Samsung Galaxy S5 Pro Reviews

Powerful, competent and a decent UI at launch, it's still a risk buying such an old phone even though the price is much lower.

The Galaxy S6 edge launches a multipronged assault on any handset that dares to challenge it, and last year's S5 inevitably falls a victim to its uniqueness. It's not only the futuristic dual edge screen that the S6 edge wields, but also the premium glittering chassis that runs circles around the Galaxy S5's soft plastic, scoffing at the fact that the S6 edge doesn't have a waterproof rating like its predecessor. With its not-that-useful, yet rather extraordinary looking curved display, record-breaking silicon, a better camera, longer battery life, and Samsung Pay service, the S6 edge is very easy to pick compared to the Galaxy S5. Until you arrive at the pricing, that is. The S6 edge is more than twice as expensive as the S5, so you should really consider if you need the curved display premium. If you are into new and cool, though, the S6 edge is as futureproof as they get at the moment, and will probably hold its value for a long time, unlike the S5's assets that started depreciating rapidly the moment it launched.

The Galaxy S6 trumps the S5 by a large margin in almost every area that matters in terms of specs, and this time around comes with a design that is pleasing to the look and premium to the touch. Some nice characteristics have been sacrificed, like the waterproof rating, removable battery and expandable storage of the S5, but given the S6's brain and bod, it's unlikely that those will be missed much by the typical user. With a much better screen, cleaner camera results, and probably the fastest chip and memory combo currently on the market, the S6 is a no-brainer before the S5. It's not only the hardware, though, as TouchWiz has been given an extra spit and polish for the S6, while the new flagship is in a unique position to let you leave your payment cards at home thanks to the new Samsung Pay platform. Granted, the S6 costs almost twice the S5 at launch, but this time Samsung made sure that its new flagship is as futureproof as it gets, so you can grab one, certain that it will hold appeal for at least the next two years, instead of becoming run-of-the-mill six months after its launch.

The HTC One M9 is a beautifully crafted handset, next to which Samsung's Galaxy S5 looks quite average, not to mention the aesthetic appeal of Sense 7 over the TouchWiz interface. On paper the HTC beast has every reason to feel superior, too, with a much faster chipset, stereo speakers, and higher camera resolutions. In reality, however, the situation is more nuanced. While the One M9 undoubtedly feels more premium in the hand, it is slippery, with unimpressive screen-to-body ratio, and has neither the waterproof certification of the S5, nor its swappable battery compartment. Diving further into the details, about the only significant, tangible advantages of the One M9 over the S5 are the better front-facing camera, the audio/call quality, and of course, the newer, red hot chipset. If you are a design connoisseur and want to stay on the bleeding edge of tech, by any means pick the new HTC flagship. If you can live with a more orthodox-looking chassis, but largely similar abilities, save yourself some of the One M9 price, and get last year's Samsung finest.

Both feature 5”-ish 1080p displays, but we prefer the colors on the Mi 4; the performance potential with Snapdragon 801 on both is identical, but Xiaomi makes much better use of it with its MIUI skin that is surprisingly well polished and rich in features; and finally, the Mi 4 has a longer-lasting battery. The Mi 4 is not without its slight issues - the 13-megapixel camera - while good - is a step below the 16-megapixel shooter of the S5. The big drawback in the Mi 4 currently is the lack of 4G LTE support outside of China. If that does not bother you too much, though, the Mi 4 offers great value for the money - with an off-contract price of just around $370 for the 16GB version, it is a way better deal than the $520 16GB Galaxy S5. If you’re willing to deal with resellers and wait a couple of weeks for the Mi 4 to ship from overseas, chances are that you won’t be disappointed.

Almost hard to believe, the Google Nexus 6 and Apple iPhone 6 bear the same outright price point of $649 – though, you get 16GB of storage with the iPhone 6, and 32GB with the Nexus 6. Determining a victor is rather tough, especially when there’s not a single phone that greatly proves to deliver the better performance over the other. With that in mind, we can certainly agree at the very least, that you won’t be disappointed picking up either of them. Go with the iPhone 6 if you want a phone that’s compact in size, sports a premium finish, and takes some exceptional photos and videos. In contrast, go with the Nexus 6 for its huge QuadHD screen, great battery life, and robust Android 5.0 Lollipop experience.

