Samsung Galaxy S5 review

Samsung's jack-of-all-trades returns with an improved display, waterproof case & biometric scanners

IT Pro Verdict

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.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Excellent display; Good battery life; Waterproof/dustproof; Decent camera; Download booster; Wealth of premium subscription trials

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    The heart-rate monitor is unnecessary; Fingerprint scanner is inconsistent; Software features can be overwhelming

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Interface & Security

The S5 ships with Android KitKat (4.4.2). Samsung has redesigned the app icons and the infamous TouchWiz interface has been scaled back. However, it's still possible to get drowned in the menus. Dig deep enough and you'll stumble across a Baby monitoring mode in the Accessibility section, we kid you not.

Samsung has also included a Secured Enhanced (SE) container on-top of Android. Known as Knox, this supports two-factor authentication, VPN+, certification management. IT admins can purchase and deploy business apps to employees via single-sign on too.

Knox scans and validates applications from the Google Play store. Once an app is deemed secure, it is granted enterprise privileges within the container, which means users don't have to switch between personal and business workspaces.

Samsung has also launched a dedicated Knox marketplace, as a business focused app store. on the admin side, Knox is compatible with management tools from CA Technologies and Good Technology.

Another useful feature is Private Mode. This feature allows users to transfer files such as documents and photos into a secure space on the device. Users need to enter a password or swipe their finger to gain access to restricted area. This is an excellent security feature for those who want who want the device to house sensitive business or personal content.

Khidr Suleman
Khidr Suleman is the Technical Editor at IT Pro, a role he has fulfilled since March 2012. He is responsible for the reviews section on the site  - so get in touch if you have a product you think might be of interest to the business world. He also covers the hardware and operating systems beats. Prior to joining IT Pro, Khidr worked as a reporter at Incisive Media. He studied law at the University of Reading and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism and Online Writing at PMA Training.
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