Samsung is known for releasing multiple versions, or variants, of its flagship smartphone. The Galaxy S5 Mini is one such variant that features a smaller body and slimmed-down specs. But many people are criticizing Samsung for its uninspired approach to the Galaxy S5 Mini. If you’re thinking about ordering this device, you should read the following and then make your decision. Let’s first talk about the Galaxy S5 Mini’s body, as this is typically a major selling point among consumers. The original Galaxy S5 features a 5.1″ Super AMOLED display with 432 ppi pixel density, whereas the Galaxy S5 Mini is just slightly smaller at 4.5″ with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution and 326 ppi pixel density. So even though it’s technically smaller, the Galaxy S5 Mini is just slightly smaller than the original. This may deter some people from buying it, as many smartphone users prefer smaller displays. Another notable difference between the two devices is the construction. The Galaxy S5 is manufactured with a soft, almost rubber-like plastic that’s comfortable to hold and use. Unfortunately, Samsung opted for a harder form of plastic with the Galaxy S5 Mini. This material looks and feels cheap, which is something that…

The rugged and ultra-durable Galaxy S5 Active may soon launch in select European markets. According to the folks at GSM Arena, November 16 is the rumored date for the release. While Samsung has yet to confirm or deny this rumor, there’s strong evidence suggesting that it’s true. So, how do we know the Galaxy S5 Active will launch in Europe next month? One piece of evidence hinting at its release was a listing on the European retailer giant Centralpoint. The listing, which was posted presumably by mistake, revealed the Galaxy S5 Active with a €577 (included VAT) price tag. Assuming this listing is correct, the Galaxy S5 Active will cost about €50 less than its previously rumored price. And to make the deal even better, Centralpoint will offer buyers a €100 store gift card for leaving a review of the Galaxy S5 Active on their website. Another recently leaked document revealed the markets in which the Galaxy S5 Active will be launched. These markets reportedly include Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, France, Switzerland, Poland, Slovenia, Germany, Italy, the UK, the Nordic countries, and the Baltics. Other regions will likely be added to the list once new firmware updated are rolled…

Samsung Galaxy S5 users may receive the Android 5.0 Lollipop update by the end of the year. According to SamMobile, both Samsung and LG are hoping to roll out the highly anticipated update for their respective smartphones in December. While Google has yet to confirm or deny this rumor, several credible sources are saying that it’s true. The Galaxy S5 was unveiled in Barcelona, Spain this past summer, and its since grown to become one of the most popular smartphones on the market. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB RAM, 16/32GB storage, and a 16-megapixel camera, it’s an ultra-powerful device that can handle just about anything you have to throw its way. But its not just the specs that make the Galaxy S5 an award-winning smartphone. Samsung went above and beyond the call of duty by designing its body with IP6/7 certification, meaning its both dust and water-resistant. LG’s flagship smartphone is the “G” series, with its latest model being the G3. The LG G3 features specs that are comparable to the Galaxy S5, including a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 5.5″ display, 3GB RAM, and a 13-megapixel primary camera. Both the Galaxy S5 and the G3 are expected to…

It’s estimated that over 3 million smartphones are stolen each year in the U.S. It’s disheartening to say the least when your newly purchased device falls into the hands of crook. To deter smartphone theft, Samsung offers a remote service for Galaxy S5 users. To learn more about this service and how to use it, keep reading. Find My Mobile is a multi-purpose service that allows users to locate their Galaxy S5 via GPS coordinates, call their device, view call logs, wipe data, or lock it from any Internet-connected computer. Earlier this year, California signed a law into effect which requires all smartphones manufactured after July 1st, 2015 to include a kill switch. Samsung has apparently jumped on board with the kill switch bill, rolling out its Find My Mobile service across all Galaxy S5 devices. “If you lose your device, then Find My Mobile lets you minimize the possibility of your personal information becoming public by using the Lock my device and Wipe my device functions. In addition, you can locate your lost device by using the Locate my device function.” To use Find My Mobile, you must first enable remote controls on your Galaxy S5. This is done…

Samsung is reportedly planning to release a new version of its flagship smartphone, equipped with a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor. So, how did we obtain this information? Samsung usually does a pretty good job at keeping quiet, but the company published a listing for a “Galaxy S5 Plus” on its Netherlands website earlier this week. According to NDTV.com, this device is actually the European version of the Galaxy S5 4G+ It features the same specs as the European Galaxy S5 4G+, but it’s listed under a different name. And to further confirm this theory, both the Galaxy S5 Plus and European Galaxy S5 4G+ feature the model number SM-G901F. Regardless as to whether or not it’s the European Galaxy S5 4G+, it still boasts some impressive specs. Samsung opted for an 801 chipset in the original Galaxy S5 that featured a a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor. At the time, this was arguably the fastest smartphone processor on the market (it’s still one of the fastest). The Galaxy S5 Plus, on the other hand, is powered by the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 2.5GHz quad-core processor. The 805 chipset also introduces a new generation Adreno 420 GPU, which is a…

