Technical characteristics of the galaxy s5. Review of the smartphone Samsung Galaxy S5: a serial killer. Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device

The market has not felt a shortage in the niche of mobile devices for several years. Every year, manufacturers offer customers different new products. A wide range can be observed in all price categories. However, some users still prefer smartphones, which, as they say, are time-tested. This review will describe just such a gadget of the famous Galaxy line. It was released by a Korean company with a worldwide reputation - Samsung. The price of the Galaxy S5, its specifications and, of course, reviews will be discussed in this article.

The model debuted successfully. In 2014, she was considered one of the best that were presented on the market. The manufacturer tried to implement everything necessary in it to meet the requirements of a wide audience of buyers. What came of it? Let's figure it out together.

Positioning

At the time of release, the Samsung Galaxy S5 model (read reviews below) belonged to the segment of flagship devices. This is fully confirmed by the characteristics that are considered relevant to this day. At the start of sales, the price of a smartphone ranged around $400, but with the release of new models, it gradually began to decline.

It is worth noting that for those buyers who do not want to get a novelty, this phone is an excellent choice, time-tested. The device has a sufficient level of performance to cope with any tasks. However, we will not get ahead of ourselves, but in order we will get acquainted with all the characteristics.

Equipment

Although this model is not a “state employee”, however, according to the set of components, the smartphone can hardly be classified as a flagship. All that is offered to the buyer is a USB cable, documentation and charging. Many users would very much like to see a case for the Samsung Galaxy S5 in the box. But alas, it, like a film for the screen, as well as a memory card, will have to be purchased separately. Headphones, unfortunately, are also missing, so we can safely say that the manufacturer saved a lot by refusing accessories.

Appearance

The first impressions of buyers when examining this smartphone are positive. Even despite the plastic case, a feeling of reliability is created. And this is fully justified, since the manufacturer used high-quality materials. The shape of the phone is closer to a rectangle. The corners are slightly rounded, which undoubtedly adds to the attractiveness. An excellent addition was the chrome frame running around the entire perimeter of the case. It looks majestic and favorably highlights the front panel of the phone. The control panel is standard. A fingerprint scanner is hidden in the mechanical key. The name of the company flaunts above the screen. There is a “peephole” of the selfie camera, a sensor, and an earpiece.

The back panel looks pretty impressive. Not the last role in this was played by corrugated coating. It is worth noting that it is used not only for beauty, but also for practical purposes. For example, dirt does not accumulate on the rear panel, so you can not buy a case for the Samsung Galaxy S5. After all, many people have to wear it just to get rid of the stained surface, and in this phone such a need disappears by itself. On the back side, the buyer will be able to see a small speaker hole, which is located at the bottom. A large “window” of the main camera is displayed at the top in the middle. Under it there is a flash and a sensor that measures the heartbeat.

The back cover is very easy to remove. The battery is hidden underneath. For the Samsung Galaxy S5, the developers have chosen an interesting arrangement of slots into which an external drive and a SIM card are installed. At a cursory examination, it may seem that he is alone. But this is not so - the cards are inserted on both sides, so to speak, with a “sandwich” (there is a drive below, and a “SIM card” above it).

In addition to all the usual elements, this smartphone has an infrared port, thanks to which the device can easily replace the remote control. For charging, a USB 3.0 connector is provided, covered with a chrome plug.

Screen

Most buyers when choosing a smartphone pays special attention to the capabilities of the screen. And, in principle, this is correct. After all, interaction with the gadget occurs through this particular element. Were Samsung Galaxy S5 buyers disappointed by the screen specs? If you believe the reviews, then no. An excellent large display with a 5.1-inch diagonal works with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 px. The matrix is ​​made in accordance with SuperAMOLED technology, which is undoubtedly an advantage. This company is distinguished by the fact that it equips its products with high-quality screens. S5 is no exception. The high pixel density (431 ppi) guarantees a high-quality and clear image, on which, even armed with a magnifying glass, it is impossible to see pixelation. The developers did not forget about protection either by installing high-quality Gorilla Glass 3 glass.

Viewing angles and color are simply gorgeous. The picture is displayed richly and juicy. Even in direct sunlight, the information is perfectly readable, and the contrast remains practically unchanged.

Protection standard

It is worth noting that the characteristics of the Samsung Galaxy S5 even now are quite consistent with modern requirements. Many buyers were pleased with the fact that the manufacturer used IP67 protection. What does this mean? The device is not afraid of getting wet. According to the international standard, the phone perfectly tolerates immersion in water to a depth of one meter. The maximum time spent in it should not exceed 30 minutes. Users recommend that after immersion in water, be sure to wipe the screen and the places where the connectors are located with a dry soft cloth. Also, owners may not be afraid that getting caught in heavy rain, their phone will stop working. This is confirmed by numerous reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Thanks to special protection, this smartphone does not need to be cleaned of dust and other small debris. For example, after falling into the sand, it is enough to simply clean the upper surfaces of contamination.

According to the manufacturer, in a device immersed in water, the camera works perfectly. If there is a desire, the user can take unique pictures of the underwater world, but do not forget about the limitations in depth and time.

Performance

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy S5 is not in vain equated to the flagship devices. Its hardware can compete with expensive devices. To ensure high performance, the phone has an excellent Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. Produced using a 28-nm process technology. It works on four computing modules, which are developed on the basis of the Krait 400 architecture. The maximum clock frequency is 2500 MHz. The only drawback is the row system, limited to 32 bits. For such hardware, 64-bit applications are not available. The user will experience problems only when installing new software, but otherwise the platform works fine. We can safely say that there is not a single task with which the device would not cope.

To work with graphic images, the developers installed the Adreno 330 coprocessor. This model is great for working with a screen with Full HD resolution. Most games run smoothly, and the user can choose high graphics settings.

Memory

The capabilities of the gadget are also characterized by RAM. Performance will directly depend on its volume. In this model, the developers used two gigabytes. However, it should be borne in mind that about half is already used by system processes, so in fact users are left with only one gigabyte.

Unfortunately, with the size of the built-in storage, not everything is so rosy in the Samsung Galaxy S5 16Gb. From the name it is already clear that its volume is limited to 16 GB. The pre-installed software takes up about 5 GB, so only 11 is left for installing applications. Is this enough? Each owner will decide for himself. For those who need additional memory, the option to install an external drive is offered. The device supports flash drives up to 128 GB. They have a separate slot.

Platform

This smartphone is under the control of the fourth "Android". The original Samsung Galaxy S5 firmware has a proprietary TouchWiz interface. The developers did a good job on the shell. They changed the design and made the interface as clear as possible. Updates touched the settings menu and some applications.

With the advent of the fifth version of the operating system, owners of this model are invited to update their gadget. To do this, simply connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi and activate the corresponding menu item.

The phone has a lot of pre-installed software. It includes popular services from Google, social networks, weather, office programs, players, and more.

cameras

The Samsung Galaxy S5 phone meets the requirements of the most advanced users. In order to verify this, just look at the characteristics of the main camera. The manufacturer did not stint and installed a 16-megapixel matrix. But this is not only the advantage of optics. It was in this model that the developers implemented a completely new auto focus system. Simply aim the viewfinder and press the shutter button to get a good picture. In any light, bright and clear shots can be taken by the Samsung Galaxy S5, reviews confirm this. There are many settings in the menu that are manually adjusted. The flash does a great job. Videos are recorded in high definition 4K UHD. With this quality, the maximum frame rate is limited to 30th. You can increase the speed to 60 fps by changing the resolution to 1080p.

What do owners say about the front camera? Unfortunately, it cannot boast of flagship capabilities. It is based on a sensitive sensor with a resolution of 2 megapixels. From these characteristics it is already clear that it is pointless to dream of a high-quality selfie. The only thing this module is suitable for is video communication.

Battery specifications

When choosing a phone, an obligatory criterion is the autonomy period. It is provided not only by the battery, but also by the energy efficiency of the hardware platform. To begin with, consider which battery developers have chosen for the Samsung Galaxy S5? Removable type battery, made by lithium-ion technology. Has a capacity of 2800 mAh. In comparison with its predecessor, this model shows better results. To complete the picture, you need to consider a large high-resolution touch screen and a fairly powerful hardware platform. With all this, the Galaxy S5 is able to work at an average load for about a day.