Being new onto the scene, there are several reasons why the Nexus 6 stands out more profoundly than its rival in the Galaxy S5. For starters, there’s no arguing the fact that it’s the fresher of the two devices – aided by its cutting-edge hardware, future proof status, and stock Android 5.0 Lollipop experience. Naturally, too, the attachment to the fabled Nexus series means that it’s going to receive future Android software updates a lot faster than its customized rival. Nevertheless, we still can’t count out the Samsung Galaxy S5, since it manages to deliver a solid package that’s still capable of contending with newer devices. Best of all, it doesn’t require a fortune to pick up as well. By now, it can be snagged for relatively cheap with a 2-year contract, as low as free in some cases, which is a lot easier to swallow than the Nexus 6’s $200+ on-contract cost – so there’s an incentive to go with the Galaxy S5 when we look at their contract prices. If that’s not a route you wish to pursue, choosing instead to go the outright way, then it makes more sense to go with the Nexus 6 – that’s because the two are both slapped with the same $650 outright cost. For the money, you’re getting a newer and better spec’d smartphone, which of course, has the distinct privilege of being the first smartphones to run Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The Note Edge has an edge in almost everything when compared to the Galaxy S5. It might be less ergonomic in the hand, but that could be expected from a 5.6” phablet. Other than that, it is superior to the S5 in any way that counts, and we are not only talking the Edge side screen, or the extra input method brought on by the S Pen stylus, as you may or may not find these very useful on a daily basis. Its screen has a higher resolution, and produces very natural-looking colors compared to the cold, oversaturated panel images of the S5. The Note Edge chipset is much faster, too, especially in the graphics department, and has a snappier LTE radio. When it comes to the camera modules, the Note Edge climbs on top again, with more appealing video and audio recording, and finer stills, especially indoors. Given those tangible advantages, your only deterrent to get the unique Samsung phablet would be its pricing, or relatively big size. Being an early adopter is expensive, as the Note Edge will cost you almost twice more than the S5, regardless if it's on contract, or retail, and that can easily tip the scales in the other direction.

Motorola has done a great job with the Droid Turbo – this phone is a terrific package that packs all the cutting-edge technology one can think of right now. What's more, the software experience with the phone is also great – it's very close to stock Android, which we consider a good thing, while Motorola's additions are useful and meaningful in the context of the Droid Turbo. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S5 is starting to show its age. Don't get us wrong – it's still a very powerful and versatile device, especially in terms of camera, where it tends to beat the Droid Turbo most of the time, but considering most other aspects, it's simply overshadowed by the Turbo and its more balanced screen colors, higher resolution, newer and faster chipset, bigger battery and more streamlined software Galaxy S5 owners wondering whether an upgrade to the Droid Turbo would be a good idea can safely stay with their current device, seeing that it'll be more than adequate for the foreseeable future, but if you're absolutely on the market for a new device, you have more than one reason to side with Motorola's offering, instead of Samsung's flagship.

Here in the US, consumers can pick up both smartphones through AT&T for the 2-year contract price of $200. Somewhat of a strange decision to say quite frankly, it’s tough to recommend handing over the cash to pick up the Galaxy Alpha. Yes, it’s certainly gorgeous looking, but the same amount will land you the more features rich Galaxy S5 – not to mention it’s also better spec’d, offers a water resistant property with its construction, and performs better in a variety of areas over its sibling. At the end of the day, we seriously feel that it’s a matter of size preference. If you feel that the Galaxy S5 is simply too large for your liking, then it’s a logical decision to pick up the Galaxy S5. If not, stick with the Galaxy S5 for its totality and richness.

The Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy S5 are devices of different size and there’s no going around that: the phablet-sized Note 4 is not among the thinnest devices out there and its heft is felt at that large size. In return, it will reward you with one of the best Android experiences out there starting with the brilliant, 5.7-inch Quad HD display, the latest Snapdragon 805 system chip that scores at the top of the Android ranks, and an improved camera with optical stabilization. The Galaxy S5, on the other hand, comes with an important advantage - it won’t drill a hole in your pocket. We’re speaking literally and figuratively - literally, because of its more manageable dimensions, and figuratively because of its reduced price. The full off-contract price of the S5 stands at around $520 (480 euro), while the Note 4 starting full price is a much tougher to swallow $800 (800 euro). The Galaxy S5 is also protected from the elements, something that could be important to many. On the flipside of things, you have to make a couple of noticeable trade-off with the S5 - the comparatively lackluster display comes first and foremost, the slightly sub-par camera second, and the slight performance delta last. Decisions, decisions.

