The addition of the fingerprint scanner will help to create a more secure user experience. The phone is also water and dustproof and sports a stylish, yet functional rear panel. The device comes with a slightly larger, brighter display, a faster processor and camera and a mildly revamped TouchWiz UI. By knowing where to tweak and where to completely overhaul, the Galaxy S5 greatly improves upon the successes of the S4. Samsung has done a masterful job of addressing its critics while keeping the innovation flowing. According to Samsung, the HDR is based on a single image, not multiple shots. There's also a new Virtual tour mode for creating walk-throughs of buildings, which is particularly useful for selling a home. The Galaxy S5 also provides real-time HDR for photo and video shooting for more vivid images.
The software even shows which modes your photo is eligible for, based on its content.
But with Shot & More, you can determine that afterwards. On previous Samsung phones, you had to guess in advance that a stranger might walk through your photo so you could choose eraser mode. The Shot & More mode shoots for a few seconds then allows you to activate other modes for your photo, such as Drama Shot, Eraser Mode or Best Face mode after the fact. That doesn't mean, however, that Samsung could resist adding a couple of new modes. For example, Animated Mode (gif creator) is missing from the initial feature offering, but can be downloaded at the users' leisure.
To cut their users a break, the company has tapered down the initial modes, providing photographers with a download button in the app for a more a la carte experience. While we're fans of Samsung's ever-growing list of camera features, it can be overwhelming for some users. The smartphone now has the ability to autofocus and shoot in 0.3 seconds, a big improvement over the 1-2 second lag we've experienced on previous Galaxy phones. The S5 boasts a 16-MP camera, up from 13-MP on the Galaxy S4 and Note 3 so we're definitely expecting sharper, cleaner images. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is jam-packed with a slew of new camera features. The company's Download Booster, a Wi-Fi technology that combines LTE and Wi-Fi connections to boost data speed ensuring users have the fastest possible connection. Other new features include Kids Corner and Quick Connect. S Health will also sync with your Gear 2, Gear Neo watch or Gear Fit band, each of which has its own heart rate monitor. S Health, has gotten an overhaul, adding a heart monitor that measures heart rate via a monitor that sits next to the LED flash on the back of the phone. The software will also tender workout advice, telling users to raise or lower their heart rate at different points. The iPhone 5S' Touch ID sensor can only log into the device and be used to authenticate iTunes purchases. Not content to be another Apple copycat, the company added Private Mode, a special area that houses your most private documents, emails and other data.
MORE: Samsung Rating: Best and Worst Smartphone Brandsįor example, the button can be used to log into PayPal. However, this sesnore can also be used for mobile payments. In another obvious Apple grab, the Home button now doubles as a fingerprint scanner for biometric unlocking. The touch capacitive buttons for Back and Menu have returned along side of the physical button for Home. Samsung's TouchWiz interface has gotten a slight makeover sporting a flatter interface with revamped icons.
The S5 will also ship with Android 4.4.2 (KitKat). Speaking of Power Saving mode, Samsung has been bumped up to Ultra Power Saving mode which will turn the display to black and white and closes any unnecessary features to cut down on power consumption. We're looking forward to putting the S5 through its paces when it arrives. During the Laptop Mag Battery Test (continuous web surfing via 4G LTE with the display brightness set to 40 percent), the Galaxy S4 lasted 5 hours and 13 minutes in regular mode and 5:54 in Power Saving mode. Compare that to the 1.9-GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU on the S4.īattery size has been slightly increased from 2600mAH to 2800mAh. When it launches, the Galaxy S5 will be powered by a 2.5-GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor with 2GB of RAM. A new flagship devices means bigger, better specs and Samsung does not disappoint.