It is worth paying attention to the power saving mode. The device implements the Ultra Power Saving function, with which you can significantly extend the "life" of the smartphone on a single charge. When it is activated, the color of the image is turned off, and the multifunctional device turns into a simple “dialer”. In this condition, as the manufacturer assures, the phone consumes no more than 10% in 24 hours.

Samsung Galaxy S5 reviews

To assess the real capabilities of the gadget, it is not enough to know only the technical characteristics. In this matter, you should also listen to customer reviews. The comments not only talk about the positive aspects of the smartphone, but also discuss in detail the negative ones. Most of all complaints were caused by the volume of ROM. Currently, advanced users do not have enough memory of 16 GB in order to fully use the potential of the gadget. And if you consider that not the entire volume will be available, then hardly anyone can do without external drives. The plastic case can also be attributed to the disadvantages, especially if you rely on current trends. Now even "state employees" are produced with an aluminum case, which significantly increases the level of reliability of the device.

In principle, the Samsung Galaxy S5 phone has no critical shortcomings. Users by and large in the reviews basically highlight only the strengths. What is the indisputable advantage of this gadget?

• The degree of protection of the case. With this model, the manufacturer has implemented the IP67 standard, so you can not be afraid that the phone will fail when wet.
• Convenient interface. Of course, it is impossible to call the fourth Android a fresh version, but the number of compatible office and entertainment applications is so large that the user will by no means experience restrictions. The most advanced are invited to change the firmware in the Samsung Galaxy S5 to a newer one.
• Resolution of the main camera. The device has a high-quality model, with which it is easy to get great pictures. Recall that you can do them even under water.
• Actual characteristics of the hardware platform. The equipment allows this model to be competitive even after two years.
• Decent battery life. During the day, the device operates at an average load. And if you activate the Ultra Power Saving mode, then the smartphone will very economically consume battery life, so that the operating time will increase significantly.

Samsung Galaxy S5 mini and Galaxy S5: main differences

For lovers of small smartphones, the manufacturer has released a smaller copy of the Galaxy S5. The appearance of the phones is practically the same, if you do not pay attention to the size. The dimensions of the device with the mini attachment are 131 × 65 × 9.1 mm. Let's compare them with the "older" version. As for the height and width, they have decreased in comparison with the Galaxy S5 by 11 mm and 8 mm, respectively. However, the thickness of the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini, no matter how strange it may sound, has increased by 1 mm. The differences don't end there. For some reason, the developers significantly underestimated the technical characteristics of the "younger" version. This is not the first time buyers have seen this trend. Let's look at the differences in detail.

Conclusion

The review shows that the manufacturer has done a good job on the Samsung Galaxy S5. The price of a smartphone with a flagship "stuffing" varies from 6500 to 10700 rubles. The device perfectly implements all the functions necessary for comfortable work. Surprisingly, even after three years from the moment of release, the technical characteristics of this model are still relevant today, so the purchase will be fully justified.

In 2014, Samsung introduced its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S 5, right during the MWC 2014 exhibition in Barcelona, ​​so we are already. However, at the presentation, several things were announced that, without detailed consideration, remained a mystery. I was wondering how the fingerprint scanner works, the heart rate sensor, does the smartphone really sink and, most importantly, how does HDR work when shooting video?

The design has changed little when viewed from the front of the Galaxy S 5. I am sure that not everyone will immediately distinguish the models until they take them in hand. The back and sides have changed. The back cover is now soft touch with a dotted texture. The case can be one of several colors: dark gray, blue, gold and white. I looked at the blue at the exhibition and I really liked it, more than the gray that I have now. Interestingly, by the way, will the white back cover feel like leather, or will it be more plastic, like in the Galaxy Note 3?

Element arrangement and ergonomics

The body of the Galaxy S 5 has grown compared to its predecessor, and this is noticeable if you have communicated with the S4 before. The smartphone has become 6 mm higher, 3 mm wider. The display also grew, but quite a bit - by 2%, from 5″ to 5.1″. The increased dimensions are most likely a consequence of the fact that the case has become protected (ip67), and the battery capacity has increased.

I, not to mention the changes in weight and size characteristics, gave the S5 to the S4 user, to which he did not notice the changes at all and confidently said that he liked the S5 more, thanks to the non-glossy cover. Even despite the increase, the smartphone as a whole does not look huge, and using it has become more pleasant thanks to the material of the back cover. No more gloss, the material feels very similar to the one used in Note 3 - it looks like leather.

The cover, as before, is removable. Under it are the battery and slots for a memory card and a micro-SIM card. This is convenient, I like to control everything in my smartphone, including the ability to urgently replace the battery without the use of screwdrivers.

The location of the elements on the body has not changed. I will note only a few points: the left touch key under the display now calls not the context menu, but the multitasking menu. Not habitual, requires habit. And a long press on the home key, which previously triggered multitasking, now triggers Google Now. If the majority of S4 users upgrade to the new model, the number of Google Now users will skyrocket.

Secondly, the MicroUSB connector is now the third version, as in Note 3. To prevent moisture from getting inside, it is closed with a plug. Third - behind, near the flash, there is a pulse measurement sensor. It’s a bit strange to see something like this in a smartphone, I still can’t figure out why? Although the measurements are much more accurate than apps that measure the pulse with a flash, even here you can’t walk or talk during the measurement. That is, measurements should be carried out in ideal conditions, and, during sports, it is hard to take and be calm. Perhaps this sensor turns the smartphone into a medical device that is taxed less?

And fourthly, it is not noticeable externally, but a fingerprint scanner is built into the home key. Its implementation differs from that of the iPhone, in order to unlock the smartphone, you need to swipe your finger over the scanner, not hold it. I liked this option less - the phone is easier to drop, because you have to hold it differently when unlocking. At least until you get used to it, I had a couple of moments when I caught the smartphone during unlocking when I was accidentally hit. In any case, this is much more convenient than unlocking the smartphone with a scanner on the back, as in HTC.

In total, you can add up to three fingerprints, but more than one finger can be added to one slot, I checked it works. I was pleased with the performance of the scanner. If you enter all the necessary fingers, the device is almost always unlocked the first time. I would like to see more than three fingerprint slots, as well as the ability to not swipe on the button, but simply hold your finger on it. I was pleased that third-party developers can also use the SDK for the scanner, for example, already now, PayPal allows you to pay using it.

IP67

Moisture and dust protection should be in all flagship smartphones. If earlier any model with such protection characteristics looked like a tractor, now a protected smartphone looks like a regular smartphone. There are no twisting screws at the back, nor a rubber surface in the case. Even the decorative, which was not at all necessary, exactly the same protection is used here. And I, by the way, last year was very good.

There are very few external signs of moisture protection, in fact - only the presence of a plug over the MicroUSB 3.0 connector. Neither the speaker nor the headset jack are covered.

If you remove the back cover, you can see another protection - a rubber edging that prevents moisture from entering the device.

Agree, all this cannot be called at least some kind of payment for such great convenience. I can safely take my smartphone with me to the shower, if necessary, so as not to miss an important call, for example, I can lay it on any surface without worrying that it may be wet, I can take pictures under a torrential downpour. It's cool! The IP67 rating allows you to submerge the SGS5 to a depth of one meter and keep it there for 30 minutes. You can learn more about security standards. The Galaxy S 4 Active was protected to the same standard, but I went much deeper with it, and in salt water. And, after a week of such severe tests, nothing bad happened to the smartphone. The season did not allow such tests with the S5, but I could not deny myself the pleasure of throwing it into the lake. Of course, the smartphone is also perfectly protected from dust.

cameras

Cameras have always been a strong point of the Galaxy S line, and the fifth generation is no exception. The front one became 2.1 MP, and the main one grew to 16 MP. At the same time, the pixels did not increase “anyhow”, the sensor size was also increased. So, even just judging by the characteristics, one can judge the improvement in the quality of the images.

The camera in the SGS5 has the fastest autofocus on the market at just 0.3 seconds. In addition, even in the version of the smartphone with an Exynos processor, which is not officially available on the Ukrainian market, you can now record video in 4k resolution at 30 frames per second. But the most surprising thing is the HDR mode, it is now also available for video shooting and the difference between it and what it was before is huge.

Comparison of normal mode and HDR when shooting video

Photo examples

Front-camera

Video in HDR mode

Display

The 5.1″ display resolution remains Full HD. And that makes me happy, because it reduces the chance of unforeseen problems, in particular, related to autonomy and software adaptation. The pixel density is still high, although it has decreased slightly compared to its predecessor - 432 ppi versus 441 ppi.

