Samsung has just announced its latest flagship device, the Galaxy S5, at its Unpacked 2014 Episode 2014 event here in Barcelona, Spain. This time around Samsung wanted to keep everything simple instead of bloating the device with advanced features, because they think that's not what the average consumer wants. The average consumer wants an advanced camera, the fast network connectivity, dedicated fitness tools and enhanced device protection features as consumers stay fit and connected in style.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 features a stunning 5.1-inch Full HD (1920×1080) Super AMOLED display with Local Contrast Algorithm, Super Dimming and Adaptive Display technology, Quad-Core Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC) SoC with a clock speed of 2.5GHz, Adreno 330 GPU clocked at 578MHz and 2GB of RAM. There are a ton of sensors on the device too, including: Accelerometer, RGB Ambient light, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Fingerprint Scanner and Heart Rate Sensor.
In terms of connectivity, the Galaxy S5 supports the fifth generation Wi-Fi 802.11ac and 2X2 MIMO, and supporting the large number of LTE frequency with LTE Category 4 standard, which makes the Galaxy S5 a world device. For consumers seeking an even faster connection, the Galaxy S5 now features Download Booster, an innovative Wi-Fi technology for boosting data speed by bonding Wi-Fi and LTE simultaneously. NFC, IR Blaster and Bluetooth 4.0 BLE / ANT+ are also onboard. Samsung has ditched the Micro USB connector for a USB 3.0 port, which should increase data transfer speeds by huge margins.
Samsung has done wonders with the camera tech in the Galaxy S5, both at hardware level and at software level. The Galaxy S5 now packs a 16 Megapixel camera sensor which can shoot 4K (UHD) video at 30FPS and 1080p (FHD) video at 60FPS. At the software-level, Samsung has added new camera modes: Virtual Tour Shot, Select Focus Mode, HDR (Rich Tone) and more. Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S5 with a dedicated image processing chip, and has also decreased shutter speed to 0.3 seconds between shot-to-shot. The device is also great for video calls/conferences as the device sports a 2.1 Megapixel front facing camera which shoots 1080p (FHD) video at 30FPS. The camera interface has been revamped, as well.
Let's talk about design, Galaxy S5's design is very similar to the one found on the Galaxy S4. From the front you will find it difficult to tell them apart but from the back, it's a different story. The Galaxy S5 features a perforated pattern on the back cover creating a modern glam look. Its new sleek, contoured shape comes in an array of vivid colours, including charcoal Black, shimmery White, electric Blue and copper Gold, to complement the style of the individual consumer.
Samsung has equipped a fingerprint sensor into the home button of the Galaxy S5, and the implementation is simply great. You can unlock your device with the fingerprint sensor, pay for your things via PayPal, sign into websites, encrypt personal files and apps using Private Mode and open desired applications using one of your assigned fingerprint. The Korean giant has managed to make the device IP67 dust and water resistant, which means there won't be an Active variant of the Galaxy S5 coming in the future. There is a flap cover on the USB 3.0 port to stop water from coming into the device, however, you don't need a flap for the headphone jack.
The Galaxy S5 comes pre-loaded with Android 4.4.2 KitKat and the new TouchWiz UX. The interface is now all flat and blue, its exactly the same as on the TabPROs and NotePROs. Magazine UX has been implemented into the new TouchWiz launcher, which you can activate by swiping left from your home screen. All previous Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note III software features are available on the Galaxy S5, as well. Samsung has introduced a Kids Mode, which is mainly designed for parents whose children love to play with their smartphones.
Samsung is going big with fitness this time. Samsung has re-designed its S Health application, to match the new user experience, and it looks simply stunning. With the enhanced S Health 3.0, the new Galaxy S5 offers more tools to help people stay fit and well. It provides a comprehensive personal fitness tracker to help users monitor and manage their behaviour, along with additional tools including a pedometer, diet and exercise records, and a new, built-in heart rate monitor.
To power all the technology inside the Galaxy S5, there is a 2800mAh battery. Dimension-wise, the Galaxy S5 is 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm and weighs 145g. The Galaxy S5 comes in 2 storage options: 16GB and 32GB. The storage is also expandable via MicroSD Slot. Samsung didn't mention any pricing but the device will be available in stores starting from April in 150 countries.
