Rumors that the Galaxy S5 would be made of metal, or that there would
be a metal variant, picked up steam in the run-up to the big unveiling.
So you may be a bit disappointed to learn that the GS5's body is all
plastic. In the past, Samsung has used reasons of durability, weight,
and price to defend its decision.
What's up with the fingerprint scanner?
The Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner is an optional biometric measure you can use to unlock your phone, and also to pay for services through PayPal. You can log up to three fingerprints.
The swipe zone sits above the phone's home button, and you pull straight down to unlock the phone, which I found easiest to do with my index finger. For even more,
Why did Samsung add a heart-rate monitor?
We've seen Samsung update its S Health app, release various fitness bands, and integrate a heart-rate monitor in to the Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch and Gear Fit band. They're clearly banking on the growing convergence of personal health and personal technology.
A clever little sensor on the back of the phone is what logs your vitals, which you can track over time. Samsung isn't trying to replace medical equipment, so the feature is more of a niche one. It doesn't get in the way, and it may give the company a slight competitive advantage over fitness buffs, though I'd think the market for fitness bands and other small wearables is where they'll make the most impact there. (Read more about the heart-rate monitor here.)
Why did Samsung make the phone water- and dust-resistant?
Waterproofing the Galaxy S5 was a bit of a no-brainer, really. The Galaxy S4 Active variant proved that Samsung could make a phone like this, which only raised the question: why not just implement this in the first place? And so Samsung did.
So what does water-resistant really mean?
Military spec IP67 means that the phone is rated to stay underwater for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter, or about 3 feet. You'd better make sure your important ports are sealed, too. Some phones can spend more time under the surface without damage, but the standards are there as legal protections and guidelines. (Here's a cool little tidbit on the future of device waterproofing, by the way, with a neat little demo to go with it.)
Does it have wireless charging
There's no wireless charging integrated into the phone, but you can buy an accessory.
What's up with the fingerprint scanner?
The Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner is an optional biometric measure you can use to unlock your phone, and also to pay for services through PayPal. You can log up to three fingerprints.
The swipe zone sits above the phone's home button, and you pull straight down to unlock the phone, which I found easiest to do with my index finger. For even more,
Why did Samsung add a heart-rate monitor?
We've seen Samsung update its S Health app, release various fitness bands, and integrate a heart-rate monitor in to the Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch and Gear Fit band. They're clearly banking on the growing convergence of personal health and personal technology.
A clever little sensor on the back of the phone is what logs your vitals, which you can track over time. Samsung isn't trying to replace medical equipment, so the feature is more of a niche one. It doesn't get in the way, and it may give the company a slight competitive advantage over fitness buffs, though I'd think the market for fitness bands and other small wearables is where they'll make the most impact there. (Read more about the heart-rate monitor here.)
Why did Samsung make the phone water- and dust-resistant?
Waterproofing the Galaxy S5 was a bit of a no-brainer, really. The Galaxy S4 Active variant proved that Samsung could make a phone like this, which only raised the question: why not just implement this in the first place? And so Samsung did.
So what does water-resistant really mean?
Military spec IP67 means that the phone is rated to stay underwater for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter, or about 3 feet. You'd better make sure your important ports are sealed, too. Some phones can spend more time under the surface without damage, but the standards are there as legal protections and guidelines. (Here's a cool little tidbit on the future of device waterproofing, by the way, with a neat little demo to go with it.)
Does it have wireless charging
There's no wireless charging integrated into the phone, but you can buy an accessory.
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