Despite not the most standard placement of subpixels, the pentile scheme is not visible. Pixels are not visible at all, I liked the display, as in the case of its predecessor. He is here, as expected, Super AMOLED. The brightness range of the display is wide - from 2 cd/m² to 500 cd/m². Its maximum brightness makes it more or less comfortable to use the phone in sunlight, but the minimum brightness is even better, during the day the display seems to be off. So, it is comfortable to read at night. Viewing angles, as befits a SAMOLED screen, are maximum.

Specifications and Software

Like the past few years, the Samsung Galaxy S 5 will be available with different processors in different markets. Exynos 5420 with 4 Cortex-A15 1.9 GHz and 4 Cortex-A7 1.3 GHz and Mali t628 graphics will go to us, and many others will get a smartphone with a Snapdragon 801 processor. As in the case of Note, the main difference - in support of LTE in 800s. The amount of RAM is 2 GB, which is enough, but the Note 3 had 3 GB. Built-in memory - 16GB. But do you need more, because there is a slot for memory cards. Battery capacity - 2800 mAh. This is 200 mAh more than its predecessor and, given the lack of special additions of pixels and megahertz, the smartphone lives longer.

There are a lot of software features here. Samsung is putting a lot of emphasis on services, including S health, which turns the smartphone into a personal trainer. Now the service is even more useful, because you can measure the pulse using a special sensor placed on the back.

I really liked the advanced economy mode feature. When the battery charge drops to 10%, and it is necessary to reach the outlet, this mode will turn the SGS5 into a bw dialer, turning off everything unnecessary. In this state, these 10% of the charge will last another day!

But the main thing that immediately catches your eye is the updated proprietary Samsung shell, the modern tachwiz is liked by a lot more users than before. The design has become flatter and more consistent in the same style, new features have appeared, for example, the ability to put any five applications in a hidden button for quick access from anywhere except the camera. There is a pretty cute and useful kids mode that the kid can't get out of without the password. Only those applications and games that you choose are available in it. In addition, there are also standard children's applications, such as karaoke, drawing, camera with effects, etc. There are already familiar multi-window mode, gesture control, etc. And most importantly, all this is based on the latest version of Android 4.4.2.

Overview of innovations in the new version of TouchWiz

The Samsung Galaxy S5 was nothing special at the time of the announcement, the brand's fans expected much more from it, but in reality the changes are minimal, but the cost has grown significantly. It did not live up to everyone's expectations, which primarily concerns the case, which remained plastic. A fingerprint scanner has appeared, but this will not surprise anyone. The smartphone has become relevant only now, when the cost of it has noticeably dropped, and the ion can feel confident in the budget segment.

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S5:

• screen: Super AMOLED, 5.1"", 1920x1080, capacitive, multi-touch;
• processor: quad-core Qualcomm MSM8974AC, 2.5 GHz;
• graphics accelerator: Adreno 330;
• operating system: Android 4.4;
• RAM: 2 GB;
• built-in memory: 16 GB;
• memory card support: microSD up to 128 GB;
• communication: 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900; 3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100; 4G: LTE 800/850/900/1700/1800/1900/2100/2600;
• SIM: micro-SIM;
• wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 + 5 GHz), Wi-Fi hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct; Bluetooth 4.0; IRDA; NFC
• navigation: GPS, Assisted GPS / GLONASS;
• cameras: main - 16 MP (diode flash, autofocus), front - 2 MP;
• sensors: light sensor, gyroscope, motion sensor, heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner;
• battery: 2 800 mAh, removable;
• dimensions: 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm;
• weight: 145 grams.

The box is made of cardboard, stylized as a tree, which looks great.

The interior space was divided into several departments, each of which contains something of its own. The Samsung Galaxy S5 review showed that the smartphone itself lies on top, and the space below it is occupied by accessories. Nothing outstanding among them: microUSB cable, charger, headset and documentation.

The case received a monoblock design with the following dimensions: 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm. The side frames have become an order of magnitude thinner, which improved the ergonomics of the device. But they decided to save on materials by using plastic instead of more premium and tactilely pleasant metal or glass. It was stylized as metal, but upon contact, the plastic immediately betrays itself. Samsung Galaxy S5 duos review clearly demonstrates that the back design perfectly complements the overall impression. On it, the plastic was stylized under the skin, it is soft to the touch.

The choice of buyers is available in four color options for the case - black, gold, blue and white. Samsung Galaxy S5 mini review we conducted on the blue version.

The front panel is a monolithic glass plate. No slots were left in it, where functional elements are embedded. Above is a slot for a speaker, next to which is a standard set of sensors, a front camera lens and a notification light.

Below is the “Home” key, on the sides of which two touch keys are installed. She received a bright shiny edging, and besides, it has a built-in fingerprint scanner.

The power control button was placed on the right side.

On the left is the volume rocker.

An infrared port, a 3.5 mm jack and a hole for a noise-canceling microphone are located on top.

A microUSB port and MHL are installed at the bottom, but you can access them only by opening the flap. Next to them is the main microphone.

The design of the back is made in the same style as most other flagships - at the top center is the main camera module, surrounded by a square frame, and below it we see a block that includes an LED flash and a heart rate sensor. Below, or more precisely - on the left, there are two slots for a multimedia speaker.

The SIM tray can be accessed by removing the back cover.

Samsung Galaxy S5 sm g900f review showed that the case fits perfectly in the hand, and even by today's standards it can be classified as compact. A secure grip is facilitated by the rounded shape of the back and of course the texture of the material, which does not slip at all. When using with one hand, you do not experience any discomfort - the finger clearly falls on the power button, and the compact size allows you to reach even the top curtain.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 16gb review revealed one unpleasant moment - the shiny edging that runs along the entire perimeter of the case is quickly covered with fingerprints, since they are easily wiped off here. The heel counter is designed more successfully, so it will be less demanding in care.

The lid of the device is removable, and therefore it was not easy to achieve 100% solidity of the case. It fits snugly, and for a quick opening, the manufacturer left a special recess, prying with a fingernail, which the cover can be removed very easily. Assembling everything is fine - we could not find any squeaks and backlashes. The only thing that doesn't please is the location of the SIM card tray - it is under the battery, which is why the possibility of hot swapping is not expected.

The smartphone received a stunning AMOLED display, which distinguishes all the manufacturer's devices. A diagonal of 5.1 inches and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels give a pixel density of 432 ppi. Of course, the screen is covered with protective glass, has an oleophobic and anti-reflective coating. The display has the classic advantages and disadvantages of AMOLED panels. Multi-touch supports 10 simultaneous touches.

The advantages include excellent brightness and contrast, gorgeous viewing angles and a deep black tint that IPS matrices cannot boast of. A good margin of brightness in combination with an anti-reflective coating ensures comfortable working conditions in bright sunlight. And setting the mark to a minimum, it will be convenient to read e-books without tiring your eyes. Samsung Galaxy S5 sm g900f 16gb review revealed the presence of a mode for controlling with gloves, which increases the sensitivity of the display.

The disadvantages, albeit doubtful, include oversaturation of shades. If you are used to more faded IPS panels, then at first it will strain your eyes. But after a while you get used to it and just stop paying attention.

Performance

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S5 is built on a Snapdragon MSM8974AC chip, the frequency of which reaches 2.5 GHz. In addition to this comes 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of user memory. There is also an older modification, in which twice the amount of internal memory is available. The volume can be increased by installing a microSD card up to 128 GB.

Samsung Galaxy S5 synthetic test results

It is also possible to connect external storage devices using OTG. After switching on for the needs of the user, only about 700 MB of RAM remains, so you should not count on multitasking. Applications need to be constantly unloaded from memory, otherwise the shell starts to slow down.

At the time of release of the Samsung Galaxy S5, the specifications were almost top-notch. The interface does not slow down, the transition between desktops and applications is smooth.

The autonomy of the smartphone Samsung Galaxy S5

The Samsung Galaxy S5 lte review moves on to a 2800 mAh battery. This is not a record figure, but a good optimization of the system allows us to hope for the best. With continuous reading at the minimum comfortable brightness level, the smartphone lasted almost 17 hours, and when playing videos on YouTube in HQ format via Wi-Fi, the charge was enough for 12.5 hours of battery life. In games, the battery lasts for 4.5 hours. The results are pleasantly impressive, especially when compared with its predecessor, which at first heated up a lot and literally sat down before our eyes, until the manufacturer corrected the situation with firmware updates.

cameras

The Samsung Galaxy S5 duos sm g900fd review showed that the smartphone received a 16 MP main camera and a 2 MP front camera. The latter shoots photos and videos in FullHD format, and I must say that they come out very good in terms of quality. At the time of release, it was one of the best cameras at all.

