‘Samsung launched Galaxy S5, Gear range same day to take a swipe at Apple’

Samsung’s Galaxy S5, Gear Fit, Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo watches have launched in 125 countries across the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Latin America.By releasing four products on one day, the South Korean firm has made a major play in its consumer war with rival Apple – and experts claim it cements the […]

Samsung’s Galaxy S5, Gear Fit, Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo watches have launched in 125 countries across the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Latin America.
By releasing four products on one day, the South Korean firm has made a major play in its consumer war with rival Apple – and experts claim it cements the company’s place at the top of the smartphone market.  
Andy Betts, editor of UK-based Android Magazine said: ‘The Galaxy S5 is not a massive upgrade over last year’s S4, but what has been improved should be more than enough to ensure that Samsung retains its dominance of the market.
‘With an improved camera, much longer battery life and water resistance, Samsung has targeted areas that, while not necessarily producing eye catching headlines, will deliver real benefits for users.’
‘It’s undoubtedly going to be a very, very popular phone. Over to you, Apple,’ added T3 magazine’s Jeff Parsons.
Prices for a SIM-free Galaxy S5 start at £570 in the UK and $649 in the US, while the Gear Fit costs £169 and $199 and the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo start at £199 and $199.  
In the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, customers who buy the Galaxy S5 additionally get a free six-month subscription to music service Deezer Premium+.
This service usually costs €9.99 (£8) a month.  
All handsets come with FIFA 14, available exclusively on the Galaxy S5 and other Galaxy devices.
The devices were unveiled during February’s Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona.  
The S5 features a built-in heart monitor, pedometer, fitness apps and fingerprint recognition.
It is at the head of a move by tech giants to turn the ever more sophisticated mobile phone into a substitute doctor and personal trainer.
Samsung’s S5 has its own health functions, but it will also connect to the company’s second generation smartwatch, the Gear 2, as well as a new wearable band device, the Gear Fit, which will play a role in measuring fitness.  
The watch and fitness band can pick up the pulse through the skin on the wrist, and display it on the small screen throughout a normal day, or during a workout.  
The S5 has a 16MP camera – an improvement on the 13MP camera seen on the S4 – and features a number of advanced editing and focus tools similar to those on the 5S.
The new camera has twice as many megapixels as Apple’s iPhone 5S, for example.
This camera has phrase-detect, as well as contrast-detect autofocus, which Samsung claims is the fastest autofocus in any smartphone.
Samsung’s Galaxy S5 has also got a better battery life than its predecessor.
Even when the battery is on 10 per cent, it has 24 hours of time left before it gives up the ghost, said the firm.