It just so happened historically - simply due to the fact that Korea has recently become a developed and high-tech country - that Samsung has always been in the role of catching up, whichever product line you take. And she always professed the approach “we will overtake and overtake”, and, as a rule, not so much in the sense of “we have better”, but that “we have more”. Whether this is good or bad is an open question, but this approach has always worked and eventually allowed Samsung to become one of the largest and most influential companies in the complex and changeable high-tech market.
The Koreans themselves seem to be still at a loss about this and do not fully understand what to do. Because it’s one thing to be successful and dynamic “number two”, and quite another to try to orchestrate the market, come up with new ideas, develop hitherto non-existent directions and stuff like that. It cannot be said that Samsung is not trying to do this - they are even trying. But so far, with varying success: Korean inventions are often very artificial.
Apparently, Samsung decided to slow down a little with the usual quantitative approach. It’s not that it’s completely abandoned - of course, in the Galaxy S5 there is a certain amount of “bigger”, “higher” and “more often”, but it still feels like an attempt to do some serious work on the bugs: to do not only “a lot”, but also "Good".
⇡ Appearance and ergonomics
Design is a delicate matter. When it comes to the company's products, which are sold in millions of copies - and therefore, obviously, a huge number of people really like it, then everything is quite complicated. Here it is necessary to speak about design carefully: either good or nothing. Otherwise, there will be plenty of people who are indignant at value judgments. So about the aesthetic component, sorry, this time we just keep silent and focus on the facts. The facts are as follows: compared to the Galaxy S4, the new smartphone has become more square in shape, has acquired corrugations on the metallic rim, the back panel is now decorated with a leatherette coating, and the dimensions have grown significantly. As a result, S5 is more like Galaxy Note 3 than on the Galaxy S4. Is that instead of a "line" on the back - "perforation".
Structurally, the S5 does not differ at all from all previous Samsung devices of a serious price category. Inside the magnesium frame, which plays the role of a strong and rigid frame, outside - exclusively plastic "kit". Either the plastic panels in the S5 have become a little thicker than in the S4, or the vibration isolation has been strengthened, but the “sonority” of the case, characteristic of the previous Samsung flagship, has seriously decreased. The case still vibrates when tapped, but much less noticeably.
The main innovation of the Galaxy S5 is the appearance of protection against moisture and dust. Koreans have already tried their hand at this genre, but earlier separate models of smartphones were created for experiments. In the "normal", "basic" flagship, Samsung uses this feature for the first time.
Moisture and dust protection is implemented according to the IP67 class. It was not without a marketing ploy: in the eyes of an uninformed person, IP67 is obviously more and “better” than IP58, which Sony claims for its flagships. In fact, this is not at all the case: the fact is that the Ingress Protection rating (the same IP abbreviation) consists of two numbers that are independent of each other. The first digit speaks of dust protection and only about it - accordingly, in terms of water protection, the IP6x class is no better than IP5x.
The second distinguishing feature of the Galaxy S5 is the presence of a fingerprint sensor. Like Apple, the sensor is built into the only physical button on the front. But it works in a completely different way: you can turn on the iPhone with a button and, holding your finger on it for a split second, unlock the smartphone. In the Samsung Galaxy S5, these actions are divided into two independent operations: you must first turn on the smartphone, and then slide the registered finger from the mark on the display to the sensor.
Fingerprint sensor built into the home button
The sensor works quite well - it recognizes the finger quite stably, even if you hold it at all sorts of unnatural angles, except that it doesn’t work upside down. But the process itself is less convenient than Apple's, and takes a little longer. However, even in this form it turns out much faster than with entering a password or a pattern of dots. Additional actions can be tied to the fingerprint sensor - up to the authorization of transactions in PayPal.
There is only one "loud" speaker in the Samsung Galaxy S5, it is located at the back. Sounds pretty nice and very loud
However, it should be borne in mind that, as in the case of the iPhone, they have already learned how to bypass protection: for this, you need to take some actions that are not exactly simple, but still by no means quantum mechanics. So it’s worth minimizing the risk: do not tie the most valuable and easily “monetized” logins-passwords like banking passwords to “fingers”, and also use those fingers for identification, good prints from which, most likely, will not remain on the glass of the front panel - the little finger or unnamed.
The third unusual feature of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the built-in heart rate sensor. It is located in a small niche on the back of the case, the camera flash is placed in the same niche. The sensor is a pair of elements: a diode that illuminates the finger, and a simple camera that reads the pulsation.
Due to the protected design, the body has grown seriously. The display at the same time increased purely formally - by 0.1 inches. So there is no question of some new level of comfort when working with the screen, but you have to reach for the necessary elements much further. Visually, the Galaxy S5 does not give the impression of a large device - the shape greatly smoothes the dimensions - but in fact it almost caught up with the Xperia Z1. And it greatly overtook the LG G2, equipped with a larger screen.
However, this is the problem with most modern flagships: they are all too big. We are already used to this: we have long learned to stretch our fingers to such distances that it was difficult to imagine before, as well as quickly intercept the tubes from a comfortable grip into one that makes it easier to reach the button with your finger.
⇡ Specifications
Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900F) | |
---|---|
Display | 5.1" 1920x1080 AMOLED |
Touch screen | Capacitive, up to 10 simultaneous touches |
Air gap | Not |
Oleophobic coating | There is |
Polarizing filter | There is |
CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC v3: four cores Qualcomm Krait-400 (ARMv7), frequency 2.46 GHz; process technology 28 nm HPm |
Graphics controller | Qualcomm Adreno 330, 578 MHz |
RAM | 2 GB LPDDR3-1600 |
Flash memory | 16 GB (about 12 GB available) + microSD |
Connectors | 1 x micro-USB 3.0 (MHL) 1 x 3.5mm headset jack 1 x microSD 1 x micro SIM |
cellular | 2G/3G/4G Qualcomm MDM9x25 modem (built into processor), WTR1625L transceiver + WFR1620 receiver One micro-SIM card |
Cellular 2G | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz |
Cellular 3G | WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz DC-HSPA+ (42.2/5.76 Mbps) |
Cellular 4G | LTE FDD band 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 (2100/1900/1800/850/2600/900/800 MHz) LTE Cat. 3 (150/50 Mbps) |
WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz |
Bluetooth | 4.0 |
NFC | There is |
IR port | There is |
Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou |
Sensors | Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer, fingerprint sensor, heart rate sensor |
Main camera | 16 MP (5312x2988), 1/2.6" Samsung S5K2P2 CMOS sensor with back-illumination and ISOCELL technology, element size 1.12 µm autofocus, LED flash |
Front-camera | 2 MP (1920x1080), 1/7.3" Samsung S5K8B1YX03 CMOS sensor, back-illuminated, element size 1.12 µm, no autofocus, no flash |
Food | Removable battery 10.78 Wh (2800 mAh, 3.85 V) Built-in NFC antenna in the battery |
The size | 142x73mm Body thickness: 8.3mm (9.7mm including camera) |
Weight | 145 g |
Water and dust protection | IP67 |
Operating system | Google Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) Samsung's own TouchWiz skin |
recommended price | 29 990 rubles |
* There is also a 2 GB version random access memory and 16 GB drive |
⇡ Hardware and communications
In past years Samsung flagships first they appeared with their own Exynos processors and only then, due to the special wishes of American mobile operators, did versions on Qualcomm chips come out. The turning point occurred at the launch of the Galaxy Note 3: both Exynos and Qualcomm Snapdragon versions were announced for this model at the same time.
For the Galaxy S5, the version (or rather, “versions” - there are quite a lot of them for different markets) on American processors will become the main one. Modifications on Exynos also exist, but already as secondary-auxiliary, for some special markets - it is not yet clear for which ones, they have not yet gone on sale. One way or another, the SM-G900F version equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with the uncomplicated model name MSM8974AC v3 is currently relevant on the Russian market.
The American chipmaker introduced a fair amount of confusion to its lineup earlier this year, so it makes sense to provide a table that shows the differences between different Qualcomm SoCs.
Maximum CPU frequency | Maximum GPU frequency | ISP | eMMC | Dual SIM Dual Active | Memory interface | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Snapdragon 800 | ||||||
MSM8974VV v2 | 2.2 GHz | 450MHz | 320 MHz | 4.5 | Not | 800 MHz |
MSM8974AAv2 | 2.3 GHz | 450MHz | 321 MHz | 4.5 | Not | 800 MHz |
MSM8974AB v2 | 2.3 GHz | 550MHz | 322 MHz | 4.5 | Not | 933 MHz |
Snapdragon 801 | ||||||
MSM8974AAv3 | 2.3 GHz | 450MHz | 323 MHz | 5.0 | Yes | 800 MHz |
MSM8974AB v3 | 2.3 GHz | 578MHz | 465 MHz | 5.0 | Yes | 933 MHz |
MSM8974ACv3 | 2.5 GHz | 578MHz | 465 MHz | 5.0 | Yes | 933 MHz |
So, MSM8974AC v3 is the most powerful Qualcomm chip in existence today. It is still quad-core and 32-bit - the Krait-400 architecture is used, working with the ARMv7 instruction set. But compared to the “regular” 800, the new version is noticeably overclocked: the maximum frequency of both the computing cores themselves and the graphics adapter built into the processor is higher, the chip can work with faster memory, even the ISP is overclocked - the unit responsible for working with cameras .
In addition, new versions of Qualcomm's flagship chips have added support for a faster interface for connecting eMMC 5.0 flash memory, as well as support for two SIM cards in Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) mode. The latter, however, is not relevant for our version of the Galaxy S5 - there is only one SIM card in it, in the “micro” format.
The amount of RAM has not changed compared to that in the Galaxy S4 and is still 2 GB. The type of memory, apparently, is the same as in the Galaxy Note 3 - LPDDR3-1600. As for the flash drive, there are versions with both 16 GB of internal memory (of which about 12 GB are available), and with 32. Of course, microSD cards are supported, Samsung prefers not to limit the user in their desire to expand the storage capacity.
By and large, everything is the same with communication: the Snapdragon 801 has the same MDM9x25 modem as the Snapdragon 800, which can work with any existing networks of the second and third generations, and also supports operation in LTE category 4 networks. Support for faster networks LTE Cat. 6 (recall that in Moscow such a network is already operating within the Garden Ring) will have to wait until the next generation of the modem, MDM9x35. Moreover, at first this modem will be external, and only by the release of Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 will it move to the SoC.
As for the RF part, everything is more interesting here: the Samsung Galaxy S5 uses a new WTR1625L transceiver equipped with a WFR1620 companion chip, which is an additional receiver and is designed to implement carrier frequency aggregation technology. The Galaxy S5 also has a QFE1100 chip responsible for Envelope Tracking technology. All this additional equipment in theory allows you to increase the data transfer rate and reduce power consumption.
Connectors for microsim cards and memory cards in the Samsung Galaxy S5 are located in a "sandwich". And the NFC antenna is built into the battery
With a set of supported ranges, alas, everything is not as great as we would like. Samsung prefers to demarcate markets, including support for cellular networks. This is good for merchants in local markets, but not very pleasant for those who travel frequently and want to use fast data transfer in any part of the world. SM-G900F is the European version of the device, and in Europe there will be no problems with communication. However, it is not as well suited for other regions: many popular 3G/4G bands in the US are not supported. Not to mention China.
The micro-USB 3.0 connector is hidden under a flap. You will have to open it every time to charge, the ability to connect a docking station is not provided, but you can purchase a back panel with wireless charging - of course, for extra money
For a wired connection, a micro-USB 3.0 interface with MHL support is used. Wireless interfaces - a complete set: the user has a dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac adapter, and Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC. There is also an infrared port - so that the smartphone can work as a universal remote control. Among other things, this can be useful if you want to turn down the volume of the TV in some public place.
