Samsung recently launched a new LTE variant of its flagship smartphone in Singapore. Known as the Galaxy S5 4G+, it’s available exclusively through the country’s Singtel cell carrier in half a dozen different service plans. While it may look like an ordinary Galaxy S5, the Galaxy S5 4G+ has some subtle differences that set it apart from the original handset. So before you go scooping up this latest variant, you should take a minute to read the following post. One of the most notable differences between the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy S5 4G+ is the processor. Samsung used a high-end quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor in the 4G+ model — the same used in the Korean model. Unlike the Korean model, however, the Samsung Galaxy S5 4G+ does not feature a full QHD display. Instead, Samsung choose to use the same full HD display that’s found in the U.S. and international models. According to AnTuTu’s rankings, the Snapdragon 805 is currently the second best smartphone processor on the market. That’s a pretty bold statement given the countless number of other chipsets available. While the Galaxy S5 4G+ may use a different Snapdragon chip than the Korean model, it’s still…

The India-based online retailer giant Flipkart has acquired exclusive rights to sell the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini Duos on its website. While the company has yet to announce an official release date for the slimmed down device, reports suggest it will be released in the upcoming weeks. So, how do we know that Flipkart acquired exclusive selling rights for the Galaxy S5 Mini Duos? If you keep up with their Facebook page, you may have noticed a post regarding the device. Flipkart published a promotional image of the Galaxy S5 Mini Duos along with the following caption: “Style goes hand-in-hand with substance. Compact design. Stunning processor. Mini talks big. Coming soon. Exclusive.” Just 20 hours after the post was made, it has already received some 250 comments, some of which are positive and others negative. Jatin Anam wrote: “Now a days flipkart is charging more rates than other online marketing shops. Come on flipkart you are slowly loosing your market share.” Nonetheless, Flipkart remains India’s leading e-commerce website. During a round of investor fundraising earlier this year, the company raised an eye-opening $1 billion plus, surpassing predictions from even the most optimistic market analysts. Of course, this isn’t the first time…

Hundreds of thousands of people have dumped buckets of ice water over their heads to raise money for the nerve cell disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Everyone from Jamie Foxx to former U.S. President George Bush have participated in this “chilling” activity, but there’s a new contender who’s amped and ready to take the challenge: Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5. Being the marketing genius that it is, Samsung uploaded a video to its YouTube account last week which shows the Galaxy S5 being splashed with ice water (we presume it’s ice water, at least). During the short 15-second video, a computer voice says “I am the Samsung Galaxy S5. This is my ice bucket challenge. Gosh, this is freezing. I nominate the iPhone 5S, HTC One (M8), and Nokia Lumia 930.” Granted, it’s a short video, but it’s sill quite comical and worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of the Galaxy S5. Note: no Galaxy S5 devices were harmed during the making of this promotional film. The Galaxy S5 features IP67 dust/water-resistant technology; therefore, it’s able to hold up under the stress of the ice bucket challenge. Samsung really went out of…

While most people are busy talking a bout the new Samsung Galaxy Alpha, owners of the launch-edition Galaxy S5 may notice a new firmware being rolled out. Samsung quietly began updating international Galaxy S5 devices (not the U.S. versions) to firmware build G900FXXU1ANG9 earlier this week. The update is still in the early stages, with only a few select European markets receiving it via over-the-air (OTA) transmission. Now for the million dollar question: what exactly does this nw firmware update do? We still don’t know the full details, but early reports suggest it’s a minor update which brings performance improvements, greater stability, and bug fixes to the international version of Samsung’s flagship smartphone. Firmware G900FXXU1ANG9 does not introduce any new features or utilities that we know of. Regardless, it’s the official firmware for the international version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 model SM-G900F, so you should definitely use it on your device. Here’s what we know about the new international Galaxy S5 firmware update: Model: SM-G900F Model name: Samsung Galaxy S5 Country: South east Europe Version: Android 4.4.2 Changelist: 2089850 Build date: 25 July Product code: SEE PDA: G900FXXU1ANG9 CSC: G900FOXX1ANG5 Modem: G900FXXU1ANG8 Like all of Samsung’s firmware updates, G900FXXU1ANG9 will be gradually rolled out…

Looking to get a little more use out of your Galaxy S5’s battery? Samsung’s flagship smartphone will reportedly offer 21 hours of “talk time” on a single charge, but when you have half a dozen or more processes running in the background, it rarely reaches this amount. The good news is that you can significantly extend the Galaxy S5’s battery life by making a few simple changes to your device. Lower The Brightness Bold, brightly colored display screens are pleasing to the eyes, but they can drain your device’s battery. To reduce the brightness on your Galaxy S5, access the notifications bar and uncheck the box next to auto brightness. Next, slide the brightness bar down to a lower setting. Disable GPS Arguably, one of the biggest battery-draining functions on smartphones, including the Galaxy S5, is GPS. Don’t get me wrong, GPS is great when you need road directions or when you’re lost in the woods, but leaving this feature on any other time is a huge waste of energy. To disable it, tap Settings > Location > and move the switch at the top of the screen to the off position. Disable WiFi Of course, disabling the WiFi on…

