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…

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…

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….

Originally unveiled last month, the Nokia Lumia 930 is being touted as the “The most complete Windows Phone to date. It’s the first to properly challenge the flagship might of Android and iOS with its impressive design, new Windows Phone 8.1 software and all round decent specs.” That’s a pretty bold statement considering its use of the Windows mobile operating system. But how exactly does Nokia’s latest flagship smartphone compare to Samsung’s Galaxy S5? Display The Galaxy S5 features a 5.1″ Super AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 pixels, whereas the Nokia Lumia 930 is just a hair smaller at 5″ with the same 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution. The Nokia Lumia 930 does not have Super AMOLED technology, but rather basic AMOLED. Processor There’s no denying the fact that Samsung’s Galaxy S5 is powered by one of the best mobile processors currently available. It features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor for superior speed and performance. The Nokia Lumia 930, on the other hand, is powered by the slower Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor. If you’re looking for a blazing-fast smartphone that’s capable of multitasking with half a dozen or more different applications, stick with the Galaxy S5. Camera One of…

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime (dubbed the Galaxy F) is gearing up to be South Korean tech company’s biggest and baddest smartphone yet. Of course, this should come as no surprise considering it’s the “premium” variant of the Galaxy S5. But how exactly does it stand out from the launch-edition Galaxy S5? Samsung has kept their lips sealed regarding details and specs of the Galaxy S5 Prime. However, numerous websites have reported a launch date of mid-to-late June. With June wrapping up, though, it’s highly unlikely we’ll see Samsung’s new Prime variant on the market before July rolls around. Body According to leaked details, the upcoming Galaxy S5 Prime will sport an aluminum body instead of the launch-edition’s all-plastic body. This alone is a huge advantage that’s sure to attract some consumers to the new variant. While the Galaxy S5 remains one of the hottest smartphones to date, some users criticized Samsung for using plastic in its body. Opting for an aluminum body — featuring the same perforated rear design — will likely result in a smartphone that’s looks and feels like a higher quality device. Display Another key selling point of the Galaxy S5 Prime is its display. According…

Users of the Samsung Galaxy S5 can now gain root access to the device using a new method released by hacker George Hotz. What Is Rooting? Rooting is basically a method of gaining access to the core files of a device. Most smartphone manufacturers lock these files to prevent users from removing, adding, or otherwise editing certain functions. By locking the device’s core files, however, users are restricted to what they can modify and what they can’t. Rooting a device “unlocks” these restricts, granting the user full freedom to modify the device however they choose. Towelroot The Galaxy S5 rooting method released by hacker George Hotz uses a program known as Towelroot, which allows Android users to bypass Samsung’s software limitations on the Galaxy S5. Digital Trends reports that Hotz was able to create Towelroot using a software bug in Linux, and since Android is a variant of Linux, the tool is compatible with Android-powered smartphones. Towelroot.com states the following in regards to Hotz’s new rooting tool: “no warranty expressed or implied my second android root vuln thanks to disclosure by Pinkie Pie with love for my rap career if this doesn’t work on your phone e-mail my gmail geohot+towelroot with…

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…

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,…

And you thought your smartphone’s download speeds were fast. According to a report published at ZDnet.com, Samsung’s upcoming premium variant of its flagship smartphone, dubbed the Galaxy S5 Prime, will feature a Snapdragon Qualcomm MDM9635 chip that’s capable of supporting download speeds up to 225 Mbps. Granted most cell carriers will probably throttle their customers before allowing them to hit these speeds, you can still technically achieve them with the Galaxy S5 Prime. ZDnet.com claims to have received this information from several unnamed sources close to Samsung. Is this rumor true or is it merely an attempt to generate hype for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S5 Prime variant? I guess we’ll have to wait a little bit longer to find out, but ZDnet.com has a strong reputation for leaking accurate details about smartphones and other devices. The current download speed cap on LTE is 75 Mbps, which means the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime is capable of downloading data three times faster than the LTE limit! Assuming the report is correct, this would be mind-boggling for any device to achieve. But there’s a catch: the 225 Mbps download speeds may only be available for users in South Korean (sorry U.S. users!). ZDnet.com…