The Qualcomm iZat Gen8B module built into the processor is responsible for working with navigation satellite networks, exactly the same as in the Snapdragon 800. Recall that in addition to the GPS and GLONASS systems that have already become standard, this module and the WTR1625L transceiver already mentioned above also support the Chinese Beidou. Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy S5 seems to have become the first “global” smartphone for which Beidou support is declared in the official specifications and is really implemented - for the first time we managed to catch Chinese satellites on SGS5.
Samsung Galaxy S5 GPS/GLONASS/Beidou receiver test. Left to right: 15 seconds after launch; one minute after the start; in room
Navigation works very quickly: even without access to the Network, the Galaxy S5 literally in a matter of seconds finds a dozen and a half satellites and confidently determines the coordinates. It's the fastest navigation smartphone we've ever seen - the speed is amazing.
It's highly unlikely that the 2014 flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S5, received an official update to Android 7.0 Nougat. If you want to install something newer than Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on your phone, then you'll have to take matters into your own hands. We will of course help you by creating step by step instructions installing custom firmware based on the seventh version of Android on the Galaxy S5.
Note: The firmware in question will only work on Snapdragon variants of the Galaxy S5 (klte), including SM-G900F, SM-G900T, SM-G900M, SM-G900P, SM-G900V, SM-G900FD, SM-G900MD, SM-G900K, SM-G900L, SM-G900S and some others. If you have an Exynos variant (SM-G900H), then you should be disappointed that Android Nougat is rather unstable for it at the moment. However, following this instruction, you can install it on your device and test it (the download link can be found on the forum of this site).
Is it necessary to change the official firmware to custom at all?
Without regular platform security updates, you expose yourself to a huge risk of being hacked, which can lead to data or even money being stolen. If you are still getting the Android security patches promised by Samsung and the software you are using is fine, then I think you should not reflash.Installing Nougat on Galaxy S5: first steps
The first thing to do is create a data backup. In most cases, the contacts on your phone are already synced with your Google account. You can back up all the data on your phone with the help of our instructions, which will allow you to do it quickly and correctly.Keep in mind that after flashing, the data of many programs and games will be lost. Photos and videos can be uploaded to Google Photos. One way or another, during the installation of custom firmware, you can choose to clear the phone's memory or not.
Also make sure that your smartphone is at least 60-70% charged, but it is best to fully charge it before installing the firmware.
We connect Galaxy S5 to the computer
Unfortunately, to prepare for the firmware, we need a utility that only works under Windows. If you do not have drivers installed yet, you can download them from the official Samsung website. Also download the ODIN utility itself from this link. Install the drivers and extract the ODIN archive to any place convenient for you, such as "Documents".Download Mode on Galaxy S5
Reboot your phone into download mode. To do this, turn off the Galaxy S5 completely, and then press the following buttons at the same time and hold for a few seconds: "Volume down", "Home" and "Power". A warning should appear on the screen, which must be skipped by pressing the Volume Up key.
Run the ODIN you downloaded and unzipped earlier and connect your phone with the USB cable. This program should detect the device and if this happens, then the inscription will appear at the top left, as you can see in the screenshot below. And at the bottom in the block with logs, the message “Added” will appear, which means that everything is in order, the S5 is ready to go.
If the phone is in download mode, but is not displayed in ODIN, then you need to install other drivers - ADB Driver Installer. Then we move on to the next step.
Install custom recovery (TWRP Recovery)
To install custom android firmware 7.1.1 Nougat for Galaxy S5, first you need to replace the stock recovery, which is available in all Android devices, with a custom one. As you might have guessed, stock recovery only works with official software, and custom recovery with modified ones.Download the version of TWRP Recovery for your smartphone model from this link. Make no mistake with the model number, go to the Primary (Recommended) section and download the file latest version exactly in .tar format on your computer.
After that, in the ODIN program, you need to select the newly downloaded recovery. Click the “AP” button, find this file and click the “Select” button. Make sure your phone is connected to your computer as described above and then click on the “Start” button. Within a few seconds, the process should complete and the Galaxy S5 should reboot.
Download and install Android 7.1.1 Nougat on Galaxy S5
After installing the custom recovery, we proceed directly to installing Android 7.1.1 Nougat on the Samsung Galaxy S5. First, download the firmware from the official website of Lineage OS (formerly known as CyanogenMod). Click on the latest build (always at the very top) and the ZIP archive will start downloading automatically. So far, only so-called “nightly” builds are available, which are updated every day, but stable versions will appear after a while with software improvements.Now it's hard to do without Google services, such as, for example, Play Market, so we also download the ZIP archive with Google applications. The easiest way to do this is with the Opengapps.org resource. We go to the site, select the platform (in this case, ARM), the version of Android and also the set of applications that you are going to use. I recommend choosing the minimum set of "pico" or "nano", but by clicking on the icon next to the name, you can see a complete list of all applications that are included in the package.
Then click on the red download button below to download.
First device setup
After starting the phone, you will have to go through the process of setting up the phone for the first time, as if it were brand new. Connect to Wi-Fi, sign in with your Google account, and install all the necessary apps and app store. Samsung Galaxy S5 will regularly receive fresh android updates, including the latest security patches.Advantages and disadvantages of LineageOS 14.1 on Galaxy S5
The firmware works very well, for months of use there were no problems. Everything works, including NFC and a fingerprint scanner. The only drawback is the lack of HDR functionality in the phone's camera, but even without it, the photos are very high quality.With this software, this machine feels brand new and faster than ever. If you still buy a new battery, then it will be able to please you for several more years. The Samsung Galaxy S5 could get Android O the same way, the next expected update from Google.
One of the most anticipated new products of 2014, which, despite all the criticism in its direction, has been actively and successfully sold for about two months in domestic retail. Samsung Galaxy S5 is probably the most popular Android flagship in our country. In addition, this is the most controversial device of this year. Serious performance, rich functionality, as always a lot of new interesting features, but still the same missing design.
Now that all the flagships from the largest companies have already reached retail, it's time to draw conclusions about the Galaxy S5. Latecomers turned out to be Sony Xperia Z2, which was originally supposed to appear on sale earlier than the S5 by a whole month, but in the end was late for the same period. LG summed up the line by releasing its G3. And now we can make the most objective and balanced conclusion regarding the main Korean miracle, but first, let's figure out what is so interesting that the Samsung Galaxy SM-G900F can give us.
As always, the smartphone comes in a recycled box, which, in addition to the device itself, also contains a charger, a synchronization cable, and a branded headset with a remote control on a cord.
And now I’m focusing on what makes it possible to distinguish a Korean smartphone from any fake that the radio markets are inundated with, namely, there are a lot of various leaflets made from recycled paper in the package. Please note that some of them have high-quality color printing. In addition, in the kit from under the "original" there should be just such a warranty card.
In a box with a fake, most likely, none of this will be present. Usually the Chinese are limited to a couple of three pieces of paper with printing of relatively poor quality. Thus, we figured out how to distinguish an S5 from a fake, paying attention only to the accompanying documentation.
Appearance
In my opinion, in terms of design, the Galaxy S5 consists of exactly two smartphones. We can observe one from the front side, and the second is completely different from the first and we find it by turning the device over. About everything in order.
Galaxy S5. Model 1: front side
Around the perimeter of the device is a chrome-plated plastic frame. It is not clear whether the shiny coating will peel off. So far, there have been no negative reviews from users regarding this parameter during the two-month operation of the device. Obviously, the coverage is more or less high quality.
The shiny frame protrudes strongly above the screen surface. I immediately recall the once popular Nokia 5800, the plastic frames in which made the use of a smartphone rather inconvenient.
In Samsung, they, of course, do not stick out so much, but it would be better not to have them. In the same HTC One (M8) there are also protruding sides, but they are made very carefully and are almost invisible.
Around the display there is a dark blue surface rolled up under glass, which is framed by a layer of a slightly different color. This is noticeable, but it does not negatively affect the perception of the device.
Under the display, there is one physical home button, which is also a fingerprint scanner. Button travel is light and moderately soft. On the sides are touch buttons: the back key (on the right) and the button responsible for displaying the last used applications (on the right). It's great that Samsung engineers did not transfer the smartphone controls to the screen, but left them under the display. Many manufacturers do not follow this tradition, resulting in an empty space under the screen.
Above is an LED indicator for various events, then a speaker grid, under which a brand name flaunts. Closer to the right edge is the ambient light sensor, proximity sensor and front camera eye.
The edging of the device has three ribs, which makes the boring design of the smartphone a little more interesting. On the left side of the device are the volume keys. On the right side there is one single button responsible for turning off the screen.
At the top is a sealed 3.5 mm audio jack, a microphone hole and an infrared port.
At the bottom there is a hole for another microphone and a plug that hides the micro-USB 3.0 connector (type B). There is also a small loop for attaching a lace to the device.
The back of the device is completely different and what was described in the first part has nothing to do with the design of the back of the S5.
One gets the impression that two separate groups of designers were involved in the appearance. Laughter through tears.
The first thing that catches your eye is the surface with dots pressed through the entire area. What does the back cover look like? It's hard to make a direct comparison. The closest will be a comparison with soft and glossy skin.
The back surface of the S5 is very pleasant to the touch. The smartphone wants to be touched and touched.
In the upper part there is a peephole of the main camera, which protrudes quite strongly from the body. Directly below it, in a similar style, there is a slot for an LED flash and a heart rate monitor with an auxiliary LED. The latter slightly illuminates the skin while measuring the pulse with the corresponding sensor.
Below are holes for the main speaker. There are no other elements behind.
The back cover of the smartphone can be easily removed and provides access to the battery (2800 mAh). There is no hot-swap of the memory card and SIM card, as the battery must be removed each time.
By the way, the SIM card slot is inconvenient: it is very difficult to get the card out of the slot. Trite: plastic simply has nothing to pick up.
Dust and moisture protection
It is worth mentioning here that according to the specifications, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has IP67 water and dust resistance. It is understood that the smartphone can be under water at a depth of one and a half meters for 30 minutes.
Employees of the Korean company explain this approach by the fact that users forget to close the plugs of the connectors, as a result of which the devices still burn out. Obviously, even regular warnings of the system do not save that it is necessary to check the tightness of the device’s plugs every time after recharging.
In general, you can swim with the S5 at your own peril and risk. This is not the Sony Xperia Z2, which you can safely forget in an aquarium or a bowl of soup.
Notice the rubber band on the back of the battery cover. It protects important electronics from moisture, as after immersion, water accumulates, including under a removable cover.
Usage
The smartphone turned out to be moderately large. It is an order of magnitude larger than its predecessors (S4), but smaller than all its competitors. I propose to compare the dimensions of the device in the table below.
Length | Width | Thickness | The weight | |
Samsung Galaxy S5 | 72,5 | |||
Samsung Galaxy S4 | 136,6 | |||
HTC One (M8) | 146,4 | 70,6 | ||
Sony Xperia Z2 | 146,8 | 73,3 | ||
LG G3 | 146,3 | 74,6 |
Despite the very slippery back surface, the device lies securely in the hand. In the pocket of trousers, of course, it is felt, but it does not hinder movement. Still, this is not a Galaxy Note III, and certainly not a Sony Xperia Z Ultra. For people with small hands, Samsung has provided the activation of the control mode with one hand.
