Mr. Vineet Taneja, Country Head, IT & Mobile, Samsung India; Mr. Manu Sharma, Director, Mobile, Samsung India and renowned actor Freida Pinto with the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Gear Wearable series in New Delhi.
One of the highlights of the past week in the tech scene in India was the launch of Samsung Galaxy S5. This latest flagship device of Samsung was launched in India on March 27. In the same event, Samsung also added new models to its wearable Galaxy Gear line.
The first thing I noticed about the S5 was its back cover. The perforated back looks quite different from the back covers of S3 and S4. The back cover has a perforated pattern which makes the device easier to grip and less slippery. I am not saying that I liked it better. I did not. But it’s different. Overall, the device is sleek and lightweight and is also more durable than its predecessors as it is more water-resistant and dust resistant.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Vineet Taneja, Country Head, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung India said, “The Galaxy S5 is yet another great proof point of people-inspired innovation. Designed to be both effortlessly smart and intuitively simple, the Galaxy S5 has been created to maximize consumer benefits by integrating superior hardware with enhanced smartphone usability and an iconic design,”
Here are some of the most important features of Samsung Galaxy S5:
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Appearance: S5 is 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm in size and weighs 145g. It has 5.1” FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) display. S5 features a perforated pattern on the back cover. It is available in charcoal Black, shimmery White, electric Blue and copper Gold colours. I, personally, did not feel much happy about the perforated back or the color range. I would rather prefer the subtle Pebble Blue of S3 over the glam Electric Blue of S5.
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Camera: What I did like about S5 is its camera. S5 comes equipped with a 16 MP primary camera with an improved menu and user interface. It has an autofocus speed upto 0.3 second. Also, its High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature can bring out light and color with better intensity. There’s also a Selective Focus feature using which one can put focus on any specific area while blurring out the background. This feature when coupled with a bit of imagination might produce some very striking images, I feel.
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Speed: S5 has 2 GB RAM and Octa-core processor, and all 8 cores can be operative at the same time. This should ensure a swift and speedy performance of the device. S5 can support the 3G speed of upto 42Mbps and also claims to offer the fastest Wi-Fi performance.
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Health Features: S5 comes equipped with a pedometer and heart rate sensor that can help in user’s quest to stay fit. There’s also a fitness tracker to keep track of exercise routine, diet etc.
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Device Protection: The Galaxy S5 is IP67 dust and water-resistant. It is not waterproof, but can withstand exposure to water to some extent. That is, a getting wet in the rain would probably not harm the device, but a dipping in the pool with it would still not be a good idea.
S5 also has a Finger Scanner which can make it more secure against unwanted intrusions.
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Ultra Power Saving Mode: This is one feature that I really liked in S5. When the Ultra Power Saving Mode is activated, the device switches off all the non-essential finery, including coloured display. Yes, it turns to a simple black and white display and turns off all unnecessary features so that the battery can last longer and the user can continue to make and receive calls and messages for as long as possible.
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For Kids: The Kids Mode of S5 with its dedicated apps can be quite fun for kids. And of course, it will also make the parents feel more comfortable in handing over their phones to kids as it limits the things a child can do while using the phone.
Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S5 and Price in India:
Dimension: 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, 145g
Display: 5.1” FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)
Processor: Octa-core application processor (Quad 1.9 GHz + Quad 1.3 GHz)
OS: Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 16GB, microSD slot up to 128G
Battery: 2800mAh, Standby time: 300 hrs (with Ultra Power saving mode), Talk time: 21 hrs
Camera: Rear: 16MP (1/2.6”, Phase Detection AF) / Front: 2.0MP (1920×1080, Wide-angle lens), Video: UHD@30fps, HDR, video stabilization. Camera Features – HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot & More
Network: HSPA + 42Mbps
Connectivity: WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO(2×2), Bluetooth®: 4.0 BLE / ANT+, USB: USB 3.0, NFC, IR Remote
Sensor: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Hall, RGB ambient light, Gesture(IR), Finger Scanner, Heart rate sensor
Additional Features: IP67 – Dust and water Resistant, Ultra Power Saving Mode, S Health 3.0, Quick Connect, Private Mode, Kids Mode
Availability and Price of S5 in India: S5 will be available across India from April 11, 2014 and will be priced between Rs. 51,000/- and Rs. 53.000/
