[MWC 2014] Samsung Announces The Galaxy S5 – 2.5GHz Quad-Core, 5.1-inch 1080p Super AMOLED Display, Water/Dust Resistant, And 16MP Camera

We can finally put the months of rumors to bed – Samsung just unveiled to Galaxy S5 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. We'll have hands-on for you shortly, but let's go over what Samsung is announcing first.

  

It's looking like some of the more outlandish rumors were way off base – the Galaxy S5 is not specced much differently than other flagship phones in recent months, and it's certainly not made of metal. Here's the spec list we have so far (updating as we learn more).

• 5.1-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display
• 2.5GHz quad-core ARM chip (Snapdragon 800 or maybe 801)
• 2GB of RAM
• 16/32GB internal storage plus microSD
• 802.11ac MIMO
• LTE Cat. 4
• USB 3.0
• 2800mAh battery
• 16MP rear camera, 2.1MP front camera
• Fingerprint scanner
• Heart rate sensor
• IP67 Dust and water Resistant
• 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, 145g
• Android 4.4.2

The Galaxy S5 is bristling with sensors. In addition to the usual compliment of brightness, IR, and so on, there's a new heart rate sensor around back. Just place your finger on the inlay where the LED flash sits to take your pulse. There is also a new light sensor that can detect the environment and adjust the screen contrast and color levels automatically. As expected, the fingerprint sensor is in the home button and requires a swipe to activate.

 

  

The rear panel is still removable, but the GS5 borrows a bit from the Galaxy S4 Active. There is a rubber seal around the battery door to keep water out, and the USB has a port cover. It's IP67, so it should make it through a rain storm or accidental drop in the sink just fine. The rest of the design again looks very much like the last Galaxy phone, so maybe next time we can just ignore all the crazy rumors?

 

This device is also packing Android 4.4.2 with Samsung's customary TouchWiz interface. Samsung is pushing a new camera experience that it claims is easier to use, but still powerful enough to take advantage of that 16MP sensor. Oddly, we didn't see any of the Android interface at the announcement. Even the new Samsung hands-on video below doesn't show much of the software beyond Samsung's apps.

Pricing wasn't discussed, but it will probably be in-line with the Galaxy S4 at launch. It's coming to 150 countries on April 11th, including all major US carriers.

[Samsung]

Ryan Whitwam

Ryan is a tech/science writer, skeptic, lover of all things electronic, and Android fan. In his spare time he reads golden-age sci-fi and sleeps, but rarely at the same time. His wife tolerates him as few would.

source: androidpolice