By swiping your finger across the screen from its middle to the edge, the active part of the display is reduced by half. In this case, you can reach all areas of the screen with your thumb. The reverse gesture stretches the active screen to fit the entire available area.
In addition, of course, there is support for many different features for people with disabilities. Samsung is one of the clear leaders in this area.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is on sale in several color variations: black, blue, gold and white.
Display
The screen is covered with tempered glass with an oleophobic coating that protects the surface from oily fingerprints. The distance from the edge of the display to the edge of the device is about 4 mm, which is quite a lot, but still does not leave a negative impression. Good!
The screen is a key parameter of any mobile device, and the Galaxy S5 is no exception. There is a Super AMOLED matrix with a diagonal of 5.1 inches. Resolution 1920 × 1080 pixels at a density of 432 pixels per inch. The margin of brightness is very large. Color reproduction is generally typical for displays based on Super AMOLED technology.
I mean, as always, there are bright acid colors with a green-yellow tint.
Especially greenish glow is noticeable when looking at the smartphone screen at an angle. The sharper the angle, the stronger the color distortion and a faint metallic reflection appears. Black stays black under any conditions. You can verify this in the examples of the photo below.
In the options, you can select several of the preset screen profiles. New is a setting that optimizes the picture depending on which application is currently being used. The mode is aimed, first of all, at saving battery consumption, since the display is traditionally the most voracious component in the device.
In the sun, the screen does not fade, everything remains readable, thanks to the anti-reflective coating of the glass and the adequate operation of the light sensor.
In the settings, you can activate the increased sensitivity of the touch surface, as a result of which you can work with your smartphone with gloves on.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a frequency of 2.5 GHz (4 cores)
- video chip Adreno 330 (578 MHz)
- RAM 2 GB LPDDR3
- storage memory 16 GB (actually available 11.5 GB)
- micro SD card slot (up to 128 GB)
- 5.1" display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels (432 ppi) based on Super AMOLED
- front camera 2 megapixels (1920×1080 pixels)
- main camera 16 MP (image resolution 5312 × 2988 pixels)
- 2800 mAh battery (removable)
- water and dust protection (IP67)
- sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, proximity sensor, barometer, light sensor, fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor
- platform Android 4.4.2 with proprietary shell TouchWiz
- 2G, 3G, 4G (LTE)
- Wi-Fi (801.11 a/b/g/n/ac), MIMO (2×2)
- Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
- USB 3.0, infrared sensor, OTG, MHL
- aGPS, GLONASS
There are no questions about the performance of the smartphone.
Everything flies without any delay. Applications, including the camera, launch very quickly.
Of course, all the most modern toys are easily swallowed by a smartphone even with the highest graphics settings.
The proprietary TouchWiz shell does not slow down, as it happens on the company's tablets. Everything here is very well optimized. In synthetic tests, the device scores almost maximum points. In AnTuTu, the smartphone gave the palm to HTC One, taking second place. Let's look at the screenshots.
Camera
One of the main advantages of Samsung's flagships has always been their photo capabilities. S5 is no exception. The built-in 16 megapixel module is capable of delivering very decent image quality. Error-free focusing, good stabilization and good color reproduction are the main positive aspects of the built-in camera.
You can safely score on additional settings and shoot only in automatic mode. Good ambient lighting will help you get decent shots. The only thing I recommend is to set the HDR setting to "On" and then the saturation of the pictures will be at least twice as high. The risk of smearing the image in this mode tends to zero, since the device does not hold a rate of fire.
The HDR mode is most noticeable when backlit or in the presence of strong shadows, as is often the case in direct sunlight. Take a look at the photos below and see for yourself that I'm right.
No HDR
HDR
And now let's evaluate the examples of pictures taken in various conditions.
The main camera of the smartphone copes with most of the possible variations of photography. Again, with a lot of light, the photos turn out great. In conditions with a lack of lighting, the quality of the photo, of course, deteriorates, but in general it looks adequate. Frames with the night streets of the city look good only on the display of a smartphone. When you open them on the big screen, all the flaws in the pictures immediately catch your eye. Noise, of course, is present, but still to a lesser extent. Exposure occurs correctly, which is why there is no fade into green or scarlet shades.
And yet, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has one of the best cameras.
As always, there are a very large number of settings, from which even rebit in the eyes. Out of habit, it is very difficult to quickly find the right one.
Of course, there are many different shooting scenarios available, including skin retouching, shooting fast moving objects, creating panoramas and much more. There is even a fisheye filter.
Using the built-in camera, you can create virtual tours of the premises. I think real estate agents will be very pleased. Although, except on the device itself, you will not be able to view such pictures anywhere else.
The quality of videos shot with the main camera is very good. Detailing and choice of exposure do not raise any questions. In addition, it is possible to set tracking autofocus or independently specify the object for focusing. In this case, the camera quickly and without errors “grabs” the object. What can I say, it is better to independently evaluate the capabilities of the video camera in a smartphone:
While recording a video, the size of the video is displayed (in the upper right corner of the screenshot), which increases as the duration of the recording.
4K video pleases the eye with deep detail. You don't have to look far for an example:
The fingerprint scanner
I have already mentioned the central button, which has a built-in fingerprint sensor. When the parameter is activated, at the beginning it is proposed to go through the procedure for entering a fingerprint, for which you need to swipe your finger several times on the Home button. Up to three fingers can be registered. Of course, it will not work to deceive the stray, since the preliminary setting is very accurate.
No need to specially slowly and carefully slide your finger over the button. This can be done quickly, as long as the entire print falls into the "field of view" of the sensor. The sensor fools only when moisture gets on it, but the system immediately warns about this. In other cases, scanning is always correct. The only thing is that entering the fingerprint of the hand with which you hold the device is quite difficult. You need to have some skill or do it just with two hands.
By entering a fingerprint, you can unlock your smartphone, buy applications and make purchases in other stores. We don't get it yet.
Sound and video playback
The headset from the kit has a good sound quality. In addition, it is equipped with a playback control panel. The bundled headphone cable is very rigid and flat, due to which it is less tangled.
It is gratifying that Samsung generally put headphones in the kit, which, moreover, are also of good quality.
In LG, for example, they abandoned this approach in almost all of their devices, for which they are minus.
The quality of playback through third-party headphones is at the expected good level. In this parameter, S5 does not differ from competitors' products. In a direct comparison with the iPhone 5, Apple's solution wins. The sound on the S5 differs for the worse only in a barely noticeable flatness and weaker low frequencies. The maximum volume threshold is almost comparable to that of the iPhone, which is generally a rare occurrence.
In the settings, of course, there is an equalizer with ready-made presets. In addition, it is possible to activate additional audio effects, such as studio sound, concert hall reproduction, and more.
In the parameters, you can pass a special Adapt Sound test, after which playback is optimized for each channel. For some, perhaps even for many, ears hear differently, and in order to level this difference, engineers have added this feature. This is how it looks in theory. In practice, I personally did not notice any changes.
The sound through the external speaker is loud, lively and without extraneous squeaks and whistles, as it could be observed in the tablet.
As always, Samsung's solutions handle most of the popular codecs right out of the box. Just look at the list of supported formats:
- audio: MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA
- video formats: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM
- available video codecs: H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8
Energy consumption
The device has a removable battery with a capacity of 2800 mAh.
The main thing, of course, is not the capacity and some numbers there, but the optimization of power consumption in the device. For the work done by engineers in this direction, you can safely put the highest mark.
Galaxy S5 is able to work on a single battery charge up to two days with average use: the brightness was adjusted automatically, Wi-Fi and other wireless interfaces were not turned off, surfing the Internet took about 3 hours, 10 minutes of calls per day, 3 hours were spent using other functions, about 100 photographs were taken. Very good result!
In the settings, it is possible to set the battery saving mode, in which the operation of some of the functions used will be limited. In such a case, the screen changes to a gray only display mode. Thanks to this feature of the Super AMOLED screen, in a monochrome state, it consumes significantly less energy. There is access to all the capabilities of the device, but the background data transfer stops and works only through the channel from Samsung. In other words, third-party network applications will not receive push notifications.
That's not all. If you need to stay connected for at least the next 24 hours with a 10% battery charge, you can activate the extreme power mode. In this state, the system completely excludes the possibility of using the main functions of the smartphone. The device turns into a black and white dialer and nothing more.
Software Features
As always, various special chips are sewn into the system. Many have long been familiar, and we will dwell on some in more detail.
Of course, fine-tuning of various input types is available. But appearance and the use of keys is ill-conceived. The virtual buttons are very small and difficult to hit without errors.
It is strange that with such a large display, the manufacturer installed such an uncomfortable keyboard. Maybe it's a matter of habit, but it makes no sense to endure it when you can install a third-party solution.
S Planner
This, my friends, is a calendar. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a very mainstream product. Many will switch to this smartphone from another manufacturer, many will encounter such an advanced device for the first time. And most of these people will need a calendar. And the corresponding name is simply not in the system. You can guess that the S Planner application replaces the same regular calendar only by the icon. In general, a strange approach, for which new users will definitely not favor a fresh gadget.
Standard file manager is a necessary and important thing on any modern device. All the necessary tools for working with files, of course, are there, but they are hidden in the drop-down menu. It is convenient when everything is at hand, but here there is no such thing.
Gestures
Chip " instant review" helps to flip through photos, music, a page in the browser by waving your palm over the display. The gesture sensor responds clearly and with virtually no misses. Most likely, it makes no sense to take it for permanent armament, but as a joke, ala to show to friends, it will fit very well. You can feel like a real Jedi.
Setting " smart pause” works out of the ordinary badly. You can safely forget about this feature, at least until the next version of the software. Maybe the work of the chips will still be debugged.
” allows you to open a preview image without going to it, if you hold your finger directly over the image and do not touch the screen. The gesture works correctly only in the gallery. In the video player, instead of previewing, playback starts from the place you hold your finger over.
Samsung has not forgotten about users who have small children. For this purpose, the program " child mode”, in which the smartphone loads the corresponding colorful shell. In this form, the device gives access to only a limited number of pre-selected programs. For example, the photo application is simplified as much as possible:
There is also the ability to make audio recordings, which can later be voiced by a specially trained crocodile. You can listen to music and watch pre-loaded cartoons. There is also a simple drawing.
Exit from the mode is carried out by password.
Along with the children's, there is also simple mode. Its essence lies in the fact that all additional and not very important settings are hidden, and instead of the usual icons there are enlarged symbols.
Similar to Guest Mode in the G3, Samsung has installed . The number of applications that can use this scenario is limited. You just need to choose in advance and set passwords.
Remote Control
The Smart Remote utility is responsible for controlling household appliances through an infrared transmitter at the end of the smartphone. The program is uniquely designed. Instead of the standard setup procedure, for example, a TV, you first need to select a country, then a region, after a cable TV operator (and if there is none?) and only then, you can go to the remote control interface. The latter, by the way, never caught my 50-inch panel from Panasonic. The LG G2 and Sony Z1 Compact did not have this problem. The TV was immediately littered with smartphones. In general, a strange and inconvenient application.
A fashionable trend now, within which all manufacturers are trying to come up with something of their own and teach the user to take care of their health. A beautiful aggregator application collects all the basic information about user activity. Everything as usual. It is possible to set goals, build graphs, count calories, steps and more. Of course, not as rich functionality as in the same Lifelog from Sony, but also quite a powerful solution.
You can install and integrate third-party applications into the program itself, which will work in conjunction with the parent application and smartphone sensors.
The main feature, of course, is the ability to measure the pulse. To do this, you need to place your finger on a special window under the rear camera module, freeze, do not shake your smartphone, and preferably not breathe at all. Only in this case, the measurement of the heart rate occurs correctly.