The main camera received ultra-fast autofocus (pointing at the subject takes no more than 0.3 s), stabilization and a single-section flash with medium brightness. The smartphone can shoot video in 4K and was distinguished by the fact that it was among the first to have the ability to focus on a spot. With its help, you can select a certain part of the frame, and make the background blurry. With automatic camera settings, pictures are saved at a size of 5312×2988. When conducting a review of the Samsung Galaxy S5, we took several test shots, examples of which you can find below.

Conclusion

In the new generation, the smartphone received improved performance, display, and autonomy, but the body is still plastic, which is not expected in one of the main flagships of the company. Summing up, we can say that the device is really good and its characteristics will suit most users in 2017, although now they are more in line with the budget segment.

Where can I buy?

Samsung Galaxy S5 powerful quad-core novelty in a thin elegant case with protection against dust and moisture, the smartphone is also able to detect fingerprints using the built-in scanner. The smartphone runs on the latest Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat) operating system and is equipped with a powerful 2.5 GHz quad-core processor. Of the new features of the Samsung Galaxy s5, it can be noted that the smartphone is not only waterproof, but also withstands 30 minutes of immersion in water up to 1 meter deep, it can also detect fingerprints and read the pulse thanks to the heart rate sensor located on the back of the smartphone. The bright screen of the Samsung GALAXY S5 is increased to 5.1 inches with Full HD resolution and a high pixel density of 432 pixels per inch, this is one of the characteristics that makes the smartphone stand out among the previous models of this line. The display is brighter than on the Samsung s4 with excellent viewing angles, is perfectly readable in sunlight and deserves a plus rating. For taking photos, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is equipped with a 16 MP camera with LED flash support, autofocus and a 2 MP front camera. The Galaxy S5 also shoots high-quality video with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. The smartphone is powered by a powerful battery with a capacity of 2800 mAh, which ensures the operation of the Samsung Galaxy s5 up to 21 hours of talk time and up to 390 hours of standby time, it is worth noting that despite the fact that the phone is protected from water, the battery is removable and plus the ability to turn on if necessary, power saving mode. Of the technical characteristics of the Samsung GALAXY S5, we can distinguish: 2 GB RAM, 16 GB internal memory, support for microSD memory cards up to 128 GB, 4G networks, support for A-GPS / GLONASS navigation, USB 3.0, fingerprint scanner, UHD video recording 4K 3840 x 2160 pixels. Samsung Galaxy s5 turned out to be powerful, fast, reliable with numerous features, built-in sensors, excellent performance and a nice design.

Detailed testing of one of the most anticipated smartphones of the new season

Of course, one of the most long-awaited and expected new products among mobile devices of the coming year is the next update of the flagship line of Samsung smartphones - Galaxy S5. The novelty does not need a special introduction - in recent years, the Korean company Samsung Electronics has managed not only to become scandalous due to countless litigations with the competing American Apple, but also to take one of the leading positions in the world market for the sale of tablets and, of course, , smartphones.

Left to right: Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, Apple iPhone 5s

By the way, in recent years, Koreans have firmly accustomed users to the idea that Samsung always has two flagship smartphones on the market at the same time. They are representatives of two top product lines moving in parallel courses - Galaxy Note and Galaxy S. Not so long ago, another update of the tablet phone line happened - the Samsung Note 3 smartphone went on sale, about which we wrote so much in our time. Now it's the turn to update a series of smartphones with a more "civilized" design.

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4

Smartphones of the Galaxy S series have always been very different from their semi-tablet counterparts from the Note line precisely in size - they were rather elegant devices in size. However, with the release of the Galaxy S5, it must be admitted, the distance separating them is shrinking more and more. And not only the size of each next representative of the Galaxy S line is getting larger, but in the Note line they are consistently decreasing. The Galaxy Note 3 has become the smallest among its brothers, and the Galaxy S5, on the contrary, has become so large that it’s time to think about it: what, in fact, is the difference between the modern representatives of the two lines? Their performance is absolutely the same, the design is similar, the price is the same, but we have already said about the dimensions. Does the whole difference now lie only in the presence or absence of an electronic pen?

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3

In any case, a special technological breakthrough from the new flagship of the Galaxy S line should not be expected. No new technological discoveries have yet been made, and everything that has been discovered has already been put into practice, and now they are finishing, finishing, polishing - improving functionality. And it's not just about Samsung devices - the whole market is now in anticipation of something new. This, by the way, is clearly seen in the example of the last two world IT exhibitions that took place at the beginning of the year in Las Vegas and Barcelona. The products of the Korean company are no exception: hardware and technically, the new flagship does not differ much from the previous one (Samsung Galaxy S4) - now the focus is on improving functionality. Ultra-fast data transfer capabilities, an updated camera control interface, a wide range of fitness apps, a heart rate monitor, a fingerprint scanner, and agreements with the world's leading content and service providers to pre-install a variety of applications with a long-term prepaid subscription - that's it. , which Samsung is currently working on. Gigabytes and gigahertz somehow suddenly faded into the background, which is probably for the better. Surprisingly, the Koreans did not even add RAM to their new flagship - the Galaxy S5 still has 2 GB of RAM, although the new product still has some changes in terms of hardware.

Key Features of Samsung Galaxy S5 (Model SM-G900F)

• SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC), 4 cores Krait 400, 2.5 GHz
• GPU Adreno 330, 578 MHz
• Operating system Android 4.4.2 Kitkat
• Touchscreen display Super AMOLED, 5.1″, 1920×1080, 432 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16 GB
• Support for microSD memory cards up to 128 GB
• 2G, 3G, 4G networks (LTE Cat.4, up to 150/50 Mbps)
• Bluetooth 4.0 BLE / ANT+
• USB 3.0, OTG, MHL
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO (2×2), Wi-Fi hotspot
• NFC, infrared
• GPS (A-GPS), Glonass
• Camera 16 MP, autofocus, LED flash, video UHD (4K) 30 fps
• Camera 2 MP (front)
• Accelerometer, gyroscope, distance sensor, compass, barometer, Hall sensor (magnetic field), ambient light, gestures (infrared), fingerprint scanner, heart rate sensor
• Dust and moisture protection according to IP67 standard
• Li-ion battery 2800 mAh
• Dimensions 142×72.5×8.1 mm
• Weight 145 g

Appearance and usability

As already mentioned, the new model of the Galaxy S series has become much larger in size than the previous one. It feels like in the hand, the smartphone has finally crossed that invisible line called “a little more, and it will be too much”: now the device has become really bulky and surprisingly heavy. For the breast pocket of a shirt, for example, this is now certainly an inaccessible guest, although, of course, people who have firmly decided to follow the path of life with a “shovel” at the ready will not feel anything unusual in the size of the new Galaxy S. Still, it is smaller than the Galaxy Note 3, although the difference is already minimal. Nevertheless, it is still not clear why it was necessary to make a new model so much larger than the previous one with almost identical screens. In the Galaxy S4, for example, the side frames are only 3 mm wide, while in the Galaxy S5 they suddenly grew to 4 mm, the same applies to the upper and lower parts of the frame - they also suddenly became much wider, although the screen itself is practically the same in size. has changed.

As for the appearance, here the developers clearly adhere to a single design line: metal and leather, leather and metal - they are now used in all mobile devices of the company (including numerous wearable gadgets). The only pity is that at the exorbitant prices at which the current flagships are sold, the company was greedy to provide real skin - maybe then these devices would look really stylish. But no, as in previous times, ordinary molded plastic is used here to create the appearance that the back wall of the smartphone is made of leather. Texturing on plastic differs from that of the Galaxy Note 3: a sort of pseudo-embossing was used here, as if a pattern of numerous dots was squeezed into the skin. It looks nice and fresh, at least better than the glossy plastic that has long adorned the surfaces of all the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note.

As for metal, it is not here either: the shiny “chrome” bezel around the entire perimeter of the case (exactly the same as in previous models, only with a different pattern) is sprayed onto plastic, not real metal. This bezel, by the way, has also become much wider and even thicker, adding weight to the smartphone as a whole.

