Samsung s5 features. Manage calls without leaving the application

Search hidden functions and unique little things - a special pleasure for owners of premium smartphones. Often manufacturers themselves talk about additional options their devices. Samsung was no exception and published 10 features of its flagship Galaxy S5.

Sales of the flagship began a week ago, and the first buyers had the opportunity to rack their brains and show off what they found. So what does the flagship Samsung have in store?

Firstly, it has long been known that the Galaxy S5 does not come with an S-Pen stylus. However, few people know that a smartphone does not need this: the most ordinary stylus from the nearest electronics store will be quite enough! In order to use it, you just need to go to the display settings and enable the option to expand sensor parameters. Another detail is hidden in the standard music player. In album display mode, simply tilt your smartphone and the screen will display a list of songs similar to the one you are listening to.

If you have a child, then the situation when he calls your boss or deletes important information is familiar to you. But with the new Kids mode, you can safely give your smartphone to children without worrying about the safety of your data. You choose which applications can be opened in this mode, and rest assured, your baby won’t be able to get in any further.

Private mode allows you to hide documents, images or videos away from prying eyes. To do this, you need to go to settings and select Private mode. After this, when you long touch any file in the menu, among others, the “Add to Private Mode” function will appear. The padlock that appears after using this function means that your data is protected.

Toolbox will provide you fast access to your favorite applications. All you need to do is tap the toolbar in the settings menu. A white circle with three dots will appear. Move it to the Edit button to choose which apps you want to have permanent access to. Ready! Now these programs will be available in absolutely all windows and applications.

The camera also has additional functions. For example, now you can add it directly to the lock screen so as not to miss an interesting shot. Plus, you can create virtual tours using your footage, so you can easily give people out of town a tour of your home.

Tired of scrolling through hundreds of contacts to call your best friend? Now this is not a problem! In the messenger, click “+” and add up to 25 favorite interlocutors - they will always be displayed at the top of the contact list.

You can also view the Google+ post feed of the person you're currently talking to. To do this, simply click Settings in the conversation menu and select “Show contact information.” After this, you can view all the information about the person, and also go to his Google+ page, if it is listed there.

Now, if you are gaming, an incoming call will not take you by surprise. Go to your call settings and check the box next to “Enable notifications for incoming calls.” Now, instead of stopping the game, you will only receive a notification in the top panel.

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Samsung releases new flagship smartphones every year. GALAXY S5 is the main model of 2014, which incorporates the latest achievements of Korean technology. Moreover, it is main not only in Samsung line, but also among all Android smartphones in general, given the company’s dominant position. No other manufacturer can compete with Samsung in terms of the number of devices sold. But quantity and quality do not always coincide, let's take a closer look at the GALAXY S5 model, which we managed to get before the start of sales, and understand how high quality it was and whether it is worthy of a purchase.

At the moment there are two undisputed leaders in the smartphone market - and. They achieved these results largely due to marketing efforts. But the products of each company are also very interesting. However, the approach is completely different. If Apple focuses on design and ecosystem, then for Samsung features are at the forefront.

The new GALAXY S5 is no exception to this rule. The main interest remains technical specifications. There are a lot of new things here compared to last year. A fingerprint scanner has appeared, moisture protection has been added and there is new mode saving energy (see the photo below for how it works). And these are just the main changes, there are a lot of small modifications, especially in software.

But the appearance of smartphones is not traditionally a strong point of Samsung’s mobile division. In this they are inferior not only to, but also to other Android manufacturers -, etc. Let's see how fully the Koreans were able to take into account the errors of previous versions in the new flagship.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Network: EDGE/GPRS/GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), WCDMA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), LTE
• Operating system: Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat), interface
• Processor: Quad Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 s clock frequency 2.5 GHz
• Memory: 16/32 GB, 2 GB RAM, support for microSD memory cards (up to 64 GB)
• Display: 5.1" FHD Super AMOLED(1920 x 1080), 432 ppi
• Camera: main 16 MP (1/2.6”), flash, UHD@30fps video recording, front 2.0 MP
• Communications: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac VHT80, MIMO(2x2), Download Booster (LTE + WiFi), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE / ANT+, USB 3.0, IR port
• Other: Heart rate monitor, IP67 water and dust protection, new power saving mode
• Battery: 2800 mAh, removable
• Dimensions, weight: 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, 145 g
• Recommended price at the start of sales (April 11): from 29,990 rubles

DESIGN, ERGONOMICS

The appearance of the GALAXY S5 is what was discussed the most after the official announcement in Barcelona. And in general the opinions were not at all positive. Really, new flagship Samsung turned out to be very controversial in design and materials. The body is plastic and back cover rubberized and with a texture either like a plaster, or like the interior of a Lada, or like a . In any case, against the backdrop of a cool exterior Apple flagships, HTC, Sony and others, this Samsung design looks cheap. The explanation for this is very simple: Koreans do not use metal and other refinements in mass-produced models. A premium version will appear later, but for now we have what we have. In my opinion, appearance is the main drawback of the GALAXY S5.

back side external simplicity of GALAXY S5 is practicality. The smartphone, like its predecessor, is well balanced. True, due to moisture protection it was necessary to use additional seals, as a result both the dimensions and weight increased (compared to ): 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, 145 g. The frames around the screen could also be smaller. The record holder for this was released last year, but it does not have moisture protection. Samsung had to increase the frames due to the rubber layer (the same one was in). The next generation of Sony (model) got rid of this drawback due to a new frame design. The Koreans went the route, and as a result, the frames are not only larger than those of Sony, but even larger than those of last year’s GALAXY S4. This is a fee for moisture protection. This also includes the speaker; it is quieter and of lower quality compared to the GALAXY S4 (not to mention HTC One).

Left Samsung GALAXY S5, right Samsung GALAXY S4

Top Samsung GALAXY S5, bottom Samsung GALAXY S4

An important addition to the new flagship is protection against moisture and dust according to the IP67 standard. This means that the model can withstand immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Samsung has previously used IP67 in the GALAXY S4 Active and a number of less expensive models. We tested the new product during water procedures and are completely satisfied with the result. You won't be able to make calls underwater (and is that really necessary?), but otherwise the device can withstand everything up to complete immersion. In my opinion, this, along with the fingerprint scanner, is the main advantage of the GALAXY S5 and a serious blow to Sony (considering that Samsung smartphones are much more popular).