You can independently evaluate other interface elements from the screenshots below.
Samsung is moving towards evolution after the revolution... again.
Our verdict
Powerful, durable, with a new interface. It's a pity that Samsung hasn't gone any further with the design of its new device.
Device specifications
- Built-in memory: 16 GB
- Resolution of the main camera: 16 Megapixels
- Battery talk time: 21 hours
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Processor: Quad Core (4 Cores)
The Samsung Galaxy S5 can be summed up in one word: evolution.
The camera has been upgraded to capture clearer and faster footage. The fitness capabilities of the S5 have been improved over with the more powerful S Health app and built-in heart rate sensor. A fingerprint scanner has also been added to the most secure Galaxy phone ever.
The battery capacity is larger, the screen is wider and brighter, the processor is faster, and the design has also been changed.
The list of specifications of the device is definitely pleasing: 2.5 GHz quad-core CPU, 2 GB of RAM, removable battery capacity of 2800 mAh, 16/32 GB of internal memory (expandable up to 128 GB via microSD card slot), one of the brightest screens in the world, 5.1 inches, and biometric features have also been added.
However, when you first pick up the Galaxy S5, it's hard to pinpoint any one feature that will attract a potential user.
A lot of things that don't matter, since Samsung has as many fans as its rival Apple, and many of them will choose without hesitation new Galaxy without looking at its competitors.
But now you can forget about it. Released, which has more, much more features for this.
The design of the S6 is more impressive: its metal-and-glass body makes it look more like an iPhone than previous Samsung models. But, the design of the S5 is definitely an improvement over its predecessors.
The newest phone is more powerful, but it's missing the microSD card slot and removable battery, and it's not waterproof. If all this is important to you, then it is better to buy S5, as prices have dropped.
It's a wise price choice, but if you're shocked by the Samsung Galaxy S5's price tag, then you probably haven't paid much attention to previous flagship models. In fact, in some countries it costs a little less than before. Prices have dropped relatively recently and the SIM-free option now costs £370 in the UK.
As you understand, offers with contracts are now almost everywhere, in this version the Galaxy S5 has the same price as the HTC One M8, but it is cheaper than the iPhone 6.
Samsung took note of the input from Galaxy S5 users, but focused not on anything new, but on what makes the phone special to the consumer.
The company promised a "stylish" and "shine" design, a camera that works the way you want it to, and water resistance.
A little hint - there is information that will probably be released in February Samsung version Galaxy S5 Prime with more RAM, faster processor and QHD display.
However, this statement was withdrawn (perhaps due to problems encountered during the creation of a new screen), and only in South Korea did the Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE-A version appear. It has a Snapdragon 805 CPU, a WQHD display, and all the high-end features you could want. In short, this is an amazing phone and I would love to see Samsung sell it all over the world.
You can always take a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, a smaller phone that has the same power as the Galaxy S5, but with a lower 720p screen resolution. It has metal edges, as Samsung once again opted for light weight over weight and ergonomics.
This phone has high power, sky-high price and a low-res screen and premium design that rivals the new iPhone 6.
But if you want something smaller then there's the Galaxy S5 Mini. It is the same as its bigger brother, but it has slightly fewer features. It is not as powerful, but has an aesthetic design and a heart rate sensor. This is a great choice if you don't want to spend a lot of money.
But enough comparisons: let's look at one of the key questions Samsung needs to answer with its Galaxy S5: is it good enough for the market to compete with the latest high-end smartphones?
The simple answer, which you can give in a second, is no, because the design is not on the same level as Apple and HTC.
Although this is only a small part of this story, under the hood Samsung continues to play the game, applying the latest technological solutions and optimizing them so that they do not quickly drain the battery.
Is this phone good enough to compete with Apple on the best selling device lists? Yes, but it has more to do with their worldwide marketing policy. But even this will not lead to huge sales of the new phone.
Samsung needs this to be the last phone to speak the same design language (like the Alpha and Note 4). The Galaxy S6 should be the dawn of a new era for the South Korean company, one whose design will make consumers crave it.
And the new iPhone 6 was a real winner, betting on design. If buyers haven't fallen in love with the S5's big screen, then their desire for an Apple is getting stronger (although you'll certainly consider a lot of great Android phones before then).
Samsung recently reported that it sold 40% fewer S5 phones than the Galaxy S4 in the same device lifecycle.
The South Korean giant responded to these developments with plans to take a closer look at the strategy of this smartphone and focus on pricing rather than high-end devices.
What does it mean? Well, tentatively, we can expect some price cuts in the near future, which will make the Samsung Galaxy S5 more attractive.
Significantly for this review, the Galaxy S5 doesn't seem to be talked about much, but that's not bad for a company that was accused of using useless innovations on last year's model.
Design
I have always been cautious when talking about the design of the Samsung phone. The Galaxy S2, the company's first breakthrough, was mostly made of plastic but was one of the few five-star phones.
Thus, year after year, Samsung failed to bring something new, some kind of wow effect, while the rest of the competitors stepped onto the battlefield with confidence.
HTC is leading the way here with its one-piece metal One M8, and Apple has solidified its position with an improved design, the best since the iPhone 4, and taken a big step forward with the iPhone 6.
Sony's efforts in developing the Z line were rewarded with the release of the Xperia Z3 with a modern design, and even Nokia managed to play with aluminum and give some of their devices a premium look.
All of this makes me wonder: why is Samsung refusing to give customers what they want... called a metal case?
Presumably, there are several reasons: the production cost is too high, especially in the volume in which Samsung produces them, the company likes the lightness of devices, making a waterproof device out of metal can be quite difficult.
However, none of these reasons are true, as Apple is doing the exact same thing but with metal phones. Devices with a certain weight are better than light ones, and Sony's Xperia Z line seamlessly combines metal and water resistance.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is definitely more solid than the Galaxy S4 and feels more ergonomic thanks to its wider bezel, better grip and ribbed battery cover.
However, it does not look like an advanced smartphone. With its metal frame, it looks a lot like the Galaxy Note 3 and S4, and I subconsciously start looking for the S Pen.
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is an interesting offering, with a polycarbonate body and a metal frame similar to the Nokia Lumia 930. It seems Samsung didn't think to do the same with the S5 - it bears little resemblance to a new concept that could boost its sales.
Its back panel also does not cause delight. While I think it would be a bit harsh to compare it to a sticky patch, it does have a "medical" feel to it, especially its white color.
The blue and copper options seem more eye-catching, but still don't get as excited as the HTC One M8.
Despite the large screen, Samsung still does a great job with proportions. Although the body has become larger, it has not become something incredible. But if you switched to this device after the old iPhone, you may find it a little difficult to manage.
Those who have been fans of the Samsung Galaxy line before will find plenty to enjoy. The home button, which has a fingerprint sensor, is large enough to be easy to press, while the start button, located on the right side of the phone, is raised a little higher for a more comfortable press.
The same can be said about the volume control button on the right. Since the device has grown in size, it has become a little difficult for me to reach this area when I want to change the volume level when listening to music while walking.
One of the key changes in the Galaxy S5 is water resistance, it is IP67 certified, which means you can spill some water on it, but it is not recommended to swim with it.
It's also dustproof, which makes the uncovered headphone jack even more impressive, as the S5 doesn't need a cap to cover the port.
A USB 3.0 connection, which may seem superfluous to some, but the same was used in the Galaxy Note 3 for faster charging when using standard microUSB cables that have an increased IP protection class and some rigidity.
The gap meant for you to stick your fingernail in is quite small, and perhaps the only thing that annoys those who want the best Galaxy phone in their hands don't care about its water resistance.
The touch buttons are still next to the home button, but now they are slightly different. The menu button has been replaced with a multitasking button, which seems to be Google's favorite on Android 4.4.
You can still use it as a long-press menu button, but it doesn't work intuitively, and the right side is hard to reach.
It's not a bad system, and the physical home button, even less necessary than before, is still a nice touch.
Another win in the design of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the removable battery. It's mostly for peace of mind given the S5's long battery life, but if you're afraid it's going to break, then it's a good option.
It also means that the ugly FCC stamp will be visible and you won't need a special tool to remove the SIM card, moreover, it's easier to insert a microSD card.
The lid is a cause for concern if you're considering it from a waterproof standpoint, as it can sometimes be difficult to make sure that all of the fasteners fit into the slots when closed.
A warning message will appear on the screen to remind you of this, but you may need to check several times before making sure everything is closed.
If you look under the back panel, you will see that the battery is protected by a thick rubber coating, which means that if you drop the phone in water, you will be a little embarrassed, a lot of water in the phone, but it will certainly be all right.
I started to get worried when I noticed that sand got into the home button, but after an hour or two, it disappeared from there on its own, although this made me think about its dust resistance.
Overall, the design of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is likely to be the part that receives the most criticism, and for good reason.
When it's in your hand, it doesn't feel like a premium device like many other high-end smartphones on the market, and while many talk about the high quality of the polycarbonate used, it still pales in comparison to the competition.
Yes, it's lighter, and probably more rigid (you're less likely to need a case for the Galaxy S5, for example), but that's Samsung's biggest problem, something it's tried to fix with the Galaxy S6.
Key features
Last year, it was difficult to talk about all the new elements of the Galaxy S4, since most of them brought almost nothing new, except for technological tricks.
Things like Air Browse still exist, they are still in the settings, and this is a complaint against Samsung, which still has not removed them.
Although the company has tried to make the Galaxy S5 phone more useful, keeping what customers use every day. Let's now look at the new features:
S Health
One of the most obvious things about the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the heart rate sensor on the back next to the camera.
It is designed in such a way that it will allow you to get more out of your daily activities, using the so-called "Count yourself" (quantified self) applications that reflect all the data on daily activities.
S Health 3.0 is a nice upgrade and fills in a lot of fields that other apps don't. You can install the best elements offered by S Health, such as My Calorie Counter, which keeps track of calories, but for convenience it is better to use it with the main application.
The pedometer, like on most phones, is largely useless because it sets the number of steps you must walk each day, and you can only do this if you glue the Galaxy S5 to your hip.
It's not as accurate as what you put on your wrist or on your shoes, and Samsung has put a lot of effort into making wearable gadgets that seem more novel than useful.
You can track your exercise progress on your phone as it adds data to a centralized system. Again, there are better apps for recording your run, such as Adidas MiCoach, Runkeeper, or Endomondo, but this is still a good app for beginner runners, although it doesn't take into account the purpose of the run.
New to S Health this year on the Galaxy S5 is a heart rate sensor located on the back of the monitor next to the camera that lets you take your heart rate whenever you want.
But here's the thing: why do you need it? It's one of those elements that just seems to be there because Samsung was trying to think about what it could add to the S5 to make it feel new and interesting.
And, for the most part, it worked. But it's nowhere near as reliable as some kind of wrist or chest gadget (I've found it manages to get my heart rate every 3-4 attempts), and besides, it begs the question of when you'd want to use it. .
Ideally, if you remember that you want to take your pulse when you wake up, when you are relaxed and able to measure your heart rate at rest.
And maybe it will also be useful at certain moments of tension during the day, so that you can find out the necessary time for fitness sessions, provided that you use the application correctly.
But, in fact, you should remember to do it at the right time, that is, your average heart rate will depend on what you do during the day.
I know one person who has heart problems. I asked her what she thought of this feature. She said the feature is really useful for those who need to measure their heart rate throughout the day, or simply check how fast it gets when they exercise (although this is not enough for medical purposes).
