaxy S5 is IP67 rated for dust and water-resistance. That means it can be under three feet of water for 30 minutes. This, of course, relies on the device being sealed up. The back plate needs to be snug, and the port cover on the bottom should be firmly inserted. This is a nice feature to have, and the more solid design could be why I don’t notice any of the characteristic Samsung creaks when squeezing this phone. I understand the need for a port cover, but it’s pretty annoying to open and close every time — and no wireless charging built-in? Come on, Samsung.
[h=3]Screen, sensors, and battery[/h]Dominating the front of the phone is a 5.1-inch 1080p AMOLED display. There were rumors that Samsung was going to move to a 1440p screen, but that doesn’t mean this panel should be a disappointment. Indeed, Samsung has solved many of the issues I and others have long had with AMOLEDs.
For starters, the clarity is excellent, as are the viewing angles. The color range and brightness of this new AMOLED are much improved, even compared to the Galaxy Note 3, which is only a few months old. AMOLED is always a little more warm than LCDs, but Samsung has controlled that better this time around. There are still times the reds and oranges pop too much, but it’s not as obvious.
The display can also get blazing bright — over 400nits, making it fine for outdoor use. On the other end, the screen can be made incredibly dim, which is excellent for using in a dark room. Older AMOLEDs are prone to distortion at very low brightness levels, but the GS5 does very well. There’s a bit of a purple ghosting around fast movement, but it’s barely noticeable.
Below the screen you’ll find the home button (more about that in a moment) and two capacitive buttons. Thankfully, Samsung has at least opted to include back and multitasking, rather than back and menu. This is more consistent with Android’s direction, even though the controls aren’t on the screen.
I’m not wild about having a physical home button because it’s just that much harder to press if you’re reaching for the phone from an odd angle. Behind the home button is a fingerprint reader that can be used to unlock the phone and secure apps. Unlike Apple’s Touch ID, this is a traditional sensor that you have to drag your finger across.
Next page: The Galaxy S5 camera…
More...