Samsung followed the path of Apple and not only offered its flagship in gold color, but also built a fingerprint scanner into it. It is located in a mechanical button under the screen (which is much more convenient than the sensor on the back under the camera of the HTC One Max). In addition to the function of unlocking the device, it also works when making purchases on a smartphone to protect the owner; it can be used to hide personal data. If you do not want to touch a button, in this case you need to swipe it with your finger. Unlike the test samples, the function worked correctly in our device. An important, necessary and useful innovation.

Another interesting feature of the GALAXY S5 is the heart rate sensor. The sensor is located behind the camera and is combined with the flash. If you put your finger on it, you can see your pulse within a few seconds. Of course, there is software that allows you to monitor your health. This works with low accuracy and is unlikely to be of practical value. In particular, for the same person, the scanner at the same moment shows a completely different pulse. About the same situation as was with thermometers in old phones (for example, Pantech G670).

The controls are the same, the only changes are in the key block under the screen. The Home button with a pair of touch pads on the sides remains in place, the controls are still convenient and well thought out. The Koreans finally removed the button that was responsible for the auxiliary menu, replacing it with a much more relevant task manager. The screen lock and volume keys are located in places that are easy to press.

Initially there will be several colors available: , and . Subsequently, the range is likely to be expanded, as could be seen in previous years. The plastic polycarbonate body still features a collapsible design, and it's one of the few flagships with a removable battery. To prevent the smartphone from getting wet, the microUSB port is protected by a plug. But regularly opening it up for charging is inconvenient; as an option, a case is offered that supports wireless charging.

Comparison of dimensions of Samsung GALAXY S5, HTC One Dual Sim and LG G2:

SPEED AND RUNNING TIME

Samsung GALAXY S5 is powered by a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. It is noted that the new version guarantees faster processor performance by 14%, graphics by 28%, and camera sensor performance by 45% compared to the Snapdragon 800. Interestingly, the processor modifications are different. Qualcomm has moved two chipsets that previously belonged to the Snapdragon 800 into the Snapdragon 801 category - these are MSM8974-AB and MSM8974-AC. The first one received Sony Xperia Z2, the second is Samsung GALAXY S5. They differ from Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 in the frequency of processor cores and graphics accelerator. Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor frequency - 2.26 GHz, QS 801 (MSM8974-AB) - 2.36 GHz, QS 801 (MSM8974-AC) - 2.45 GHz. Adreno 330 graphics frequencies are 450, 550 and 578 GHz, respectively.

Samsung is expected to soon introduce a version of the GALAXY S5 with an eight-core processor with a frequency of 2.1 GHz. Most likely, it will not be the new Exynos 6, but the Exynos 5422. This chip, in fact, is an overclocked version of the Exynos 5420, which is used in the GALAXY Note 3. Only now the frequency of the four productive Cortex-A15 cores has been increased from 1.9 to 2. 1 GHz, and economical Cortex-A7 - from 1.3 to 1.5. An important point is that all eight cores can work simultaneously. The new chip supports displays with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and video recording in 4K resolution. Its mass release will begin before the end of March, so there is a high probability that the Exynos version of the GALAXY S5 will appear on the market in the coming months.

As for the Qualcomm version of the GALAXY S5, it demonstrates good performance, but the amount of RAM 2 GB looks strange. Even in last year’s version it is 3 GB, similar to the recent Sony Xperia Z2. In general, everything works quickly, but sometimes there are stutters. Considering our sample wasn't jam-packed with programs and content, this isn't the most pleasant surprise. In benchmarks, our hero looks confident and demonstrates good results. In my opinion, the reason for the stuttering is purely software; Samsung's proprietary interface does not always work smoothly. By comparison, HTC Sense on a less powerful hardware is smoother.

Now about the operating time. The battery capacity has increased, now instead of 2600 mAh, as in the GALAXY S4, it is already 2800 mAh. Samsung talks about 12 hours of video playback and 10 hours of Internet browsing. In our tests it still worked for about a day with average use, there are no big changes here. The smartphone plays video (Full HD, maximum brightness, Wi-Fi on) for more than 10 hours. The result according to AnTuTu Tester is 566 points. In general, nothing special. Much more interesting is the new special Ultra Power Saving mode, when the smartphone shows a black and white image on the screen, while it only allows you to make calls and send messages, turning off the Internet. It is stated that with 10% of the remaining energy the device can last a whole day. In our tests it turned out a little less, but comparable. This is a very interesting feature of the Samsung GALAXY S5.

CAMERA

Samsung announced its ISOCELL photo sensor technology last year, but only now admitted that such matrices are used in the new flagship GALAXY S5 smartphones. As you know, the quality of photosensors is determined by the amount of light that the pixels located on them capture. Under market pressure, manufacturers increase the number of pixels, thereby reducing their sizes, making it more difficult to obtain high-quality photographs. Current photosensor technologies focus on increasing the light absorption of each individual pixel. Until recently, BSI technology did an excellent job of this, but as pixel sizes get smaller, its use becomes less and less effective.

ISOCELL technology forms a physical barrier between adjacent pixels, isolating them (ISOlated CELL, isolated cell). Isolation allows pixel LEDs to receive up to 30% more photons, minimizing unwanted electrical interference between pixels. Compared to BSI technology, ISOCELL pixels reduce noise by approximately 30%, resulting in higher color accuracy and richer, more contrasty images, even in low light.

In practice, we have a powerful 16 megapixel module with the ability to shoot UHD video. Compared to the GALAXY S4 (and Note 3), the software and interface have been significantly updated. The camera has become noticeably faster - focusing, HDR, etc. On the other hand, there are now fewer modes, they need to be downloaded separately. In particular, there is no separate night mode, and in Auto the quality of the pictures is not the highest. In other conditions, the quality is roughly comparable to the GALAXY S4 and Note 3, sometimes a little worse. Most likely this will be fixed in future updates. But even now it is one of the best mobile cameras with excellent detail, high speed(the stated focusing and shooting time is only 0.3 seconds) and many settings.

What's interesting about the settings is the improved HDR mode, which allows you to see in real time what the photo you plan to take in this mode will look like. In their Windows Phone Nokia models offers interesting application, in which you can change the focus even after the photo has already been taken. Now you can get the same opportunity in Samsung. The idea is simple: after a frame is taken, you can change it and “blur” the desired area, without having to reshoot the object again.

Examples of photos of Samsung GALAXY S5 in maximum quality (16 MP):

SCREEN

The screen of the new product has increased to 5.1”; it is an FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) matrix with a density of 432 ppi. The specimen is very nice, has excellent viewing angles and performs well in the sun. I liked the display in the Samsung GALAXY S5, and there is slight progress compared to the S4, our expert Mikhail Kuznetsov will tell you in more detail.