Thus, S Health is a great app for those who have certain medical conditions and do not require very accurate data (the Galaxy S5 sensor is not intended to replace the corresponding medical equipment). But for the rest of the people, this thing falls into the “lower heart rate pub competition” category.
Samsung, like many other major manufacturers of large phones, are trying their best to extend the life of the battery, as it usually runs out by the end of the day.
As you all saw in the battery graph, the Galaxy S5 is a great choice if you want to spend more time away from charging your phone, and this new tool lets you feel more confident when your battery starts to run low.
This feature starts working when you activate it, not all the time. The screen goes black and white, the power goes down, and you're left with access to a limited number of apps - up to 6 of your choice.
The selection isn't that great (so you don't waste your battery power when you really need it), but includes Twitter and an internet browser. It surprised me.
In this mode, the phone will only consume power when the screen is active, which means that you will not receive background notifications, etc. It is not a good idea to use the browser or other battery-consuming applications in this mode, as it immediately loses meaning.
For example, at 7% charge, I activated this mode, the phone told me that the batteries would now last for 21 hours. An hour later, I decided to look again how much was left. However, I spent 3 or 4 minutes using a browser and then checked a couple of tweets. As a result, only 2% of the battery remained.
However, the good news is that if you have a 100% battery, you will laugh, as in this mode, it will last a very long time, with reasonable use.
In fact, I advise you to use this mode wisely. Don't do anything that drains your battery, just use your phone as a way to make a call or send a text message when you're not at home and need some battery leftovers.
I was quick to dismiss this mode as useless when I first encountered it in Barcelona and said that you might as well just turn off your phone. But it's actually a good idea, and it works better than a similar feature on the HTC One M8 that doesn't turn the screen to black and white.
It takes about 15 seconds to switch from normal mode to power saving mode, which is a bit long and tedious, so get ready to just activate it and put your phone in your pocket. If it were faster, then I would just turn the phone on and off as needed. Unfortunately, this is not an option.
Camera and selective focus
I'll go into more detail about the camera a bit later in this review, but here are some high-end specs worth talking about now, as it's one of Samsung's top picks.
Selective focus (or background focus, depending on what you want to call it) is a big thing for smartphone makers this year, as Sony, LG, and HTC have joined Samsung to take a photo by giving it " pro-effect, by defocusing the background with bokeh effect, but keeping the subject in place. Nokia started doing this back in 2013.
HTC is the best at bringing this to life, by adding the right sensor to give the greater depth of information required for such an effect.
Unfortunately, Samsung seems to be the worst at this task, as the method used here often fails.
After you turn on the camera, you need to select "Selective focus" on the left side. Then, hope the subject you want to capture matches all of the S5 settings, as often I've run into a message that the effect can't be applied because no foreground object was found.
The phone takes several pictures and then processes them, again, not quickly. Then you go to the gallery and click on the icon to start processing the image, which will take a few more seconds. And, if everything is in order, then you can choose a blurred foreground or background, but there is no way to save both options.
This is actually a very clever feature, Samsung did a great job and deserves respect, but HTC did a great job with their One M8. It's a shame that the South Korean company did it later.
Luckily, the rest of the camera's features are better improved: a more powerful sensor and instant autofocus are the main things that users are interested in.
The company doesn't seem to have done enough work on the flaws in the software, as the camera is slow to start up, especially from sleep mode.
I also noticed that autofocus is fast, but the shots aren't always sharp, so Samsung's claim that the phone is great for capturing all sorts of images isn't exactly true.
If there is good lighting and you know what you want to photograph (and the camera is already ready to shoot), then this is a good system ... but in most cases we use the camera not at all in such conditions.
In addition to the biometric features on the phone, this is a topic that can get infuriating, as many companies install it just for the sake of it.
Apple has done this for the first time with TouchID (accuracy issues aside) and companies in the industry have quickly begun to do the same.
The HTC One Max had a scanner on the back of a huge phone, but it was out of reach. Samsung has at least placed it on the home button, which is more conveniently located, but the accuracy isn't quite as high as the Apple version.
It's not bad, and it's definitely second on the market, but the Galaxy S5 asks you to swipe vertically down, not the normal gesture.
The good news is that you can swipe the button side to side with your thumb and it will work, but the accuracy is poor. Only one out of 7-8 attempts will be successful, and if your hand is a little crooked, then you can easily exhaust all 5 attempts.
I found that it started to work worse after a few days, since there is a possibility to add up to three prints there, I deleted my first attempt and tried again, sliding my thumb down and from corner to corner. The sensor seemed to like it better, and the accuracy of unlocking the phone improved.
I used to delete the last attempts when problems arose, but I followed the subsequent deterioration in performance, and most users would not even consider making new prints. As I said, doing the same fingerprint in two different ways, I saw a change in accuracy, but maybe that's not the only issue.
download accelerator
A download accelerator is one of the best ways to kill your traffic if you leave it on. I'm kidding, it won't hurt you if you have 4 GB of extra bandwidth.
The idea is simple: you have 4G, but you are connected via Wi-Fi and you want to download a file from the magical cloud world of the Internet. Instead of using one speed, the strengths combine to create super speed.
If something happens to one connection, the second one will take over the load and continue downloading, which means that by downloading files that weigh more than 30 MB, you will have tremendous speed.
One thing is not clear - is it possible to use high-speed download when the LTE / 4G connection is disabled. The app says only super-fast next-generation mobile connections are available, but the icon at the top of the screen still says 3G.
However, this does not work, so we can assume that this is another Samsung error.
Display
The display of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of the best on the market, and the best feature of the phone. You can talk about the extra innovation all you want, but if the phone has a big battery, a great camera, and a good screen, then it's a winner.
I like what it offers - it's brighter than LCD panels, at full power it looks more saturated than the HTC One M8. Plus, it can be darker than the rest (Samsung knows a lot of us read in bed), but still crisp.
According to DisplayMate, the Full HD Super AMOLED display is 22% brighter than the Galaxy S4 while using less power. Now you can go ahead and see what this amazing screen is capable of.
But here's the bottom line: The days when the Super AMOLED display was a color mess are over. Samsung has outfitted the Galaxy S5 with all sorts of customizations so you can find the exact balance of what you like. And features such as the adaptive display are necessary so that even in bright light, the information on the screen is clearly visible.
Unfortunately, this last mode cannot be used with all applications, only with the main ones, such as browser, gallery.
Good brightness, high definition, and better color reproduction (by most accounts) will impress all but the highest standards seekers, and if you spend a lot of time watching movies, browsing the web, or just flipping through photos, then this 5.1-inch 1920 resolution screen ×1080 would be the best choice.
It's unfortunate that a better option exists on both the LG G3 and the Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE-A version, as it's what makes the screen crisp and bright and can improve even the best display. But such fans of technology always want something more.
If you think what samsung phone buy, it is worth noting that Note 4 also has an improved display, one of the best recognized on the market according to DisplayMate.
Interface and performance
The interface on the Samsung Galaxy S5 has improved quite a lot compared to the S4 and previous versions of the Galaxy family.
This is mainly due to the new round icons and the geometric layout, allowing everything to look a bit more premium and fluid. You can argue that he's based a little on skeuomorphism, but that's kind of a hint that he's trying to imitate Apple, although I don't think so.
At least I hope not. I don't want to write about any court cases anymore.
Screen lock takes first place. Now it reflects the weather and the pedometer with the number of steps taken.
There's also a shortcut camera icon in the corner, which makes it easy to get into the app without having to unlock your phone (although it can be tricky to get to if you tap the icon incorrectly). This is a particularly useful feature if you have a fingerprint screen lock set up.
One of the best parts of the new home screen is the speed boost in TouchWiz. I wasn't the only one who noticed lag in the interface, but S5 users say it runs faster.
Desktop transition animations are still a bit slow as pages get stuck at the top of each other, but that's negligible.
The notification bar is one of the features that has undergone a significant change, it now has the rounded font I mentioned earlier and looks a lot nicer.
The settings menu is the same but has been split into more sections to give you quicker access to what you want. Although, if you are already familiar with Android, then it will take some time to get used to it.
Android Lollipop was launched not too long ago, and Samsung has already begun to implement it in the Galaxy S5. The update brings new features including LockScreen, pop-up notifications, MirrorLink and an improved fingerprint sensor, as well as new material design elements in the TouchWiz interface look. But at the time of writing, a lot of people are still waiting for an update for their phones.
Coming back to the phone itself, Samsung's clear tendency to collect news on other devices and continues to do so in Flipboard with My Magazine, which lives on the left side of the main home screen.
Basically, the app takes articles and Flipboard integrations and shows them in different categories, and it's not the most impressive improvement at all.
Once you've opened it, you'll be asked to select topics you might be interested in... but what is "News and Articles of Interest"? What news does the Sports section cover? It's impossible to define, so I instantly ran into an overabundance of content that didn't interest me.
If you dig a little deeper, you'll find that Flipboard's Magazine has an interface that allows you to set custom feeds, etc., which is much better.
Flipboard's Magazine InterfaceThis is a very controversial thing at Samsung, and My Magazine still needs a lot of work to be worthy, but for now, let me turn it off.
The quality of the news collected from most sources is not very good and intuitive, but I see in the not too distant future that the application will find content that interests me. So it would be nice if Samsung got this message.
But that doesn't mean Samsung doesn't have other new features that I love: for example, the Toolbox icon, which looks like a floating circle on the screen, it lets you select five apps that can be accessed by tapping on it wherever you are. in phone.
I don't want it to be enabled all the time, but you may run into situations where you need quick access to things like a calculator or voice recorder, and this is a great way to do that.
Multi-window mode is still everywhere, but I suggest you turn it off. The thing is, if you're trying to watch a video, the main app won't let you do so... you can only preview some videos, and the one you choose can only be watched in the second half of the screen.
The same thing is repeated with the internet browser and apps and it's really annoying when you don't want it.
Overall, I'm a bit disappointed with the Galaxy S5 interface. There is power: 2.5 GHz CPU from the excellent Qualcomm 801 chipset, which was the market leader at launch and remains impressive now, but still I found a lot of slowdowns in some places.
Launching the camera app takes a long time, powerful games, such as Real Racing 3 have low frame rates, many machines freeze (although a reboot fixed this problem a little), and the gallery takes a very long time to open if you have cloud storage.
Samsung doesn't seem to have optimized its software in these areas, as when using advanced features like RR3, the phone overheats, indicating that the phone can't wake up efficiently.
I've also noted more than one instance of the S5 freezing and crashing from apps ranging from Facebook to Gmail to SwiftKey. But now we've got a software update that has improved things somewhat, so it's not as bad as it was in the beginning.
Compounding this disappointment, the phone scored a respectable 2909 in GeekBench 3 testing, slightly better than the HTC One M8.
It should be noted that HTC, unlike Samsung, has added a "mode high power”, which allows these applications to get better performance. It's the same on both iPhones, which means the differences between high-end smartphones are disappearing these days.
There are very few differences between these four phones in terms of overall speed, but the problem with speed in games matters. Gallery loading speed has been an issue for a number of Samsung models, so I doubt this will change. But for a phone with a fast camera, something has to change.
I would like to pay special attention to the memory, given that Samsung has come under fire for the weight of its operating system in the Samsung Galaxy S4. Out of 16 GB of internal space, you get more than 11 GB for personal use, which is comparable to the best on the market.
This was helped by the fact that Samsung removed some of the less essential apps and made them available for download from its app store, which means you have more control over the interior space.
Battery and Essential Functions
Here's what I want to say: The battery life of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is amazing. If you don't want to keep reading, I don't blame you.
