Can’t seem to choose between the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Alpha? While both devices are impressive in their own right, there are some notable differences between the two that shouldn’t be overlooked. So before you make a hastily purchase, check our side-by-side comparison below to determine which one is best suited for your needs. Display The Galaxy S5 features a bold 5.1″ Super AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection. The Galaxy Alpha is roughly 18% smaller, measuring just 4.7″. Granted, that’s not an enormous difference, but fans of big screens will probably prefer the Galaxy S5. Resolution In terms of display resolution, the Galaxy S5 is the clear winner between the two. It delivers an impressive 1920 x 1080 resolution at 432 ppi, whereas the Galaxy Alpha delivers just 1280 x 720 pixel resolution at 312 ppi. Water Resistance Arguably, one of the greatest features of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is its IP6/7 dust and water-resistance shell. While I don’t recommend leaving your handset submerged in water for long periods of time, it’s nice to know that it will withstand such abuse should it occur. Now for the bad news, Samsung nixed the IP6/7 shell in…
Originally developed the phablet-sized Note, Multi Window is a convenient feature that allows users to run multiple windows simultaneously. I guess you could compare it to Windows on an Android smartphone, as it’s capable of running several tasks (email, notes, webpages, etc.) at once. So if you’re the type of person who’s constantly performing multiple tasks on your handset, keep reading to learn more about Samsung’s Multi Windows feature. Although it was designed for Samsung’s exclusive line of Note devices, users of the 5.1″ Galaxy S5 can take advantage of the Multi Window feature as well. With a brilliant 5.1″ Super AMOLED display covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the Galaxy S5 is ideal for running multiple windows. And since it’s powered by a blazing-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, you don’t have to worry about bogging down your handset’s resources, as it’s able to handle just about any task you have to throw its way. Samsung defines this feature as “Multi Window lets you easily complete multiple tasks on one screen. For example, you can take notes while watching a video, or search the web and check your email messages simultaneously. The most commonly used applications are available in the…
It’s been just over 6 months since Samsung released its Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone, but new reports suggest the company is already working on its successor. This news comes just weeks after Samsung released the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge, leaving some people to speculate if The Next Big Thing will be the Galaxy 6. According to SamMobile, Samsung is in fact working on a new Galaxy smartphone, but it’s not being called the Galaxy S6 (at least for now). Sources close to the development team say it’s being called Project Zero. As SamMobile points out, this is the first time Samsung has opted for such a unique codename for its devices. Previous flagship devices were given generic names, such as Project J (Galaxy S4), Project H (Galaxy Note 3), Project K (Galaxy S5) and Project T (Galaxy Note 4). Why is Samsung taking such a different approach with the Galaxy S5’s successor? Being that Samsung has yet to confirm nor deny the project, we really don’t know why it chose the codename Project Zero for the Galaxy S5’s successor. With that said, SamMobile claims its sources told them the project name is a reflection of the device’s…
The largest and most comprehensive update in the history of Google’s Android operating system is right around the corner, leaving many people (including myself) speculating what’s in store for the Galaxy S5. We’ve seen the Android 5.0 Lollipop Developer Preview, but we still don’t know how the new OS will impact build functionality — at least not until now. SamMobile recently published leaked screenshot images depicting Android 5.0 L running on the Galaxy S5. The build shown in the images is LRX02E, and it reveals some pretty impressive new features. It’s important to note, however, that the device depicted in the leaked images isn’t running the official Android 5.0 L, but rather a modified version. The build reportedly changes the Android version name from “L” to “5.0,” and it brings back the Android bird game as an Easter egg. Android 5.0 L will introduce a plethora of new goodies, including a fingerprint screen lock feature, system-wide universal fonts (smaller than original), Google search bar added to recent menu, different color schemes, removed interruptions from sound settings, new filter options under Gallery (Pets, Events, Scenery, Documents, Food, Vehicles and Flowers), improved Material user interface, text in navigation bar icons, new search…
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…