Samsung Galaxy S5 review
Samsung's jack-of-all-trades returns with an improved display, waterproof case & biometric scanners
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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Excellent display; Good battery life; Waterproof/dustproof; Decent camera; Download booster; Wealth of premium subscription trials
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The heart-rate monitor is unnecessary; Fingerprint scanner is inconsistent; Software features can be overwhelming
The 16-megapixel rear camera had a lightening autofocus time of 0.3 seconds. It took excellent shots outdoors but like most other smartphones on the market it struggled in low-light conditions.
We loved the Selective Focus option, which allowed us to focus on foreground or background images. It was fiddly because we needed to make sure there was enough distance between the two subjects. But once we got the hang of it, this became addictive.
It's also possible to record video in 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) should you wish to capture an important moment in Ultra HD.
Overall
Yes the fingerprint scanner and heart-rate sensors are gimmicks but they don't stop this from being an excellent device. There is so much to love, from the excellent screen to the battery life, quick download speeds and waterproof coating.
If you've got an S4 we wouldn't advise you to jump to this version, but if you're coming from an S2 or S3, this is the handset for you.
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.
OS: Android 4.4 KitKat with TouchWiz and Secure Android (Knox 2.0)
Display: 5.1in, Super AMOLED 1,080 x 1,920 (432ppi) Processor: 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 RAM: 2GB
Biometrics: Fingerprint sensor, Heart-rate monitor
Storage: 16/32GB + up to 128GB micro SD
Camera: 16-megapixel with autofocus, flash, 2-megapixel front-facing
Connectivity: Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (MIMO 2x2), Bluetooth 4, NFC, 4G
Ports: micro USB 3
Dimensions: 142 x 73 x 8.1 mm (WDH)
Battery: 2,800mAh
Weight: 145g
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