The surface of the rim is quite slippery - due to it, as well as due to the considerable mass, it is quite inconvenient to lift the device from the surface of the table, since the fingers do not feel confident grip.

The back cover can be easily removed from the case and just as easy to put on - it is traditionally fastened on several plastic latches, there is a barely noticeable ledge for hooking with a fingernail. Under the cover are hidden slots for SIM-cards and memory cards, located "sandwich" one above the other.

Below, they arranged a compartment for a removable battery - it supports the cards, but the memory card can still be replaced “hot”. The device uses only one SIM card, Micro-SIM format, a microSD memory card can be used here up to 128 GB.

At the back of the smartphone there is a square window of the camera module, it is quite large in size, next to it is an LED flash. Below, in the recess, the eyes of the sensor for measuring the pulse are visible. The heart rate sensor camera is recessed into the body, and it also has its own backlight - a small LED element illuminates the vessels of the finger attached to the camera, while it counts heartbeats. Even lower is a hole for sound output from the ringing speaker with a twig slightly curved outward, and the silver chrome-plated company logo adorns all this.

The front panel has not undergone significant changes - it is a completely recognizable element of all Samsung mobile devices. It stands out, first of all, with its oblong mechanical key under the screen, which this time has received additional functionality. This button is also responsible for scanning the fingerprint - now no one can blame the Koreans for not having a golden smartphone with a fingerprint scanner. Unlike the iPhone scanner, here you can’t just put your finger on it: you need to swipe it along the key, and even at the right speed - if you hurry, you can fail. In this regard, the iPhone scanner looks preferable: not only do you not need to move your finger, but you can also put your finger on the button at any angle, which allows you to hold the device with any comfortable grip. In the case of the Samsung Galaxy S5 scanner, you will have to hold the device with one hand and swipe over the sensor with the other, which is very tiring, and most users will most likely simply disable this feature.

The touch buttons next to the mechanical ones have a bright white backlight with a customizable glow time, which is commendable. Above, above the screen, you can see a longitudinal slot in the protective glass for sound output from the earpiece, next to it, the eyes of the front camera and sensors are visible. There is also an alert LED that lights up in different colors depending on the charging status and incoming events - its functions can be configured: disabled or enabled individually.

There are two buttons on the side faces of the device: on the left - volume control, on the right - power and lock. The large metalized keys of all Samsung smartphones have a soft stroke and distinct pressing, they are excellent in the blind, and in general, in this regard, the products of the Korean company are one of the best on the market.

On the upper end, there is a headphone jack (3.5 mm) and a peephole of an infrared transmitter, which serves to control various equipment as a remote control, comfortably located one next to the other. Appropriate proprietary software called Smart Remote goes from model to model - of course, it is also available here. The functionality of the Smart Remote program is on top: it is not only able to connect a smartphone using an infrared port with any equipment, but can also act as an interactive guide.

At the bottom, the USB 3.0 connector is covered with a metallized cover with a rubber gasket - it protects the smartphone from dust and moisture getting inside. Yes, yes, the new flagship of the Galaxy S line has finally acquired dust and moisture protection according to the IP67 standard. In principle, the previous model also had it, but there it was a separate branch of the line called Galaxy Active. Protection in the Galaxy S5 is arranged in the same way as there: a rubber gasket was glued to the inner surface of the back cover, and the connectors are closed with special plugs. It's nice that every time you put on the back cover or remove the plug from the Micro-USB connector, the smartphone itself reminds you to close the protective covers (the reminder can be turned off).

And finally, about the most pleasant: now a new color has appeared in the arsenal of the Galaxy S line - golden. In addition to it, there are three more colors on sale that have already adorned Samsung's flagship devices (for example, Galaxy S3). By tradition, they were given romantic names: Jet Black (black), Sparkling White (white), Electric Blue (light blue) and Copper Gold (golden). For additional jewelry, in particular, a keychain or strap, no fasteners are provided.

Screen

The Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone is equipped with a Super AMOLED touch matrix. The screen dimensions are 63 × 113 mm, the diagonal is 5.1 inches, the resolution is 1920 × 1080 pixels. Such a parameter as the density of pixels per inch is 432 ppi here - the dot density is very high.

Outside, the screen is covered with protective glass. The thickness of the side frames from the edge of the screen to the edge of the case is about 4 mm, the frames are not very narrow, they were smaller in the previous model.

The brightness of the display can be adjusted manually, or you can use automatic adjustment. Multi-touch technology here allows you to handle up to 10 simultaneous touches. The screen can be controlled by gloved hands, while it becomes more sensitive to any touch, so the settings left the option to disable this feature. The smartphone also has a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the "Monitors" and "Projectors and TV" sections Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the test sample.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the brightness of the reflected objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter that is superior in reducing the brightness of reflections to the screen filter of Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Samsung Galaxy S5, then they can be distinguished by size):

Due to the slight difference in the color tone of the reflection and the frames, it is difficult to visually assess the amount of decrease in the brightness of the reflection, however, statistics from the graphics editor show that the screen on the S5 is actually a little bit darker than on the Nexus 7. The ghosting of reflected objects is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. There is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating on the outer surface of the screen (very effective, maybe a little better than Google Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.

When displaying a white field in full screen and with manual brightness control, its maximum value was 340 cd/m², the minimum was 2 cd/m². Despite not the highest brightness value, even in bright daylight, the smartphone can be used, as an effective anti-glare filter helps out. You also need to take into account the fact that in this case the smaller the white area on the screen, the lighter it is, that is, the actual maximum brightness of the white areas will almost always be higher than the specified value. For example, when outputting white on half the screen, the maximum brightness with manual adjustment rises to 360 cd/m². The low brightness mode allows you to use your smartphone without any problems even in total darkness. Automatic brightness control works according to the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker). You can make adjustments to how this function works by moving the adjustment slider from −5 before +5 units. Next, for three conditions, we present the screen brightness values ​​for three values ​​of this setting - for −5 , 0 And +5 . In complete darkness in automatic mode, the brightness decreases to 4, 9 and 16 cd / m², respectively (generally a little dark), in an office lit by artificial light (about 400 lux), the brightness is set to 100, 180 and 270 cd / m² (acceptable ), in a brightly lit environment (corresponding to a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lx or a little more) - rises to 420-425 cd / m² for all three correction values, which is more than the maximum with manual adjustment and should be enough to ensure readability in the sun. In principle, the result of the work of this function corresponds to the expected. When the brightness is lowered, modulation appears at a frequency of 240 Hz. The figure below shows brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis) for three brightness settings:

It can be seen that at maximum brightness there is practically no modulation (the amplitude is insufficient for visual distinguishability of flicker), but at medium and low brightness the relative modulation amplitude is high, so image flicker can be seen in the test for the presence of a stroboscopic effect or simply with rapid eye movement. Depending on individual sensitivity, such flickering can cause increased fatigue.

This smartphone uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix on organic light emitting diodes. A full color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B), but there are twice as many green subpixels, which can be referred to as RGBG. This is confirmed by a fragment of a microphoto:

(For comparison, see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.)

For such matrices, Samsung introduced the name PenTile RGBG. The manufacturer considers the screen resolution based on green subpixels, on the other two it will be two times lower. The location and shape of the subpixels in this variant is similar to the variant in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen. This version of PenTile RGBG is better than the old one with red squares, blue rectangles and stripes of green subpixels. However, some uneven contrasting borders and other artifacts are still present. For example, when displaying a black-and-white world through one pixel (the original can be taken from here), the vertical lines look uneven, and the horizontal ones are not contrasting and are separated not by white, but by a greenish gap. A fragment (the original photo is available at the link) of a macrophoto reveals the cause:

It can be seen that the vertical lines have a black gap and that the sum of the colors of the subpixels can be considered white, but due to the red subpixels on one side, some unevenness of the lines occurs. In the case of horizontal lines, there is neither a white gap (there are green subpixels) nor a black gap (there are red and blue subpixels). However, these artifacts are of purely academic interest, since in mobile use it is extremely difficult to visually distinguish such small details. As a result, the margin of resolution eliminates the "features" of the PenTile RGBG matrix.