Comparison of Samsung GALAXY S5 (left) and S4 (right):

The screen of the Samsung GALAXY S5 is, as usual, the brightest detail of this smartphone. The diagonal has grown to 5.1 inches, which with Full HD resolution provides high density pixels - about 432 ppi. Despite the PenTile subpixel structure, it, like its predecessor GALAXY S4, can hardly be blamed for image blur. Small fonts or thin outlines practically do not suffer from pixelation, unless you equip yourself with a magnifying glass or microscope. Obviously, the screens of the two generations are generally quite similar, but we found a few interesting nuances.

For example, compared to the GALAXY S4, the screen of the new S5 is approximately 18% brighter. We are talking about the brightness of the white fill across the entire screen at maximum brightness in the smartphone settings. The indicator has increased to 332 cd/m2, and this brightness margin can already be considered quite sufficient for most scenarios. More importantly, the anti-glare properties of the screen have also improved. On direct sunlight the Samsung GALAXY S4 screen substrate gives a bluish tint, while GALAXY screen The S5 remains close to black or neutral gray. The same thing happens with the image: the GALAXY S5 screen demonstrates excellent viewing angles, where any significant distortion begins only at the very end, when the eye rests on the smartphone exactly from the side. Let me remind you that on the GALAXY S4 screen the image acquired a blue-green tint even at a not very wide angle. In general, there has been some progress in the behavior of the image on the GALAXY S5 screen under different lighting conditions or from different angles.

Another strong property of the screen has not been lost - the incredible contrast of the AMOLED display, which gives a breathtakingly deep image. Formally, the concept of contrast ratio is not even applicable here, thanks to the ideal black color. It's a pity, but you can really feel this advantage in the dark, since in a bright environment the screen still reflects part of the incident light. Nevertheless, in this parameter, the GALAXY S5 screen, like other types of OLED, is far ahead of conventional LCD displays.

The gamma curve of the screen is close to optimal, the average value is 2.3. In practice, the differences from the reference gamma 2.2 are invisible, shadow detail does not suffer.

Color reproduction, as usual, depends on the selected screen mode. There are several options to choose from: “Dynamic”, “Standard”, “Professional Photography” and “Cinema”. The “Dynamic” mode is overly saturated, which not everyone will like - after all, the colors are fairly distorted.

“Standard” mode combines a cool-toned image with an average color temperature of around 7600K and bright, saturated colors. This is a setting in the spirit of “classic” AMOLEDs, where color profiles were not provided.

Professional Photography mode is an attempt to emulate the expanded Adobe RGB color space that is sometimes used by professional photographers. The attempt is not very successful: the compliance of the color gamut with the Adobe RGB standard is rather conditional, since the green color (which is the main difference between Abobe RGB and sRGB) is greatly shifted in hue. At the same time, the white balance is not bad - the color temperature ranges from 6500K to 7000K, but in general the deviations are low.

The Cinema mode, as usual, offers the most adequate color reproduction. The color balance here is almost identical to the previous mode. The average color temperature is about 6700K, and the color gamut exceeds the sRGB standard only in the green area.

Analysis of colors within the color gamut shows acceptable results, and the average error on 24 ColorChecker targets is only 3.58 units. Consequently, in the “Cinema” mode the image has fairly natural colors, the saturation of which, compared to other modes, is within reasonable limits. This option is really good for watching videos and photos. Color profile“Cinema” is the best way to dispel misconceptions about the “broken” color reproduction of AMOLED screens, which are still passed down from old memory.

In addition, there is also an adaptive display mode, which automatically selects settings based on the content - be it photos, text or games. Typically, it uses the "Standard" profile as a base, and the colors are muted less often than they should be. Therefore in everyday use you can get by with a single profile that suits your taste best.

In general, the Samsung GALAXY S5 screen continues the traditions established in previous generations. There have been no radical improvements, but there is a progressive evolution. For example, the new generation has more effective anti-glare and wider viewing angles. Color rendition, as before, strongly depends on the selected screen mode: the user is offered 4 options for taste and color, in addition to the adaptive mode. Everyone can choose an option to their liking - either calm and natural colors, or, conversely, the most “flashy” ones. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, unlike the design, the screen of the Samsung GALAXY S5 is unlikely to be the subject of heated debate. Most likely, the vast majority will agree that he is very good. In any case, from a technical point of view there is little to complain about here.

COMMUNICATIONS, MEMORY

Communications have also been improved. MicroUSB 3.0 is used, and everything you need is also there: NFC, LTE, Bluetooth 4.0. In the event that you urgently need to send something quickly, and the amount of data is large and amounts to more than 30 MB, the Download Booster function is activated, when the device sends data directly via Wi-Fi and LTE. Declared Wi-Fi support 802.11ac with 2xMIMO.

The memory is also in perfect order: the built-in volume is 16 or 32 GB, plus there is a compartment for microSD, where you can install up to 64 GB inclusive, i.e. the total volume is up to 96 GB. For most users this will be enough.

SOFTWARE, INTERFACE

Samsung GALAXY S5 runs on Android 4.4 KitKat with new version proprietary TouchWiz interface. The latter has undergone many changes, has become a little faster, but overall it has not changed radically. New effects and animation have appeared. What remains is the Korean beauty. The gurgling sounds and familiar melodies, unfortunately, also remain. But there are new wallpapers, some very nice.

Samsung sees its new interface more simple and understandable. In particular, the settings menu has been completely updated. Now this is the only vertical list with bright large icons in the style of Simbian or (iOS7). In my opinion, this looks like an attempt to collect everything in one place at once. The result is a mess of styles that you need to get used to. However, if desired, this can easily be changed with third-party launchers (like a case with covers).

By comparison GALAXY S4's interface has changed noticeably. The widgets section was moved from the menu to the main screen settings, a new unlocking effect and desktop changing animation appeared, and the S Finder and “Quick Connect” buttons were added to the notification center. Most applications have been updated - gallery, player, phone, messages, etc. The S Health fitness application (version 3.0) has been significantly improved, which now takes into account heart rate. Knox security functionality has been enhanced.

The new economy mode, which I already mentioned, deserves a separate discussion. With one touch you change the screen image to grayscale, limit the number available applications, disable background work and turn off all communications, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. As a result, you get a simple dialer with basic capabilities. Other manufacturers have nothing like this, the opportunity is interesting and useful.

As I wrote above, two more interesting functions are the unloading accelerator and fingerprint user authorization (Finger Scanner). I am sure that GALAXY S5 owners will like them. Also interesting are the different operating modes - private and children's. As always with Samsung, everything can be customized and changed. In general, the functionality of the company's software now has no equal in Android. If the Koreans do something else with the design and content, we will get a great shell.

