Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy S5 [VIDEO]
The Samsung Galaxy S5 was hands-down the most anticipated device at Mobile World Congress 2014. The Galaxy S series brings the most popular Android smartphone every single year, so a device of this magnitude simply cannot go unnoticed.
We are here in Barcelona and we got some sweet hands-on time with the next device of the year – the Samsung Galaxy S5. Does it disappoint? Is it all we expected it to be? Let’s check it out and see!
Is the Samsung Galaxy S5 a winner?
Samsung’s 2014 flagship device will definitely not win the specs war this time. At least not on paper, but this does not mean the Samsung Galaxy S5 is not a powerhouse.
Samsung Galaxy S5 specs
Though the specs can be matched and surpassed by multiple current and upcoming smartphones, Samsung has a plan in mind. The Samsung Galaxy S5 will give you the performance you need, paired with great new features many of you will take advantage of.
It’s all about the “glam”
Samsung made it very clear that this year’s devices had a huge focus in aesthetics. With it’s new dotted design multiple colors (as well as designer and special editions), the device is meant to look good as well as working like a champ.
But it’s also a strong phone!
Furthermore, it’s not just meant to be a good-looking smartphone – it is also a very strong one! The device has a rating of IP-67, making it both water and dust-resistant. This is a big step for Samsung, who’s devices are not known for being the strongest.
Crazy Galaxy S5 sensors!
Another big focus at Unpacked 5 was the health topic. This device can actually read your heart beat. There is a heart beat sensor located on the back of the device, right below the camera.
Another sensor that makes the device very interesting is the fingerprint reader. This puts the Galaxy S5 right against Apple (once again). You can use this fingerprint reader to protect your device and information, as well as making PayPal payments.
I must say fingerprint reader integration into mobile payments is quite awesome. It is a quick and simple way to authenticate yourself. Passwords are complicated and easy to forget. We are moving into a password-less future and fingerprint readers could be the first step in that direction.
Conclusion
Of course, whether a phone is good or not always comes to personal preferences. I happen to prefer other devices in the market, but I must say the Galaxy S5 is not a bad smartphone at all.
It’s specs may be lower than anticipated, but it didn’t hiccup once during our tests. The UI is much cleaner and the new features can prove to be very helpful to many of you.
The colorful designs are also fun and the rubberized. The display is also a champ, measuring 5.1 inches diagonally and featuring 1080p resolution, along with the amazing colors we have grown to love from Super AMOLED displays.
It’s camera performs like a champ, as well. Live HDR and 4K video recording are only a couple of the features it has. As camera enthusiasts, we can’t complain about this phone’s photo/video performance.
We will have to keep our mind open until we get to test it in more depth, but for now we say the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a winner!
For more details, you can always take a look at our Samsung Galaxy S5 announcement post or our Samsung Galaxy S5 vs. Galaxy S4 comparison.
What do you guys say – is this your next smartphone?