The screen is characterized by excellent viewing angles, although the white color becomes slightly tinted when deviated at relatively large angles, but the black color is just black at any angle (although the reflection from bright objects has a bluish halo that is more horizontally elongated, which causes black areas in the light may lighten slightly to acquire a "metallic" tint). So black that the contrast parameter in this case is simply not applicable. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. For comparison, here are photos in which the screens of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the second participant of the competition display the same images, while the brightness of the screens is set to about 210 cd/m². White field perpendicular to the screens:

The excellent uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field can be noted. And a test picture (in mode Standard):

The color reproduction is clearly not bad, but with all the conventionality of the forced color balance in the camera, set to 6500 K, it is clear that the colors of the S5 are clearly “colder” and have too high saturation. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen. White field:

The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (to avoid strong darkening, the shutter speed is doubled compared to the previous two photos), but in the case of Samsung, the drop in brightness is much less pronounced. And a test picture:

It can be seen that the colors did not “float” on all screens and the brightness of the Samsung S5 at an angle is noticeably higher.

Switching the state of the matrix elements is almost instantaneous, but at the on (and less often off) front there may be a step (or two) with a width of 16.7 ms (corresponding to a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz). For example, this is how the dependence of brightness on time looks like when moving from black to a hue of 25% (according to the numerical value of the color) and vice versa:

In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing behind moving objects, but in normal use it is almost impossible to see these artifacts. On the contrary, dynamic scenes in films on OLED screens are distinguished by high clarity and even some “twitchy” movements.

The ability to adjust color reproduction is implemented on the page with a choice of profiles, one of which implies some kind of automatic adjustment (profile Adapt Display):

In case one of the three fixed profiles is selected, except for the profile dynamic, built on 32 points with equal intervals by the numerical value of the grayscale value, the gamma curve did not reveal any blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows, and the exponent of the approximating power function is 2.28-2.30, which is slightly higher than the standard value of 2.2 , while the real gamma curve practically does not deviate from the power dependence:

For profile dynamic The gamma curve has a slightly S-shaped character, which increases the apparent contrast of the image. Recall that in the case of OLED screens, the brightness of image fragments dynamically changes in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - it decreases for light images in general and increases for dark ones. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely does not correspond slightly to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential grayscale output almost on the entire screen. This image dynamism is enhanced by selecting the option Auto config. screen brightness. Below are the dependences of brightness on time obtained when switching from a black field to a white one and back with the option turned off and on Auto config. screen brightness:

In the second case, the brightness starts to decrease after some time. The picture is slightly darkened, but the energy is saved a little.

Color gamut in case of profiles dynamic, Standard And professional photography very wide and almost covers Adobe RGB coverage:

When choosing a profile Cinema coverage is pressed to the borders of sRGB, but still remains a little wider:

Without correction, the spectra of the components are very well separated:

In the case of a profile Cinema with the maximum correction, the color components already mix a little with each other:

Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, the colors of normal images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. This can be seen in the photos above. However, a visual assessment showed that when choosing a profile Cinema saturation is noticeably reduced, and colors become close to natural. The screenshot taken after selecting this profile is shown below:

Unfortunately, the most recognizable shades - skin, for example - still remain slightly oversaturated.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is not ideal, but, in general, acceptable. Color temperature in profiles dynamic And Standard significantly higher than 6500 K, in the remaining two it is close to 6500 K, while in the gray scale section from white to dark dark gray, this parameter does not change very much. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) remains below 10 units over most of the gray scale, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device, and also changes slightly:

(The darkest areas of the gray scale in most cases can be ignored, since there the color balance does not matter much, and the measurement error of color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

To summarize: the screen has a fairly high maximum brightness and a very effective anti-glare filter, so the smartphone can be used outdoors without any problems even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. It is acceptable, but in bright light it is even recommended to use the mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works more or less adequately. The advantages of the screen include a very good oleophobic coating and color balance close to the standard (when choosing the appropriate profiles). At the same time, let's recall the general advantages of OLED screens: true black color, excellent white field uniformity, less than LCD, the drop in image brightness when viewed from an angle. The disadvantages include modulation of the screen brightness, which appears at medium and low brightness values. Users who are particularly sensitive to flicker may experience fatigue as a result. However, overall the screen quality is very high.

Sound

In terms of sound, the smartphone is about the same as the Galaxy S4. The sound is moderately bassy, ​​not deprived of low frequencies, clear in the entire range, but not so loud - there were devices even louder (HTC One or Oppo Find 5, for example). The sound outlet grille is cut into the back wall, so that the sound is muffled when the device is on the table. In conversational dynamics, the voice of a familiar interlocutor, the timbre and intonation remain recognizable, making telephone conversations on the Samsung Galaxy S5 is quite comfortable.

To play music in the device provided a choice of three pre-installed players: Google Play Music, Yandex.Music and Samsung's own player. All sound effects when playing tunes with a branded player are combined by a technology called SoundAlive - however, some of them are available only with headphones connected. The same applies to the sound optimization function. There are a lot of various virtual effects, they are combined here in a matrix of squares, you can experiment for a very long time.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S5 is equipped with two modules of digital cameras with a resolution of 16 and 2 megapixels. The front one takes pictures with a maximum resolution of 1920 × 1080, and shoots video with the same resolution.

The main, rear camera is equipped with a new 16-megapixel module with ultra-fast autofocus (focusing in 0.3 seconds), stabilization, single-section LED flash and the ability to shoot video in UHD (4K) resolution. In addition to one trendy feature - 4K video recording - another one is used here: as in the latest Sony Xperia Z2, there is a selective focus feature that allows you to highlight a certain part of the image, leaving the background blurry. That is, now to create the effect of shallow depth of field (DOF), you no longer need to use special lenses and lenses.

When shooting in automatic mode, which is set by default, photos are obtained at a size of 5312×2988. I really liked the design and organization of the new camera control interface. Here, as in the case of the audio settings menu, everything is divided into equivalent cells, each of which is always visible, interactive, their drawing is clear, the entire menu is perfectly visible even in the brightest sunlight. In general, the settings menu for controlling the camera turned out to be perhaps the best on the market in terms of ease of access to all functions and overall visibility.

The camera can shoot video in UHD (4K) resolution, there are several resolutions to choose from up to a maximum of 3840 × 2160. In the settings, traditionally for the latest top models of the mobile market, there are also slow and fast shooting modes. Sample test videos are shown below.

• Movie #1 (189 MB, 3840×2160, 4K)
• Clip #2 (58 MB, 1920×1080, 1080p)
• Clip #3 (123MB, 3840×2160, 4K indoor)
• Movie #4 (71 MB, 1280×720, slow motion)
• Movie #5 (4 MB, 1920×1080, fast)

Sample photos with our comments are presented below.

	Image sharpness is good.
	Sharpness across the field of the frame is also quite good.
	Small details are worked out quite well.
	With backlight, the camera does not do so well, but the exposure is well chosen.
	On thin lines, you can notice small waves from the operation of the noise reduction - but only upon closer examination.
	In low light, you can see the noise - however, relatively small.
	The camera handles noise in the shadows well. True, the detail from this suffers a little.
	The camera does well in low-light macro, but you should use the focus because of the relatively slow shutter speeds.
	In good light, macro photography works well with the camera.
	Another example of a good macro.
	The text worked out well, but a little damaged. However, it is possible that the camera works more accurately with smaller text.
	The stitching of panoramas is almost perfect. Only dynamic objects suffer, which is quite natural.

	Lighting ≈1300 lux. The camera does very well.
	Lighting ≈460 lux. The situation practically does not change.
	Lighting ≈240 lux. Noises become noticeable, especially their processing.
	Lighting ≈240 lux, flash. The flash noticeably improves the situation, almost returning the original resolution.
	Lighting<1 люкс. В темноте камера не справляется.
	Lighting<1 люкс, вспышка. И в темноте вспышка отрабатывает очень хорошо.

First of all, it is worth noting that now the camera has a 1 / 2.6 ″ sensor, and not just a higher resolution, while earlier smartphone cameras were only honored with 1/3 ″ format matrices (not counting Nokia), or even less, until Sony decided to install a 1 / 2.3 ″ sensor in the Xperia Z1. So Samsung, following Sony, began a slow but steady movement towards improving the quality of images. And, I must say, the result is already noticeable to an inquisitive eye.

Firstly, quite good work with noise is already visible. Their processing still leaves much to be desired, but if you do not look at the images pixel by pixel, then noticeable strong color noise in the shadows is almost invisible. Of course, this is the result of noise reduction, but the higher resolution allows it to work more subtly, and the increased sensor size slightly reduces the likelihood of strong noise. Of course, we will not start talking about the size of the pixel (like HTC) and the qualities of the camera supposedly resulting from this, but the increase in the sensor definitely pays off. Secondly, image detail has improved, which is also the merit of higher resolution and an enlarged sensor.