There’s a reason why the Samsung Galaxy S5 continues to be a noteworthy smartphone, despite the fact that it’s been out for some time now. Frankly, it just works in being a high performing smartphone – one that’s usually a top finisher in key categories. From its superior battery life, sharp camera quality, and its rich set of software features, the Galaxy S5 is without a doubt a few steps ahead of the Moto X. Even though Motorola has made some tweaks to enhance the Moto X over its predecessor, it can’t stop the steamrolling action of its rival. Still, we’ll hand it to Motorola for designing one heck of a beautiful phone, one that’s customizable and premium – plus, its $100 on-contract cost from the onset is pretty attractive too. Then again, we’re pretty sure that the Galaxy S5 can be picked up at or nearly around the same price point now, so it’s just as valuable as its new competitor. Unless you’re all about design, we’d suggest picking up the Galaxy S5 for its supreme performance.

We know you want a straight answer: the iPhone 6 or the Galaxy S5? But the reality is that such an answer will inevitably be, to put it lightly, completely misleading. There's no such thing as one-size-fits-all, and it ultimately comes down to your right to exercise choice. There's a lot that sets the two apart from each other – the iPhone 6, for example, has a more attractive design on the whole and is also an incredible performer that handles both everyday tasks and the most heaviest of apps with absolute ease, which is impressive. Its screen is also brighter and more accurate, delivering true-to-life colors, unlike the Samsung Galaxy S5. Speaking of Samsung's flagship, its screen may not be as accurate, but we know that many of you like the extremely-punchy colors it produces. We can't gloss over the fact that it has a larger display, either. That one also makes it better-suited for media consumption, and there's simply no denying the GS5's superiority when it comes to battery life – an overly important aspect in today's climate. And while, on the whole, the last Galaxy flagship feels less premium in the hand, it is quite practical, with a body that is also waterproofed. Last, but not least, let's not forget that choosing between the two also comes down to a pick between two different ecosystems – iOS and Android – and that, more than anything, should give you the justification you need to pick either before the other.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 produces some of the sharpest and cleanest images you’ll find from any smartphone. Detail, colour reproduction and dynamic range are all excellent at lower sensitivity settings, and unlike many camera phones and regular compact cameras, the S5 performs well in low light too. The S5’s camera is also a pleasure to use thanks to extremely rapid autofocus performance and reliable exposure metering. Its 6fps continuous shooting mode is impressively fast as well and the ability to record 4K Ultra HD video is also a welcome feature, although you’ll need a 4K-capable television or computer monitor to make the most of it. Expandable storage and a long battery life further enhance the camera’s appeal. Of course a phone this sleek can’t have an optical zoom lens, but the S5’s 16MP resolution gives some scope for cropping in on distant subjects before image sizes become too small. Keen photographers are more likely to be frustrated by the lack of manual controls and slippery ergonomics. It’s also hard to justify the high price from a purely photographic perspective as the same money would buy a very capable DSLR or CSC set-up. However, no conventional camera could come close to matching the Galaxy S5’s immense versatility.

The Galaxy S5 is a flagship handset and as such commands a high price. Expect to pay £570 SIM-free or at least £30 a month on a two-year contract in order to take home a phone from your mobile network or Carphone Warehouse. The hardware upgrades from the S4 to the S5 are noticeable but you won't gain much in practical terms. This, coupled with the familiar design, means there's no pressing reason for S4 owners to upgrade after just a year, even considering genuinely useful tweaks such as the the fingerprint sensor and improved camera.If you've got an older handset, however, then the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a great choice if you're looking for a new phone - especially if the Gear 2, Gear Fit or heartbeat sensor are of particular interest to you. If not, then it's a far closer call between this handset and the excellent HTC One (m8). If you want a full rundown then see our Samsung Galaxy S5 vs HTC One, but in short the HTC One (m8) may have great speakers and a lovely metal body, but we prefer the Samsung Galaxy S5 for its far superior battery life and a camera that produces more detailed images in the most common shooting conditions.

So how do you choose? As we mentioned in the very beginning of this comparison, it ultimately comes down to your individual preferences, as each devices has enough relative strengths to even out its relative weaknesses. We have no objective winner here – just different paths taken, both of which lead to the same great outcome.

