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Detailed testing of one of the most anticipated smartphones of the new season

Of course, one of the most long-awaited and anticipated new products among mobile devices of the coming year should be considered the next update to the flagship line of Samsung smartphones - the Galaxy S5. The new product does not need any special introduction - in recent years, the Korean company Samsung Electronics has managed not only to become scandalously famous due to countless lawsuits with rival American Apple, but also to occupy, along with it, one of the leading places in the world market for the sale of tablets and, of course , smartphones.

From left to right: Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, Apple iPhone 5s

By the way, in recent years the Koreans have firmly accustomed users to the idea that Samsung always has two flagship smartphones on the market at the same time. They are representatives of two top product lines moving in parallel courses - Galaxy Note and Galaxy S. Not so long ago there was another update to the line of tablet phones - the Samsung Note 3 smartphone, about which we wrote so much at one time, went on sale. Now it’s time for a series of smartphones to be updated with a more “civilized” design.

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4

The Galaxy S series smartphones have always been very different from their semi-tablet counterparts from the Note line precisely in size - they were quite elegant devices in terms of dimensions. However, with the release of the Galaxy S5, it must be admitted that the distance separating them is shrinking more and more. Moreover, not only the sizes of each successive representative of the Galaxy S line are becoming larger, but also in the Note line they are consistently decreasing. Galaxy Note 3 has become the smallest among its brothers, and the Galaxy S5, on the contrary, has acquired such large dimensions that it’s time to think: what, exactly, is the difference between the modern representatives of the two lines? Their performance is absolutely the same, the design is similar, the price is the same, and we have already said about the sizes. Is the whole difference now just the presence or absence of an electronic pen?

Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 3

In any case, you shouldn’t expect a special technological breakthrough from the new flagship of the Galaxy S line. New technological discoveries have not yet been made, but everything discovered has already been put into practice, and now they are sharpening, finishing, polishing - improving functionality. And we’re not just talking about Samsung devices - the entire market as a whole is now waiting for something new. This, by the way, is clearly visible in the example of the last two world IT exhibitions, held at the beginning of the year in Las Vegas and Barcelona. The products of the Korean company are no exception: in terms of hardware and technology, the new flagship is not much different from the previous one (Samsung Galaxy S4) - now the focus is on improving functionality. Ultra-fast data transfer capabilities, an updated camera control program interface, a wide selection of fitness applications, a heart rate monitor, a fingerprint scanner, as well as agreements with the world's leading content and service providers to pre-install a host of various applications with a long-term prepaid subscription - that's what , which is what Samsung is now working on. Gigabytes and gigahertz somehow suddenly faded into the background, which is probably for the better. Surprisingly, the Koreans didn’t even add RAM to their new flagship - the Galaxy S5 still has 2 GB of RAM, although the new product still has some changes in hardware.

Main characteristics of Samsung Galaxy S5 (model SM-G900F)

• SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC), 4 Krait 400 cores, 2.5 GHz
• GPU Adreno 330, 578 MHz
• Operating system Android 4.4.2 Kitkat
• Touch display Super AMOLED, 5.1″, 1920×1080, 432 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16 GB
• Supports microSD memory cards up to 128 GB
• Networks 2G, 3G, 4G (LTE Cat.4, up to 150/50 Mbit/s)
• Bluetooth 4.0 BLE/ANT+
• USB 3.0, OTG, MHL
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO (2x2), Wi-Fi hotspot
• NFC, infrared
• GPS (A-GPS), Glonass
• 16 MP camera, autofocus, LED flash, UHD video (4K) 30 fps
• Camera 2 MP (front)
• Accelerometer, gyroscope, distance sensor, compass, barometer, Hall sensor (magnetic field), light sensor, gesture sensor (infrared), fingerprint scanner, heart rate sensor
• Dust and moisture protection according to IP67 standard
• Li-ion battery 2800 mAh
• Dimensions 142×72.5×8.1 mm
• Weight 145 g

Appearance and ease of use

As already mentioned, the new model of the Galaxy S series has become significantly larger in size than the previous one. It feels like the smartphone in your hand has finally crossed that invisible line called “a little more and it will be too much”: now the device has become really bulky and surprisingly heavy. For the breast pocket of a shirt, for example, this is now certainly an inaccessible guest, although, of course, people who are determined to follow the path of life with a “shovel” at the ready will not feel anything unusual in the size of the new Galaxy S. Still, it is smaller than the Galaxy Note 3, although the difference is already minimal. And yet, it is still not clear why it was necessary, with almost identical screens, to make the new model so much larger than the previous one. On the Galaxy S4, for example, the side frames are only 3 mm wide, but on the Galaxy S5 they suddenly grew to 4 mm, the same goes for the top and bottom parts of the frame - they also suddenly became much wider, although the screen itself is practically the same size. changed.

As for the appearance, here the developers clearly adhere to a single design line: metal and leather, leather and metal - they are now used in all the company’s mobile devices (including numerous wearable gadgets). It’s just a pity that at the exorbitant prices at which current flagships are sold, the company was greedy to provide real leather - maybe then these devices would look truly stylish. But no, as in previous times, ordinary molded plastic is used here to create the appearance that the back wall of the smartphone is made of leather. The texture on the plastic is different from that of the Galaxy Note 3: here they used a kind of pseudo-embossing, as if a pattern of numerous dots was pressed into the leather. It looks nice and fresh, at least better than the glossy plastic that has adorned the surfaces of all Galaxy S and Galaxy Notes for a long time.

As for metal, there is none here either: the shiny “chrome” rim around the entire perimeter of the case (exactly the same as on previous models, only with a different pattern) is a coating on plastic, not real metal. This bezel, by the way, has also become much wider and even thicker, adding bulk to the smartphone as a whole.

The surface of the rim is quite slippery - due to it, as well as due to its considerable mass, it is quite inconvenient to lift the device from the table surface, since the fingers do not feel a confident grip.

The back cover is easily removed from the case and just as easily put on - it is traditionally attached to several plastic latches, with a barely noticeable ledge for hooking with a fingernail. Under the cover are hidden slots for SIM cards and memory cards, located in a “sandwich” one above the other.

Below there is a compartment for a removable battery - it supports the cards, but the memory card can still be replaced “hot”. The device uses only one SIM card, Micro-SIM format; a microSD memory card can be used here with a capacity of up to 128 GB.

On the back of the smartphone there is a square window for the camera module, it is quite large in size, and there is an LED flash next to it. Below in the recess you can see the eyes of the sensor for measuring the pulse. The heart rate sensor chamber is recessed into the body, and it also has its own backlight - a small LED element illuminates the blood vessels of the finger applied to the camera, while it counts heartbeats. Even lower is a hole for sound output from the ringing speaker with a slightly curved rod, and the whole thing is decorated with a silver chrome-plated company logo.

The front panel has not undergone significant changes - this is a completely recognizable element of all Samsung mobile devices. It stands out, first of all, for its elongated mechanical key under the screen, which this time has received additional functionality. This button is also responsible for scanning a fingerprint - now no one can blame Koreans for not having a golden smartphone with a fingerprint scanner. Unlike the iPhone scanner, here you can’t just put your finger on it: you need to move it along the key, and even at the right speed - if you rush, you can fail. In this regard, the iPhone scanner looks preferable: not only do you not need to move your finger, but you can also place your finger on the button at any angle, which allows you to hold the device with any comfortable grip. In the case of the Samsung Galaxy S5 scanner, you will have to hold the device with one hand and swipe the sensor with the other, which is very tedious, and most users will most likely simply disable this function.

