The last year or so, the big debate on the best smartphone to buy was centred on whether to choose the Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5. Then last February, that discussion has been overtaken by how appealing is the new Samsung S5 which was launched at the Mobile World Congress in Spain.
The verdict (so far) from the world’s technology press is that the changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary with the most outstanding features being the new 5.1-inch high definition (1080p) screen, a 16 megapixel scanner, a finger-print scanner and a heart rate scanner located next to the LED flash.
The S5 is Samsung’s flagship model and buyers expect the best and latest. The heart of the smartphone is the powerful Snapdragon 800 2.5GHz quad-core processor. The skin though is still the same in plastic (and not metal as some had hoped for) and in terms of looks, it is still similar to the S4 with its rounded corners, the main differentiating feature being the back of the phone having a rubber indented case which is supposed to make it easier to hold. The back case can be replaced in various colours.
Phone security is enhanced thanks to the new finger print scanner (first introduced by iPhone) which will be welcomed as it unlocks the phone and open its use for mobile payments. It was reported that Samsung in partnership with PayPal can allow Galaxy S5 users to authorise the online payment portal to make mobile payments with a touch of a finger.
Wealth is nothing without health and the new heart rate sensor should also please users as placing a finger over the smartphone’s flash will give a reading of the heart rate and together with some pre-installed apps such as a fitness tracker and pedometer means the Korean phone maker has beat Apple with a truly wearable piece of technology that appeals to fitness fanatics and those worrying about their health.
Battery life
Battery life is another important area users are looking at and the S5 does not disappoint. Samsung claims thanks to a new built-in power saving mode, the removable 2,800 mAh battery life is almost doubled when the battery is low on charge – stretching up to 21 hours of talk time and more than two weeks on standby on a full charge.
File connection and transfers are also upgraded with the faster USB 3.0 connecter. The phone itself comes with 16GB and 32GB internal storage along with an extra 64GB space via a plugged-in micro-SD card. It uses the latest Android 4.4.2 Kitkat operating system and worldwide availability according to reports from Spain says it will likely be by early April.