I would like Samsung to improve the noise reduction, then the camera can already be compared with ordinary compacts. Although even without this, she shows herself very worthy, and it is clear that they did a good job on her. The camera's optics work quite smoothly across the entire field of the frame and on all plans. Of course, it would be strange to see flaws in the flagship in such places, but we have already encountered this. Sharping can only be found if you know where to look. The only thing that really cannot be called ideal is the work of noise reduction - such a processing result looks very archaic in the pictures of a modern flagship.

Based on the results of shooting the stand, we can conclude that the real resolution of the images may not be the highest, but we have already stipulated that in this case this is far from the main characteristic, especially in the vicinity of such values, since the resolution can be high, but not quite natural. However, the resolution of the camera is quite decent. It is also worth noting the good work of the flash, and the sensor, which works quite stably in different lighting conditions.

In general, the camera is made very worthy, almost at the level of compact cameras. Of course, there is something to work on in it, and in general there is something to strive for. But even in its current form, it is well suited for shooting documentaries and feature stories.

Telephone part and communications

The developers put special emphasis on the communication capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S5: the smartphone works in the fifth generation of Wi-Fi 802.11ac networks with support for 2 × 2 MIMO mode - in this mode, data can be received and transmitted in two streams, that is, up to two times faster than in the first generations of 802.11ac compatible devices. In addition, the device provides support for a large number of 4G (LTE) frequencies and speeds that comply with the LTE Category 4 standard - up to 150 Mbps. With the SIM card of the domestic operator Megafon, the smartphone in practice confidently finds and works with the LTE network.

In addition, the smartphone has support for the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band and the NFC standard. As a standard, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels, there is a Wi-Fi Direct mode. The navigation module works both with the GPS system (with A-GPS) and with the domestic Glonass. The speed and quality of the GPS-module does not raise any complaints: the system works quickly, smoothly, the navigation module finds the first satellites almost instantly, and even indoors.

Spontaneous reboots / shutdowns were not observed during testing. The screen of the smartphone is large, so the drawing of letters and numbers on virtual keyboards is quite comfortable to control. It is very convenient that there is a dedicated top row with numbers - you do not have to switch the layout every time. But the layout itself and the layout of the keys are not the same as those of others: instead of just clicking on the dedicated button with the image of a globe, here you have to switch language layouts by scrolling sideways on the spacebar, which is certainly less convenient. The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, a search is also carried out immediately by the first letters in contacts. Support for non-stop writing by sliding is available here, but there is no possibility to move the keyboard closer to one of the edges, as on Galaxy Note series tablets.

OS and software

The system uses the Google Android software platform of the latest version 4.4.2 (Kitkat) and the proprietary graphical user interface TouchWiz, the appearance of which has changed. He became, according to the new fashion, more “flat”, which clearly benefited him, although the traditional Asian frivolity remained. The appearance of the settings menu has changed: now all icons look like exactly the same circles and they are arranged in a single long list. But, of course, the menu display can be changed, leading to the old view with vertical tabs. In this case, there will be no longer four, as before, but as many as six. In general, I liked the new look of the interface and the settings menu more than the old one: everything is combed, ordered, symmetrical, working with various subsections of the menu has become more intuitive. The menu of installed applications has not undergone significant changes, but now you can display a special button on the home screen, by clicking on which a context menu opens with quick access to the most popular applications. The notification menu has received two additional dedicated oval buttons for quickly switching to search throughout the smartphone and enabling quick connection to familiar devices.

To the various ways to lock the smartphone, another one has now been added: you can lock the screen using a fingerprint scanner, the scanner of which is built into the central key below the screen. To successfully memorize the texture of the pad of your finger, you must swipe at least eight times on the sensor, after which you will also have to come up with a standard digital code in case the finger remains unrecognized within five attempts. It's a shame when the developer also imposes restrictions on the personal password you create: an attempt to limit yourself to a digital password failed - you need to intersperse numbers with letters.

By the way, the security issue has been strengthened in the Samsung Galaxy S5 with another innovation: now, due to the appearance of the “Children” mode, you can open access only to certain permitted programs, and then calmly entrust the device for 30 thousand rubles to a child to play.

If we are talking about games, then it is worth noting that we tested such games as Dead Trigger 2 and Asphalt 8 on a smartphone - no problems were found with their playback.

Another specific mode of operation has been added to the smartphone, about which the developers themselves spoke a lot at the presentations. In fact, this is the usual energy-saving mode that any built-in program for saving energy in mobile devices has, it’s just that Samsung brings its smartphone to completely “depletion” in this mode. When the maximum power saving mode is activated, not only all network interfaces are disabled, but also the graphical interface of the shell becomes black and white, and the number of applications allowed to work is severely limited. Naturally, in this mode, the smartphone can “work” much longer (who would doubt it), but this work will be carried out in a very limited framework.

One of the central applications pre-installed in modern top-end Samsung smartphones, which developers are constantly reminded of, is a program for monitoring one's own health called S Health. The program has a wide range of health-improving functions: a pedometer, exercise recording, nutrition control, etc. Now the application has not only received a new version of S Health 3.0, but also acquired additional functionality in the form of a dedicated hardware heart rate counter. In principle, some programs used to try to count heart beats using an ordinary smartphone camera, and now they have allocated a whole block with a small camera and backlight for this. You need to put your finger on the recess in the back of the smartphone, and then the program will count your pulse. Naturally, this data is stored, processed and displayed in the form of graphs and tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Performance

The hardware platform of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 single-chip quad-core system (SoC). The chip version was limited to 2.36 GHz.

The processor is supported in graphics processing by the same Adreno 330 video accelerator, but here there is an increase in frequencies: the GPU is already overclocking to 578 MHz instead of 450 MHz. About 12 GB (out of 16) are initially available for the user's needs in the device, the amount of RAM here is 2 GB - in this regard, surprisingly, there was no increase, while Sony equipped its latest flagship with three gigabytes random access memory. MicroSD memory cards are supported in this model, you can also connect external flash drives, keyboards and mice using a special adapter in OTG mode.

Since the most powerful and most productive of the competing serial platforms is now SoC MediaTek MT6592, the configuration of which includes eight full-fledged processor cores, [simultaneously] operating at a frequency of up to 2 GHz, it is logical to include its results in the comparison in the first place. Recall that we recently released a review of the powerful TCL Idol X + smartphone, which is built on the maximum version of this platform. Also, of course, it is worth adding to the comparison the results shown in the same tests by the previous version of the Qualcomm platform - Snapdragon 800, which runs all the top smartphones of last year. However, the most important battle today will still not take place, because the main competitor of the hero of today's review, the flagship smartphone Sony Xperia Z2, also built on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, has not yet reached our test lab. In the near future, we will definitely compare it with the Samsung Galaxy S5 data received today.

To get an idea of ​​the platform performance of the tested smartphone, let's run a standard set of tests.

For convenience, we have summarized all the results obtained by us when testing a smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks in tables. Several other devices from various segments are usually added to the table, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry numbers). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison, it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.

Testing in MobileXPRT, as well as in the latest versions of AnTuTu 4.x and GeekBench 3:

The test results are as follows. As for the competing MediaTek MT6592, the latest Qualcomm system (Snapdragon 801) coped with it in all respects. In general, this is not at all surprising, given that the previous version of the Snapdragon 800 coped with it. As for the comparison with the Snapdragon 800, according to the results of all tests, there was practically no real increase: the same maximum 35K points in AnTuTu, and in other benchmarks, the difference is negligible - within the margin of error.

By the way, with regard to these very resulting figures: since the smartphone being tested today is a landmark device, and the rest will be equal to it throughout the year, it is probably worth recalling the fresh alignment of forces. If you rely on the numbers of the popular AnTuTu benchmark, it looks something like this: eight MediaTek MT6592 cores with a frequency of 2 GHz demonstrate 31K points in this test (26 thousand points for the eight-core Zopo 998 and THL T100S with a lower frequency of processor cores - 1.7 GHz), and about 35,000 in top smartphones such as LG G2, Sony Xperia Z1, Acer Liquid S2 and now Samsung Galaxy S5, built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800/801 hardware platform. There are two main conclusions from all these comparisons: TCL Idol X + is the first MediaTek smartphone that managed to get close to the leading Qualcomm solutions, albeit due to twice as many processor cores. And secondly, the new version of Qualcomm's top platform brought almost no increase in performance, although this microscopic superiority allowed it to gain a foothold on the podium even more firmly as the undisputed leader among platforms for mobile devices. According to the above, the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 platform is currently one of the most powerful smartphones on the planet.