The touch buttons next to the mechanical ones have a bright white backlight with an adjustable glow time, which is commendable. Above, above the screen, you can see a longitudinal slot in the protective glass for sound output from the earpiece; next to it you can see the eyes of the front camera and sensors. There is also an LED alert indicator that lights up in different colors depending on the charging status and incoming events - its functions can be configured: disabled or enabled individually.

There are two buttons on the side faces of the device: on the left - volume control, on the right - power and lock. The large metallic keys of all Samsung smartphones have a soft stroke and distinct pressing, they are perfectly located blindly, and in general, in this regard, the products of the Korean company are one of the best on the market.

At the top end, a headphone jack (3.5 mm) and an infrared transmitter eye, which serves to control various equipment as a remote control, are comfortably located next to each other. The corresponding proprietary software called Smart Remote moves from model to model - naturally, it is also available here. The functionality of the Smart Remote program is excellent: it is not only capable of connecting a smartphone using an infrared port with any equipment, but can also act as an interactive program guide.

At the bottom end, the USB 3.0 connector is covered with a metallized cover with a rubber gasket - it protects the smartphone from dust and moisture getting inside. Yes, yes, the new flagship of the Galaxy S line has finally acquired dust and moisture protection according to the IP67 standard. In principle, the previous model also had it, but there it was a separate branch of the line called Galaxy Active. The protection in the Galaxy S5 is arranged in the same way as there: a rubber gasket is glued to the inner surface of the back cover, and the connectors are closed with special plugs. It’s nice that every time you put on the back cover or remove the plug from the Micro-USB connector, the smartphone itself reminds you to close the protective covers (the reminder can be turned off).

And finally, about the best part: now the Galaxy S line has a new color - gold. In addition to this, there are three more colors on sale that have previously graced Samsung’s flagship devices (for example, the Galaxy S3). By tradition, they were given romantic names: Charcoal Black (black), Sparkling White (white), Electric Blue (light blue) and Copper Gold (golden). For additional jewelry, in particular a keychain or strap, no fastenings are provided.

Screen

The Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone is equipped with a Super AMOLED touch matrix. The screen dimensions are 63x113 mm, diagonal - 5.1 inches, resolution - 1920x1080 pixels. Such a parameter as the pixel density per inch is equal to 432 ppi here - the pixel density is very high.

The outside of the screen is covered with protective glass. The thickness of the side frames from the edge of the screen to the edge of the body is approximately 4 mm, the frames are not very narrow, they were smaller in the previous model.

The display brightness can be adjusted manually, or you can use automatic adjustment. Multi-touch technology here allows you to process up to 10 simultaneous touches. The screen can be operated with gloved hands, and it becomes more sensitive to any touch, so the settings prudently leave the option to disable this function. The smartphone also has a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the brightness of reflected objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter that is superior in reducing reflection brightness to the screen filter of Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Samsung Galaxy S5, then they can be distinguished by size):

Due to the slight difference in the color tone of the reflection and the frames, it is difficult to visually assess the amount of reduction in the brightness of the reflection, however, statistics from the graphics editor show that the S5’s screen is indeed slightly darker than that of the Nexus 7. The ghosting of reflected objects is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, maybe a little better than Google Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.

When the white field was displayed in full screen and with manual brightness control, its maximum value was 340 cd/m², the minimum was 2 cd/m². Despite the not the highest brightness value, you can use the smartphone even in bright daylight, as an effective anti-glare filter helps out. You also need to take into account the fact that in this case, the smaller the white area on the screen, the lighter it is, that is, the actual maximum brightness of the white areas will almost always be higher than the specified value. For example, when outputting white on half the screen, the maximum brightness with manual adjustment increases to 360 cd/m². Low brightness mode allows you to use your smartphone even in complete darkness without any problems. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker). You can make adjustments to the operation of this function by moving the setting slider away from −5 to +5 units. Below, for three conditions, we present the screen brightness values ​​for three values ​​of this setting - for −5 , 0 And +5 . In complete darkness in automatic mode, the brightness is reduced to 4, 9 and 16 cd/m², respectively (generally a bit dark), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux) the brightness is set to 100, 180 and 270 cd/m² (acceptable ), in a brightly lit environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) - rises to 420-425 cd/m² for all three correction values, which is above the maximum for manual adjustment and should be sufficient to ensure legibility in the sun. In principle, the result of this function is as expected. When brightness decreases, modulation appears at a frequency of 240 Hz. The figure below shows brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis) for three brightness settings:

It can be seen that at maximum brightness there is practically no modulation (the amplitude is insufficient for flicker to be visually distinguishable), but at medium and low brightness the relative modulation amplitude is high, so image flickering can be seen in a test for the presence of a stroboscopic effect or simply with rapid eye movement. Depending on individual sensitivity, this flickering may cause increased fatigue.

This smartphone uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix based on organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B), but there are twice as many green subpixels, which can be referred to as RGBG. This is confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

(For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.)

For such matrices, Samsung introduced the name PenTile RGBG. The manufacturer calculates the screen resolution based on the green subpixels; based on the other two, it will be two times lower. The location and shape of the subpixels in this version is similar to that in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen. This version of PenTile RGBG is better than the old one with red squares, blue rectangles and stripes of green subpixels. However, some unevenness of contrast borders and other artifacts are still present. For example, when displaying a black-and-white map every pixel (the original can be taken from here), the vertical lines look uneven, and the horizontal ones are low-contrast and separated not by white, but by a greenish gap. A fragment (the original photo is available at the link) of the macrophotography reveals the reason:

It can be seen that the vertical lines have a black gap and that the sum of the colors of the subpixels can be considered white, but due to the red subpixels on one side there is some unevenness of the lines. In the case of horizontal lines, there is neither a white gap (there are green subpixels) nor a black gap (there are red and blue subpixels). However, these artifacts are of purely academic interest, since in mobile use it is extremely difficult to visually distinguish such small details. As a result, the resolution margin cancels out the “features” of the PenTile RGBG matrix.

The screen is characterized by excellent viewing angles, although the white color acquires a slight tint when deviated to relatively large angles, but the black color is simply black at any angle (although the reflection from bright objects has a bluish halo that is more elongated horizontally, which is why there are black areas in the light may lighten slightly and acquire a “metallic” tint). So black that the contrast parameter is simply not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. For comparison, here are photographs in which identical images are displayed on the screens of the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the second participant in the competition, with the screen brightness set to approximately 210 cd/m². There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

One can note the excellent uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture (in mode Standard):

Color rendition is clearly not bad, but despite all the conventions of forced color balance in the camera, set to 6500 K, it is clear that the colors of the S5 are clearly “cooler” and have too high saturation. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen. White field:

The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (to avoid strong darkening, the shutter speed was doubled compared to the previous two photographs), but in the case of Samsung the drop in brightness is much less pronounced. And a test picture:

It can be seen that the colors did not “float” on all screens and the brightness of the Samsung S5 at an angle is noticeably higher.

Switching the state of the matrix elements is performed almost instantly, but at the turn-on (and, less often, turn-off) front, there may be a step (or two) 16.7 ms wide (corresponding to a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz). For example, this is what the dependence of brightness on time looks like when moving from black to a shade of 25% (according to the numerical value of the color) and back:

In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing moving objects, but in normal use these artifacts are almost impossible to see. Quite the contrary - dynamic scenes in films on OLED screens are distinguished by high clarity and even some “jerky” movements.