If you’re holding out for the Galaxy Alpha, you may be in luck, because sources reveal Samsung is planning to launch the variant this week. The Galaxy Alpha, previous dubbed the Galaxy F and Galaxy Prime, will boast an entirely new body design (see photo above). Normally, Samsung aims for a sleek, thin design with rounded corners — a standard among major smartphone manufacturers. The Galaxy Alpha takes a different approach, however, as it’s noticeably thicker with squared-off corners. Even so, reports suggest the Galaxy Alpha is still thinner than the Apple iPhone 5S, striking another win for Samsung in its battle against Apple. Leaked photos of the Galaxy Alpha also reveal a new material used in the design of its body. The current Galaxy S5 launch-edition features an all-plastic body, which is both lightweight and durable. However, critics claim the all-plastic body is somewhat cheap and doesn’t coincide with Samsung’s objective of producing cutting-edge smartphones and mobile devices. Will the Galaxy Alpha use an all-metal body instead? Based on the leaked photos, it appears it will use at least some metal parts in its body (possibly aluminum?). Whether or not it’s an all-metal body, however, remains to be seen….

Google added several devices to its Google Play lineup in summer 2013, including the Moto G, Samsung Galaxy S4, and HTC One (M8). Rather than purchasing these devices through a dubious third-party, consumers can buy them directly from Google. This of course adds another level of security to the transaction, easing consumers worries about receiving a dead-on-arrival (DOA) device. Rumors are now swirling, however, that Google may add the Samsung Galaxy S5 to its lineup of devices offered on Google Play. Back in April, Google edited its Google Play listing of the Galaxy S4 to include a photo of the Galaxy S5. Following this move, consumers immediately began to speculate whether or not Google was planning to add the Galaxy S5 to Google Play. After all, why would they add a photo of the Galaxy S5 to Google Play if they weren’t planning to add it. Unfortunately, Google did not add the Galaxy S5 (yet), but there’s still hope on the horizon for consumers looking to purchase Samsung’s flagship device through Google Play. Smartphone leaker evLeaks confirmed a Google Play edition of the Samsung Galaxy S5 earlier this month, publishing a press rendering photo that’s complete with Android 4.4.4. KitKat. Granted, evLeaks…

New details of Motorola’s upcoming DROID Turbo suggest  it will boast similar, if not faster, speeds as the Samsung Galaxy S5. With the Galaxy S5 currently holding the title as the market’s fastest and most powerful smartphone, this is big news. So, just how much of a threat does the Motorola DROID Turbo pose to Samsung’s flagship smartphone? AndroidAuthority.com first broke the story about the DROID Turbo, revealing some if the device’s specs in a leaked screenshot. The screenshot reveals a Motorola device, presumably the DROID Turbo, running on the Verizon Wireless network. Listed specs include a Snapdragon 805 processor (clocked at 2.65GHz processor), 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 1440 x 2560 resolution with a 360 x 640 DPI, 4.49″ display, Android 4.4.4 KitKat, 20-megapixel primary camera. Assuming the specs accurate, there are a few notable features included in the Motorola DROID Turbo that rival the Galaxy S5. For starters, 3GB of RAM is a nice upgrade from the traditional 2GB found in most smartphones. Extra RAM means more multitasking with less lag, which is something we can all use. Another notable feature included in the DROID Turbo is its 20-megapixel camera — a substantial boost from the Galaxy S5’s current 16-megapixel camera….

  Samsung released the highly anticipated Mini variant of its flagship smartphone last month. If you’re late to the game and thinking about purchasing a Samsung smartphone, you should check out our comparison of these two devices below. The Galaxy S5 may boast a bigger screen and better camera, but the small and sleek Galaxy S5 Mini is a viable alternative that some people may prefer. Size As its name suggests, the Galaxy S5 Mini is smaller than the original Galaxy S5. The Galaxy S5 features a 5.1″ display, whereas the Galaxy S5 Mini features a 4.5″ display. In terms of weight, the new Mini variant is also lighter at 120 grams as opposed to 145 grams. Display Resolution Here’s where the original Galaxy S5 really shines. It features a whopping 1,920 x 1,080 screen resolution with 432 ppi. The Galaxy S5 Mini, on the other hand, has a smaller 1,280 x 720 screen resolution with 326 ppi. Body It was rumored that Samsung would possibly use an all or part metal body for the Galaxy S5 Mini. Some people criticized the South Korean company for its use of plastic in the Galaxy S5. In the end, however, Samsung chose an…

The electronics retailer Best Buy announced earlier this week plans to sell an  electric blue variant of the Samsung Galaxy S5 starting on August 17. If you’re familiar with the Samsung Galaxy S5, you may recall seeing or hearing the name “electric blue” variant before. Well, this is because it’s already available overseas. It’s important to note, however, that the international version of the electric blue Galaxy S5 only features the blue color on the back; the front features the standard black. The Galaxy S5 was touted as the mobile industry’s leading smartphone with cutting-edge technology long before it was released — this hype left many people skeptical of whether or note Samsung would deliver through with its promises. When the Galaxy S5 was finally unveiled in Barcelona, Spain earlier this year, however, consumers and tech junkies alike were amazed at the device’s hardware specs and bundles software. In short, it’s arguably one of the best — if not the best — smartphone on the market. The Samsung Galaxy S5 features a bold 5.1″ display screen with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution and 432 ppi, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 16-megapixel primary camera, 2.1-megapixel secondary camera, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, and…