The upcoming Android 5.0 Lollipop update will bring a wide range of new features to The Galaxy S5, Moto X, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, and other high-end Android-powered smartphones. While we still don’t know the full details of Android 5.0, reports suggest it will introduce a new form of power-saving technology (Project Volta), along with new notifications and a Material theme. SamMobile reports that Google and Samsung have teamed up to create a Google Play Edition Galaxy S5. The Galaxy S4 was the first smartphone to receive the “Google Play Edition” treatment, meaning it only ran the stock Android software and not any third-party skins or themes. Samsung normally installs its TouchWiz skin to Galaxy smartphones, adding several helpful tools and features to the device. Google Play Edition devices are designed to eliminate the use of third-party software such as this, allowing users to run their device with the core Android operating system. If Google and Samsung are in fact teaming up to create a Google Play Edition Galaxy S5, it’s safe to assume the device will run Android 5.0 Lollipop, and it probably won’t run Samsung’s TouchWiz skin. So, how did SamMobile acquire this information? The website claims that…

Mophie, one of the most leading manufacturers of extended battery smartphone cases, recently released a case for the Galaxy S5. Samsung’s flagship smartphone is already touted as being one of the most power-efficient devices on the market, offering an average of 21 hours talk time per single charge. And users can stretch their Galaxy S5’s battery even longer by using its Ultra Power Saving Mode. So, do you really need Mophie’s extended battery case? The Galaxy S5 features a removable 2,850 mAh battery, meaning you can carry a backup if you can’t seem to keep your device charged. When your device runs out of juice, you can simply replace the battery for instant power. There’s no faster or easier way to recharge your device. With that said, Galaxy S5-compatible batteries aren’t cheap, so it’s probably a smarter move to invest in an extended battery case, such as Mophie’s. You might assume that Mophie’s case for the Galaxy S5 features the same 2,850 mAh battery. After all, this is the battery type used in the Galaxy S5, so it would only make sense for Mophie to include it in its case. According to the company’s official product listing, though, it features…

We’ve known about Samsung’s premium smartphone for months now. The device was originally rumored to be named the “Galaxy Prime,” but recent reports suggest it will be called the “Galaxy Alpha.” What we don’t know, however, is when exactly Samsung plans to release it, or why they are taking so long. This year, we’ve seen an influx in smartphones with large screens that teeter on the line of being called a phablet. The Galaxy S5, for instance, boasts an impressive 5.1″ display, and Apple announced that both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus would feature larger display screens. So, what size screen will Samsung include in its upcoming Galaxy Alpha? According to PhoneArena.com, the Galaxy Alpha will have a slightly smaller 4.7″ Super AMOLED display with 720 by 1280-pixel. What truly makes the Galaxy Alpha stand out from the rest, however, is its physical design. It may have a smaller display screen with a lower pixel resolution, but the overall body design is quiet impressive to say the least. At just 6.7 mm, it’s the thinnest smartphone manufactured by Samsung — even thinner than the Galaxy S5. In addition to its sleek and slim design, the Galaxy Alpha also…

It’s been several months now since Samsung launched its Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone. Since that time, it’s won numerous awards and accolades for its cutting-edge hardware and software. With Sony gearing up to release its Xperia Z3 flagship smartphone in the upcoming months, however, some people are wondering if it will trump the Galaxy S5. In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at these two high-end smartphones. Upon viewing the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z3 for the first time, you’ll notice these two devices look strikingly similar. Samsung’s flagship smartphone features a 1920 x 1080 pixel 5.1″ display, while Sony’s flagship smartphone features a  1920 x 1080 pixel 5.2″ display. Technically, the Xperia Z3 is slightly larger, but a tenth of an inch is a nominal difference that most users won’t notice. With that said, The Galaxy S5 features a colorful Super AMOLED display, whereas Sony opted to use a IPS LCD display in its smartphone. Both the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z3 use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocked at 2.5GHz, as well as the same GPU. There’s no clear winner between the two in terms of processing power, as both devices offer some…

It’s been a long time in the making, but Galaxy S5 users on the Sprint network may soon receive the Android 4.4.4 update. Sprint broke the news on more than month ago, but it didn’t specify an exact date for the over-the-air (OTA) rollout. This left thousands of Galaxy S5 users wondering when they would see Android 4.4.4 on their device. Well, it looks like that time is now, as Samsung recently confirmed the upcoming Android update on its website. According to Samsung support page published here, Android build G900PVPU1ANI4 (KitKat) was released on 9/24/2014 for the Sprint Galaxy S5. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that every user on the network will receive the update, as it will likely take several weeks for the rollout to complete. With that said, most websites are saying that the Sprint is actively working to release the new Android 4.4.4 update. So if you haven’t received the update, keep checking your Galaxy S5 and you’ll probably see it soon. It’s important to note that 4.4.4 will likely be the final build of Android KitKat. Google released the developer preview version of Android 5.0 L earlier this year, highlighting some major changes to its…