The ability to customize color rendering is implemented on the page with a selection of profiles, one of which involves some kind of automatic adjustment (profile Adapt Display):

In case one of the three fixed profiles is selected, except the profile Dynamic, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals according to the numerical value of the shade of gray, the gamma curve did not reveal any blockage in either highlights or shadows, and the index of the approximating power function is 2.28-2.30, which is slightly higher than the standard value of 2.2 , while the real gamma curve practically does not deviate from the power-law dependence:

For profile Dynamic The gamma curve has a slight S-shape, which increases the apparent contrast of the image. Let us recall that in the case of OLED screens, the brightness of image fragments dynamically changes in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - it decreases for generally light images and increases for dark ones. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely slightly does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. This image dynamism increases when you select the option Auto tuning screen brightness. Below are the dependences of brightness on time obtained when switching from a black field to a white field and back with the option turned off and on Auto tuning screen brightness:

In the second case, the brightness begins to decrease after some time. The picture is slightly darkened, but energy is saved a little.

Color gamut for profiles Dynamic, Standard And Professional photography very wide and almost covers the Adobe RGB gamut:

When selecting a profile Cinema The coverage is tightened to the sRGB boundaries, but still remains a little wider:

Without correction, the spectra of the components are very well separated:

In case of profile Cinema with maximum correction, the color components are already slightly mixed together:

Note that on wide-gamut screens, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. This can be seen in the photographs above. However, a visual assessment showed that when choosing a profile Cinema saturation is noticeably reduced, and colors become close to natural. The screenshot taken after selecting this profile is shown below:

Unfortunately, the most recognizable shades - skin, for example - still remain slightly oversaturated.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is not ideal, but, in general, acceptable. Color temperature in profiles Dynamic And Standard significantly higher than 6500 K, in the remaining two - close to 6500 K, while in the area of ​​the gray scale from white to dark dark gray this parameter does not change very much. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) over most of the gray scale remains below 10 units, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device, and also does not change much:

(The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored in most cases, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

To summarize: the screen has a fairly high maximum brightness and a very effective anti-glare filter, so the smartphone can be used outdoors without any problems, even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. It is acceptable, and in bright light it is even recommended to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works more or less adequately. The advantages of the screen include a very good oleophobic coating and a color balance close to standard (if you select the appropriate profiles). At the same time, let us remind you about the general advantages of OLED screens: true black color, excellent uniformity of the white field, less drop in image brightness than LCDs when viewed at an angle. Disadvantages include screen brightness modulation, which appears at medium and low brightness values. For users who are particularly sensitive to flicker, this may cause increased fatigue. However, overall the screen quality is very high.

Sound

In terms of sound, the smartphone is approximately the same as the Galaxy S4. The sound is moderately bassy, ​​not deprived of low frequencies, clear throughout the entire range, but not so loud - there were louder devices (HTC One or Oppo Find 5, for example). The sound output grille here is cut into the back wall, so the sound is muffled when the device is lying on the table. In conversational dynamics, the voice of a familiar interlocutor, timbre and intonation remain recognizable, making telephone conversations on the Samsung Galaxy S5 quite comfortable.

To play music, the device offers a choice of three pre-installed players: Google Play Music, Yandex.Music and Samsung’s own player. All sound effects when playing melodies with a proprietary player are combined with a technology called SoundAlive - although some of them are only available with connected headphones. The same applies to the sound optimization function. There are a lot of different virtual effects, they are combined into a matrix of squares, you can experiment for a very long time.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S5 is equipped with two digital camera modules with a resolution of 16 and 2 megapixels. The front camera takes pictures with a maximum resolution of 1920×1080, and also shoots video with the same resolution.

The main rear camera is equipped with a new 16-megapixel module with ultra-fast autofocus (focusing in 0.3 s), stabilization, single-section LED flash and the ability to shoot video in UHD resolution (4K). In addition to one fancy feature - 4K video recording - it also uses another: like the latest Sony Xperia Z2, there is a selective focus feature that allows you to highlight a certain part of the image, leaving the background blurred. That is, now you no longer need to use special lenses to create a shallow depth of field (DOF) effect.

When shooting in automatic mode, which is set by default, photos are 5312x2988 in size. I really liked the design and organization of the new camera control interface. Here, as in the case of the audio settings menu, everything is divided into equal cells, each of which is always visible, interactive, their drawing is clear, the entire menu is clearly visible even in the brightest sunlight. In general, the camera control settings menu turned out to be perhaps the best on the market in terms of ease of access to all functions and overall clarity.

The camera can shoot video in UHD resolution (4K), with a choice of several resolutions up to a maximum of 3840x2160. Traditionally for the latest top models of the mobile market, the settings also include slow and fast shooting modes. Examples of test videos are presented below.

• Video No. 1 (189 MB, 3840×2160, 4K)
• Video No. 2 (58 MB, 1920×1080, 1080p)
• Video #3 (123 MB, 3840×2160, 4K indoors)
• Video No. 4 (71 MB, 1280×720, slow motion)
• Video No. 5 (4 MB, 1920×1080, accelerated)

Examples of photographs with our comments are presented below.

	The sharpness of the photo is good.
	The sharpness across the frame is also quite good.
	Small details are worked out quite well.
	The camera doesn't cope so well with backlight, but the exposure is well chosen.
	On thin lines you can notice small waves from the noise reduction - but only upon closer inspection.
	In low light conditions, noise can be seen, although it is relatively small.
	The camera handles noise in the shadows well. True, the detail suffers a little from this.
	The camera does macro well in low light, but it’s worth using a focus lens due to the relatively long shutter speeds.
	In good lighting, the camera does macro photography well.
	Another example of a good macro.
	The text is well done, but a little damaged. However, it is possible that the camera works more accurately with smaller text.
	Panorama stitching is almost perfect. Only dynamic objects suffer, which is quite natural.

	Lighting ≈1300 lux. The camera does a very good job.
	Lighting ≈460 lux. The situation remains virtually unchanged.
	Lighting ≈240 lux. Noise becomes noticeable, especially its processing.
	Lighting ≈240 lux, flash. The flash noticeably improves the situation, almost returning the original resolution.
	Lighting<1 люкс. В темноте камера не справляется.
	Lighting<1 люкс, вспышка. И в темноте вспышка отрабатывает очень хорошо.

First of all, it is worth noting that now the camera has a 1/2.6″ format sensor, and not just a higher resolution, while previously smartphone cameras were only awarded with 1/3″ format matrices (not counting Nokia), or even less, Until Sony decided to install a 1/2.3″ format sensor in the Xperia Z1. So Samsung, following Sony, began a slow but sure movement towards improving the quality of pictures. And, I must say, the result is already noticeable to an inquisitive eye.

Firstly, you can already see good work with noise. Their processing still leaves much to be desired, but if you do not look at the images pixel by pixel, then noticeable strong color noise in the shadows is practically not visible. Of course, this is the result of the noise reduction, but the higher resolution allows it to work more subtly, and the increased sensor size slightly reduces the likelihood of strong noise. Of course, we won’t go into discussions about pixel size (like HTC) and the supposed qualities of the camera that follow from this, but enlarging the sensor definitely brings its benefits. Secondly, image detail has improved, which is also due to the higher resolution and larger sensor.

