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Samsung Galaxy S5 deals and reviews

Samsung Galaxy S5

85/100
49 Critic Reviews
As the 2014 flagship handset for Samsung, the Galaxy S5 offers several incremental improvements upon its predecessor - the Galaxy S4. The inclusion of a new heart... read more

Release Date (UK): April 2014

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Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S5?

As the 2014 flagship handset for Samsung, the Galaxy S5 offers several incremental improvements upon its predecessor - the Galaxy S4. The inclusion of a new heart rate monitor and finger print scanner have helped to create what Samsung claims is its "most secure phone ever". Furthermore, the large screen, powerful processor and water-resistant casing render the Galaxy S5 both practical and durable.


The Galaxy S5 is a strong candidate for committed Samsung fans, and will prove a satisfying upgrade for owners of the older Galaxy S3. Other buyers after a high-end smartphone may also want to check out alternatives such as the HTC One (M8) or the Sony Xperia Z3, to decide whether the Galaxy S5 is the best match for their tastes and requirements.

Reviewers liked

  • The 5.1" Super AMOLED screen which produces beautifully crisp and bright images.
  • The high powered processor and plentiful RAM, which give this smartphone plenty of grunt.
  • The inclusion of 4G mobile connectivity and Download Booster - this combination makes browsing the web and downloading files quick and easy.
  • The big battery which helps to keep the Galaxy S5 running all day, and is backed by some nifty power-saving tools to prolong life further.
  • The camera's speedy auto-focus and 4K video recording which give extra detail to photos and movies.

Reviewers disliked

  • The plastic casing - this feels "cheap" for a premium device, and its textured back is not to everyone's tastes.
  • The camera app, which is quite slow to start, making spontaneous photography rather difficult.
  • The new health app functions - these are often inaccurate.

The Samsung Galaxy S5: in more detail

As part of Samsung's annual handset release cycle, the Galaxy S5 is expected to deliver advances over the previous iteration - the Galaxy S4. Samsung has adopted an iterative approach to improvements, making the Galaxy S5 feel more like a relatively minor upgrade. "The Samsung Galaxy S5 isn't quite the leap ahead that the S4 was", as Wired's Dave Oliver put it.

Quad core processor and plenty of RAM

The quad core Snapdragon CPU packs a powerful 2.5GHz punch making most activities smooth and speedy. Backed by 2 GB of RAM, the S5 has more than enough grunt to handle most tasks. Most reviewers were impressed by the slick speeds available, but Gareth Beavis of Techradar was slightly more circumspect: "The power is there: a 2.5GHz CPU from the excellent Qualcomm 801 chip should be market leading, and yet I found a lot of slowdown in places."


The Galaxy S5 adds to this 4G connectivity that allows you to browse the web quicker, and Samsung's unique Download Booster technology which combines cellular and WiFi connections to boost data access speeds. The only downside is that the internal memory will fill up rather quickly - you'll almost certainly need an add-on memory card.

Display & Camera

All the reviewers were in agreement about the outstanding colour and vibrancy of the massive Super AMOLED display that is clear to read even in bright daylight. Techradar even goes as far as claiming the screen is "easily the best feature of the phone."


Reviewers were similarly impressed by the quality of the pictures taken with the 16 megapixel camera. There are a number of tools to help photographers take better pictures, such as super-fast autofocus to cut down on the time needed to take a picture, and selective focus to let the user choose the most important part of the frame. Less impressive was the delay taken to open the camera app. "The only real detractor is that the camera can take up to three seconds to start up," wrote Samuel Gibbs in the Guardian, "which is an eternity when you're trying to capture a spontaneous photo."

TouchWiz interface & Fingerprint scanner

Samsung has provided an updated TouchWiz interface to go on top of the Android 4.4 KitKat core operating system, offering a few tweaks including the useful Ultra Power Saving Mode that ensures maximum battery life between charges.


After listening to the criticism of Galaxy S4 users, the Galaxy S5 comes with much less bundled software but reviewers are still not hugely enthusiastic: "Overall, TouchWiz is improved over previous iterations but still makes the Galaxy S5 feel less premium than its competitors and for the most part detracts rather than adds to the standard Android experience," Samuel Gibbs explained.


