Reports suggest the Samsung Galaxy S5 could have slow-to-non-existent sales in South Korea due to a recent 45-day ban on all new cell phones sold by the country’s major cell carriers. Samsung recently announced plans to sell their new flagship smartphone on April 11, which is less than a month away. However, the new ban prohibiting cell phone sales would fall in line with this date, forcing South Korean residents to wait even longer to get their hands on the Galaxy S5. So, why are South Korean cell carriers banned from selling new phones for 45 days? The ban was handed down by a watchdog group after several carriers began selling smartphones and other devices for steep discounts. Under the country’s current law, carriers are only allowed to subsidize phones up to $250, and this incident involved phones being subsidized for more than $250. You might be wondering why South Korean cell carriers would willingly subsidize phone prices more than $250. Well, it’s likely due to the country’s stiff competition. It’s estimated that 7 out of 10 South Koreans already own a smartphone (note: Samsung is based in South Korea). The only way cell carriers can attract new customers is…

It didn’t take very long for a knockoff of the Samsung Galaxy S5 to show up on the market. Just two days after the South Korean company unveiled their latest flagship smartphone, the ‘Goophone S5‘ (yes, that’s really the name of it) was being marketed to consumers. So, what makes the Goophone S5 different than the actual Galaxy S5? As you can see in the photo to the right, the Goophone S5 looks nearly identical to the Samsung Galaxy S5. They both feature the same rectangular-shaped body with slightly rounded corners, a soft texture back, and even the same front design with a physical home button. With the exception of the word “Goophone” printed on the back, most people would probably assume it’s an authentic Galaxy S5. But don’t let the Goophone S5’s appearance fool you into thinking its the real deal. One minor nuance between the two devices is screen size. The Samsung Galaxy S5 features a 5.1″ diagonal screen, whereas the Goophone S5’s screen is 5″. The major differences between the two devices, however, lies in the hardware. You can kiss the Samsung Galaxy S5’s ultra-powerful 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor goodbye, as the Goophone is powered by…

It’s been just over a week since Samsung unveiled its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, but early reports show pre-registration numbers are soaring above and beyond its predecessor. This is exciting news, as it reveals the enormous demand for the South Korean company’s flagship smartphone. On the other hand, it could also be a sign that you may have a difficult time finding the Galaxy S5 once it’s been released to the cell carriers. U.S. cell carrier T-Mobile said the Galaxy S5 received over 100,000 pre-registration inquiries within a 48-hour period, blowing the Galaxy S4’s numbers out of the water. What Is Pre-Registration? Contrary to what some people may believe, pre-registration is not the same as pre-ordering. Basically, pre-registration is a 10-day period where people express their interest in a particular device (the Samsung Galaxy S5 in this case). If you plan to purchase the device, you can submit your contact information on a pre-registration page to receive news and updates. Unfortunately, pre-registering for the Samsung Galaxy S5 doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get once once it’s released to the cell carriers. You’ll probably be one of the first ones notified of its release, but you’ll still have to drive to your…

Following Samsung’s unveiling of their highly anticipated Galaxy S5 smartphone, the South Korean-based tech company recently announced plans to provide users with over $500 in free apps. The Galaxy S5 has already drawn praise for its unique combination of style, simplicity and power — which are three key selling points for most smartphone buyers today. Now, however, Samsung has taken their game to the next level by offering apps valued at over $500 for Galaxy S5 owners. The free app program, rightfully titled Galaxy Gifts, was announced earlier this week. And while some people may turn their head at the notion of so-called “free” apps, the lineup actually looks pretty good. Whether you intend to use your Galaxy S5 for multitasking or strictly to make calls, there are plenty of apps in the Galaxy Gifts program designed to make your life easier. “Meaningful rewards from the world’s top brands to make your GALAXY S5 experience even more enjoyable and productive. From fitness to news to productivity apps, the Samsung GALAXY S5 comes with free, long-term subscriptions and premium services,” says Samsung on their Galaxy Gifts webpage. RunKepper: 1 year free premium service (valued at $20) Lark: 1 year free premium service…

In case you didn’t get the memo, Samsung officially unveiled their highly anticipated Galaxy S5 at the Unpacked 5 event in Barcelona, Spain. And just as expected, Samsung managed to blow everyone away with the unique combination of style, performance and simplicity to achieve a smartphone that’s superior to the Apple iPhone 5S (and probably the iPhone 6), Google Nexus 5, and other devices. If you’re still on the fence about purchasing one, though, keep reading to learn 5 of the top benefits it offers. Reason #1) Dust and Water Resistant Dropping your smartphone in the toilet is an easy way to ruin your day. Thankfully, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is designed with durable dust and water-resistant glass, eliminating problems such as this. We still don’t recommend going for a swim with your Galaxy S5 in your pocket, but it’s nice to know that Samsung has taken steps to reduce the chance of water damage with their latest design. Reason #2) Removable Battery The Samsung Galaxy S5 features a removable battery, meaning you can pick up a spare for those emergency situations when you run out of juice. I’m a huge fan of removable batteries, and personally I think all…