I would like Samsung to further improve the noise reduction, then the camera can be compared with ordinary compacts. Although even without this, she shows herself very worthy, and it is clear that they worked hard on her. The camera optics operate quite smoothly across the entire field of the frame and in all plans. Of course, it would be strange to see a flagship with shortcomings in such places, but we have already encountered this. Sharping can only be found if you know where to look. The only thing that really cannot be called ideal is the work of the noise reduction - such a processing result looks very archaic in photographs of a modern flagship.

Based on the results of shooting the stand, we can conclude that the actual resolution of the images may not be the highest, but we have already stated that in this case this is far from the main characteristic, especially in the vicinity of such values, since the resolution can be high, but not quite natural. However, the camera resolution is quite decent. It is also worth noting the good performance of the flash and the sensor, which works quite consistently in different lighting conditions.

In general, the camera is made very well, almost at the level of compact cameras. Of course, there is something to work on, and in general there is room to strive. But even in its current form, it is well suited for shooting documentary and feature stories.

Telephone and communications

The developers place special emphasis on the communication capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S5: the smartphone operates in the fifth generation of Wi-Fi 802.11ac networks with support for 2x2 MIMO mode - in this mode, data can be received and transmitted in two streams, that is, up to two times faster than in the first generations of 802.11ac compatible devices. In addition, the device provides support for a large number of 4G (LTE) frequencies and speeds corresponding to the LTE Category 4 standard - up to 150 Mbit/s. With a SIM card from the domestic operator Megafon, the smartphone in practice confidently finds and works with the LTE network.

In addition, the smartphone supports the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band and the NFC standard. As a standard, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels; there is a Wi-Fi Direct mode. The navigation module works with both the GPS system (with A-GPS) and the domestic Glonass. The speed and quality of operation of the GPS module is not satisfactory: the system works quickly and flawlessly, the navigation module finds the first satellites almost instantly, and even indoors.

No spontaneous reboots/shutdowns were observed during testing. The screen of the smartphone is large, so drawing letters and numbers on virtual keyboards is quite comfortable to control. It’s very convenient that there is a dedicated top row with numbers - you don’t have to switch the layout every time. But the layout itself and the location of the keys are not the same as others: instead of just pressing the dedicated button with the image of a globe, here you have to switch language layouts by scrolling sideways on the spacebar, which is certainly less convenient. The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, a search is immediately carried out by the first letters in contacts. There is support for continuous writing by sliding, but there is no option to move the keyboard closer to one of the edges, as on the Galaxy Note series tablets.

OS and software

The system uses the latest Google Android software platform version 4.4.2 (Kitkat) and the proprietary TouchWiz graphical user interface, the appearance of which has undergone changes. He became, according to the new fashion, more “flat,” which clearly benefited him, although the traditional Asian clumsiness remained. The appearance of the settings menu has changed: now all icons look like exactly the same circles and they are arranged in the form of a single long list. But, of course, the display of the menu can be changed, leading to the old view with vertical tabs. In this case, there will no longer be four of them, as before, but as many as six. In general, I liked the new look of the interface and settings menu more than the old one: everything is tidy, organized, symmetrical, working with various subsections of the menu has become more intuitive. The menu of installed applications has not undergone significant changes, but now you can display a special button on the home screen, which, when clicked, opens a context menu with quick access to the most popular applications. The notifications menu received two additional dedicated oval buttons for quick access to searching throughout the smartphone and enabling the function of quickly connecting to familiar devices.

To the various ways to lock a smartphone, another one has now been added: you can lock the screen using a fingerprint, the scanner of which is built into the central key under the screen. To successfully memorize the texture of your fingertip, you need to swipe the sensor at least eight times, after which you will also have to come up with a standard digital code in case your finger remains unrecognized after five attempts. It’s a shame when the developer also imposes restrictions on the personal password you create: an attempt to limit yourself to a digital password failed - you need to alternate numbers with letters.

By the way, the issue of security has been strengthened in the Samsung Galaxy S5 by another innovation: now, due to the appearance of the “Children” mode, you can open access only to certain permitted programs, after which you can safely entrust the device to a child for 30 thousand rubles to play with.

Speaking of games, it is worth noting that we tested games such as Dead Trigger 2 and Asphalt 8 on the smartphone - we did not find any problems with playing them.

Another specific operating mode has been added to the smartphone, which the developers themselves talked a lot about at presentations. In fact, this is a regular energy-saving mode that any built-in program for saving energy in mobile devices has, it’s just that Samsung brings its smartphone to the point of complete “exhaustion” in this mode. When the maximum power saving mode is activated, not only all network interfaces are disabled, but also the graphical interface of the shell becomes black and white, and the number of applications allowed to run is strictly limited. Naturally, in this mode, the smartphone can “work” much longer (who would doubt it), but this work will be carried out within a very limited framework.

One of the central applications pre-installed in modern top-end Samsung smartphones, which developers constantly remind you of, is a program for monitoring your own health called S Health. The program has a wide range of health-promoting functions: pedometer, exercise recording, nutrition monitoring, etc. Now the application has not only received the new version S Health 3.0, but has also acquired additional functionality in the form of a dedicated hardware heart rate counter. In principle, some programs have previously tried to count heartbeats using an ordinary smartphone camera, but now a whole block with a small camera and backlight has been allocated for this. You need to place your finger on the recess in the back of the smartphone, and then the program will count your pulse. Naturally, this data is stored, processed and displayed in the form of graphs and tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S5 hardware platform is based on a single-chip quad-core system (SoC) Qualcomm Snapdragon 801. The new platform has the functionality of the Snapdragon 800 with a slightly higher frequency of processor cores: Snapdragon 801 can operate at frequencies up to 2.45 GHz, while the core frequency of the previous The chip version was limited to 2.36 GHz.

The processor here is supported in graphics processing by the same Adreno 330 video accelerator, but here too there is an increase in frequencies: the GPU is already overclocked to 578 MHz instead of 450 MHz. The device initially has about 12 GB (out of 16) of its own memory available for the user's needs; the amount of RAM here is 2 GB - in this regard, surprisingly, no expansion occurred, while Sony equipped its newest flagship with three gigabytes RAM. MicroSD memory cards are supported in this model; you can also connect external flash drives, keyboards and mice using a special adapter in OTG mode.

Since the most powerful and most productive of the competing serial platforms is now SoC MediaTek MT6592, the configuration of which includes eight full-fledged processor cores [simultaneously] operating at frequencies up to 2 GHz, it is logical to include its results in the comparison first of all. Let us remind you that we recently released a review of the powerful TCL Idol X+ smartphone, which is built on the maximum version of this platform. Also, naturally, it is worth adding to the comparison the results demonstrated in the same tests by the previous version of the Qualcomm platform - Snapdragon 800, on which all the top smartphones of last year run. However, the most important battle today will still not take place, because the main competitor of the hero of today’s review, the flagship smartphone Sony Xperia Z2, also built on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, has not yet reached our test laboratory. In the near future, we will definitely compare it with the Samsung Galaxy S5 data obtained today.

To get an idea of ​​the performance of the platform of the smartphone under test, we will conduct a standard set of tests.

For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.

Testing in MobileXPRT, as well as in the latest versions of AnTuTu 4.x and GeekBench 3:

The results of testing are as follows. As for the competing MediaTek MT6592, the latest Qualcomm system (Snapdragon 801) coped with it in all respects. In general, this is not at all surprising, considering that the previous version of the Snapdragon 800 coped with it. As for the comparison with the Snapdragon 800, according to the results of all tests, there was practically no real increase: the same maximum 35K points in AnTuTu, and in other benchmarks the difference is negligible - within the margin of error.