The Galaxy S5 is also equipped with a fingerprint scanner in the home button, offering a biometric lock that is much safer than a simple passcode. Unfortunately the sensor isn't quite as intuitive or accurate as expected.

Health apps

Finally the new S Health system includes a heart rate monitor mounted on the back of the handset, integrated with an app to track general fitness such as the exercise you take and the calories you eat. Although useful, all the reviewers point out that there are far better dedicated devices that can undertake these functions.

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100

Expert Reviews | Christopher Minasians

Even though it's been replaced several times now, the Galaxy S5 is still quite a phone.

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100

Alphr | Jonathan Bray

The Galaxy S5 may not have the looks of the HTC One (M8), but it's tougher, has a far better camera, boasts more useful features, and provides greater flexibility courtesy of that user-replaceable battery.

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100

S21

It's the fastest, most powerful Galaxy smartphone ever, with a stylish new look, fingerprint and heart rate scanners, ultra-fast camera and extended battery life.

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100

IT PRO | Khidr Suleman

Still the best all-round Android device on the market, the Galaxy S5 has it all. The excellent display and great battery life are joined by the robust chassis. Samsung's biometric features might be ropey, but there is so much to like it doesn't matter if you don't use them.

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100

T3 | Rhiain Morgan

As with the S4, the S5 is undoubtedly going to be a very, very popular phone and deservedly so - it's the best Android smartphone yet.

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91

NotebookCheck | Florian Wimmer

We recommend the Galaxy S5 to users looking for a multitude of configuration options, the newest hardware, and a water resistant case design.

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91

phoneArena | Ray S

At the end of the day, Samsung is staying true to its winning formula with the Galaxy S5, but the company has made some welcome, much-needed refinements, mostly involving getting rid of redundancies and focusing on what really matters, and that is the quality of the user experience.

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90

VentureBeat | Devindra Hardawar

The Galaxy S5 can survive any spill, it has a killer camera, and most importantly, it's a joy to use. It's the first Galaxy phone I would recommend to anyone without hesitation.

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90

TechRadar | Gareth Beavis

Powerful, competent and a decent UI at launch, it's still a risk buying such an old phone even though the price is much lower.

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90

Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman

Samsung took the Galaxy S5 in the right direction. (...) There's no doubt the Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of the best phones you can buy.

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90

Recombu | Editorial Team

The Samsung Galaxy S5 packs a hell of a lot of interesting features in for a smartphone. If you're already rocking last year's S4, we'd say only go for it if you're stacked with cash. For everyone else, especially movie lovers and app fans, the Galaxy S5 gets a big Recombu thumbs up.

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90

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

Samsung's fifth-generation Galaxy S flagship takes a checklist approach to improving upon its predecessors. If you have a Galaxy S4, there is little reason to shell out the money for its successor, but a Galaxy S3 owner approaching the two-year market in his or her contract should feel comfortable making the leap to Samsung's latest

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90

The Next Web | Owen Williams

I really like what Samsung has done. It's finally refined things and made the experience less grating. The S5 is a breath of fresh air for Samsung and those who use the iPhone may be tempted away as the company makes it easier to switch.

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90

The Boxed (UK) | Editorial Team

So, should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S5? We can be short about that: yes. It's a premium, fast, sleek and powerful phone with an excellent camera, superb screen, handy features, and a cleaned-up interface.

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90

ITProPortal | Sandra Vogel

The two key irritations here are the poor speaker and fully plastic build, but if you can live with those downsides, this is an excellent handset.

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90

LAPTOP | Mark Spoonauer

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is an excellent Android phone that combines a near-perfect display, powerful camera and unique fitness features in a water-resistant design.

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90

The Inquirer | Carly Page

While the design still lacks the premium feel of other smartphones and Touchwiz does still feel a little overbearing in places, the Galaxy S5 makes up for this in other areas - be it with the vibrant HD 1080p display, 16MP camera or the additions of a fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor, which make the phone an obvious choice for the interested in fitness.

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90

Mobile Choice | Alastair Charlton

Just as Porsche's 911 and Volkswagen's Golf get better with every generation, yet never stray from the decades-old original, the Galaxy S5 has been honed and refined.

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90

Digital Spy | Hunter Skipworth

... the Galaxy S5 is everything you expected it to be, an outstanding Android phone held back just a tad by its below average design.