List of subscriptions and services that the owner of Samsung GALAXY S5 receives for free:

• Wall Street Journal: 6 month subscription ($160);
• Linkedin: 3 month subscription ($75);
• PayPal: $50 off in-store purchases with PayPal;
• Skimple: 6 month subscription ($42);
• Lark: 1 year subscription ($36);
• Bloomberg BusinessWeek+: 1-year subscription ($30);
• Bitcasa: 1 TB for 3 months ($30);
• Runkeeper: 1 year subscription ($20);
• Evernote: 3 month subscription ($15);
• Cut the Rope 2: $10 credit;
• Blurb: $5 off;
• EasilyDo Pro: unlimited download ($5);
• Flick Dat: no download limits ($2);

OPINION HI-TECH.MAIL.RU

GALAXY S5 is an evolution of the line. Accordingly, the wildest expectations were not justified. Here you will not find metal in the case, there are no breaks in the camera or screen, there is still no FM radio, and the same amount of RAM. The latter is quite strange, given the 3 GB of RAM in last year's Note 3. At the same time, the size, weight and frame around the screen have increased slightly.

On the other hand, the device turned out to be solid and balanced. A fingerprint scanner has appeared (which also works well), a new energy saving and moisture protection mode is interesting. The latter is full-fledged IP67, and not splash protection, as our tests have proven. The software in the GALAXY S5 has been improved and supplemented, but this is still a controversial point - on the one hand, it is very functional, on the other, it is not the most stylish and smooth (like HTC Sense, for example).

In most respects, the GALAXY S5 is comparable to its predecessor (performance, battery life, features, design, etc.). There are both pros and cons to this. If everything is clear about the shortcomings, then the traditional advantages of Samsung are removable battery, memory card slot and hardware Home button- all this remains in the new flagship. Unfortunately, the typical design remained (only the back cover was made not glossy, but soft-touch). Therefore, fans of Samsung products will be pleased.

In the high price segment of Android smartphones, the Samsung GALAXY S5 does not have many competitors - these are Sony and HTC. In my opinion, the devices are close, but still different. Samsung is practical and functional, but also more fashionable and stylish. So choosing between them is primarily a matter of personal priorities. An indirect alternative is also , which has fallen in price and can now be a good buy for lovers of large screens.

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

Of course, one of the most long-awaited and anticipated new products among mobile devices of the coming year is the next update of the flagship line Samsung smartphones— Galaxy S5. The new product does not need any special introduction - for last years The Korean company Samsung Electronics has managed not only to become scandalously famous due to countless lawsuits with its rival American Apple, but also to take along with it one of the leading places in the world market for the sale of tablets and, of course, smartphones.

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

By the way, in recent years the 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 there was another update to the line of tablet phones - a smartphone went on sale Samsung Note 3, about which we wrote so much at one time. Now it’s time for a series of smartphones to be updated with a more “civilized” design.

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4

The Galaxy S series smartphones have always been very different from their semi-tablet counterparts from the Note line precisely in size - they were quite elegant devices in terms of dimensions. However, with the release of the Galaxy S5, it must be admitted that the distance separating them is shrinking more and more. Moreover, not only the sizes of each successive representative of the Galaxy S line are becoming larger, but also in the Note line they are consistently decreasing. Galaxy Note 3 has become the smallest among its brothers, and the Galaxy S5, on the contrary, has acquired such large dimensions that it’s time to think: what, exactly, 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, and we have already said about the sizes. Is the whole difference now just the presence or absence of an electronic pen?

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3

In any case, you shouldn’t expect a special technological breakthrough from the new flagship of the Galaxy S line. New technological discoveries have not yet been made, but everything discovered has already been put into practice, and now they are sharpening, finishing, polishing - improving functionality. And we’re not just talking about Samsung devices - the entire market as a whole is now waiting for something new. This, by the way, is clearly visible in the example of the last two world IT exhibitions, held at the beginning of the year in Las Vegas and Barcelona. The products of the Korean company are no exception: in terms of hardware and technology, the new flagship is not much different from the previous one (Samsung Galaxy S4) - now the focus is on improving functionality. Ultra-fast data transfer capabilities, an updated camera control program interface, a wide selection of fitness applications, a heart rate monitor, a fingerprint scanner, as well as agreements with the world's leading content and service providers to pre-install a host of various applications with a long-term prepaid subscription - that's what , which is what Samsung is now working on. Gigabytes and gigahertz somehow suddenly faded into the background, which is probably for the best. Surprisingly, the Koreans didn’t 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 hardware.

Main characteristics of Samsung Galaxy S5 (model SM-G900F)

	Samsung Galaxy S5	LG G2	TCL Idol X+	Lenovo Vibe Z (K910)	Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (N9005)
Screen	5.1″, Super AMOLED	5.2″, IPS	5″, IPS	5.5″, IPS	5.7″ Super AMOLED
Permission	1920×1080, 432 ppi	1920×1080, 424 ppi	1920×1080, 440 ppi	1920×1080, 400 ppi	1920×1080, 386 ppi
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (4 Krait 400 cores) @2.5 GHz		MediaTek MT6592 (8 cores ARM Cortex-A7) @2.0 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (4 Krait 400 cores) @2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (4 Krait 400 cores) @2.2 GHz
GPU	Adreno 330	Adreno 330	Mali 450MP4	Adreno 330	Adreno 330
RAM	2 GB	2 GB	2 GB	2 GB	3 GB
Flash memory	16 GB	16/32 GB	16 GB	16 GB	16—64 GB
Memory card support	microSD	—	—	—	microSD
operating system	Google Android 4.4	Google Android 4.2	Google Android 4.2	Google Android 4.2	Google Android 4.3
Battery	removable, 2800 mAh	non-removable, 3000 mAh	non-removable, 2500 mAh	non-removable, 3050 mAh	removable, 3200 mAh
Cameras	rear (16 MP; 4K video), front (2 MP)		rear (13 MP; video 1080p), front (2 MP)	rear (13 MP; video 1080p), front (5 MP, video 1080p)	rear (13 MP; 4K video), front (2 MP, 1080p video)
Dimensions	142×73×8.1 mm, 145 g	139×71×8.9 mm, 143 g	140×69×7.9 mm, 120 g	149×77×7.9 mm, 147 g	151×79×8.3 mm, 168 g
average price	T-10725078	T-10505130	T-10632117	T-10516952	T-10545574
Samsung Galaxy S5 offers	L-10725078-10

• SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC), 4 Krait 400 cores, 2.5 GHz
• GPU Adreno 330, 578 MHz
• Operating system Android 4.4.2 Kitkat
• Touchscreen Super AMOLED, 5.1″, 1920×1080, 432 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16 GB
• Supports microSD memory cards up to 128 GB
• Networks 2G, 3G, 4G (LTE Cat.4, up to 150/50 Mbit/s)
• Bluetooth 4.0 BLE/ANT+
• USB 3.0, OTG, MHL
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO (2x2), point Wi-Fi access
• NFC, infrared
• GPS (A-GPS), Glonass
• 16 MP camera, autofocus, LED flash, UHD video (4K) 30 fps
• Camera 2 MP (front)
• Accelerometer, gyroscope, distance sensor, compass, barometer, Hall sensor (magnetic field), light sensor, gesture sensor (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 ease of use

As already mentioned, the new model of the Galaxy S series has become significantly larger in size than the previous one. It feels like the smartphone in your hand 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 are determined 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. And yet, it is still not clear why it was necessary, with almost identical screens, to make the new model so much larger than the previous one. On the Galaxy S4, for example, the side frames are only 3 mm wide, but on the Galaxy S5 they suddenly grew to 4 mm, the same goes for the top and bottom parts of the frame - they also suddenly became much wider, although the screen itself is practically the same size. 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 the company’s mobile devices (including numerous wearable gadgets). It’s just a pity that at the exorbitant prices at which current flagships are sold, the company was greedy to provide real leather - maybe then these devices would look truly 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. The texture on the plastic is different from that of the Galaxy Note 3: here they used a kind of pseudo-embossing, as if a pattern of numerous dots was pressed into the leather. It looks nice and fresh, at least better than the glossy plastic that has adorned the surfaces of all Galaxy S and Galaxy Notes for a long time.

As for metal, there is none here either: the shiny “chrome” rim around the entire perimeter of the case (exactly the same as on previous models, only with a different pattern) is a coating on plastic, not real metal. This bezel, by the way, has also become much wider and even thicker, adding bulk to the smartphone as a whole.

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

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

Below there is 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 with a capacity of up to 128 GB.

On the back of the smartphone there is a square window for the camera module, it is quite large in size, and there is an LED flash next to it. Below in the recess you can see the eyes of the sensor for measuring the pulse. The heart rate sensor chamber is recessed into the body, and it also has its own backlight - a small LED element illuminates the blood vessels of the finger applied to the camera, while it counts heartbeats. Even lower is a hole for sound output from the ringing speaker with a slightly curved rod, and the whole thing is decorated with a silver chrome-plated company logo.

The front panel has not undergone significant changes - this is a completely recognizable element of all Samsung mobile devices. It stands out, first of all, for its elongated mechanical key under the screen, which this time has received additional functionality. This button is also responsible for scanning a fingerprint - now no one can blame 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 move it along the key, and even at the right speed - if you rush, 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 place 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 the sensor with the other, which is very tedious, and most users will most likely simply disable this function.

The touch buttons next to the mechanical ones have a bright white backlight with an adjustable 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, with little eyes visible next to it front camera and sensors. There is also an LED alert indicator 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 metallic keys of all Samsung smartphones have a soft stroke and distinct pressing, they are perfectly located blindly, and in general, in this regard, the products of the Korean company are one of the best on the market.

At the top end, a headphone jack (3.5 mm) and an infrared transmitter eye, which serves to control various equipment as a remote control, are comfortably located next to each other. The corresponding proprietary software called Smart Remote moves from model to model - naturally, it is also available here. The functionality of the Smart Remote program is excellent: it is not only capable of connecting a smartphone using an infrared port with any equipment, but can also act as an interactive program guide.

At the bottom end, the USB 3.0 connector is covered with a metalized 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, it also existed previous model, but there it was a separate offshoot of the line called Galaxy Active. The protection in the Galaxy S5 is arranged in the same way as there: a rubber gasket is 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 best part: now the Galaxy S line has a new color - gold. In addition to this, there are three more colors on sale that have previously graced Samsung’s flagship devices (for example, the Galaxy S3). By tradition, they were given romantic names: Charcoal Black (black), Sparkling White (white), Electric Blue (light blue) and Copper Gold (golden). For additional jewelry, in particular a keychain or strap, no fastenings are provided.

Screen

The Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone is equipped with a Super AMOLED touch matrix. The screen dimensions are 63x113 mm, diagonal - 5.1 inches, resolution - 1920x1080 pixels. Such a parameter as the pixel density per inch is equal to 432 ppi here - the pixel density is very high.

The screen is covered from the outside protective glass. The thickness of the side frames from the edge of the screen to the edge of the body is approximately 4 mm; the frames are not very narrow; they were smaller in the previous model.

The display brightness can be adjusted manually, or you can use automatic adjustment. Multi-touch technology here allows you to process up to 10 simultaneous touches. The screen can be operated with gloved hands, and it becomes more sensitive to any touch, so the settings prudently leave the option to disable this function. 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 sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the brightness of reflected objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter that is superior in reducing reflection brightness 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 when the screens are turned off (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Samsung Galaxy S5, then they can be distinguished by size):

Due to the slight difference in the color tone of the reflection and frames, it is difficult to visually assess the amount of reduction in the brightness of the reflection, however, statistics from graphic editor shows that the S5's screen is indeed slightly darker than that of the Nexus 7. The ghosting of reflected objects is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, maybe a little better than Google Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.

When the white field was displayed 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 You can use your smartphone, as an effective anti-glare filter helps. You also need to take into account the fact that in this case, the smaller the white area on the screen, the brighter 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 increases to 360 cd/m². Low brightness mode allows you to use your smartphone even in complete darkness without any problems. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker). You can make adjustments to the operation of this function by moving the setting slider away from −5 before +5 units. Below, 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 is reduced to 4, 9 and 16 cd/m², respectively (generally a bit dark), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux) the brightness is set to 100, 180 and 270 cd/m² (acceptable ), in a brightly lit environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) - increases to 420-425 cd/m² for all three correction values, which is above the maximum for manual adjustment and should be sufficient to ensure legibility in the sun. In principle, the result of this function is as expected. When brightness decreases, 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 flicker to be visually distinguishable), but at medium and low brightness the relative modulation amplitude is high, so image flickering can be seen in a test for the presence of a stroboscopic effect or simply with rapid eye movement. Depending on individual sensitivity, this flickering may cause increased fatigue.