By the way, as for these very resulting figures: since the smartphone being tested today is a landmark device, and the rest will be compared to it throughout the year, it is probably worth recalling the fresh balance of power. If you rely on the numbers of the popular AnTuTu benchmark, it looks something like this: eight MediaTek MT6592 cores with a frequency of 2 GHz demonstrate 31K points in this test (26 thousand points for the eight-core Zopo 998 and THL T100S with a lower frequency of processor cores - 1.7 GHz), and about 35 thousand - for top smartphones such as LG G2, Sony Xperia Z1, Acer Liquid S2 and now Samsung Galaxy S5, built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800/801 hardware platform. Two main conclusions emerge as a result of all these comparisons: TCL Idol X+ is the first smartphone on the MediaTek platform, which managed to come close to the leading solutions from Qualcomm, albeit at the expense of twice as many processor cores. And second: the new version of the top Qualcomm platform brought virtually no increase in performance, although this microscopic superiority allowed it to gain an even stronger foothold on the podium as the undisputed leader among platforms for mobile devices. According to the above, the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 platform is currently one of the most powerful smartphones on the planet.

When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

Results of testing the graphics subsystem in the Epic Citadel gaming test, as well as Basemark X and Bonsai Benchmark:

The lag in the operation of the Mali-450MP4 video subsystem is still noticeable: this video accelerator produces approximately 47 fps in those test modes in which the Adreno 330 produces 60 fps.

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct in the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

Playing video

To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Internet. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it.

With video playback, things are not as smooth as we would like for the Samsung Galaxy S5. Amazingly, this is one of the rare smartphones in which the popular MX player flatly refuses to run with the Hardware+ decoder, and most often only this option saves the situation when the standard player cannot play the audio track of a file. That is, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S5, in order to normally play three of our five test files (MKV), you will have to use a software decoder (at least for audio decoding - video can be decoded in hardware) - neither Hardware nor Hardware+ , nor, of course, the decoder of a standard video player are capable of playing these types of files with sound that are common on the network. And this is an obvious drawback, because we have a solution with an excellent large and high-quality screen in all respects and maximum performance, which could become an excellent multimedia assistant. By the way, similar problems occur with the Galaxy Note 3 - we hope that with the release of updates for MX Player the situation will somehow change. By the way, top smartphones from LG and Sony always have complete order in this plate, because even with their own hardware they are able to play all the presented files, not to mention supporting all modes of the MX player.

¹ sound in MX Video Player was played only after switching to software decoding (mode Hardware+ is not supported); The standard player does not have this setting

Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. To test it, we used an LG IPS237L monitor that supports direct MHL connection using a passive adapter cable from Micro-USB to HDMI. Let us recall that Samsung has implemented its own version of this interface at the physical level. As a result, to connect an external device via MHL, you need to use special adapters or connect standard MHL adapters through simple passive adapters. In this case, we carried out the test using a proprietary Samsung adapter, and output via MHL was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels at a frequency of 60 frames/s.

When the smartphone is in portrait orientation, the image is displayed on the monitor screen in portrait orientation, while the image on the monitor is inscribed within the height of the screen, and wide black fields are displayed on the right and left. In this case, the actual resolution on the monitor screen is, of course, lower than the resolution on the smartphone screen. When the smartphone is in landscape orientation, the image is displayed on the monitor screen in landscape orientation, while the image on the monitor fits within the boundaries of the screen and exactly matches the image on the smartphone screen. The exception is the start screen, which is displayed only in portrait orientation:

Sound is output via MHL (in this case, the sounds were heard through headphones connected to the monitor, since there are no speakers in the monitor itself) and is of good quality. In this case, at least multimedia sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the smartphone itself, and the volume is controlled by buttons on the smartphone body. In principle, in the smartphone settings you can select the sound output mode - stereo or surround. However, in our case, the monitor only received stereo sound, so there was no choice. The smartphone connected via MHL is charging.

To test the output of video files on the screen of the device itself, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Methodology for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In our tests, we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode, since there were a lot of artifacts in the “Hardware+” mode. The results of this test (block entitled “Smartphone screen”) are summarized in the table:

Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with playback of the corresponding files.

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is high, since frames (or groups of frames) can be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals, and there are no skipped frames. The smartphone can even display files with a resolution of 4K up to 30p inclusive. However, uniform alternation of frames is a relatively unstable state, since some external and internal background processes lead to periodic failure of the correct alternation of intervals between frames. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, in the original resolution (adjusted for some PenTile features). The brightness range displayed on the screen actually corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - in the shadows only a couple of shades merge with black, but in the highlights all gradations of shades are displayed. However, dark scenes may not look very good, as the darkest shades vary too much in brightness and color tone, which can lead to compression artifacts being too noticeable.

With a monitor connected via MHL, when playing a video with a standard player, the image of the video file is displayed only in landscape orientation, while only the image of the video file is displayed on the monitor, and only information elements and virtual controls are displayed on the smartphone screen.

The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the “MHL (monitor output)” block. The output quality is very good. When playing video files with Full HD resolution (1920 by 1080 pixels) on the monitor screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, maintaining true proportions, and the resolution corresponds to Full HD resolution. The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, all shade gradations are displayed in shadows and highlights.

The conclusion is typical: an MHL connection can be used for games, watching movies, displaying web pages and other activities that benefit from multiplying the screen size. True, you will have to purchase an adapter specifically for Samsung or find an appropriate adapter.

Battery life

The lithium-ion battery installed in the Samsung Galaxy S5 has a capacity of 2800 mAh, which is good by modern standards, but not a record one. Accordingly, in terms of battery life, the device showed very good results, which we traditionally summarized in a comparative table.

Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted until the battery was completely discharged for more than 17 hours, and when continuously watching videos from YouTube in high quality (HQ) with The device lasted 12.5 hours at the same brightness level via a home Wi-Fi network; in 3D games mode, the smartphone lasted 4.5 hours, decent for such a screen, and really pleased with such stability: its predecessor Galaxy S4 at first overheated greatly and with these tests were performed poorly, and only with a firmware update the situation returned to normal. With the new flagship, no problems in this regard have been found before the start of sales, and by the way, the device heats up significantly less than its predecessor.

Bottom line

Summarizing the Samsung Galaxy S5 review is both easy and difficult. It’s easy, because, perhaps, no one needs to explain why the flagship smartphones of the Korean company are deservedly among the best on the market. And it’s not just the combination of top-end technical characteristics and maximum performance that makes them stand out, there’s also something else. It seems to us that the company is one of the few who are not ashamed to spy on the desires of users. For most manufacturers, this always remains only unfulfilled pretentious promises and slogans, but in practice, no matter how much users cry about something, they will never get it. But the Koreans have a completely different point of view on this matter; they readily satisfy any desires of customers. Want a removable battery? - Get it. Need a memory card slot? - For God's sake, we don't feel sorry! Suddenly fell in love with the golden color? - So, we now have a golden smartphone. And with such simple actions, coupled with high-quality products and huge production volumes, the Korean company managed to climb to the very top of the mountain, pushing many along the way, and simply throwing some off the cliff. Those who know how to adapt survive, and this is what Koreans do best.

