Samsung Galaxy S5
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“The software and the many different modes of operation are unmatched. The Galaxy S5 supports most networks, almost all GPS satellite systems, and offers connectivity to the outside world through numerous channels, while ensuring good signal strength in the process. The display is extraordinary and the camera captures detailed images with interesting background blur effects.While the case doesn't look quite as upscale as the one HTC uses for the One M8, it is dust and water resistant. The speaker system pales in comparison to HTC's implementation, however. Serviceability is pretty mediocre as well, but at least the battery can be swapped out.Those who own the S4 don't necessarily need to upgrade. Users in the market for a high-end smartphone should definitely take a good look at the Galaxy S5. The feature set is simply outstanding - even weeks down the line, the user might stumble upon new and useful features. Operation is extremely intuitive and doesn't overwhelm the operator. Samsung does an outstanding job balancing both features and functionality.”
“The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the fastest, most functional smartphone available today. It has the best screen, the best Wi-Fi performance, and the best camera for an Android phone (outpaced only by the Nokia PureView camera). Samsung dialed back its software excesses to produce a lively phone that's more fun to use than the previous model. Samsung still doesn't quite get how Americans perceive style, though. Over and over again, executives told me how warm the phone's materials are and how they follow fashion trends or emulate luxury items. But ultimately, Samsung's plastic-metal and plastic-leather are still fakery, and it shows. Nokia and LG embrace plastic more honestly, with better design results.”
“The Galaxy S5 is a beast of a smartphone and with Samsung's nearly unlimited resources to spend on marketing, it will be a miracle if it doesn't become the season's bestseller and break the records of its predecessors. And the good news is that it's got enough to offer that will bolster the brand image rather than just live off it.”
“The Galaxy S5 is a bit like a Corvette - if you can get past the plastic and the stigma (TouchWiz), it really is a great high-end smartphone. Well, it isn't as pretty as a Corvette I suppose. Well, maybe as pretty as a C4. Between the display, the camera, the water-resistance, and the battery life, Samsung builds a strong case on the merits for the S5. More than anything, Samsung's software and build materials keep away the naysayers, and there really isn't enough change on those fronts to bring around the diehard haters. But if you're concerned less with the aesthetic and philosophy and more with the on-the-ground experience, I think the Galaxy S5 will be a pleasant surprise, even for Samsung skeptics. It's not revolutionary, but Samsung shows that even when they're not trying to change the game, they can still legitimately improve in areas where some of their competitors are stagnating. All that said, the S5 still isn't ideal. The lack of storage, the cheap plastic, Samsung's overloaded software, and its less-than-lightning-quick history with OS updates are all things to consider. If you're holding out for a more stock experience or premium materials, I'd wait and see what Motorola and LG are going to do. For the time being, though, I think this is the best Android phone you can buy on an all things considered level.”
Watch before you decide
What people say
1 community rating · Recommendation data coming soon.
its very rugged dropped many times and been through a wash and spin cycle in my washing machine and the dryer (forgot to remove phone from my pocket) and turned it on worked like a charm.
In Depth
Samsung continues their reign over the Android smartphone market with their flagship phone – the Galaxy S5. While Samsung doesn’t stray too far from its recognizable plastic design, they did add a dimpled back texture to address concerns over the slipperiness of the earlier model. The texture, as Stuff.TV points out, “…make this the grippiest Galaxy yet.”
When compared to its predecessor – the S4 – the S5 is only slightly heavier at 145 grams and a hair taller at 14.2 cm (5.6 inches). It is also far sturdier as it’s rated IP67, making it water and dust-resistant so long as the microUSB flap is in place.
While critics were left wanting with Samsung’s rather lackluster design, the 5.1″ Super AMOLED display more than made up for it. The display offers the same 1080p resolution as the S4; however experts note that it has been tweaked to offer brighter and more accurate tones without the oversaturation problem of previous Samsung smartphones. According to Android Central, Samsung has also overcome the issue of daylight visibility stating that, “the Galaxy S5 is the first AMOLED phone we’ve used that matches the LCD-based competition for legibility in direct sunlight.” Despite this breakthrough, they go on to mention that the phone has a poor auto-brightness feature, especially when used indoors.
The back of the phone houses a 16 megapixel camera with an LED flash. While the camera doesn’t boast the same quality as the Nokia Lumia 1020, it features an HDR mode for crisper and more true-to-life photos as well as a new Selective Focus mode that choose the focal object and blurs out the background. The camera also has a very fast autofocus that can resolve the sharpness of an image in 0.3 seconds. Despite the speed of its autofocus, TechRadar found the actual app startup to be rather slow mentioning, “…it can take a few seconds to boot up the camera…The camera then takes another three seconds to even be ready to start firing…” In general, critics didn’t have issues with the image quality in bright light; however they did notice that low light images were prone to noise and graininess.
Inside, the S5 boasts all the bells and whistles with a 2.5GHz quad core processor, 2GB of RAM and up to 32GB of internal storage. Although critics did not notice lag in the traditional sense they did notice that certain tasks took longer than expected to start up like simply powering on the screen or opening up the settings app. Pocket Lint goes into further detail stating, “It feels like it’s been designed to be slightly sedate. And we think it needs speeding up. When you open a game like Real Racing 3…it plays wonderfully, but once back in the home screens we want more pace.” While the performance didn’t impress critics, they were happy with the 2800mAh battery citing 9 hours of mixed usage.
For the most part critics describe the Samsung Galaxy S5 as a great phone but not awe inspiring. Trusted Reviews says, “It lacks the style of its nearest rivals, but it more than delivers on every other point…” Business Spectator adds, “the Galaxy S5 is a mixed bag…the S5 sports a brilliant display…But crucially, Samsung has failed to realize that people care about how the phone looks and feels in the hand – areas where the competition…really deliver for the same price.”
What people actually want to know
When was the Samsung Galaxy S5 released?
The Samsung Galaxy S5 was released on April 11, 2014.
How long does the battery last on the Samsung Galaxy S5?
The Samsung Galaxy S5 has a 2,800 mAh battery.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S5 water resistant?
The Samsung Galaxy S5 carries an IP67 rating.
Note: water resistance degrades over time and manufacturer warranties typically don't cover liquid damage.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S5 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S5 have NFC?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I get support for the Samsung Galaxy S5?
Visit Samsung's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the Samsung Galaxy S5 manual?
You can view and download the Samsung Galaxy S5 manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
Loading answers…
Loading answers…
✓ Question submitted. We'll notify you when someone answers.
We sent a verification link to . Click it to publish your question.
Can't find it? Check your spam folder.
Finish the security check above to post your question.
Your name shows with your question.
How it compares
New phones, honest scores.
One email when something worth knowing changes. No deal spam, no filler.
Been having the same issues as you guys. Also UK based here and completely unable to send sms unless I restarted the phone every time. I believe the arrows are to do with Voice over LTE and think I found a solution (the arrows haven't come back since I rebooted my phone after doing this)... Go to your settings, use the magnifying glass to search and type More Networks. Go into this and then into Mobile Networks. I think what displays here could be different depending on your carrier or country. Some may have a VOLTE option. For me I went into Network mode and had 3 options.... LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect) WCDMA/GSM (auto connect) WCDMA only Mine was set to the top one so I've changed to the middle. All seems to be working ok at the moment!Credit where it's due. I found this info on the site below regarding turning VOLTE on but just used the guide to get me to the right place to turn it off. http://www.sebertech.com/2014/09/turn-volte-call-and-use-advanced.html?m=1