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90

Trusted Reviews | Andrew Williams

The Samsung Galaxy S5 fits happily into the role of Galaxy S4 successor. It's a phone with some significant improvements over that model. It lacks the style of its nearest rivals, but it more than delivers on every other point and has a truly oustanding screen.

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90

CNET UK | Jessica Dolcourt

The Galaxy S5 absolutely is a premium, fast phone that I would buy and use every day. Its improvements over the Galaxy S4 are small, but they add up to a smoother experience. The phone's high-quality camera won't let you down, there are plenty of features to keep you occupied, and the display is bright and beautiful. And even though it is plastic, the water-resistant seals are an extra perk if you often head to the pool, hot tub, or beach.

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90

Wired UK | Dave Oliver

The Samsung Galaxy S5 isn't quite the leap ahead that the S4 was. It has an enhanced screen, processor and camera plus an improved OS, not to mention fripperies like the fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor. But these are all incremental changes that allow it to keep pace with the competition rather than firmly ahead of it.

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89

What Mobile

The thing about Galaxy handsets is that their flaws are often matters of personal opinion. If you don't mind the samey design, plasticky build and irksome user interface, then the Galaxy S5 could be the best smartphone yet.

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86

pocketnow | Michael Fisher

This new Galaxy S is a beautiful screen and excellent camera wrapped in a dust-proof, water-resistant casing packed with the best internals money can buy. That combination makes it pretty easy to overlook the phone's more philosophical flaws.

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85

Australian PC World | Tony Ibrahim

The Galaxy S5 is quick at all things, running several applications without problem, and it does so in spite of its heavy TouchWiz overlay. Using this smartphone leaves you feeling drunk with raw computing power.

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80

The Mobile Indian | Anil Satapathy

If you are not bothered by its plastic body and want a superfast smartphone, then the Samsung Galaxy S5 is an ideal choice.

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80

Gadgets Now

...a very capable phone and even though it lacks a killer feature, every little thing in the device, every new feature – such as waterproof design – adds to the user experience in a positive way...

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80

AndroidPit | Kris Carlon

There are plenty of better phones out there for the S5's asking price, but if you do take the plunge on the Galaxy S5 you will still be getting a solid phone, with specs which will remain good for another year or so.

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80

TechSpot | Tim Schiesser

At the end of the day, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a fine flagship smartphone that meets most criteria. Many refinements to the formula are great, others not so much, but the overall package is one that users should generally like and enjoy to use, current S4 owners included.

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80

Know Your Mobile | Paul Briden

Surprisingly good, actually. It may look like a bulldog chewing a wasp but it has a lot of practical features, some of which are to a very high standard; notably the display, camera, and battery. If you favour features and pragmatism over aesthetics this could be a winner.

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80

Tom's Guide | Sherri L. Smith

Combining a beautiful display, unique features and long battery life in a water-resistant body, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a jack-of-all-trades smartphone.

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80

Android Authority | Joshua Vergara

The good news is the Galaxy S5 is an honest phone, and if you are swayed by its charms now, you'll likely have a good time using it for a long time. For everyone else, I would still encourage you to give this phone a shot without completely writing it off, and you might just end up liking what you see.

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80

BGR | Zach Epstein

There's a lot to like about Samsung's new Galaxy S5 and there's also plenty to dislike. Of one thing, however, there is little room for debate: The gorgeous Super AMOLED display on this new handset is absolutely the best thing about the Galaxy S5.

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80

TechnoBuffalo | Todd Haselton

The Galaxy S5 isn't as impressive as a device as we were hoping to find from Samsung. Earlier Galaxy devices have wowed us, especially phones like the Galaxy Note 3, but the Galaxy S5 feels so much like an iteration. Sure, the hardware is much better - but the body reminds us way too much of last year's model, and it's still flimsy and cheap feeling. That chrome-colored plastic border will rub off in a matter of weeks, just like it always has.

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80

Digital Versus | Florence Legrand

Samsung's latest gem is an admirable step up from its predecessor. It has everything one could want out of a high-end smartphone, although it doesn't particularly revolutionise the industry (the design is case in point).

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80

AnandTech | Anand Lal Shimpi & Joshua Ho

Samsung got it almost perfect with the GS5.

