Samsung Galaxy S5 and Gear Fit: An Overview

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Gear Fit: An Overview

Samsung has always been one of the most innovative brands in the world of electronics and the company has managed to amass a huge international fan following due to its unique ability to create attractive yet user-friendly gadgets at moderate prices. Team Samsung occupies a dominant position in the realm of smartphones and the company launches numerous models each year to gain an edge over the competition.

Anticipation has been particularly high among tech enthusiasts for the launch of Samsung’s newest addition to the smartphone arena, the Galaxy S5, and the device made its smashing debut at the recent Mobile World Congress along with a new Samsung wearable – the health-focused Gear Fit.

Look

Samsung has never been one for restraint and subtlety and the company’s phones have always exuded an aura of excess and sophistication. However, with the Galaxy S5, the company seems to have changed its outlook.

The phone still comes packed with chockfull of features but there is a clear sense of control compared to what has been exhibited in the past by Samsung. The end result is a look that is both exciting and refined.The display size on the Galaxy S5 measures 5.1 inches and features a resolution of 1920 X 1080.

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The overall look of the phone retains a simple charm, owing to the all-plastic build. The display remains surrounded by a bezel on all sides which improves the look of the smartphone. Samsung has added a fresh perforated back pattern to the Galaxy S5 in an effort to add visual interest along with a faux-chrome trim that serves to enhance the “wow” factor of the device. The phone comes in four different primary colour options – black, gold, white, and blue.

Features

Samsung has added a new Ultra Power Saving mode to the Galaxy S5 smartphone which turns the screen monochrome and doubles the remaining battery life when the battery level dips to dangerously low levels.

The phone has many impressive features, the foremost among them being its capability to play back almost 12 hours of video and users can browse the Internet for up to 10 hours on a single charge.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 comes with an integrated fingerprint scanner that is present directly on the home button. The scanner may be used to either unlock the phone or authenticate online purchases. In order to use the scanner, the user needs to swipe their finger vertically over the sensor. Samsung has made efforts to improve the scanner’s utility by partnering with PayPal.

The phone remains powered by a 2.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8974 processor which speeds up every function of the phone. Screen transitions occur smoothly and it is possible to open apps instantly without any lags. The 2 GB RAM complements the features of the phone perfectly.

The presence of a 16 megapixel camera on the back of the Samsung Galaxy S5 greatly enhances its draw factor. The phone is able to shoot 4K video and according to Samsung, the Galaxy S5 boasts of the quickest autofocus in the world. The camera interface has also been given an overhaul and is now more simple and efficient.

In terms of software capabilities, the Galaxy S5 runs on the latest version of Android Operating System, the 4.4.2 Kitkat. The interface no longer bears the cluttered look associated with TouchWiz but have been cleaned by the company to appeal to new users.

The new icons look great and perfectly complement the restrained look of the phone. Even the tricky Settings menu has been dumbed down and matches the rest of the phone’s elegant style. Overall, the layout on the Samsung Galaxy S5 seems to be clean, neat and approachable.

A new Kids Mode has been added to the Galaxy S5 which limits the use of certain applications for children. Another Mode, the Easy Mode, simplifies the use of the phone for adults. The My Magazine UX, introduced by Samsung in the Galaxy Note 3 phablet, makes its return in the Galaxy S5.

The back of the phone bears a heart monitor that is able to read the pulse of the user in the span of five to ten seconds. Aside from that, the Galaxy S5 comes with a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a barometer, a proximity sensor and a compass. The device works beautifully with the Gear Fit to enable users to track their activity and bring notifications on the phone directly to the wrist.

Improvements

Compared to its popular predecessor – the Galaxy S4, the new Samsung Galaxy S5 boasts of several improvements. While the display size in the Galaxy S4 measures 5 inches, the Galaxy S5 comes with a 5.1 inch screen. The latter also remains equipped with a custom image chip which is capable of automatically adjusting colours and contrasts based on ambient lighting.

Battery life in the Samsung Galaxy S5 has improved considerably than the Galaxy S4 model thanks to the upgrade from a 2,600 mAh cell to a 2800 mAh battery.

One of the biggest advantages in design that the Samsung Galaxy S5 has over the other smartphones in the contemporary mobile industry is the IP 67 rating that indicates water and dust resistance. This indicates that the phone can be submerged in 3 feet of water for a period of 30 minutes without the risk of moisture damage.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to hit the market in April 2014.

Gear Fit

The Gear Fit accessory has been launched concurrently with Samsung Galaxy S5 and appears to be a cross between an activity tracker and a smart watch. Featuring a 1.84 curved display with a resolution of 432 X 128, the Gear Fit brings the screen to life. The colours seem sharp and rich thanks to the Super AMOLED display and the device also remains equipped with 244 pixels per inch which ensures that users have no trouble viewing the screen from any angle.

The Gear Fit remains powered by Tizen. Users will find it comfortable to wear the Gear Fit on their wrists for extended durations thanks to the rubber band. The heart rate of the wearer is automatically tracked by the heart rate monitor at the back of the device.

The Gear Fit also comes with a gyroscope, a stopwatch, a timer and an accelerometer. The Settings Menu allows the background wallpaper and brightness to be changed and the home screen displays phone notifications like emails, calls, text messages.

Does the gadget amaze you or do you think it is “just another” Samsung release?

1 thought on “Samsung Galaxy S5 and Gear Fit: An Overview”

  1. Hello Jane,
    Samsung is the market leader for smartphones. They achieved this because of quality of the devices they make.
    Galaxy s5 also maintained that quality.
    Thank you for sharing this review!

    Reply

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