As for the hero of today's review, we can say with confidence that he has become a worthy successor to the flagship line. An excellent screen, powerful hardware, complete technical equipment, good battery life and maximum functionality, several added features like a heart rate monitor and a fingerprint scanner - all this is worthy of praise. Although, it is worth admitting that the fifth Galaxy S did not have so many noticeable innovations that it could rightfully be called a completely new model, in terms of design and appearance (in this regard, by the way, there was even a kind of decline: the smartphone has become heavier, larger, rougher - everyone admits this). It’s even surprising that the Koreans didn’t call this model Galaxy S4s - such a “letter modifier”, which has already become generally accepted, denoting an improved version of the model, would be more appropriate here. But all this is just a little confusing.

But what’s really depressing is how much Samsung jacks up the prices for its top-end smartphones. It seems that the Koreans no longer remember that prices can sometimes be varied somehow - they reached the 30,000 mark with the previous flagship and now put the same price tag on all subsequent models as a matter of course. The tricky thought in the minds of entrepreneurs is obviously this: “They will complain the first time, but the next time they will be happy that they did not raise the price even higher.” This, by the way, is what happened: now users are happy that the price of the new flagship at the start of sales was not raised higher than the previous one. This is very alarming, and of course, against this background, it is difficult to recommend such a device for purchase: it is certainly very worthy, but for many, Samsung products may already be unaffordable. Did we think five years ago that we would talk like this in the future about the products of this Korean company?

Video: how to connect a Samsung smartphone to a computer via USB

A modern smartphone, although a compact device, can be equated in its functionality to a full-fledged computer, but at the same time has the advantages of portable devices. Also, most smartphones are completely autonomous and are able to perform all their functions without the need to connect to a personal computer. On modern phones, all settings and settings are available with just an Internet connection. If your smartphone needs professional repair or setup, contact an official Samsung service center.

If you need new firmware, or you want to save your data from your phone to your PC, then synchronization with your computer is necessary. There are many ways to do this - both wireless, such as wi-fi, Bluetooth and others, and using a cable. The easiest and most reliable way is to connect using USB. How to correctly perform this procedure and troubleshoot connection problems using this method will be discussed in our article.

Connecting a Samsung phone to a computer using USB

To connect a smartphone to a computer using a USB port, you need a smartphone, a laptop and a suitable cord. Typically, smartphones have a mini USB connector, since it is more compact than the standard one. The first step is to connect the cord. Typically, this is the only action you need to perform, since on most devices, the connection will be completed automatically.

If the connection does not occur automatically

• Your device may require additional software. The Samsung Kies program, as a rule, comes with every phone. There are also other programs, such as SGS3 Easy UMS, designed specifically to work with the Samsung Galaxy. The popular Samsung ExpressConnect program also has many useful functions.
• You also need to make sure that all drivers are installed and working correctly.
• The connection may have occurred automatically, but the computer is not configured to notify you about it. In this case, you need to look at the taskbar or in Explorer.
• If the connection does not occur, then there may be a malfunction in the devices or cable. Usually the cord for a USB connection wears out quickly, but since the price for it is not high, and most users have more than one, it is possible to try connecting using a different cable.

• A software glitch may also be the cause. In this case, it is recommended to reset the settings to factory settings. But it’s always worth remembering that before this procedure you need to save all your important data to another medium. Otherwise, after restoring the settings to factory settings, all your unsaved files will be lost.

If the connection still cannot be established, then the exact cause of the malfunction can be determined by specialists using modern diagnostic equipment.

Usually, in reviews of Android smartphones, we make a link to material describing standard Android functions, and also briefly list pre-installed programs, sometimes focusing on features that are typical for the current generation of devices. With the release of each new generation of Galaxy S or Note, the number of improvements becomes noticeable, so it’s worth dwelling on them in detail. Some functions depend on the hardware, and we will look at them in a detailed review of the Galaxy S5 hardware. For example, the power saving mode is definitely worth considering in terms of the battery, and not only and not so much the phone’s software. But most of the new functions are software in nature and do not depend on hardware; they will gradually become standard for all Samsung devices that will be released after the S5. Let's try to understand the feeling, the proper arrangement, what is being offered to us and how interesting it is.

Pre-installed programs costing half a phone

Samsung set a course for pre-installing programs and services in its flagship devices several years ago. It turned out that users like this approach - they get free services that are convenient and included “free” in the package, while they would never have purchased them on their own. It’s easy to name an example of such a service from the past, this is DropBox - you get 50 GB to store your data in the cloud for 2 years, after the subscription expires, the volume does not decrease, your data remains in this service.

Starting with the latest devices, Samsung has been very active in offering additional goodies that can attract buyers. Let's start with the fact that pre-installed programs or offers may differ from region to region, from country to country. This is worth taking into account, if suddenly you do not find a PayPal voucher in a Russian device, this is normal. Below I will list all the offers that the company has prepared for S5 buyers in the world, and I will separately note those that will be available in Russia.

• Annual subscription to the electronic version of Bloomberg Businessweek+ magazine, available in Russia, edition in English;
• An annual subscription to the RunKeeper service and program for sports activities, also available in Russia, depends on the place of purchase of the phone and the delivery package;
• An annual subscription to Lark, a smart alarm clock service that also records how and how much you slept, will apparently not be available in Russia;
• Evernote needs no introduction; depending on the market, the subscription will range from 3 to 12 months;
• Easily Do Pro – subscription for 6 months, this is a “smart” assistant that manages all your affairs, meetings, and so on. You can check out the program in its free version - it is one of the best in its class;
• Box is an analogue of DropBox, which will be available instead of this service in a small number of markets, a subscription for the same 50 GB, but only for a period of 6 months, which is significantly worse than the original offer with DropBox;
• Workouts from Skimble - subscription to video courses on how to train your body;
• MapMyFitness is a good app for exercising. You can find a paid version;
• Subscription to the Wall Street Journal for 6 months, electronic version only;
• LinkedIn – three-month subscription to a premium account;
• Bitcasa – cloud storage, subscription for 3 months, the volume available to the user is 1 TB. By default, the service gives away 5 GB for free.

The set of free programs also includes toys and some utilities, but there is no point in counting them, since their cost is several dollars each; against the background of the above-mentioned offers, this is not so important.

Having placed the description of these additional services and programs at the beginning, I want to emphasize that this is quite an interesting offer, which is becoming one of the key ones for Samsung in promoting its devices. When you buy a flagship, you get quite useful utilities and services for free. Some will suit you, some will not – but they make the device more attractive to the user. For example, I actively use DropBox, as it is convenient for my purposes and allows me to store all my photos, of which there are more than 10,000 per year on my phone alone.

Updated version of TouchWiz – interface, desktops, features

Samsung products use the proprietary TouchWiz shell, which has undergone major changes in the S5 - it is becoming more and more similar to Google’s proprietary UI, and is also heading towards integrating all features into a single view. Many of the features we see in the S5 will appear in one form or another in bare Android in the future.

The S5 feature, which will be copied in many of the company’s models, with the exception of the mid-range and budget segments, is the on-screen fingerprint sensor. This is an additional option for unlocking the device - in addition to facial recognition, geometric pattern, and alphanumeric password. In total, you can register up to three fingerprints; in the locked state, just swipe in the middle of the screen and touch the physical button. The sensor works almost instantly; I couldn’t notice much difference in performance with the iPhone 5s, which also has a similar sensor. The difference from the iPhone is that here you need to swipe your finger, while there you just need to put your finger on it.