There are two reasons for the improvement: the first is that you now have a larger 2800 mAh battery, which obviously extends the life of the device. Secondly, you also get a fast Snapdragon 801 processor that handles everything more efficiently and saves battery life.
On top of it all, the screen is also much more efficient at the same brightness as the Samsung Galaxy S4, which drained its battery quickly.
This needs to be put in context: in our video battery drain test, when watching a video for 90 minutes at full brightness, the Galaxy S5 lost only 16% of its charge, comparable to the iPhone 5S, which has a slower processor, smaller screen, and fewer pixels. .
It outperforms the 23% drop of the HTC One M8, which if you've read this review is a good device in terms of battery life, so now you know how happy I was when I saw more impressive results.
In fact, only LG (out of the big manufacturers) seems to be more adept at optimizing the battery life of its devices, so it's strange that it couldn't beat Samsung with the LG G3, but it has a QHD display that's hard to beat.
The Samsung Galaxy S5's battery was so good that I started thinking about all sorts of things eating up battery pretty fast, so I checked the Maximum Power Saving Mode again. The phone lasted an hour or two of shooting, playing Real Racing 3 (that's what really eats up the battery) and 2 hours of video playback before 25% was left.
This figure has been surpassed by several other phones in recent times, such as the rival Sony Xperia Z3, but it's still the best.
These two power saving modes (maximum saving mode and normal) work quite well. In normal power saving mode, there's also the option to turn your screen into black and white, which means you won't have to worry too much about the battery (again, you won't want to be looking at your phone all the time, which will save battery too).
There is no way to reduce the power consumption of these apps, but perhaps this is a feature that Samsung will add later.
Required Features
It's worth remembering that at the heart of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is still a phone with some of the best features on the market.
For example, the company combined social networks with contacts. The smartphone has plenty of decent apps and widgets (we're still happy that the flashlight widget is only one icon) and generally knows how to get the best out of their phones based on credentials.
Calls
Making calls with the Samsung Galaxy S5, as with most of its Galaxy brethren, is a pleasure. It gives a clear and crisp sound. The reason we moved this item to the “essentials” category is simply because most phones are good at it, but Samsung is still at the top in this regard.
There are also old familiar touches, such as the ability to see the last message you exchanged with the person you're calling, and the ability to call back or send a message when a call is on hold.
The Galaxy S5's network coverage is more than acceptable, though not the best I've seen. It's a little disappointing because I was expecting more clarity from the connection to the cell towers of a phone with a polycarbonate body.
But still, this phone does a great job of calling other people, and if that's what you care about (other than perhaps the amount of money spent on such a high-end smartphone), then things could be much worse.
Messages
The phone messaging process has come a long way in recent years, and apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger pose a real challenge to today's SMS.
Luckily, Samsung is stuck with its messaging app and isn't forcing you to use Hangouts on Android 4.4, which Google is aiming to get more people on board by urging you to use the text messaging app the first time you download it.
With the new TouchWiz interface, Samsung has added another smart feature in the form of priority senders at the top of your mailbox. This means that the people you communicate with most often will always be available with a single tap in the open app.
The keyboard on the Galaxy S5 is a mixed bag. I always check the quality of the keyboard in the following way: whether I want to immediately download SwiftKey (one of the best keyboard apps on the Android Play Store) or not, or I can work with what is there.
In this case, I think you could still use the Samsung keyboard if you don't have to use a lot of commas. It has only one full visible stop key with letters, which means that you will be frustrated by pressing it again and again.
The keyboard should also match your style, but remember, there were times when it refused to type in a word I typed that was not in the dictionary.
Yes, I can almost say I'm praising this keyboard because Samsung really does add terrible options, but you'll probably still be happy to try some of the other features. It's still not as good as the rest of the market.
Browser
Like most smartphones today, Samsung offers a choice of two browsers: its own and Google Chrome. If you're using the latter as your desktop browser, then you probably won't want to change it because it's where all your history and passwords are stored.
That would be a shame, because Samsung paid back, a really good option that not only looks good, but is also very fast.
The interface is clean, with URLs and navigation keys that slide out of the way when you start browsing the web. It has all the standard features of Chrome, such as incognito and desktop mode, so you won't miss a thing when switching between them.
The bookmarking system works intuitively and saved pages work great in Pocket style.
As you might guess, most Android smartphones have best browsers to date, but Samsung's solution of having a download bar at the top of the page is very good.
Children's mode
You can argue about its necessity, but for those who want to keep their kids away from smartphone entertainment, Kids Mode on the Galaxy S5 will come in handy.
It's standard procedure: you activate it, enter the code, show the baby's photo and set the age so your boy or girl will know it's made especially for them.
You can then select the apps they can use (which look like presents on the home screen... "Dad, look, it's Escape Zombie Land! Thank you!" "Uh... I'm sorry, give me the phone. It's not for kids." ) and you can also set the amount of time to play.
From being able to click on the landscape and search for hidden treasures, to drawing, recording your voice, or watching pre-approved media. This is a good app, worth considering and adding to others.
I'm trying to pretend that I'm not accidentally playing this mode for half an hour during testing. I cant. There's an app that lets you record your own voice and play it backwards like a robot.
Camera
The camera on the Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of the most powerful on the market, with Isocell and 16MP.
It has a number of other features that will appeal to many, such as HDR real-time mode lets you see how your photo can be enhanced before you start shooting.
But the more interesting thing grabbing the attention of Samsung buyers is the fast autofocus, which can sharpen an image in 0.3 seconds.
It's fast and there's no doubt that he can really set it up that fast. However, I received a couple of criticisms before posting about it.
I already mentioned this, but for some reason, loading the camera can take a few seconds, which is a little longer than the competition. If you're trying to use a "quick shot" from the lock screen, it can take even longer, as it's easy to think you've only clicked on the icon, when in fact you've gone far enough.
The camera takes 3 seconds to start filming, which means if you're trying to capture a sudden moment, you'll probably miss it.
The autofocus I mentioned is fast and will often focus on exactly what you want, especially if the composition is right. However, there were a few cases where I had to wait to take a picture and autofocus was lost even though the subject was still blurry.
This is an unusual situation - I wiped the lens or went into the settings to see what was wrong, but found nothing.
At least the HDR mode works well, and it's nice to see it next to selective focus as one of the main options. You do get some of the best real-time HDR shots, and they don't take too long to process, which is a plus.
Selective focus is something of a mixed picture. On the one hand, it can work in macro mode, which means you can take multiple close-up shots and the background will be blurred. This is what you wanted (some competitors cannot do this).
On the other hand, the device too often told me that it would not accept an image that I had taken, and that the picture could not be changed after it had already been taken.
The result was not blurry enough for me. If you compare it to the HTC One M8, which has a weak sensor but a fast shutter speed, better defocus, and takes better pictures in low light, you'll realize this is a minor feature for Samsung...or at least it appears to be.
But if it sounds like I'm against the Samsung Galaxy S5's camera, then I apologize. This is not true. It's a good and powerful sensor, but it takes more effort to get amazing shots.
The larger sensor takes a little longer to process photos (we're talking nanoseconds for regular photos in auto mode) and the autofocus isn't as sharp as we'd like, but frame your shot and you'll definitely get a better image.
If you're trying to photograph in candlelight, then the S5 will be your best bet. If you have a mesmerizing scenery, you will get the best color reproduction with the S5.
However, the modes are a little redundant, as before there is no GIF animation, I do not even find the desire to use any of the modes.
Samsung has bulk-packed these modes since the overcomplicated S4, and it really helps. The Touch Up beauty mode never ceases to terrify me, and while I love the Virtual Tour, I can't seem to find the time to want to walk around my house.
It's one of only a handful of devices on the market with 4K video recording, however I think we won't need that feature for at least a year or two. Also, it will of course require more memory to shoot in this high-format resolution.
The camera in the Galaxy S5 is competitive because it's powerful - it's not as good as the Nokia Lumia PureView sensor, but again, it's more adaptive than the HTC One M8 if you're willing to put in the time.
However, the One M8 is the best option for everyday shooting, the sharpness is actually comparable to many S5 shots, but they didn't turn out as nice as I thought they would look when viewed on screen.
Sample camera photos
Now let's take a look at additional shots to show how the S5 handles action scenes.
Media
We have almost reached the point where there is very little new to do with the phone in terms of playing music, watching videos and playing games.
Music
Samsung doesn't have the same hardware as HTC or Apple in terms of dedicated audio output amplification, meaning your headphones have to work less to get rid of the output noise to your ears.
However, the volume of the Galaxy S5 is such that I would be surprised if there was nothing to enhance the sound from the software side.
The sound output, especially when paired with headphones, is amazing. I hear every little thing, every bass.
The interface of the music player is simple and clear - it is possible to view all the music that S5 collects from all over the phone at once. You can choose an album, song and playlist, plus a musical mood.
It's never been something I've used correctly - no one wants a playlist that goes from slow to energetic, but it's a good way to listen to music with a sort of progression.
The sound coming out of the single speaker on the back of the phone isn't quite as powerful as HTC's Boomsound or the Xperia Z3's front speaker, but it's fine for most purposes if you put it on a table and let the sound spread.
In short, the sound produced by the Galaxy S5 is very good, whether you're listening to a radio broadcast or the built-in music player. And the ability to switch between tracks on the notification panel or from the lock screen is a very useful feature.
Video
The Samsung Galaxy line has always been one of the best for watching movies. Every year the Note comes out with new improvements, and in the next version of the S it will be standard technology.
A lot has changed since the S3 was released, and DisplayMate has found these changes in movie mode - the S5 is near-perfect with its colors and white balance. I can't help but agree.
The test showed that the iPhone 6 is the same in colors and screen quality as the S5, and the Note 4, with its QHD screen, simply blows the mind when it comes to clarity. But that doesn't mean the S5 has a bad display.
With the infinite contrast level of the Super AMOLED Full HD display, everything looks deep and rich, and if you're watching Netflix on the way to work, a bright morning won't get in the way, even in direct sunlight.
OLED displays used to be unsuitable for this. This is an amazing achievement by Samsung and they should be applauded for it.
The video player is very easy to use: it first shows the video in a small window before you want to watch it in full size by clicking on it.
The only problem is if you have multi-window enabled, as I mentioned earlier: the split screen is annoying and can't be removed until you disable this option.
Also make sure you only view local content. If you add to Dropbox, you will have access to a huge number of films that will be difficult to place if you upload all your content.
It would be nice to see social programs, something that brings together videos of friends posted on Twitter and Facebook, all the way to see more content on that screen.
Games
It should be a pleasure to play on the Galaxy S5, but as I said earlier (I'm starting to worry that I'm repeating myself), games that require power sometimes lag.
Clearing the cache with a reboot seems to fix the problem. If you're going to be playing casual games, then the S5 has a large screen that makes it easy to do so.
But be careful when using the GPU, especially in sleep mode, as the fun can be marred by low frame rates.
Gallery
Samsung allows you to view Picasa / Google+, Facebook and Dropbox content from the gallery, but, unfortunately, all this is quite slow and clutters up internal memory.
Opening a gallery that doesn't have much content isn't a problem, but if you have a microSD card, things slow down considerably and you have to wait a few seconds before opening the selected image.
It may not seem like a big deal, but if you can't quickly look at photos, then it gets annoying.
Competition
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a phone that definitely shouldn't be discounted, but how does it perform in the competition?
Remember, you are going to pay quite a lot of money for it, so will it have enough power to be the best?