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80

International Business Times | David Gilbert

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is another solid smartphone from the South Korean company. It has a great camera, good screen and great battery life. It's look and feel may not be premium but it is certainly an improvement on the Galaxy S4.

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80

The Gadget Show

Pick up an S5 and you know you're going to end up with the fastest phone on the planet (at least for a few months), with the most incredible display, and bang up to date software. For many, that'll be all they need to make the most of the truly customisable marvel that is Android.

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80

What Hi-Fi?

The majority of people who buy the new Galaxy phone will be happy with what they buy, and rightly so. But for the more discerning buyer and for Android aficionados, the Samsung flagship phone might feel a touch underwhelming.

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80

V3 | Alastair Stevenson

The Galaxy S5's top-end components and portfolio of security services make it one of the most enterprise-friendly Android smartphones ever made. However, needless customisations from Samsung will undoubtedly hamper its ability to upgrade to newer Android versions, a factor that could limit its long-term appeal.

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80

PC Advisor | Chris Martin

Galaxy S4 users needn't upgrade and anyone looking for a flagship smartphone can get better elsewhere.

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80

Engadget | Brad Molen

The S5 is a solid upgrade over last year's model, with improvements to the hardware, software and camera. However, certain headline features like the fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor are mediocre at best. Chances are, you'll be happy with the phone, but don't fork out the extra cash for an early upgrade.

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80

NDTV Gadgets | Jamshed Avari

If you're determined to buy a top-end phone for the sake of having a top-end phone, you'll probably end up choosing the S5. If not, you could actually save quite a bit of money by stepping down a notch.

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80

The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs

Overall, the Galaxy S5 is a solid Android smartphone - but isn't quite as complete a package between hardware and software as some of its competitors. Samsung fans will undoubtedly love it; others might want to look elsewhere.

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80

MSN Tech | David Phelan

It feels good, it works at speed and it lasts longer between charges. Some will dislike the mottled back cover or the fingerprint scanner, but this is a highly effective, speedy phone with a lot to recommend it.

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78

Coolsmartphone | James Pearce

Overall I grew to like the Galaxy S5, yes the overall quality isn't as good as some of the other flagships flying around at the moment. Yes the launcher and the home button do create quite a bit of lag opening up folders and returning to the home and yes it doesn't take the best shots in low light.

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74

Brighthand | Jeff Dunn

The Samsung Galaxy S5 brings top-of-the-line performance and more functionality than any other phone out there. However, its cheap build and messy software keep it from attaining the highs of rival flagships.

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70

SlashGear | Vincent Nguyen

After its predecessor's scattershot feature-set, the more focused approach of the S5 makes for a more confident feeling device. Unfortunately, not everything works as it should.

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60

Eurogamer | Damien McFerran

Samsung really had to create something stunning in order to pull away from the pack, and while there are core refinements to the basic Galaxy concept, the S5 doesn't represent the assured leap many will have been hoping for.

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Every day, we search through thousands of tariffs and offers from UK online retailers to find the best Samsung Galaxy S5 deals and contracts across a selection of price points and needs.

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Compare Samsung Galaxy S5 specs side-by-side with other phones
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Form factor and dimensions
Dimensions & Form

Form factor: Touchscreen bar
Dimensions 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in)
Weight: 145 g (5.11 oz)

Screen
Screen

Size: 5.1 inches diagonal
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Screen Density: 432 ppi
Screen-to-Body Ratio: 69.6 %

Display Type: Super AMOLED

Operating System
Runs

Android

Performance
Performance

Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801
CPU: Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400
GPU: Adreno 330
RAM: 2GB

Camera
Camera

Main Camera: 16 megapixels with LED flash, 4K video recording, 0,3s auto focus time, real-time HDR, selective focus
Secondary Camera: 2MP

Storage
Storage

Built-in Storage: 16GB/32GB
Expandable Storage: Micro SD

Battery
Battery & Charging

Capacity: 2800 mAh
Removable Battery: No
Wireless Charging: Yes
Quick Charge: None

SIM Standard
SIM standard

Nano SIM
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Water and Dust Resistance
Water & Dust Resistance

Not Available

Fingerprint Reader
Fingerprint Reader

Front

More info
References & More info

Official website
GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy S5

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the Samsung Galaxy S5 camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the Samsung Galaxy S5.

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All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.

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Last Updated: 19th May 2020

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