This smartphone uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix based 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 microphotograph:

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

For such matrices, Samsung introduced the name PenTile RGBG. The manufacturer calculates the screen resolution based on the green subpixels; based on the other two, it will be two times lower. The location and shape of the subpixels in this version is similar to that 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 unevenness of contrast borders and other artifacts are still present. For example, when displaying a black-and-white map every pixel (the original can be taken from here), the vertical lines look uneven, and the horizontal ones are low-contrast and separated not by white, but by a greenish gap. Fragment (available at the link original photo) macro photography 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 there is some unevenness of the lines. 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 conditions mobile use It is extremely difficult to visually distinguish such small details. As a result, the resolution margin cancels out the “features” of the PenTile RGBG matrix.

The screen is characterized by excellent viewing angles, though White color when deviated at relatively large angles, it acquires a slight tint, but the black color is simply black at any angle (although the reflection from bright objects has a bluish halo that is more elongated horizontally, which is why black areas may lighten slightly in the light and acquire a “metallic” tint) . So black that the contrast parameter is simply not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. For comparison, here are photographs in which identical images are displayed on the screens of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the second participant in the competition, with the screen brightness set to approximately 210 cd/m². There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

Excellent brightness uniformity and color tone white field. And a test picture (in mode Standard):

Color rendition is clearly not bad, but despite all the conventions of forced color balance in the camera, set to 6500 K, it is clear that the colors of the S5 are clearly “cooler” 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 was doubled compared to the previous two photographs), 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 carried out almost instantly, but at the front of switching on (and less often, switching off) 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 what the dependence of brightness on time looks like when moving from black to a shade of 25% (according to the numerical value of the color) and back:

In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing behind moving objects, but in normal use these artifacts are almost impossible to see. Quite the contrary - dynamic scenes in films on OLED screens are different high definition and even some “twitchiness” of movements.

The ability to customize color rendering is implemented on the page with a selection of profiles, one of which involves some kind of automatic adjustment (profile Adapt Display):

In case one of the three fixed profiles is selected, except the profile Dynamic, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals according to the numerical value of the shade of gray, the gamma curve did not reveal any blockage in either highlights or shadows, and the index 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-law dependence:

For profile Dynamic The gamma curve has a slight S-shape, which increases the apparent contrast of the image. Let us 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 generally light images and increases for dark ones. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely slightly does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. This image dynamism increases when you select the option Auto tuning screen brightness. Below are the dependences of brightness on time obtained when switching from a black field to a white field and back with the option turned off and on Auto tuning screen brightness:

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

Color gamut for profiles Dynamic, Standard And Professional photography very wide and almost covers the Adobe RGB gamut:

When selecting a profile Cinema The coverage is tightened to the sRGB boundaries, but still remains a little wider:

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

In case of profile Cinema with maximum correction, the color components are already slightly mixed together:

Note that on wide-gamut screens, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. This can be seen in the photographs 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 - close to 6500 K, while in the area of ​​the gray scale from white to dark dark gray this parameter does not change very much. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) across most of the gray scale remains below 10 units, which is considered for a consumer device good indicator, and also changes slightly:

(The darkest areas of the gray scale can in most cases be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring 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, and in bright light it is even recommended to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works more or less adequately. The advantages of the screen include a very good oleophobic coating and a color balance close to standard (if you select the appropriate profiles). At the same time, let us remind you about the general advantages of OLED screens: true black color, excellent uniformity of the white field, less drop in image brightness than LCDs when viewed at an angle. Disadvantages include screen brightness modulation, which appears at medium and low brightness values. For users who are particularly sensitive to flicker, this may cause increased fatigue. However, overall the screen quality is very high.

Sound

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

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

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S5 is equipped with two modules digital cameras with a resolution of 16 and 2 megapixels. The front camera takes pictures with a maximum resolution of 1920×1080, and also 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 s), stabilization, single-section LED flash and the ability to shoot video in UHD resolution (4K). In addition to one fashionable function - video recording with 4K resolution - another one is used here: as in the latest Sony Xperia Z2, now there is the possibility of selective focusing, which allows you to highlight a certain part of the image, leaving the background blurred. That is, now you no longer need to use special lenses to create a shallow depth of field (DOF) effect.

When shooting in automatic mode, which is set by default, photos are 5312x2988 in size. 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 equal cells, each of which is always visible, interactive, their drawing is clear, the entire menu is clearly visible even in the brightest sunlight. In general, the camera control settings menu turned out to be perhaps the best on the market in terms of ease of access to all functions and overall clarity.

The camera can shoot video in UHD resolution (4K), with a choice of several resolutions up to a maximum of 3840x2160. Traditionally for the latest top models of the mobile market, the settings also include slow and fast shooting modes. Examples of test videos are presented below.

• Video No. 1 (189 MB, 3840×2160, 4K)
• Video No. 2 (58 MB, 1920×1080, 1080p)
• Video #3 (123 MB, 3840×2160, 4K indoors)
• Video No. 4 (71 MB, 1280×720, slow motion)
• Video No. 5 (4 MB, 1920×1080, accelerated)

Examples of photographs with our comments are presented below.

	The sharpness of the photo is good.
	The sharpness across the frame is also quite good.
	Small details are worked out quite well.
	The camera doesn't cope so well with backlight, but the exposure is well chosen.
	On thin lines you can notice small waves from the noise reduction - but only upon closer inspection.
	In low light conditions, noise can be seen, although it is relatively small.
	The camera handles shadow noise well. True, the detail suffers a little from this.
	The camera does macro well in low light, but it's worth using a focus lens due to the relatively long shutter speeds.
	In good lighting, the camera does macro photography well.
	Another example of a good macro.
	The text is well done, but a little damaged. However, it is possible that the camera works more accurately with smaller text.
	Panorama stitching is almost perfect. Only dynamic objects suffer, which is quite natural.

	Lighting ≈1300 lux. The camera does a very good job.
	Lighting ≈460 lux. The situation remains virtually unchanged.
	Lighting ≈240 lux. Noise becomes noticeable, especially its 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″ format sensor, and not just a higher resolution, while previously smartphone cameras were only awarded with 1/3″ format matrices (not counting Nokia), or even less, Until Sony decided to install a 1/2.3″ format 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, you can already see good work with noise. 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 practically not visible. Of course, this is the result of the 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 won’t go into discussions about pixel size (like HTC) and the supposed qualities of the camera that follow from this, but enlarging the sensor definitely brings its benefits. Secondly, image detail has improved, which is also due to the higher resolution and larger sensor.

I would like Samsung to further improve the noise reduction, then the camera can be compared with ordinary compacts. Although even without this, she shows herself very worthy, and it is clear that they worked hard on her. The camera optics operate quite smoothly across the entire field of the frame and in all plans. Of course, it would be strange to see a flagship with shortcomings 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 the noise reduction - such a processing result looks very archaic in photographs of a modern flagship.