The obvious threat to the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the HTC One M8. Their specs are very similar: both have a Snapdragon 801 CPU, a microSD card slot, 2GB of RAM, a Full HD display, and excellent Android 4.4.2 (upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop soon).
However, there are a few differences: The Samsung Galaxy S5 has a much more powerful camera, although it's not something you want to see in daily use.
The One M8 takes faster, more focused shots, but you'll see they're of lesser quality if you open them up on a big screen.
HTC has put a lot of effort into refining the design - it's amazing how nice an aluminum case can feel in the hand, but Samsung still sticks to boring plastic. Even the fact that it's waterproof doesn't make up for my disappointment every time I pick it up.
What does the iPhone 6 have to offer that its predecessors didn't have? Actually, a lot. The best design. Faster processor, bigger screen, higher resolution. In short, he solved many of the problems that his predecessors had.
But is it better than the Samsung Galaxy S5? Depends on what you are looking for. The S5 is stronger, thanks to the IP67 certification, it has a larger and more impressive clear screen with excellent color reproduction.
However, it does not have the quality of an iPhone, and the answer to the question is what better iOS or Android we will never get. The iPhone 6 has a simpler OS than TouchWiz (and we're not even talking about the weird Magazine on the home screen). Other versions of Android, like the ones on the LG G3, are better and worth a look.
Sony has been very successful in the world of smartphones, from the Xperia Arc to the new Xperia Z3, on an increasing trajectory.
It has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU (as opposed to what we saw on the Z2), a microSD card slot, and is much more water and dust resistant. It is much better than Z2. Even though it doesn't quite fit 99% of users, it gives a feeling of reliability and confidence.
Both have a large and bright screen and 4K video recording, although this feature is virtually useless. They have different designs: a modern metal case for the Xperia Z3 and plastic for Samsung.
The upgraded Z3 has a larger battery capacity and a brighter screen than its predecessor. The price of the contract model is the same as the S5, so it all depends on whether you like the stylish Sony or not.
The Samsung Galaxy S6, as you already know, is the successor to the Galaxy S5. Spoiler alert: we love it. You saw a lot of criticism in this review in relation to the new device, especially regarding the design.
The device has a new proprietary Exynos 7420 processor clocked at 1.4GHz and 2.1GHz, along with an impressive 3GB of RAM. The microSD has been replaced with a larger memory capacity of 32, 64.128 GB. It also has an amazing 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution and 577ppi.
At the back is its main advantage - a 16-megapixel camera that can take really amazing photos, no matter where you are.
Samsung made an odd choice by removing the water resistance that the Galaxy S5 had, but the company solved the problem with the fingerprint sensor by making it better than the Galaxy S5.
Thus, it turned out a little more. You will have to pay £599.99 for the 32GB version or £640 for the 64GB version.
Conclusion
Something while writing this review made me think that Samsung MUST introduce a new premium model next year.
Now we have it, in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, which rivals the iPhone 6 in screen size and resolution, but not in power.
But it's not the premium model I'd like to see, which means that Samsung should turn the 2015 Galaxy S6 into a more interesting device. The company still sells millions of Galaxy S5 models, but we have to admit that it missed the chance to rise to the top.
What you liked
Samsung products are still on the market and they are amazing. This means the screen is amazing, bright, and a pleasure to watch movies in HD or SD quality.
The audio output is also amazing, it gives you the maximum when listening to music, talking, you can even hear everything when driving in noisy traffic. I don't recommend adding too much sound all the time, it's already great.
The 16-megapixel Isocell camera is a step forward for the brand. It may not always turn out great shots, but in general the images are very good, especially when you have time to focus.
I never tire of praising the microSD card slot and removable battery. And I'm impressed that Samsung has succeeded in this.
The battery is also excellent, and if you are looking for something that can last a long time no matter what, then you should take a closer look at this smartphone.
What I didn't like
Even though Samsung has sold a record number of Galaxy S5 devices, I can't help but wonder if I'm missing something in yet another plastic creation. Take it how you want, but the S5 looks cheap and if it came out as an unbranded smartphone it would be seen as uninteresting. We discuss it only because it is advertised.
There must be something else, because HTC and Sony have the same price, but they also have a great design. Samsung needs to step up a notch.
I wasn't particularly impressed with the phone's speed - the camera takes a while to load, games sometimes lag, and opening the gallery has always been a stumbling block for me.
There's not much wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S5, but it does feel like a Galaxy S3-S-S...another similar design and power boost while it needs a reboot after the S4, which added little new to the Galaxy lineup.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is an amazing phone, but the problem is that we live in a world where great smartphones have become the norm.
Samsung seems to have gone for broke, knowing that there will still be people who will want to buy this device no matter what, while getting a nicer design.
Some might think I exaggerated my disappointment with the S5's design, but that's part of the criticism in the buying process. You can't rely on a recognizable brand and brand loyalty if rivals are making designs that inspire envy.
And I don't know what verdict to take: if you like what Samsung does, then you will love this phone. The company has certainly put a lot of effort into making it more useful and adding features that you will enjoy, such as an improved, faster camera and health information.
But if you're insecure or an iPhone aficionado, then it's easy to accept that it's some kind of update to what came before, offering an uninteresting design and features that can't make it a winner in this competition. At the same time, the iPhone 6 again took a big step forward.
Samsung went to great lengths to make the Galaxy S5 a good smartphone of 2014, and I still recommend it as a solid, if not impressive, smartphone that lacked a few things.
This is a 4.5-star phone, mainly due to its amazing screen, great battery, and high-end specs combined with a strong camera. But now there are many other smartphones to choose from besides this one such as Sony, HTC, LG and Apple.
If you're a Samsung fan, then this is a phone you should take a closer look at as it's priced somewhat lower (though not by much), but it's up to you which you prefer. You might want the elegant Galaxy Alpha and the surprisingly powerful Galaxy Note 4.
Contents of delivery:
- Telephone
- Charger with USB cable
- Instruction
- Wired stereo headset
Positioning
A parity situation arose on the global market - de facto the market was divided by two players, Apple and Samsung. Each company has its own flagship, for Apple this is actually the only product - the iPhone, you can not take into account the old models or the iPhone 5c, which appeared in 2013. For Samsung, the range of products is much larger, but the main focus is on the Galaxy S, which is the best-selling phone that competes with the iPhone. In 2013, sales of the Galaxy S4 came close to the iPhone 5, in some countries they even exceeded the iPhone by several months, but then a new model came out, and everything returned to normal. Samsung quite rightly believes that the Galaxy S4 has become a successful product, although dreams that its sales will exceed those of the iPhone have not materialized. Moreover, the potential of this device is very high, until today its versions are being released, which will live on the market for at least another year and a half. And here Samsung fell into exactly the same trap as Apple before them - the previous models began to look more attractive than the new ones. Let me remind you that with the release of the iPhone 5 and new version iOS 7, many people suddenly began to buy the iPhone 4s, as the design of this device, its characteristics seemed better to them. There was no difference in the quality and size of the screen, there were no significant, big differences either. This happened for the first time for Apple, when the old model, unexpectedly after the release of the new one, did not become a niche, but took up to half of sales.
For Samsung, Apple's model is not entirely suitable, it is difficult to draw direct parallels - so after the release of S4, sales of S3 remained high and noticeable, but these were products of completely different price classes. In contrast to Apple, Samsung's flagships are constantly depreciating throughout the year, with a total loss of 33 percent in original cost. Therefore, shifting the situation to Apple will not work, the companies are in different positions. But it's safe to say that the Galaxy S5 tried to keep all the features of the previous device, and also not make it a competitor to the Note 3, plus keep sales of all variants of the S4. Despite all the public announcements, sales plans and the like, it's safe to say that the Galaxy S5, despite its flagship status, does not play such a role for Samsung. It is possible that this is due to the release of an older version of the device, the presence of which is denied by the company, or the release of Note 4 in September, to which the focus is gradually shifting. Of course, the sales volume of this model will be at least at the level of S4, perhaps 10-15 percent higher. But the sales boost will come from the cheaper variants of the S4, which we're betting on, as well as the Note line. This happened for the first time and looks like a conscious decision, from which all the characteristics of the flagship follow.
For the first time in the Galaxy S5, the technical specifications do not exceed those for the model of the Note line, in our case it is Note 3. Formally, we can talk about an improved camera, but it does not offer striking differences in photo quality, the processor is about the same performance, the amount of memory, including RAM, less in S5. These are clearly products of a different class, and Note 3 looks very advantageous compared to S5, it was clearly breathed a second life into it by this announcement.
For the buyer, this means that Galaxy purchase S5 is not at all as profitable as it might seem at first glance, as its alternatives look extremely attractive and interesting. First of all, this is the Galaxy S4, secondly - Note 3. It is curious that there are almost no reasons for choosing the S5 over these devices - all these reasons are insignificant, and their combination will not become an outweighing factor for the majority. While it is possible that many consumers will change their phones out of inertia, this group of buyers has remained the same for many years. As an unclear factor, the release date of the new iPhone remains, if it takes place in the summer, then this will have an impact on the choice of many people. It is also obvious that by increasing the screen size, Apple will eliminate one of the most serious complaints that these smartphones had. These factors will certainly influence S5 sales and selection.
Many software chips from the Galaxy S5 may not come to previous models, not because of the possibility of their implementation, but for purely marketing reasons, it is necessary to show the difference in the devices, to draw attention to the new product.
An interesting question is whether it is worth changing the Galaxy S4 to S5. Such a replacement will be pleasant (faster device, better camera, there are different chips), but you will not notice much difference. Although there is still a certain sense in this. But replacing Note 3 with Galaxy S5, in my opinion, is definitely devoid of any sense, these are products of a different class. However, let's look at what the S5 is.
Design, dimensions, controls
Samsung tries not to experiment with the design of its devices, it remains unchanged from year to year. While testing the Galaxy S4 Black and S5 for work, I kept getting confused about which phone was in front of me. It is almost impossible to distinguish them by the front panel at a cursory glance. You will succeed much better in the pictures, but in life they are completely similar - even slightly different sizes are not striking.
The phone size is 142x72.5x8.1 mm, weight is 145 grams. Let me remind you that for S4 these parameters were 136.6x69.8x7.9 mm, 130 grams. Slightly higher, slightly wider. In the hand, the difference is not felt in any way, exactly the same grip - it fits easily in any pocket.
Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S4
Designers came off on the back cover of the device - it has a structure under the skin, with uniform dots applied to the surface. Initially, 4 different colors are offered.
Two years ago I had an X-Drago Dash Dot case that had almost the same design as the back of the S5.
I can’t recall a case when a manufacturer would copy someone else’s case when creating their flagship. This is another indicator of the crisis of ideas that is on the market - the same solutions are chewed up by many companies.
Feeling of back cover strange, it is a little oily, as if soaked in some kind of solution. When you hold the device in your hands, your fingers begin to sweat on this cover (it is possible that this is an individual reaction of my body, but others also noted this after asking a question about their feelings).
Another characteristic feature is the warnings that it is necessary to close the cover of the charging connector tightly, it appears after each charge. There are no sensors here, just common sense, suggesting that in order to charge the device, you opened the connector. Also, after opening the case, you are asked to check its tightness.
On the left side surface there is a paired volume control button, on the right side there is an on / off button. At the top end there is a 3.5 headphone jack, it is moved to the right (on the S4 on the left and next to the second microphone), this is done so that the microphone is not blocked when the headphones are on. There is also an IrDA window.
Samsung Galaxy S5 and Apple iPhone 5S
Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Above the screen you can see a 2-megapixel front camera, as well as a proximity sensor. The physical key below the screen is adjacent to two touch buttons - everything is unchanged here, except that the key assignment has changed in accordance with the way it is done in KitKat.
