We knew it was coming; we just didn’t know when. Numerous websites and smartphone industry experts hinted to a smaller, slimmed down version of Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, claiming it would not only be smaller in size but also cost less. Well, we now have an official confirmation by Samsung that a Galaxy S5 Mini is on its way. On July 1, 2014, Samsung officials confirmed the rumor of a Galaxy S5 Mini variant. But they didn’t just confirm its existence, they also said that it was launching NOW. Yep, you don’t have to wait around for weeks or even months, as the Galaxy S5 Mini is launching now. Samsung officials noted, however, that it may take a while for new variant to reach certain markets. Now for the million dollar question: is the Samsung Galaxy Mini worth buying? We haven’t tested the device for ourselves, but Samsung released hardware and software specs, most of which look pretty good. It’s important to remember Samsung designed the Mini variant to appeal to a more budget-conscious group of consumers — people who aren’t willing to shell out $600-$700 for a Galaxy S5. The Galaxy S5 Mini features a smaller 4.5-inch screen…

Samsung’s rugged outdoor variant of its flagship smartphone is now available for sale. The Galaxy S5 Active offers all of the same features as the original Galaxy S5 while introducing several new ones in the process. So, how does in fare in comparison to the original Galaxy S5? Under the hard rugged body, the Galaxy S5 Active is strikingly  similar to the original. It’s powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, 2GB of RAM, a 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, 16GB capacity, and a micro SD slot for additional storage. And you can go ahead take a deep sigh of relief, because the Active variant also has the same 16-megapixel rear-facing camera that’s attracted so many users to the Galaxy S5. But there’s an obvious visual difference between the Galaxy S5 Active and original Galaxy S5. The Galaxy S5 Active, as depicted in the image above, is larger, thicker, and more protected. Protection is always a plus, especially for users who take their device hiking, biking, or through other outdoor activities, but some people may argue that Samsung went overboard with the Galaxy S5 Active. The USB port is covered by a soft flap, which we assume is there to protect…

There’s a whopping $18,000 bounty being offered to the first person who successfully roots the Samsung Galaxy S5 for Verizon and AT&T. The community over at XDA Developers is hosting the bounty program, with the initial pledge of $500 offered by senior member Demiurge7 back in April. Since then, however, dozens of other members have stepped up to pledge their own cash bounties, creating a grand total in excess of $18,000 for successfully rooting the Galaxy S5 on Verizon and AT&T. How To Win The $18,000 Bounty So, what exactly does rooting entitle? According to XDA Developers, in order to be eligible to receive the $18,000 plus bounty, the person or organization must create or exploit a current method to gain root access to the device build VRU1ANBG (Galaxy S5). Upon completion of this task, they must also post screenshots of their rooted device on the forum and wait for at least one other member to confirm that it works. If and when these conditions are met, the person will receive the bounty. “I would like to personally offer a $500 bounty to the first person able to find or create a method, exploit, or unlock that allows us to fully root and…

Rumors have been circulating about Samsung releasing a smaller, more compact “Mini” variant of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, for some time. In keeping up with the company’s tradition, however, they’ve kept quiet about the specs and details surrounding this device. But we now have a first-hand look at the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini thanks to several leaked photos. Body The photos of the Galaxy S5 Mini were reportedly sent to Sam Mobile from an anonymous tipster.  They show what appears to be a device with the same body style and back as the launch-edition Galaxy S5 — only on a smaller scale. As you can see in the photo above, it even possess the same dotted plastic back with rounded edges as the original Galaxy S5, further authenticating the belief that these are in fact real photos of the Galaxy S5 Mini. Heart Rate Monitor The device depicted in the leaked photos also show the heart rate monitor in the same spot — directly underneath the rear-facing camera. There was some doubt on whether or not Samsung would even include the heart rate monitor in the Galaxy S5 Mini, but these photos reveal the presence of this nifty…

The Samsung Galaxy S5 has taken the world by storm, selling over 11 million units during the first month of its release. And with exciting new variants like the Prime, Mini and Active expected to be released, it will likely retain its title as the “King” of smartphones.; however, the Samsung Note 3 remains a top contender that’s still worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new smartphone. Here we’re going to do a side-by-side comparison of the Galaxy S5 and Note 3, revealing which one comes out on top. Body Design The first major difference you’ll likely notice between the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Note 3 is the body design. At 5.95 x 3.12 x 0.33 inches, the Note 3 is more of a tablet/smartphone hybrid, or a phablet. The Galaxy S5 is smaller and more compact at 5.3 x 2.9 x 0.25 inches. Display In keeping up with Samsung’s tradition of delivering only the highest quality picture displays to their devices, both the Galaxy S5 and Note 3 feature full 1080p HD technology. With that said, the Galaxy S5 looks sharper thanks to its 373 nits brightness rating. Processor The Samsung Galaxy S5 is powered by an impressive…