In case you didn’t get the memo, Samsung officially unveiled the highly anticipated Galaxy S5 yesterday at Unpacked 5 event in Barcelona, Spain. While most of the hardware and software specs were covered here at galaxys5us.com, there were some new features the company discussed. As we expected, the Samsung Galaxy S5 features a fingerprint scanner (not an iris scanner as some sources has rumored). We still don’t know much about its fingerprint scanning technology, but we do know that’s sensitive to moisture. If you attempt to unlock your Samsung Galaxy S5 with a sweaty finger, it will tell you to dry your hands and try again. Health 3.0 One of the unique features that most people were surprised to see on the Galaxy S5 is a health and fitness application called Health 3.0. According to a Samsung spokesperson, Health 3.0 “provides a comprehensive personal fitness tracker to help users monitor and manage their behavior, along with additional tools including a pedometer, diet and exercise records, and a new, built-in heart rate monitor.” If you’re a health-conscious type of individual, you’ll want to take advantage of the Samsung Galaxy S5’s new Health 3.0 application (don’t worry it’s free and comes installed…

With Samsung expected to unveil the Galaxy S5 at tomorrow’s Unpacked 5 event, people (including myself) are eagerly anticipating what’s in store for the company’s flagship device. We’ve covered tons of rumors, leaked details, and insider reports regarding the hardware and software powering this truly revolutionary device. Over the past few days, however, there have been numerous photos of the Samsung Galaxy S5 surfacing online.  The first photo comes from Twitter user @SaudiAndroid. It features a side-by-side visual comparison of the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5 and Note 3. As you can see, the Galaxy S5 is slightly larger than its predecessor (which we previously suggested here on our blog), and it also features a more boxy shape. The corner are still rounded, but there’s more of an emphasis on a rectangular shape with the Galaxy S5. The Note 3 remains larger than both the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5, which is probably a good thing considering people view it as “oversized.” بجوار نوت 3 وجالكسي S4 #SAMSUNG #WMC2014 #Unpacked #thenextGALAXY #GalaxyS5 #WMC14 #تقنية #سامسونج #جالكسيS5 pic.twitter.com/4I7yGqgSgw — سعودي أندرويد :] (@SaudiAndroid) February 24, 2014 The second photo is courtesy of Hardware Zone forum member OKCATYEON. It shows a person holding the…

Hold on and prepare for launch, because a new source suggests Samsung will release their flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, in London, England around mid-March. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, a company spokesperson stated that it was “highly likely” the Galaxy S5 would be released in Q1 of this year. Ever since then, industry analysts have been working around the clock to try and pinpoint a more precise date. This time, we have a report that Samsung will release the device around mid-March in London, England. It’s important to note that there’s still no official word on an exact date. We’re left to speculate on rumors leaked by insiders close to the South Korean tech company. With that said, this latest rumor comes from a reliable source that’s known to provide accurate information on upcoming smartphones and tech products. Will The Galaxy S5 See a Mid-May London Launch? Quite possibly, yes. Earlier this month, Italian journalist Flavio tweeted the following: “Samsung to hold its next Global launch (S5?) event in London in a mid March date, a reliable source confirmed me.” This is huge news as bloggers and tech analysts across the world are trying to…

We’re just months away from the official Samsung Galaxy S5 launch, leaving consumers everywhere eagerly anticipating the specs of this groundbreaking smartphone. In some of our previous blog posts here at GalaxyS5US.com, we covered a number of rumored features, including eye-scanning technology, aluminum and leather body, curved display, etc. However, we now have details on what’s believed to be the official specs for the Samsung Galaxy S5! Insider Information From SamMobile Earlier this week, SamMobile published an article on their website claiming to have direct content with a Samsung insider. This informant provided a number of specific details regarding the company’s upcoming Galaxy S5 smartphone. Whether or not this “insider” is real is yet to be determined, but the specs published on their website look pretty realistic. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Will Come In Two Models According to the insider information published at SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy S5 will come in two different versions: a metal version for roughly $670 bucks, and a plastic version for $450 bucks. This is something that many people had expected (including myself) given the success of the Apple iPhone 5s, which is also available in a plastic and metal version. With two different models,…

If you keep up with our blog here at GalaxyS5US.com, you’ve probably heard a rumor that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 will feature a curved display. There has been numerous reports leaked suggesting that it will in fact feature a curved display. But with no official word yet by Samsung, we’re left to speculate on the Galaxy S5’s hardware and design. Samsung Files Patent For Curved Display Last year, Samsung filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office (see illustration above). This patent includes curved edges with a sloped screen. Up until now, Samsung has yet to use this patent, leading many tech analysis to believe it’s for the company’s upcoming Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone. A curved screen would likely improve ergonomics, offering a more natural and comfortable feel when holding the device. Here are some of the ‘possible’ benefits of a curved display: More comfortable to hold Reduces glare and light reflection Prevents prying eyes from those around you Improved clarity Of course, the Galaxy Note 4 may also feature the company’s patented curved screen display. Both the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy S5 are scheduled for release this year, so we’ll find out the answer to this…