Samsung has announced its new flagship Android handset, the Samsung Galaxy S5, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Improving on the hugely successful Galaxy S4 from last year, the new S5 comes in a water and dust resistant body and packs a higher-res camera, plus a new fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor.
Expected to be priced at around the £500 mark and hitting the streets in April 2014, the Galaxy S5 features an improved 16-megapixel camera (up from the S4’s 13MP lems) with a super-snappy autofocus time of just 0.3-seconds and 4k video support.
There’s also sensors galore, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, digital compass, and ambient light sensor, plus IR-based gesture sensor and a barometer.
We’re rather keen on the built in fitness apps seen on the S4, and the new handset comes with an updated S Health app and an integrated heart rate monitor.
To see how your ticker is performing, it’s simply a case of putting your index finger under the phone’s LED flash with the heart-rate being registered a few seconds later.
Inside beats a faster, 2.5GHz quad-core processor, backed by 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB of internal storage (a microSD slot handles up to 128GB cards), and there’s WiFi a/b/g/n/ac (MIMO 2×2), Bluetooth 4.0 LE, ANT+, USB 3.0, NFC, and an IR blaster for using the phone as a universal remote.
A larger battery promises 20 percent better stamina, backed by a new low-power conservation mode to eke out the maximum battery life.
The screen size has been marginally increased to a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED number, and it supports the same, fairly generous 1920 x 1080 resolution, while the S5 acquires a fingerprint scanner into its home button, which can be used to authorise online payments.
Running the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat , the Galaxy S5 is both dust and water resistant as standard, and comes in black, white, blue, and gold finished, with a new dimpled back offering a better grip.
Basic spec rundown:
- 5.1-inch display. Android 4.4 KitKat.
- 16-megapixel rear camera.
- 2 gigabytes of RAM.
- Storage options of 16 or 32 gigabytes.
- MicroSD card storage.
- Waterproofing with a IP67 rating.
- 802.11 ac Wifi, with MIMIO (2×2).
- Bluetooth 4.0 LE
- USB 3.0.
- NFC.
- IR port.
- 2,800 mAh (removable) batter
Here’s a video of the launch:
Samsung Press Release
Samsung unveils Galaxy S5 to focus on what matters most to consumers
The company’s 5th generation Galaxy S redefines how technology innovation enhances our lives
Barcelona, Spain, February 24, 2014 – Samsung Electronics today announced the fifth generation of the Galaxy S series, the Galaxy S5, designed for what matters most to consumers. The new Galaxy S5 offers consumers a refined experience with innovation of essential features for day-to-day use.
“With the Galaxy S5, Samsung is going back to basics to focus on delivering the capabilities that matter most to our consumers,” said JK Shin, President and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung. “Consumers are looking for mobile tools that inspire and support them as they improve their everyday lives. The Galaxy S5 represents an iconic design with essential and useful features to focus on delivering the ultimate smartphone on the market today through people inspired innovation.”
The Galaxy S5 combines an advanced camera, the fast network connectivity, dedicated fitness tools and enhanced device protection features as consumers stay fit and connected in style.
Capture the moments that matter
Capturing and saving precious memories is one of the most important smartphone features today. The new Galaxy S5 offers superior camera functionality, featuring a 16 megapixel camera with an enhanced menu and user interface that allow consumers to effortlessly take, edit and share photos.
The Galaxy S5 offers the world’s fastest autofocus speed up to 0.3 seconds and the advanced High Dynamic Range (HDR), reproduce natural light and color with striking intensity at any circumstances. Also new Selective Focus feature allows users to focus on a specific area of an object while simultaneously blurring out the background. With this capability, consumers no longer need a special lens kit to create a shallow depth of field (DOF) effect.Tap into the fastest connections
The Galaxy S5 offers the most advanced LTE experience and Wi-Fi performance available today, ensuring blazing fast data speeds for unrivaled media consumption and productivity.
The Galaxy S5 supports the fifth generation Wi-Fi 802.11ac and 2X2 MIMO, and supporting the large number of LTE frequency with LTE Category 4 standard. For consumers seeking an even faster connection, the Galaxy S5 now features Download Booster, an innovative Wi-Fi technology for boosting data speed by bonding Wi-Fi and LTE simultaneously. No matter where a consumer is, the Galaxy S5 will help ensure they have the fastest available connection.Be more fit and active
With the enhanced S Health 3.0, the new Galaxy S5 offers more tools to help people stay fit and well. It provides a comprehensive personal fitness tracker to help users monitor and manage their behavior, along with additional tools including a pedometer, diet and exercise records, and a new, built-in heart rate monitor. Galaxy S5 users can further customize their experience with an enriched third party app ecosystem and the ability to pair with next generation Gear products for real-time fitness coaching.Express modern, glam look
The Galaxy S5 blends iconic Samsung design with modern trends to appeal to a range of consumer tastes and interests. The Galaxy S5 features a perforated pattern on the back cover creating a modern glam look. Its new sleek, contoured shape comes in an array of vivid colors, including charcoal Black, shimmery White, electric Blue and copper Gold, to complement the style of the individual consumer.Essential device protection
The Galaxy S5 is IP67 dust and water resistant. It also offers a Finger Scanner, providing a secure, biometric screen locking feature and a seamless and safe mobile payment experience to consumers. The Ultra Power Saving Mode turns the display to black and white, and shuts down all unnecessary features to minimize the battery consumption.The device will be available globally through Samsung’s retail channels, e-commerce and carriers in April.