Samsung typically doesn’t release new Android updates for its smartphones and tablet computers, but that could soon change with the release of Android KitKat 4.4.3. Several sources have reported that the South Korean electronics company has tested the upcoming Android build on a variety of Exynos and Snapdragon-powered devices, including their flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5. Document Reveals Testing Is Underway According to a recent article published at SamMobile.com, Samsung is currently testing Android KitKat 4.4.3 (KTU70 build) on the Galaxy S5. The unnamed source didn’t reveal any details regarding the specifications and features of Android KitKat 4.4.3 — only that it’s currently being tested with Galaxy S5’s software and features. The report suggests that Android KitKat 4.4.3 is being tested on the Galaxy S5, as well as an LTW variant of the Galaxy S4 (model # GT-I9506A). Being that testing for Android KitKat 4.4.3 is limited strictly to Samsung’s own software, I wouldn’t get your hopes up about seeing a new update in the next few days. There’s been no official release date announced by Google, Samsung or any other major party in the mobile space, but analysts believe the most probable time for a release is later this…

The ultra-durable Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is now available through AT&T. On June 29, the U.S. cell carrier silently added it to their lineup of devices available for purchase through their website. Before you go trading in your smartphone for an upgrade, however, you should read our review on the Galaxy S5 Active variant. Dust, Water and Shock Resistant Not to our surprise, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active features a rugged dust, water and shock-resistant shell. It’s able to withstand drops from 4 feet on a flat surface, and it can be submerged in water 3-feet deep for 30 minutes (although I don’t recommend the latter). Granted, the launch-edition Galaxy S5 also boasts dust and water-resistant technology, but the variant looks and feels stronger and more durable. As you can see from the photo above, it’s beefier with four large bolts attached to the rear. We’re not sure if these bolts serve a purpose, but they are pretty cool looking nonetheless. Activity Zone Another major change in the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is the addition of an all-in-one button that launches every health and fitness app.  The button, dubbed Activity Zone, is located on the side of the device. When…

Watch out Samsung, Life’s Good (LG) recently unveiled a new version of its flagship smartphone, the “G” series, which is causing some commotion in the mobile industry. The new LG G3 is a high-end smartphone that rivals leading mobile brands like HTC, Apple and the Google Nexus series. But how does it compare to the Samsung Galaxy S5? Display The Samsung Galaxy S5 is often touted as the best all-around display among any smartphone currently on the market. It’s 5.1 inches in diameter and boasts 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Surprisingly, however, the LG G3 has managed to trump the Galaxy S5’s display, as it features a 5.5-inch screen with quad-HD 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. I’m a huge fan of the Samsung Galaxy S5, but I have to name the LG G3 as the winner for display. Processor Now let’s talk about what really matters in a smartphone: the processing power. Both the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3 are powered by Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor running at 2.5GHz. There were rumors that LG would use an upgraded version of the Qualcomm processor — the 805 — but they ultimately chose the safe route by using the 801. So,…

Most people have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Samsung’s Galaxy S5 variants. We know they have an Active, Mini and a Premium variant in the works, but the company has not released any official statement regarding the release of these devices. However, a recently published YouTube video shows what appears to be the Galaxy S5 Active variant. When Samsung launched its fourth generation Galaxy smartphone last year, many users complained about its lack of water-resistant technology. To solve this issue, the South Korean company released a water-resistant variant known as the Galaxy S4 Active. The Galaxy S5, however, featured water-resistant and dust-resistant technology right off the bat, leaving some people to question whether or not Samsung would even attempt to produce a Galaxy S5 Active. Well, it looks like they are in fact releasing a Galaxy S5 Active, because we have exclusive footage of the upcoming device below. Video: Samsung Galaxy S5 Active Check out the video above for a sneak peak at the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active variant. In terms of appearance, it looks quite similar to the Galaxy S4 Active — it’s thick with a solid yet ergonomic body for maximum strength and comfort. The video also…

Although Samsung has yet to announce an official release date for the smaller, more compact “Mini” variant of its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, several websites have leaked infromation regarding this upcoming variant. According to GSM Arena, the new Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini will follow the same tune as the previous Galaxy S4 Mini. It will feature the same body style and design — only on a smaller scale.  The Galaxy S4’s screen was roughly 4.3 inches, which is about 20% smaller than the Galaxy S5’s screen. So, what kind of screen size can we expect to see with the Galaxy S5 Mini? BGR claim it will feature a Super AMOLED screen at 4.5 inches  (1280 x 720 resolution) — just slightly larger than the Galaxy S4 Mini. The Galaxy S5 Mini is aimed to attract budget-conscious consumers and first-time Android users alike. Assuming Samsung prices it in a similar manner as the S4 Mini, you can expect the Galaxy S5 Mini to cost $100-$200 less than the  launch-edition Galaxy S5. Consumers who aren’t willing to sign into a 2-year contract with their cell carrier often skip the Galaxy S5 due to its $600-$700 price tag. The Galaxy S5 Mini, however, could…