Samsung Galaxy S5 review: Fab Five

08 April 2014
Every time the Samsung Galaxy S counter flips a digit, the world is getting ready to be amazed. The lineup that stood up to the iPhone and has been pulling Android to the very top of the food chain, is under new leadership effective last month...

Sort by:

  • D
  • AnonD-66693
  • tR6
  • 08 Apr 2014

AnonD-237024, 08 Apr 2014When GSMArena did a news article on the moment it was annou... moreYou cannot conclude just by looking how many the hate comments are. How about the people who did not comment? Aren't you're suppose to count them aswell?

    • D
    • AnonD-66693
    • tR6
    • 08 Apr 2014

    AnonD-237024, 08 Apr 2014The reason I'm angry is because I expect alot from Samsung.... moreYeah, I also was disappointed when S5 announced but when I think again, hey, it is just a year difference from the flagship. You can't expect alot from S5. What's important is it delivers what the customer needs and practical at the same time. Gimmicks, that's a different story.

      • V
      • Victor
      • mVi
      • 08 Apr 2014

      Ugly, not on par with other flagships, I would never dish out so much money for a smartphone that looks this bad regardless of how good it's specifications are, HTC, LG and Sony have prettier phones and I consider Z2 to be the best of all,looks good,Sony has great build quality and its specifications are better than Galaxy S5. Unless one is a Samsung fanboy choosing between S5 and Z2 is a no brainer. What I like about Sony is that even their low end models like Xperia M still come with very nice design and build quality. Low end Samsungs look and feel very cheap. I used to own Galaxy S2 and until Samsung improves design and build quality I am not buying another Samsung again, plus Xperia UI is much prettier and faster than Touchwiz.

        Really Nice Review! And S5 looks good too :)

          • D
          • AnonD-237024
          • 9EY
          • 08 Apr 2014

          AnonD-66693, 08 Apr 2014"Nearly everyone". Where you get the statistics? ... moreWhen GSMArena did a news article on the moment it was announced. There were loads of hate comments. There still there, just click oldest first

            • D
            • AnonD-66693
            • tR6
            • 08 Apr 2014

            AnonD-237024, 08 Apr 2014Weird though. Nearly everyone hated the device, but ALL OF ... moreAnd why are you "genuinely confused"? As the old saying goes, don't judge the book by its cover. After this review, people start to change opinions. Why? Because what's the inside outweighs what's the outside.(you know what I mean ;-)) Hope you're not confused now.

              • D
              • AnonD-237024
              • 9DW
              • 08 Apr 2014

              AnonD-66693, 08 Apr 2014It doesn't matter if you give a damn or not but your opinio... moreThe reason I'm angry is because I expect alot from Samsung. I mean, I think the Galaxy S3 was the last good S they made. The GS4 is my favourite S. My rage will soon pass over with the dawn of the Note 4/iPhone 6. Trust me mate, it was a lot worse when the device was announced. NEARLY EVERYONE hated it. A year of waiting wasted IMO. But my review/opinion isn't full of hate. The new Touchwiz is awesome and the 16mp is cool. I just feel like Samsung ran out of innovation. Just imagine it, something you really liked you were waiting for and you thought it would be awesome. And then when it does happen and its not what you thought it was, you would be disappointed wouldn't you? That's how I felt when the S5 was announced. But I don't hate it as much as I used to, the phone is good, but not as good as I thought it would be, that's all.

                • D
                • AnonD-192043
                • 0Bg
                • 08 Apr 2014

                The UI is no advantage over the S4 right? The S4 should get it in a while, no?

                  • D
                  • AnonD-237466
                  • vGc
                  • 08 Apr 2014

                  AnonD-237024, 08 Apr 2014Weird though. Nearly everyone hated the device, but ALL OF ... moreYou are spot on. I too was unhappy with Samsung in release of S5. But in RELATIVE terms, it is better than the other one. So now people are starting to like it.

                  But I was more disappointed with New HTC M8. There is no upgrade to my current M-7 and on top of that, they made it larger, heavier with no improvement in already a bad camera. I will not sell my HTC One M-7, though and hand over to someone in family.

                  Now when I want to buy a new phone, HTC One M-8 is out of question. Sony phone too is very big for me to handle. So S5 appears to be a better choice as I am not going to Apple OS. I have spent quite a bit on Android. Apple is better but releases two flagship a year.

                    • D
                    • AnonD-66693
                    • tR6
                    • 08 Apr 2014

                    AnonD-237024, 08 Apr 2014Weird though. Nearly everyone hated the device, but ALL OF ... more"Nearly everyone". Where you get the statistics? Don't tell me you just count them from the Internet. Sure this is bias and a sweeping statement.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-66693
                      • tR6
                      • 08 Apr 2014

                      AnonD-237024, 08 Apr 2014And I should give a damn because...?It doesn't matter if you give a damn or not but your opinion somewhat "very hateful" and makes people rage on you. An opinion doesn't stop anyone from criticizing it. I hope I've answered your question.

                        • n
                        • nuke
                        • KA9
                        • 08 Apr 2014

                        I am genuinely excited to get the S5. What a smartphone it is -thank you GsmArena for the fantastic review.

                          • D
                          • AnonD-237024
                          • 9EH
                          • 08 Apr 2014

                          Weird though. Nearly everyone hated the device, but ALL OF A SUDDEN everyone likes it.

                          I'm genuinely confused.

                            • D
                            • AnonD-164840
                            • 8yR
                            • 08 Apr 2014

                            Haters gon' hate LOL

                              • D
                              • AnonD-168372
                              • vpH
                              • 08 Apr 2014

                              S5 topped on the more reliable benchmarks.

                                • D
                                • AnonD-237024
                                • 9Ed
                                • 08 Apr 2014

                                Anonymous, 08 Apr 2014The problem with "YOUR OPINION" is that all in on... moreAnd I should give a damn because...?

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 4QS
                                  • 08 Apr 2014

                                  robdevil XI, 08 Apr 2014Its not about walking with loud music on the streets. Have ... moreI agree. As these pages show any feature can be considered a gimmick by who is commenting.

                                  And really to say good sounding stereo speakers is useless is just about the same as saying a decent speaker or speaker at all is useless on mobile. Or fullhd display or 20mp ois hd camera.

                                  The sound is much louder, deeper, and clearer. That's a plus. And if I'm remembering correcting the Z2's speakers sounded louder and a good bit better than the One's.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 4QS
                                    • 08 Apr 2014

                                    AnonD-168288, 08 Apr 2014SO the ISOCELL tech doesn't live up to the earlier claims. ... moreActually it clearly is somewhat improved and was best in all shots compared to others excluding low light.
                                    Nowhere was it worse than Note 3. Except a little more sharpening.
                                    However one thing over looked in the low light is how the photo was closer up to the S5 and G2 I believe more so than the bottom two which makes a slight difference in perceived detail.

                                    I definitely looks better than just 3 more mega pixels and look how it stood up to Sony's 20MP sensor.

                                      AnonD-126743, 08 Apr 2014After reading this review I realise that the flagship is no... moreIts not about walking with loud music on the streets. Have you ever had HTC One or BB Z30? I had both of them and trust me sound of ringtone or in game is amazing.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 4QS
                                        • 08 Apr 2014

                                        AnonD-234961, 08 Apr 2014G2 has a 3000mAh battery that sometimes lasts for 2 days. I... moreExcept it's really no that much better. Mainly in call time. The web browsing shows how efficient the Amoled actually is. And the S5 has better stand by. And let's not forget ultra power saving and removable battery.