Based on the results of shooting the stand, we can conclude that the actual resolution of the images may not be the highest, but we have already stated 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 camera resolution is quite decent. It is also worth noting the good performance of the flash and the sensor, which works quite consistently in different lighting conditions.

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

Telephone and communications

The developers place special emphasis on the communication capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S5: the smartphone operates in the fifth generation of Wi-Fi 802.11ac networks with support for 2x2 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 corresponding to the LTE Category 4 standard - up to 150 Mbit/s. With a SIM card from the domestic operator Megafon, the smartphone in practice confidently finds and works with the LTE network.

In addition, the smartphone supports 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 with both the GPS system (with A-GPS) and the domestic Glonass. The speed and quality of operation of the GPS module is not satisfactory: the system works quickly and flawlessly, the navigation module finds the first satellites almost instantly, and even indoors.

No spontaneous reboots/shutdowns were observed during testing. The screen of the smartphone is large, so drawing letters and numbers on virtual keyboards is quite comfortable to control. It’s very convenient that there is a dedicated top row with numbers - you don’t have to switch the layout every time. But the layout itself and the location of the keys are not the same as others: instead of just pressing 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 immediately carried out by the first letters in contacts. There is support for continuous writing by sliding, but there is no option to move the keyboard closer to one of the edges, as on the Galaxy Note series tablets.

OS and software

The system uses the latest version of Google Android software platform 4.4.2 (Kitkat) and the proprietary graphical user interface TouchWiz, the appearance of which has undergone changes. He became, according to the new fashion, more “flat”, which clearly benefited him, although the traditional Asian clumsiness remained. The appearance of the settings menu has changed: now all icons look like exactly the same circles and they are arranged in the form of a single long list. But, of course, the display of the menu can be changed, leading to the old view with vertical tabs. In this case, there will no longer be four of them, 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 neat, orderly, 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, which, when clicked, opens a context menu with quick access to the most popular applications. The notifications menu received two additional dedicated oval buttons for quick access to searching throughout the smartphone and enabling the function of quickly connecting to familiar devices.

To the various ways to lock a smartphone, another one has now been added: you can lock the screen using a fingerprint, the scanner of which is built into the central key under the screen. To successfully memorize the texture of your fingertip, you need to swipe the sensor at least eight times, after which you will also have to come up with a standard digital code in case your finger remains unrecognized after 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 alternate numbers with letters.

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

Speaking of games, it is worth noting that we tested games such as Dead Trigger 2 and Asphalt 8 on the smartphone - we did not find any problems with playing them.

Another specific operating mode has been added to the smartphone, which the developers themselves talked a lot about at presentations. In fact, this is a regular energy-saving mode that any built-in program for saving energy in mobile devices has, it’s just that Samsung brings its smartphone to the point of complete “exhaustion” 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 run is strictly limited. Naturally, in this mode, the smartphone can “work” much longer (who would doubt it), but this work will be carried out within a very limited framework.

One of the central applications pre-installed in modern top-end Samsung smartphones, which developers constantly remind you of, is a program for monitoring your own health called S Health. The program has a wide range of health-promoting functions: pedometer, exercise recording, nutrition monitoring, etc. Now the application has not only received the new version S Health 3.0, but has also acquired additional functionality in the form of a dedicated hardware heart rate counter. In principle, some programs have previously tried to count heartbeats using an ordinary smartphone camera, but now a whole block with a small camera and backlight has been allocated 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 Samsung Galaxy S5 hardware platform is based on a single-chip quad-core system (SoC) Qualcomm Snapdragon 801. The new platform has the functionality of the Snapdragon 800 with a slightly higher frequency of processor cores: the Snapdragon 801 can operate at frequencies up to 2.45 GHz, while the core frequency of the previous The chip version was limited to 2.36 GHz.

The processor here is supported in graphics processing by the same Adreno 330 video accelerator, but here too there is an increase in frequencies: the GPU is already overclocked to 578 MHz instead of 450 MHz. The device initially has about 12 GB (out of 16) of its own memory available for the user's needs; the amount of RAM here is 2 GB - in this regard, surprisingly, no expansion occurred, while Sony equipped its newest 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 frequencies up to 2 GHz, it is logical to include its results in the comparison first of all. Let us remind you that we recently released a review of the powerful TCL Idol X+ smartphone, which is built on the maximum version of this platform. Also, naturally, it is worth adding to the comparison the results demonstrated in the same tests by the previous version of the Qualcomm platform - Snapdragon 800, on which all the top smartphones of last year run. 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 laboratory. In the near future, we will definitely compare it with the Samsung Galaxy S5 data obtained today.

To get an idea of ​​the performance of the platform of the smartphone under test, we will conduct a standard set of tests.

For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). 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 results of testing 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, considering that the previous version of 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, as for these very resulting figures: since the smartphone being tested today is a landmark device, and the rest will be compared to it throughout the year, it is probably worth recalling the fresh balance of power. 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 thousand - for 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. Two main conclusions emerge as a result of all these comparisons: TCL Idol X+ is the first smartphone on the MediaTek platform, which managed to come close to the leading solutions from Qualcomm, albeit at the expense of twice as many processor cores. And second: the new version of the top Qualcomm platform brought virtually no increase in performance, although this microscopic superiority allowed it to gain an even stronger foothold on the podium 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, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

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 assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can be truly correct only in the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

Playing video

To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (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 Internet. 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 options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect 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, things are not as smooth as we would like for the Samsung Galaxy S5. Amazingly, this is one of the rare smartphones in which the popular MX player flatly refuses to run with the Hardware+ decoder, and most often only this option saves the situation when the standard player cannot play the audio track of a file. That is, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S5, in order to normally play three of our five test files (MKV), you will have to use a software decoder (at least for audio decoding - video can be decoded in hardware) - neither Hardware nor Hardware+ , nor, of course, the decoder of a standard video player are capable of playing these types of files with sound that are common on the network. And this is an obvious drawback, because we have a solution with an excellent large and high-quality screen in all respects and maximum performance, which could become an excellent multimedia assistant. By the way, similar problems occur with the Galaxy Note 3 - we hope that with the release of updates for MX Player the situation will somehow change. By the way, the top smartphones from LG and Sony always have complete order in this table, because even with their own hardware they are able to play all the presented files, not to mention supporting all modes of the MX player.

