Samsung Galaxy S5 deals and reviews

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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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 Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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... Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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). Read full review
80	AnandTech | Anand Lal Shimpi & Joshua Ho Samsung got it almost perfect with the GS5. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
80	PC Advisor | Chris Martin Galaxy S4 users needn't upgrade and anyone looking for a flagship smartphone can get better elsewhere. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review
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. Read full review

Compare Samsung Galaxy S5 specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

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	Size: 5.1 inches diagonal Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels Screen Density: 432 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 69.6 % Display Type: Super AMOLED
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801 CPU: Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 GPU: Adreno 330 RAM: 2GB
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	Built-in Storage: 16GB/32GB Expandable Storage: Micro SD
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 2800 mAh Removable Battery: No Wireless Charging: Yes Quick Charge: None
SIM standard	Nano SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	Not Available
Fingerprint Reader	Front
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.