When testing in 3DMark for the highest performing smartphones, it is now possible to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (due to which the speed can rise above 60 fps).

The results of testing the graphics subsystem in the Epic Citadel gaming test, as well as Basemark X and Bonsai Benchmark:

The lag in the operation of the Mali-450MP4 video subsystem is still noticeable: this video accelerator produces approximately 47 fps in those test modes in which the Adreno 330 produces 60 fps.

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for evaluating the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowances for the fact that the results in them depend significantly on the browser in which they are launched, so that the comparison can only be truly correct in the same OS and browsers, and this possibility is available when testing not always. In the case of Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

Video playback

To test the "omnivorous" when playing video (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern versions using processor cores alone. Also, do not expect everything from a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it.

With video playback, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is not as smooth as we would like. Surprisingly, this is one of the rare smartphones in which the popular MX player flatly refuses to start with the Hardware + decoder, and most often only this option saves the day when the regular player cannot play the audio track of the file. That is, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S5, in order to play three out of five of our test files (MKV) normally, you will have to use a software decoder (at least for audio decoding - video can be decoded by hardware) - neither Hardware nor Hardware + , nor, of course, the decoder of a regular video player is not able to play these common types of files with sound on the network. And this is a clear drawback, because we have a solution with an excellent in all respects large and high-quality screen and maximum performance, which could become an excellent multimedia assistant. By the way, Galaxy Note 3 also has similar problems - we hope that with the release of updates for the MX Player, the situation will somehow change. By the way, top LG and Sony smartphones are always in perfect order in this plate, because even with their own hardware they are able to play all the files presented, not to mention support for all modes of the MX player.

¹ Audio in MX Video Player only played after switching to software decoding Hardware+ not supported); The regular player does not have such a setting.

Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. To test it, we used the LG IPS237L monitor, which supports direct MHL connection using a passive Micro-USB to HDMI adapter cable. Recall that Samsung has implemented its own version of this interface at the physical level. As a result, to connect an external device via MHL, you need to use special adapters or connect standard MHL adapters through simple passive adapters. In this case, we conducted the test using a proprietary Samsung adapter, while MHL output was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels at 60 fps.

When the smartphone is in portrait orientation, the image on the monitor screen is also displayed in portrait orientation, while the image on the monitor is inscribed in the screen boundaries in height, and wide black fields are displayed on the right and left. In this case, the actual resolution on the monitor screen is, of course, lower than the resolution on the smartphone screen. When the smartphone is in landscape orientation, the image on the monitor screen is displayed in landscape orientation, while the image on the monitor is inscribed within the screen boundaries and exactly matches the image on the smartphone screen. The exception is the start screen, which is displayed only in portrait orientation:

The sound is output via MHL (in this case, the sounds were heard through the headphones connected to the monitor, since there are no speakers in the monitor itself) and has a good quality. At the same time, at least multimedia sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the smartphone itself, and the volume is controlled by the buttons on the smartphone case. In principle, in the smartphone settings, you can select the sound output mode - stereo or surround. However, in our case, the monitor only accepted stereo sound, so there was no choice. The smartphone connected via MHL is charging.

To test the display of video files on the screen of the device itself, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Methodology for testing video signal playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output frames of video files with different parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In tests, we used the MX Player video player in Hardware mode, as there were a lot of artifacts in Hardware+ mode. The results of this test (the block titled "Smartphone screen") are summarized in the table:

Note: If both columns Uniformity And Passes green ratings are set, this means that, most likely, when watching movies, artifacts caused by uneven interleaving and dropping frames will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with the playback of the respective files.

According to the criterion for displaying frames, the quality of playing video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is high, since frames (or groups of frames) can be displayed with more or less uniform alternation of intervals, and there are no frame drops. The smartphone can even display 4K resolution files up to and including 30p. However, uniform frame interleaving is a relatively unstable state, since some external and internal background processes cause the correct interleaving of intervals between frames to periodically fail. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, in the original resolution (adjusted for some features of PenTile). The brightness range displayed on the screen actually corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - in the shadows, only a couple of shades merge with black, but in the highlights, all gradations of shades are displayed. However, dark scenes may not look very good, as the darkest shades vary too much in brightness and color tone, which can lead to excessive visibility of compression artifacts.

With a monitor connected via MHL, when playing video with a standard player, the image of the video file is displayed only in landscape orientation, while only the picture of the video file is displayed on the monitor, and only information elements and virtual controls are displayed on the smartphone screen.

The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the "MHL (monitor output)" block. The output quality is very good. When playing video files with Full HD resolution (1920 by 1080 pixels) on the monitor screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen while maintaining true proportions, and the resolution corresponds to Full HD resolution. The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, all gradations of shades are displayed in the shadows and in the highlights.

The conclusion is typical: the MHL connection can be used for games, watching movies, web browsing and other activities that benefit from a multiple increase in screen size. True, you will have to purchase an adapter specifically for Samsung or find the appropriate adapter.

Battery life

The lithium-ion battery installed in the Samsung Galaxy S5 has a good by modern standards, but not a record-breaking capacity of 2800 mAh. Accordingly, in terms of battery life, the device showed very good results, which we traditionally summarized in a comparative table.

Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at the minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd / m²) lasted more than 17 hours until the battery was completely discharged, and when continuously watching YouTube videos in high quality (HQ) with the device lasted 12.5 hours with the same brightness level through the home Wi-Fi network, in the 3D games mode the smartphone withstood 4.5 hours worthy for such a screen, and I was really pleased with such stability: its predecessor Galaxy S4 at first overheated a lot and with these tests do poorly, and only with the firmware update the situation returned to normal. With the new flagship, even now, before the start of sales, no problems were found in this regard, and by the way, the device heats up much less than its predecessor.

Outcome

Summarizing the review of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is both easy and difficult. It's easy, because perhaps no one needs to explain why the flagship smartphones of the Korean company are deservedly one of the best on the market. And it’s not only the combination of top-end technical characteristics and maximum performance that distinguishes them, there is something else. It seems to us that the company is one of the few who are not ashamed to spy on the desires of users. For most manufacturers, this always remains only unfulfilled pompous slogan promises, but in practice, no matter how much users cry about something, they will never get it. But the Koreans have a completely different point of view on this matter, they readily satisfy any desires of buyers. Want a removable battery? - Get it. Need a memory card slot? - Yes, for God's sake, we do not mind! Suddenly fell in love with the golden color? “Here, we now have a golden smartphone. And with such simple actions, coupled with good quality products and huge production volumes, the Korean company managed to climb to the very top of the mountain, pushing many along the way, and simply throwing someone off the cliff. The one who knows how to adapt survives, and this is what the Koreans do best.

As for the hero of today's review, here we can say with confidence that he has become a worthy successor to the flagship line. An excellent screen, a powerful filling, complete technical equipment, good battery life and maximum functionality, a few added features like a heart rate monitor and a fingerprint scanner - all this is worthy of praise. Although, it’s worth recognizing that there were not so many noticeable innovations in the fifth Galaxy S that it could rightfully be called a completely new model, in terms of design and appearance, it’s so for sure (in this regard, by the way, there was even a kind of decline: the smartphone has become heavier, larger, rougher - everyone admits this). It’s even surprising how the Koreans didn’t call this Galaxy S4s model - such a “letter modifier”, which has already become universally recognized, denoting an improved version of the model, would be more appropriate here. But it's all just a little embarrassing.

But what is really depressing is the way Samsung breaks down the prices of its top-end smartphones. It seems that the Koreans no longer remember that prices can sometimes be varied somehow - they reached the 30,000th mark with the previous flagship and now put the same price tag on all subsequent models as a matter of course. The cunning thought in the minds of entrepreneurs, obviously, is this: “They will complain the first time, but the next time they will be glad that they didn’t raise the price even higher.” So, by the way, it happened: now users are already happy that the price of the new flagship at the start of sales was not raised higher than that of the previous one. This is very alarming, and of course, against this background, it is difficult to recommend such a device for purchase: it is certainly very worthy, but for many, Samsung products may not be affordable right now. Did we think about five years ago that we would talk like this about the products of this Korean company in the future?