Format	Container, video, sound	MX Video Player	Standard video player
DVDRip	AVI, XviD 720×400 2200 Kbps, MP3+AC3	plays normally	plays normally
Web-DL SD	AVI, XviD 720×400 1400 Kbps, MP3+AC3	plays normally	plays normally
Web-DL HD	MKV, H.264 1280×720 3000 Kbps, AC3
BDRip 720p	MKV, H.264 1280×720 4000 Kbps, AC3	plays normally, sound only with software decoder (Hardware+ is not supported)	The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹
BDRip 1080p	MKV, H.264 1920×1080 8000 Kbps, AC3	plays normally, sound only with software decoder (Hardware+ is not supported)	The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹

¹ sound in MX Video Player was played only after switching to software decoding (mode Hardware+ is not supported); The standard player does not have this setting

Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. To test it, we used an LG IPS237L monitor that supports direct MHL connection using a passive adapter cable from Micro-USB to HDMI. Let us 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 carried out the test using a proprietary Samsung adapter, and output via MHL was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels at a frequency of 60 frames/s.

When the smartphone is in portrait orientation, the image is displayed on the monitor screen in portrait orientation, while the image on the monitor is inscribed within the height of the screen, 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 is displayed on the monitor screen in landscape orientation, while the image on the monitor fits within the boundaries of the screen and exactly matches the image on the smartphone screen. The exception is the start screen, which is displayed only in portrait orientation:

Sound is output via MHL (in this case, the sounds were heard through headphones connected to the monitor, since there are no speakers in the monitor itself) and is of 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 buttons on the smartphone body. In principle, in the smartphone settings you can select the sound output mode - stereo or surround. However, in our case, the monitor only received stereo sound, so there was no choice. The smartphone connected via MHL is charging.

To test the output 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 playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various 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 our tests, we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode, since there were a lot of artifacts in the “Hardware+” mode. The results of this test (block entitled “Smartphone screen”) are summarized in the table:

Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with playback of the corresponding files.

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is high, since frames (or groups of frames) can be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals, and there are no skipped frames. The smartphone can even display files with a resolution of 4K up to 30p inclusive. However, uniform alternation of frames is a relatively unstable state, since some external and internal background processes lead to periodic failure of the correct alternation of intervals between frames. 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 PenTile features). 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 compression artifacts being too noticeable.

With a monitor connected via MHL, when playing a video with a standard player, the image of the video file is displayed only in landscape orientation, while only the image 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, 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 shade gradations are displayed in shadows and highlights.

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

Battery life

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

	Battery capacity	Reading mode	Video mode	3D Game Mode
Samsung Galaxy S5	2800 mAh	17:20	12:30 pm	4 hours 30 minutes
TCL Idol X+	2500 mAh	12:30 pm	7:20 am	3:00 am
Lenovo Vibe Z	3050 mAh	11:45 am	8:00 am	3 hours 30 minutes
Acer Liquid S2	3300 mAh	16:40	7:40 a.m.	6:00 am
LG G Flex	3500 mAh	23:15	13:30	6 hours 40 minutes
LG G2	3000 mAh	20:00	12:30 pm	4 hours 45 minutes
Sony Xperia Z1	3000 mAh	11:45 am	8:00 am	4 hours 30 minutes
Samsung Note 3 N9005	3200 mAh	22:30	14:00	4 hours 45 minutes

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

Bottom line

Summarizing the Samsung Galaxy S5 review 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 among the best on the market. And it’s not just the combination of top-end technical characteristics and maximum performance that makes them stand out, there’s also 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 pretentious promises and slogans, 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 customers. Want a removable battery? - Get it. Need a memory card slot? - For God's sake, we don't feel sorry! Suddenly fell in love with the golden color? - So, we now have a golden smartphone. And with such simple actions, coupled with high-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 some off the cliff. Those who know how to adapt survive, and this is what Koreans do best.

As for the hero of today's review, we can say with confidence that he has become a worthy successor to the flagship line. An excellent screen, powerful hardware, complete technical equipment, good battery life and maximum functionality, several added features like a heart rate monitor and a fingerprint scanner - all this is worthy of praise. Although, it is worth admitting that the fifth Galaxy S did not have so many noticeable innovations that it could rightfully be called a completely new model, in terms of design and appearance (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 that the Koreans didn’t call this model Galaxy S4s - such a “letter modifier”, which has already become generally accepted, denoting an improved version of the model, would be more appropriate here. But all this is just a little confusing.

But what’s really depressing is how much Samsung jacks up the prices for its top-end smartphones. It seems that the Koreans no longer remember that prices can sometimes be varied somehow - they reached the 30,000 mark with the previous flagship and now put the same price tag on all subsequent models as a matter of course. The tricky thought in the minds of entrepreneurs is obviously this: “They will complain the first time, but the next time they will be happy that they did not raise the price even higher.” This, by the way, is what happened: now users are happy that the price of the new flagship at the start of sales was not raised higher than 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 already be unaffordable. Did we think five years ago that we would talk like this in the future about the products of this Korean company?

). If you are lucky enough to become one of the first owners of the device, this material will be very useful for you. The Galaxy S5 is equipped with many functions, some of which the manufacturer emphasized during the advertising campaign, while others were left unnoticed. We'll talk about the latter.

Despite the fact that the Galaxy S5 is not equipped with an S-Pen, the new product can easily be turned into a Galaxy Note using a simple pencil. Just go to the display settings and increase its sensitivity.

Another interesting feature: if you use the music player when the device screen is in landscape mode, a list of similar tracks will appear next to the name of the song you are listening to.

The Galaxy S5 also comes with a Kids Mode that will prevent any surprises while the phone is in your child's hands. Parents can choose which applications can be used in this mode, and also set a special PIN code to disable it.

Private mode will prevent unwanted content from being found on your smartphone. You can enable it in Settings, where you also need to select what data you want to make inaccessible. After all manipulations are completed, the corresponding icon will appear on the lock screen.

With Toolbox, the user can access the applications he needs most, no matter what he is doing on his smartphone at the moment. By enabling the option, an icon in the form of three dots will appear on the screen; clicking on it will open a menu with the selected applications.

You can quickly access the camera directly from the lock screen. To do this, you just need to add the appropriate shortcut.

Continuing the topic of the camera, we note that the Galaxy S5 has a function for creating a virtual tour. The user takes several images using a smartphone, which can then be combined and moved around the zones. There is something similar in Google Maps.

Using the “Priority Senders” option, the user can mark the numbers to which he most often sends messages, so as not to look for them later in the general list. You can select up to 25 contacts.

By turning on the Show Caller Information service, you will receive information about the recent activity of the person you are talking to right during the call.