The function is very convenient for unlocking the device, but it also has other capabilities, in particular, you can use this authorization to pay bills in PayPal, this feature is integrated into the software. Below I will separately note Samsung Wallet, which was created to store all your information.

In standby mode, you see a screen with the weather, clock, information about missed events - everything is traditionally customizable. When you unlock the device, you are taken to the main screen, where you can install any widgets, shortcuts or folders with program icons. Unlike previous models, the working screens are located on the right side of the main one; moving to the left opens the version of Flipboard for Samsung, it is called MyMagazine.

The menu design has changed when setting up desktops, but these are only cosmetic changes to the interface.

The status bar with a drop-down curtain has a traditional set of shortcuts for quickly enabling certain functions, plus for the first time two buttons have been placed below - S Finder and quick connection.

In S Finder you can search for any data both in the phone memory and on the network, categories can be configured, you can select a date range, file type, and the like. This is a very good local and global search.

The “quick connection” function, in theory, should make it easier for beginners to transfer files; in practice, this does not happen, since Bluetooth is used, and the program cannot automatically select the desired type of connection depending on the size and type of file. The function seemed contrived to me in this implementation and somewhat useless. For some reason, there is confidence that it will be changed in the near future.

Just like in other models of smartphones and tablets, there is a multi-window mode of operation, when you can simultaneously run up to two applications (this is a limitation due to the size of the screen, in the Galaxy Note 12.2 these are several applications), the screen is divided into two parts, the size of which you customize at your own discretion. On a pleasant note, I would like to note that in the settings there is an option to automatically open a multi-window interface, for example, when you click on a link with a file. After looking at it, you can safely minimize the unnecessary window.

Among the completely new interface features, I would like to note the ability to create a panel of 5 shortcuts, which will always be on the screen; it is represented by a button that you can move anywhere. This implementation did not seem convenient to me, but sometimes it is useful - especially considering that you can activate the panel and its presentation with one touch from the curtain.

In Settings, you can also find shortcut panels that appear in the shade when you connect accessories, such as headphones. By editing them as you wish, you will get additional quick launch shortcuts.

We will talk about the settings separately and a little lower, but here I would like to point out one feature that caught my eye. When the menu interface is in English and the device is unlocked, voice control from Google becomes active - just say OK Google and ask your question so that the search for an answer to it immediately begins. With the Russian interface, the corresponding widget does not have this feature.

Standard applications - contacts, messages

In previous devices of the Galaxy line, there was a certain duality: if you want to use a Samsung account, be so kind as to synchronize data with it, including contacts. You could refuse this, then everything was saved in Google, but some fields were not available. I always dismissed the option of saving phones only to the device’s memory as inconvenient.

Starting with S5, you can combine Google and Samsung accounts, at least this works for contacts. Now you can create any fields, even very exotic ones, and they will appear on your Samsung phones. I have a strong suspicion that the merging of accounts takes place de facto on Samsung servers, and is then broadcast to the company’s phones. An attempt to sync data recorded in the S5 to the HTC One via Google was a failure. Only the fields that were originally present in Google appeared - all additional sections disappeared. Therefore, you should be wary of this feature; there will likely be compatibility issues if you decide to change your Samsung phone to a device from another brand.

In contacts, you can configure the display of what will be shown in your phone book - I instantly turned on the filter to display only contacts with phones, this killed most of the entries from social networks where phone numbers were not initially there. Convenient and no need to give up your Facebook notebook. The filter settings are very flexible, which was not the case until now.

Importing and exporting contacts is possible using standard means into any type of memory (internal, external, and so on). And this is in addition to cloud services.

In addition to regular groups, there is automatic sorting by organizations, as well as events - the latter broken down by month, usually birthdays of people.

During an incoming call, you can enable a pop-up window; it will appear if you are in an application and the phone is unlocked. This window takes up a small part of the screen, but has all the necessary keys - answer, hang up the call, and so on. The option is very convenient, you get used to it instantly - that is, it is also one of the elements of multitasking that Samsung instills in its products.

In the call list, you can instantly apply various filters, view the duration of the call, and the like. In the contact line there is a choice by letter of the alphabet (first the main one, in my case Russian, then English). The capabilities of the phone book and call list are maximum for what smartphones can do today.

In the “Messages” section, everything is as usual, except that you can highlight your favorite contacts, they will be shown at the top of the screen, and you will have quick access to them. Also, many will like the option to send a delayed message according to a schedule; you enter text and indicate the time to send the message (network availability at the time of sending is required).

Settings – new security features, children's corner, download accelerator

The number of small and almost imperceptible improvements in the Galaxy S5 and its software exceeds a thousand. It’s something like with Windows Phone, when developers talk about hundreds of changes, but in reality there are almost no interesting ones, and you won’t find anything unique at all. Fortunately, in S5 everything is exactly the opposite; there are very interesting solutions that are encountered for the first time or are somewhat rethought in comparison with analogues that we have seen from other companies.

Let me start with the fact that when you add accounts, it becomes possible to automatically post messages on Google+/Facebook, which will indicate your activity with programs - for example, that you have installed such and such a program. At first glance, the function is completely stupid and unnecessary, after all, you are sane and remember exactly what you set and when. At second glance and after mature reflection, this is a wonderful option for monitoring what children do on a smartphone - you post on Google+ for a circle with parents and you can see everything that the child is doing. And in real time. This feature doesn't seem very important to me, but it's just as nice as the cherry on the cake.

There is a certain leapfrog with accounts - you save all the settings in Google, as well as in your Samsung account, plus settings and files can be stored in DropBox. A sort of menagerie in which it is not clear why a Samsung account is needed, since many fields are duplicated, although on the other hand, for example, S Note notes are not saved in a Google account.

It's no secret that Android has implemented the idea of ​​remotely locking a phone, as well as finding it. But this implementation is replete with shortcomings, many of which make the option of finding a missing phone not very convenient. In the same iPhone, this function is implemented much more conveniently. Samsung has made its own analogue of the service, you can search for a lost phone, block it, send messages to it. You can also set a setting in the menu in which even a reset phone will not work without entering the correct Samsung account - that is, it will turn into a brick. Apple has exactly the same approach, and, in my opinion, this is the right measure to combat device theft. But, of course, the choice whether to activate the function or not remains with the user.

Security is becoming a key focus for Samsung in 2014, and this is reflected in the features that come with its phones. So, in addition to the Knox corporate service, which was updated to version 2.0 for the first time in S5, there are a number of features aimed at implementing new work scenarios. We need to talk about Knox separately, so let's focus on the more common features that will suit most people.

Security Assistant is the name of a set of functions hidden in “Settings”. You select emergency numbers, and then configure what exactly you will send to them - these can be regular text messages, which are already preset, but also photos and audio clips that will be recorded in real time. All you need to do is quickly press the power button three times to send an emergency message to all your recipients. A similar function is familiar to us from old Samsung devices, but here we see its reincarnation.

Another point is the application in the same menu Geo Lookout. In fact, it's a service launched by Samsung that collects information about global disasters and cross-references it with where you are. If something bad happens in the area where you are present, the phone will display an emergency message, bypassing all settings (silent mode, do not disturb, etc.).

Private mode- This is a function that will appeal to everyone who hides something on their phone from their spouses or children. By turning on this mode, you can select the content that you want to hide - click on photos, videos, other files and add them to the private list. Then exit this mode - no traces that you are hiding something. Everything in the gallery is as usual. You can only enter private mode using your fingerprint. No other options. This is a feature that is implemented in a similar way to Knox, but for everyone.

