Another year, another flagship Milky way S device. Since the release of the original Galaxy S in 2022, Samsung has been routinely refining the formula through hardware upgrades, software polish and no shortage of gimmicks. We typically come across larger displays, more cores, more than megapixels, larger batteries and interesting new additions on every release and 2022'south Galaxy S5 does piffling to break away from this formula.

On the hardware front, the Milky way S5 provides an arguably smaller upgrade than nosotros've seen with past releases. The Super AMOLED display has seen a slight bump to five.ane-inches, and still packs the same 1080p resolution nosotros're used to. The Snapdragon 600 SoC of the Galaxy S4 is swapped out for the newer Snapdragon 801. A 16-megapixel camera is seen on the back, complete with 4K video recording. Null major, merely continual improvements in all the key areas.

Samsung Galaxy S5
$99 with contract, $700 unlocked

  • 5.1", 1920 x 1080 Super AMOLED display (432 ppi)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 SoC
  • ii.v GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB RAM
  • 16/32 GB internal storage, microSD card slot
  • sixteen MP camera, 1/2.6" sensor, f/ii.ii lens, 4K video
  • IP67 water resistant
  • Fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor
  • 2,800 mAh, 10.78 Wh battery
  • LTE, Wi-Fi a/b/1000/northward/air-conditioning, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
  • Android 4.4 'KitKat'
  • 145 grams, viii.1mm thick

But this wouldn't be a Samsung handset without a few additions. Following from the iPhone 5s' implementation, the S5 includes a fingerprint reader in the home button; and in keeping with Samsung'south push into fitness, there's a centre charge per unit sensor on the dorsum. The entire device is also IP67 water resistant, making it tougher than ever.

In that location's no doubting that Samsung's massive marketing upkeep volition make the Galaxy S5 very successful, but with increased pressure from HTC and their fantastic One M8, and the Sony Xperia Z2, Samsung is going to find information technology harder to have an accented winner in the flagship Android space.

Design

Not much has inverse, design-wise, between the Galaxy S III of 2022 and the Galaxy S5 of 2022. The plastic remains, the fake metal remains, and typical Samsung elements like the protruding camera, physical dwelling push button and prominent sensor array, besides remain. The dorsum panel is removable and the brandish gets slightly larger with each release.

Click on any photo to enlarge

Where changes have been made, the changes are for the better. Samsung has finally listened to the complaints and has opted for a plastic rear housing that doesn't feel inexpensive, slippery and awful. The new Band-Aid-mode texturing feels surprisingly squeamish, and gives the telephone a bear on of grade where it hasn't had any in the past.

But it's however plastic, which upward against the aluminium HTC One M8 and Apple iPhone 5s, or the drinking glass Sony Xperia Z2, seems a little lacklustre. The false metal rim around the Galaxy S5 does it no favors either, every bit it'due south blatantly plastic. With that said, I do similar the all-glass forepart console which looks reasonably good, particularly when yous ability upwards the brilliant Super AMOLED display.

While it'southward non the best smartphone build going around, information technology'southward easily the best Galaxy South pattern then far. The Milky way S5's body is very ergonomic, with the curves seemingly sculpted to match the human manus. Information technology's not the slimmest telephone e'er released at 8.1mm thick, but information technology doesn't experience chunky to concur, nor heavy at 145 grams. The shift away from the smooth, sleeky back panel too makes the handset easier to keep in your easily as it'southward considerably less slippery.

Next to the physical home button, which thanks to the fingerprint scanner has less travel than you'd expect, are the ii capacitive soft buttons. Finally, the menu button has been canned after information technology was made a legacy feature in Android 4.0 manner dorsum in 2022. It'southward been replaced with the far more than useful contempo apps button, allowing quick multitasking and switching of apps.

The other push is the dorsum push, which is on the opposite side to most Android handsets; non a huge deal, but you might be dislocated temporarily if you're coming from a non-Samsung device.

Around the edges, y'all'll find the volume rocker on the left-mitt side, and the power push on the right, continuing Samsung'southward tradition of placing information technology in the most comfortable location. Unlike other recent smartphones like the Nokia Lumia 1520 and HTC One M8, you lot tin can't double tap the display to power on the device, simply you do have the option of pressing the concrete home button or the power push button.

On the top edge is the iii.5mm headphone jack, plus the infrared LED which lets y'all control TVs, prepare-top boxes, home theatre systems and more. The bottom is where you'll observe the micro-USB 3.0 port covered past a flap, which is something that hasn't been seen in a Milky way device since the sliding cover over the original Galaxy S' USB port. Information technology's quite abrasive to take to constantly open the flap whenever you lot desire to charge the device, merely it'southward necessary for a new feature: water resistance.

The Milky way S5 is Samsung's starting time major release that is h2o resistant, with the company deciding that producing a carve up Active-branded model (like the Galaxy S4 Active) wasn't the platonic way to go. The S5 is IP67 rated, indicating information technology's dust tight and resistant to upwardly to one meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. Information technology's important to annotation that the Galaxy S5, similar other water resistant smartphones, aren't immune to salt water; if you have the S5 into the sea, you might end up corroding and damaging internal components.

I'g not convinced that water resistance is a hugely important characteristic for a phone. Don't go me wrong, it's cool to have the ability to have underwater photographs and drop it in the bath without caring, only I rarely observe myself in the situation where I'd similar to use my phone in a wet surround. Plus, the capacitive touchscreen doesn't work properly when it's wet, so your use of the S5 in a pool or shower will be limited at best.

The back of the device sees the camera protrude slightly from the body (it's nine.7mm thick at this bespeak), and below it is the all-new heart rate sensor in a cut-out alongside the LED wink. Further down y'all'll find the single rear speaker, and at that place's the usual range of branding.

Backside the Milky way S5'due south back comprehend is the long and slim removable battery, plus the microSD menu slot which is stacked on top of the microSIM slot. To the superlative left of the bombardment you can see a range of exposed pins, which are used for the Wireless Charging Southward-View Flip Cover, an optional accessory which is Qi-compatible.

With companies still charging a ridiculous sum for actress internal storage, Samsung included, I'm happy to see the inclusion of a microSD card. The removable battery is a slightly dissimilar story: very useful for a minor percentage of users, only due to the extra housing necessary, it reduces the potential bombardment capacity. The S5'southward ii,800 mAh battery (10.78 Wh) is nothing to sneeze at, only Sony and LG accept managed to pack 3,000 mAh (xi.four Wh) batteries in like bodies.

I final feature I'd similar to highlight is the cleverly subconscious notification LED that you'll find in the top-left corner. The LED is large, multi-colored and brilliant, making it easy to see when you've got notifications to attend to. It sits near the in-call speaker, prominent speaker array and front-facing photographic camera.

Throughout this review you'll see the "Shimmery White" model of the S5, but information technology's also available in "Charcoal Black", "Electric Blue" and "Copper Gilt", all of which look just as adept.