Display
Perhaps this is the biggest disappointment - for the first time, Samsung decided not to increase the screen resolution for its flagship, but only slightly increase the diagonal - now it is 5.1 inches at a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels (432 dpi, in S4 - 441 dpi). It is impossible to see individual pixels of the screen, the resolution of the human eye does not allow this. There are no barriers for superhumans, and they see pixelation even on this device. Screen type SuperAMOLED, displays up to 16 million colors.
One of the user misconceptions is the claim that Super AMOLED screens are too bright, colors are saturated and unnatural. In the screen settings, you can choose any display option, including those typical for screens from other manufacturers (dimmer, natural colors). It is interesting that screens from other manufacturers give out the maximum possible, and it is impossible to make them brighter, more contrast, and colors more saturated. In Samsung, the flexibility of settings is maximum.
Just like in S4, there is an option "Optimize display". This is the most interesting setting, as the device analyzes the level of illumination around and, depending on the conditions, sets the contrast, brightness, plus adjusts the colors on the screen. It turns out that the white color looks white in almost all conditions. Another setting is “Professional Photography” (previously called Adobe RGB), but it almost does not affect the quality of the image display, the latter does not noticeably change compared to other settings (I could not notice this).
In the sun, the screen looks great, there are no problems, readability has increased slightly, this is due to a change in the screen itself, which I want to say separately. So, for the first time testing the video playback time on this device and the S4 Black Edition at maximum screen backlight, I noticed white light on the S5, the picture looked much worse. It was a clear step backwards.
After playing with the settings, I found a rather funny thing - the picture quality is excellent and completely comparable with S4 with automatic backlighting (default setting), but an attempt to unscrew the brightness up instantly leads to negative consequences. Also, the performance of Adaptive Display is such that it is focused on the power saving mode, the colors are muted. To get a picture like on the S4, you should choose one of the other display modes.
With brightness, everything became clear in the sun, with automatic adjustment, it twists up precisely in these conditions, readability in direct sunlight increases dramatically. Although I could not notice much difference in Moscow with the same Note 3 (Samsung Galaxy S5 in the photos above).
I have a strong feeling that the default settings are set in favor of some scenario where people want not very bright, muted colors and medium backlighting - plus, it saves battery. You should choose these parameters for yourself.
And here are some screen comparison photos with S4. Let me remind you that the screen in S4 was and remains the best on the market, in the review of S4 there was a large comparison of displays, the situation has not changed in a year.
Comparison with Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S5 from below:
Comparison with Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S5 from above:
Fingerprint scanner
The function is quite curious and appeared in response to the fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5s, where you need to put your finger on the button. Unlike Apple's implementation, the S5 simply swipes across the center of the screen and touches the center key. In the settings, you can register up to 3 fingerprints, holding the phone with one hand is very inconvenient. Someone, perhaps, will contrive, and it will come out, but it doesn’t work out like that for me - therefore, only with two hands. With Apple, one hand is enough - and the device itself is smaller.
Almost always, the scanner works perfectly, determines the fingerprint quickly and unlocks the phone. During operation, I saw a message several times that the surface of the device was wet, I was asked to wipe it. Apparently, a sensor is involved here, which is already in the S4 and measures the ambient temperature and humidity.
It is difficult to say anything special about the scanner, everything works and does not cause any complaints.
Battery and Power Saving Modes
The phone has a 2800 mAh Li-Ion battery (2600 mAh in the S4), the manufacturer indicates up to 390 hours of standby time, up to 21 hours of talk time, up to 10 hours of video playback and about 45 hours of music listening . In isolation from reality, these results are impressive, but you and I know very well that in practice, most Android smartphones do not live that long and show very different results.
Before discussing the operating time of the device, let me remind you that initially only the S5 version, built on the Qualcomm chipset, appears on the market, the Exynos version will be later - therefore, we are talking only about this version of the phone. But there shouldn't be much difference.
Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy S5
So, the easiest way was to take the same FullHD movie in X.264 and see how long the Galaxy S4 could play it (I took the Black Edition version on Qualcomm). Video player program - MX Player, without hardware decoding. The result with the maximum brightness of the screen, the sound turned off and offline turned out to be typical - about 9.5 hours.
For most modern smartphones, this is an unattainable result, for example, MTK devices run a similar video for about 4-5 hours (with a comparable battery capacity). The S5 test revealed a curious moment - the device worked for about 12 hours and 40 minutes. Unfortunately, during playback, once it went to the main menu, so I had to start playback again - but the impact of this incident is minimal, it can be ignored, since the screen time shows how long the video played.
Many people are impressed by the "naked" numbers, but how often do we watch non-stop videos and do not use other features? Of course, infrequently, because the phone is a universal combine in which we use literally all the possibilities. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate collectively how the battery works, how long it allows the phone to stretch. Here we can say that the S5 does not differ much from the S4, the operating time is comparable - with heavy use of the device, it will sit down around lunchtime (3-4 hours of screen operation and a couple of GB of data). With not very strong use, it can survive until the evening. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to notice much difference from the S4, the device definitely loses to the same Note 3, which currently remains the champion in terms of power consumption and quietly survives until the evening with any usage profile.
However, in the phone settings, two more modes were added to the already existing power saving modes, and a quick power button was created for them. There is a regular power-saving mode in which you can limit the background work of applications, turn on gray colors for the screen (for AMOLED this is a feature - gray color consumes almost no energy). Moreover, in grayscale, you can work almost everywhere, even watch a video - but it will be gray, which is not very pleasant and convenient.
I was interested to see if it was possible to live a whole day in this power consumption mode. I managed to do it calmly, we can say that the device will last for two days, but it will not bring you pleasure. It is unlikely that there will be people who will use the screen in such colors. There is also another limitation - in Whatsapp and other programs that use a background connection, work stops, you stop receiving messages. For social networks, which are known by Samsung and the SNS program, and with access permissions obtained on the phone (Facebook, Instagram, 4square, Twitter), you receive push messages from the Samsung service. That is, the power saving mode also has a software chip - instead of push messages from different services / programs, they come in a certain interval from only one. This interval cannot be configured, all settings are hidden from the user. Look at the graphs of using the phone in this mode.
This power save mode is great when you're running low on battery, but you need all the features of your phone. Then, at 10 percent of the charge, you can easily live for about two hours, practically without denying yourself anything. Two hours is an active use of the device, but in a pocket it can live much longer.
In the early firmware of the device, the power-saving mode launch widget showed the approximate operating time in two modes - normal and maximum. For the commercial version, the first mode was removed, it can be activated from the menu, but you cannot see the estimated operating time.
The maximum power limit mode cuts almost everything, at 35 percent of the battery charge the phone will be able to work in standby mode for at least 4 days. But, of course, it all depends on how you will use it. The gray scale is also turned on, but all communications are cut off, the list of running applications is limited only to those that you have allowed, all background processes are turned off. This is a very deeply revised procedure, since many system functions are disabled, you will not be able to take a screenshot in this mode, many built-in options will be unavailable (but you do not need them).
I liked this mode because when the battery runs out, by activating this mode with one touch, you can safely live until the evening - SMS and voice will be available to you.
In the bottom line, we have a fairly typical and voracious Android, which, however, works quite comparable to the iPhone 5s on the same tasks. To avoid unnecessary disputes and battles, I want to emphasize that each of us has our own set of applications, work profile, backlight brightness, and so on. A phone that will work for one person for two days, another will sit down by dinner. Therefore, you should not give the schedules of the operation of your devices, they do not say anything at all, you need to compare the devices at the same time, with the same load. For the S5, it is worth focusing on a full day of work, taking into account the fact that you will use certain energy-saving chips, without denying, however, all the pleasures of this device.
Camera
The camera is dedicated to a separate material in which you can learn everything that is possible about it.
Hardware platform, memory, performance
The phone uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8974AC chipset, also called the Snapdragon 801. This is the fastest chipset from Qualcomm at the moment, its previous version MSM8974AB was used in such a device as the LG G2. Quad-core processor, maximum frequency 2.45 GHz, GPU has a frequency of 578 MHz (previously 450 MHz). The frequency of the LPDDR3 memory bus has also been overclocked - from 800 to 933 MHz. In many ways, this is what gives an increase in performance.
The amount of RAM is 2 GB (after downloading half is free), internal memory is 16 GB (there is a 32 GB version, but it is unlikely to be widely available on the market). The amount of memory occupied by programs is about 4 GB. Memory card - up to 64 GB.
In synthetic tests, the device shows excellent results, overtaking the same Note 3, despite the smaller amount of RAM.
Before the advent of commercial firmware, performance was lower, the device lost to Note 3. Now it is slightly higher in performance. But these are synthetic tests that interest lovers of virtual parrots. For them - a few more tests.
In normal, everyday life, the speed of the device is excellent. The interface is extremely responsive and fast. Those who can see stutter will see it everywhere - but it's one of the fastest devices out there right now. There is no difference with the iPhone 5s in terms of speed.
USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities
Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 4.0 (LE). When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbps. Checking the transfer of 1 GB of a file showed a maximum speed of about 12 Mbps within three meters between devices.
The model supports various profiles, in particular Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is ordinary.
USB connection. In Android 4, for some reason, they abandoned the USB Mass Storage mode, leaving only MTP (there is also a PTP mode).
USB version - 3, data transfer rate - about 50 Mb / s.
When connected via USB, the device is charged.
The microUSB connector also supports the MHL standard, which means that using a special cable (available from electronics stores) you can connect your phone to a TV (to the HDMI output). In fact, the standard describes the ability to connect via microUSB to HDMI. This solution looks more preferable than a separate miniHDMI-connector on the case.
The maximum data transfer rate in LTE is 150 Mbps.
WiFi. 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac is supported, the wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember the selected networks, automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router with one touch, for this you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device's menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). Of the additional options, it is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears when the signal is weak or disappears. You can also set Wi-Fi to work on a schedule.
HT40 mode of operation is also supported for 802.11n, allowing you to double the Wi-Fi throughput (requires support from another device).
WiFi Direct. A protocol that aims to replace Bluetooth or compete with its third version (it also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). In the Wi-Fi settings menu, select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts searching for devices around. Select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in the file manager you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer the necessary files to them, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.
NFC. The device has NFC technology, it can be used with various additional applications.
S Beam. A technology that allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes to another phone in a few minutes. In fact, we see in S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring and authorize phones, but the second is already used to transfer the files themselves. The creatively redesigned way to use Wi-Fi Direct is much easier than using the connection on two devices, selecting files, and so on.
IR port. Required to use the phone as a remote control for various household appliances. Automatically configured for almost any model of equipment.
Software features - some features and children's mode, S Health
I described all the features of the new version of TouchWiz, pre-installed programs and all the new features in a separate and voluminous material. This is done on purpose so as not to be repeated here.
The Galaxy S5 pays a lot of attention to new modes of operation for people with impaired coordination of movements, hearing or vision disorders. In terms of a set of built-in features, this is one of the most powerful models, along with Apple technology. But usually during the test you skip this menu (it appears on the first boot), and then you don’t go there. However, another non-trivial function appeared in it, this is a baby monitor. You can put the phone next to the child, and then he will catch his cry, and then the camera flashes will inform you about it. Since my children have already grown up, I could not test this function in practice. The phone does not respond to the recorded crying of the baby, and if you want to see how Murtazin howls, then watch the video below - this device also did not respond to my howling. This does not mean at all that the baby monitor does not work, but most likely it is useless.