It is April 2014, and Samsung has decided to lean into utility rather than just pure luxury. The Galaxy S5 has arrived in the UK as the ‘pragmatic’ flagship, a 145g device that prioritises features you can actually use over the flashy metal of its rivals. It’s still an all-plastic affair, but the slick finish of the S4 has been replaced by a dimpled, soft-touch ‘glam’ leather-effect back that is remarkably grippy and durable. The headline technical trick is that it’s IP67 rated; you can drop it in the sink or use it in a typical British downpour without fear, provided you’ve remembered to click the little plastic flap over the charging port.
Technically, the S5 is a specification powerhouse. It features a 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display (1920 x 1080) that is the brightest and most colour-accurate screen Samsung has ever produced. At 432 PPI, it is pin-sharp, and the ‘Adaptive Display’ technology intelligently adjusts the saturation based on the ambient light. Powering the device is a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor with 2GB of RAM. It handles Android 4.4 KitKat with a level of responsiveness that finally makes the ‘TouchWiz’ interface feel mature. It also features a new ‘Ultra Power Saving Mode’ that turns the screen black and white and kills all non-essential apps, a technical lifesaver that can stretch 10% of battery for another 24 hours.
The imaging department has seen a massive upgrade with a 16-megapixel ‘ISOCELL’ sensor. This technology reduces light interference between pixels, resulting in stunningly sharp photos with incredible dynamic range. It features a ‘Phase Detection’ autofocus system that can lock onto a subject in just 0.3 seconds. It also records 4K video at 30fps and features a heart-rate monitor tucked under the camera lens. Under the Home button, Samsung has added a swipe-style fingerprint scanner for security and PayPal payments. With a removable 2,800 mAh battery and a microSD slot supporting 128GB, the Galaxy S5 remains the definitive choice for the user who values practicality and power.