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Open thread: impressed by the Samsung Galaxy S5 or not?
Yesterday at their MWC 2014 Samsung took the wraps off the Galaxy S5, bringing us a new soft-touch back cover, a fingerprint reader and several other new hardware and software features. While there were certainly a few changes and surprises when it comes to the Galaxy S5’s design, it really wasn’t the dramatic design departure that many of use were expecting.
In terms of specs, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a very real upgrade over the original, however.
The GS5 is powered by a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU with 2GB of RAM, though that latter spec might seem like a small step backwards when compared to the Galaxy Note 3. What really sets the Galaxy S5 apart from its predecessor is its water proof design and excellent camera, bringing us a 16MP shooter with ISOCELL technology. The fingerprint reader and heart rate monitor are certainly intriguing as well.
Here’s the full spec list to give you an even better idea of what to expect from the handset:
| Display | 5.1-inch Super AMOLED, Full HD (1920 x 1080), 432 ppi |
|---|---|
Processor | 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 |
RAM | 2GB |
Storage | 16GB/32GB |
Battery | 2800 mAh |
Cameras | 16 MP rear LED flash with ISOCELL and 4K recording (limited to 5min), 2.1 MP front |
Networks | 3G, LTE Cat. 3 2X2 MIMO |
Connectivity | GPS, GLONASS, microUSB, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 LE |
Dimensions | 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, 145 grams |
Colors | Black White, Blue, Gold |
Waterproof and dust resistant | Rated IP67 - USB port covered with plastic flap |
Software | Android 4.4 |
If we were to sum up the Galaxy S5 experience, it would go something like this: Samsung essentially took the Samsung GS4 Active, GS4 Zoom and the Note 3 and merged them into one compelling package. And then for good measure, they took the Nexus 7 (2012) backing and slapped it on the Galaxy S5.
The end result is a handset that removes the compromises users had to make with the S4 Zoom and Active, giving us a soft-touch design aesthetic that has an excellent camera, can handle taking a splash through the water and brings hardware prowess that’d we’d expect from a modern flagship handset.
Of course, not everyone is a fan of the new look and others feel that Samsung should have done something a bit more revolutionary in terms of design, both from a hardware and software standpoint. While we’ll be sure to bring you more Galaxy S5 videos, and an eventual review, we’d love to hear what our readers think of the newest member of the Galaxy S family.
So how about it, are you planning on buying the Samsung Galaxy S5 when it arrives sometime in mid-April? Are you impressed by the features? What are you most looking forward to with the handset? Or what do you feel Samsung should have done differently? Vote in our poll and sound off in the comments!
[poll id=”474″]