Things haven't changed much from the Galaxy S4 but Samsung, as usual, has packed the Galaxy S5 with features. However, a lot are somewhat unnecessary. The heart rate monitor is a prime example and while the fingerprint scanner is cool, it's difficult to use. There is some top end hardware here, particularly the screen, but nothing which stands out in a busy and competitive market. A key element is that the design of the Galaxy S5 falls short. It's plastic, looks like every other Samsung handset and doesn't feel premium. Galaxy S4 users needn't upgrade and anyone looking for a flagship smartphone can get better elsewhere.

In all, picking either of the two really boils down to what you're looking for in a device, and you'll need to do some serious soul-searching before you're able to diffuse the stalemate between the Sony Xperia Z2 and Samsung Galaxy S5.

At the end of the day, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a fine flagship smartphone that meets most criteria. Many refinements to the formula are great, others not so much, but the overall package is one that users should generally like and enjoy to use, current S4 owners included.

When looking at the Galaxy S5 through the lens of the many Galaxy devices that came before it, this isn't an amazing phone. There's no sense of marvel in the hardware like someone feels with an HTC One M8, and there's no perceivable change to make someone say this is a dramatic departure from the Galaxy S 4. That's only the case if you look at the external of the device. Despite its physical similarities to other phones, the Galaxy S5 is internally a big improvement. Big. People will look to the Galaxy S5 for a fresh take on an amazing smartphone and they will be misguided to do so. It would be wiser to focus on what the S5 offers -- tons of enhancements and fixes for most of the things that people complain about with their smartphones. The camera is noticeably clearer, the battery life is remarkably better, the screen is brighter and has better colors, and the body of the phone undoubtedly better. This is exactly what people wanted, and Samsung delivered on the core attributes of what makes a great phone. If you're looking for a phone to shake the smartphone paradigm, look elsewhere. If you want a phone that does the important things well and throws in a few bonuses a long the way, Samsung has made its best Android phone yet, and it's ready to meet those needs.

The Galaxy S5 is fast, well built, full featured. It has a big bright and bold screen, and good cameras, and it offers good storage- and connectivity options. And you could say all of the above about the new 2014 HTC One M8. The Galaxy S5 may offer a better, marginally bigger display, the HTC One M8 may be slightly faster, although you will be hard pressed to notice the difference in either area. Both phones offer interesting new features, and offer their maker's take on the latest Android. Ultimately availability and pricing will determine this battle, as well as the human and subjective response to design, build and interface. If it was me, at this stage I'd probably err toward the HTC One M8. But it really is a personal choice.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the most powerful phone AT&T has to offer, but of course AT&T had to interfere a bit.

As Samsung continues to refine its flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S5 is better than ever. It's the most powerful phone you can buy, and is a lock for our Editors' Choice on Verizon.

When the Nokia Lumia 1520 first launched here in the US through AT&T, it astounded us with its aggressive $100 on-contract cost – giving it plenty of value for the buck. Strangely enough, after looking at its existing offering through the carrier, it has been increased in price to $200, the same cost as the brand spanking new Samsung Galaxy S5. However, if we’re to look at their off-contract prices, the Lumia 1520 is lower at $585 – whereas the Galaxy S5 is set at $650. If we’re to pick up a phone with a 2-year agreement, we’d totally recommend picking up the Galaxy S5, mostly for its diversified offerings, supreme performance, and freshness to the scene. Conversely, we can honestly mention picking up either phone if we’re forgoing signing a contract. Indeed, the Galaxy S5 is priced higher than its rival, but considering that it’s significantly newer and packs some additional hardware not present with the Lumia 1520, the higher pricing is more than justified. Ultimately, though, the platform experience between these giants will play a large role in what device you should choose. Android, as a whole, has a deeper and more connected experience than Windows Phone. Throw in Sammy’s updated TouchWiz Nature UX on top of Android 4.4.2 KitKat, it only extends the experience more with its myriad of software features. It’s not to say that Windows Phone 8 is handicapped, it’s just hasn’t matured to the level of where Android is currently at. Of course, Windows Phone 8.1 will bring some additional enhancements that will no doubt bridge the gap, but Android continues to be one step ahead. Whatever your decision folks, we’re certain you won’t be disappointed in what you select. There are valid reasons why these two are highly prized in the space, but as we’ve shown in this comparison, they excel in several key areas to make them fantastic offerings you won’t regret picking up.

A great smartphone in every way, the Samsung Galaxy S5 edges in front of the HTC One (M8) as the best smartphone around