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Samsung Galaxy S5 - The New Flagship From Samsung
The Galaxy S5, the new flagship for this year from the stable of the largest smartphone maker, is available for pre-bookings now. Lately, Samsung has been losing some ground in terms of market share, when it comes to the high-end smartphones. Although, Samsung has still managed to keep its number one position intact, the danger of losing the top spot is apparent. Samsung has huge expectations from the Galaxy S5 to reclaim its lost ground in the high-end smartphone market.
However, the success or failure of the S5 depends upon the product itself. If the S5 manages to garner the kind of interest the S3 did a couple of years ago and convert that interest into sales, it can definitely turn the fortunes around for its maker.
If you are planning to buy a new Android Phone and are waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S5 to be available in the market, than this review should help you decide whether the Galaxy S5 is the Android Phone for you or not.
Let’s review the Samsung Galaxy S5 and see, if the S5 has got what it takes to be a great smartphone and has the substance to leave a lasting impression upon the potential buyers.
Hardware Specifications
Samsung has not made too many changes to the hardware configuration on the Galaxy S5. The Galaxy S5 has 2GB RAM just like its predecessor and a 2.5 GHz quad core processor mated to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801. It is a smart move on Samsung’s part to not fiddle around much with something that is already near perfect.
Camera
Samsung has doubled the Mega Pixels on the snapper on its new flagship as compared to its predecessor. While some people may shrug it off as just another superficial change, Samsung has actually added some DSLR type features in addition to the extra Mega Pixels, which is definitely a good approach and is bound to generate a buzz among the Android fans.
It has a special HDR which adjusts according the ambient lighting conditions. Moreover, it also has a blur effect similar to DSLR’s that allows focusing on a particular point in the picture and blurring everything else. This could help the user click some great pictures.
Screen
As far as the screen size is concerned, Samsung had very little scope for improvement over the great display of the Galaxy S4. Increasing the screen size by much could have made it very difficult to use the phone with one hand and Samsung has increased the size by a marginal 0.1 inch, while retaining the Full HD resolution of 1920x1080, without adding much to the overall dimensions of the phone. This indeed is a step ahead of the S4 screen without too much of a change which could have been a party pooper for Samsung.
The PPI has not changed much and has come down slightly to 432 ppi over the 441 ppi of the Galaxy S4.
Internal Storage and Expandable Memory
While the Galaxy S4 is available in 16, 32 and 64 GB internal storage variants and supports SD card up to 64 GB, the Galaxy S5 comes in 16 and 32 GB internal storage options and has provision for expandable memory with the help of an SD card up to 128 GB.
Design and Interface
The new flagship from Samsung has the latest Kitkat 4.4.2 out of the box, customized with the Touch Wiz User Interface. Samsung has not made any radical changes to the interface, which was the buzz in the market and has chosen to keep the changes to minimal and unnoticeable.
The overall form of the S5 too has remained pretty much the same, except for the fact that it resembles the more rectangular form of the Note III, more than the Galaxy S4. Moreover, the battery cover at the back is made of the leathery plastic like the Note III as well. But unlike the Note III, it has perforated holes and no stitching, which makes it look more like plastic than leather imitation. However, it still adds a premium feel to the phone.
What do you think of the Samsung Galaxy S5?
Battery
This is an aspect that will always leave the fans asking for more. No matter how much Samsung increases the battery size on the S5, it is bound to fail to satiate the ever-increasing appetite of the fans. Still Samsung has added some more juice to the battery on the S5 as compared to the S4. While the Galaxy S4 had a 2600 mAh battery, the Galaxy S5 is supported by a 2800 mAh battery, that should provide enough juice for the additional screen size.
Galaxy S5: Hands on
Other features
The Samsung Galaxy S5 has certain add on features that might add to its charm and help keep the potential buyers hooked. It is IP67 certified and is water-resistant. So you can bid farewell to the anxiety of those accidental spills and sudden exposure to the rain. It also has a heart rate monitor, which may appeal to health conscious and heart patients alike.
Samsung has also thrown in a finger print scanner, which may prove to be the icing on the cake. Although, it is still futuristic to make financial transactions on the phone, but it sure provides some additional security for the occasional financial transaction.
If all this fails to excite you as a buyer, Samsung has recently announced a dual sim version of the Galaxy S5 in China and may extend the same to the international market soon. The Galaxy S5 is bound to create a stir in the smartphone market with the kind of features it has and will get the Android enthusiasts hooked.
However, it’s still early days and very difficult to predict the response in the market conclusively. Only time will tell, how the earlier lack of interest reflects on the sales of the S5 and how it actually fares in the fiercely competitive Smartphone market.