Children's corner– this is also a kind of restriction, but now for children. You choose what children can do with your device, set how long they can play, what resources they can access, and so on. Without your password, they will not be able to access all resources and will remain within their sandbox. There is a lot of children's content inside, we saw the same implementation and, in fact, the same application on the Galaxy Tab Kids tablet, and it will soon appear on many of the company's devices.

Smart Remote- This is a remote control for any equipment, uses an infrared port, which is built into all the latest models from Samsung. One of the nice features I would like to note is that you have the ability to configure different rooms, plus, a list of programs is displayed on the screen, their schedule - both for broadcast channels and for cable ones. You can search by program. What makes this product unique is its program schedule and content search by genre.

Samsung smartphones are currently extremely popular, but their operation raises questions among inexperienced users who are not yet accustomed to working with such powerful and capricious devices. To take advantage of all the capabilities of modern mobile devices from the South Korean manufacturer, you need to know how to connect Samsung to a computer.

First, try moving your favorite music to the new lubricant. Check with yourself which version you need. To operate, set the connection mode to multimedia device. In the program window, click "Music" and then "plus" to add files to your device or memory card.

Start by connecting your phone to your computer. Try this a second time. When launched, the program generates a graphical code that automatically connects the device to the computer after scanning. However, in the top right corner of the app, you will find a discreet app icon that will allow you to scan the code displayed on your computer screen. The program converts the recording so that it looks as good as possible on a mobile device. Select a media category and click the Add button to add new entries.

What you will need

To connect Samsung, you must first install Samsung Kies proprietary utility on your computer. This program is for Samsung phones what iTunes is for Apple products. Simply put, without it you won’t be able to make a backup copy, update the firmware, or edit contacts.

Another component necessary for connection is a USB cable, through which the connection will be made.

If you do not need to work with the smartphone system, and you just want to connect it as a flash drive, then you will not need the Samsung Kies program. After connecting via the USB interface, the phone will automatically be detected as a removable storage device, and you will be able to work with its files.

Connection procedure

First of all, you need to download the installation package of the Samsung Kies application to your computer. You can do this on the official website by selecting the version suitable for your operating system and mobile device.

Installation of the program is carried out according to the standard scheme with acceptance of the terms of the license agreement. The only important step is choosing the right codec.

On the optional installation screen, check the Unified Driver Installer option.

The program is installed - now you can connect your smartphone to your computer using a USB cable. The Samsung Kies app will automatically pair with your mobile device.

Working with the application

Immediately after starting the program, open the “Tools” menu and go to the “Settings” section. On the General tab, change the location of the application folder from the system drive to the D: file partition. Now, if Windows crashes and you have to reinstall the system, the files saved from your smartphone will not be lost anywhere.

The main functions of the application are placed in the left menu, so working with the contents of the smartphone does not raise unnecessary questions.

If, for example, you need to view and edit photographs, then you go to the “Photo” section and do whatever you see fit with its contents - copy, change the name, transfer to a computer, etc.

Among the program's features is a powerful tool for creating a backup copy of all user data and settings, allowing you to restore your phone if necessary.

You can select the components that will be saved on the Backup/Restore tab.

All the parameters and personal data you specified will be packed into a special archive, from where you can then return them to your phone.

To work with phone book entries, go to the “Contacts” section in the menu on the left. At the top you will see tabs that indicate where your contacts are stored - mobile device memory, Google account, SIM card.

To edit a contact, left-click on it. A convenient form will open in which you can make changes.

Don’t forget to click on the check mark after editing - this way you save the changed contact.

Another convenient feature is merging identical records.

To remove duplicate contacts, right-click on any entry and select “View list of duplicate contacts.”

Look at the list that the application provides you with and click the “Merge duplicate contacts” button.

The Samsung Kies program automatically checks the latest firmware of the connected device and, if necessary, offers to update the software.

To independently start searching for a new version and installing the firmware, click on your phone model in the left menu.

A page with information about the device will open. There is an “Update” button here, which is active when there is a new firmware version.

Modern smartphones are equipped with high-quality cameras capable of taking photographs and recording videos, as well as powerful processors that allow them to run games with high-quality graphics.

Often there is a need to transfer files between a computer and a phone, or simply save all the data (for example, a phone book) to a computer. There are various ways to do this - through cloud storage, through a shared Wi-Fi network, but many users are conservative and prefer to transfer data via a USB cable.

Samsung Kies

Samsung produces special software for computers that allows you to connect your smartphones and copy media files, as well as backup your address book and much more. This program is called Samsung Kies.

The program was released in 2009 as a means of interaction between Samsung devices and computers. Kies supports all platforms on which Samsung smartphones are created - Bada, Tizen, etc., however, the main area of ​​​​work is programs - devices on Android. This program supports gadgets with Android version up to 4.2

Download from the official website.

When connecting the phone and the program, the interface consists of a panel on the left and an active window on the right. The panel displays a list of connected devices and the data library, and the active window displays the currently open section.

Using the library you can open:

• Contact list;
• Music;
• Photos;
• Video recordings;
• Podcasts, etc.

If the user has problems connecting his device, the program can try to independently diagnose the problem and fix it.

It's no secret that the Samsung Galaxy has a microSD card slot for expanding storage. However, some users still additionally transfer images, music and videos to their computer or laptop. But what to do if the computer does not see the Samsung Galaxy via USB?

Firstly, to recognize a smartphone like the Galaxy S, your computer needs all the necessary drivers. Usually, when a device is connected to a computer, it will find it immediately, but if the necessary drivers are not installed, this may not happen.

Drivers are special programs that help establish interaction between the phone and the computer. Most often they can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. If your computer does not recognize your Galaxy S7, immediately head to the Samsung website and download drivers. Here is the link for Galaxy S7/Edge. Mac owners will have to install in order for your Mac to communicate with your phone.

There is an alternative: you can simply download and install the program on your computer, thus making file sharing easier. It comes with all the necessary drivers, so after installation you can rest assured that the computer will recognize your device and file sharing will no longer be a problem.

Those Windows users who have just installed drivers for Samsung may find themselves having to uninstall the device before it is detected. You need to follow these steps:

1. Hold the button Windows and press R to call the command "Run."
2. Type “ devmgmt. msc“ and press “ Enter“.
3. Select “ Other devices" or " Portable devices”.
4. If the list contains “ SAMSUNG_ Android" or " Unknown device” with a yellow icon (!), right-click and select “ Uninstall “.
5. Right-click on the window " device Manager" and select " Scan for hardware changes“.

In principle, after installing the necessary drivers or programs, everything should work. But if the problem is not that the device is not recognized by the computer, you need to look for another method.

More details in the video:

So, what to do if you have installed the drivers, but the computer still does not see the Samsung Galaxy?

Firstly, “does not see” is not the same as “does not recognize”. Therefore, we always ask readers to describe the problem as accurately as possible in order to provide the most appropriate solution. Here, for example, is one of the “confusing” messages on this topic...

“I can no longer transfer photos to my computer because it doesn’t recognize the device. I don’t know what I did or didn’t do, but before that the computer immediately recognized the phone and I immediately dumped files and photos. And now he just doesn’t see him. I connect the phone, but it doesn’t see it. Youyou canhelpto me?»

You see, first our reader uses the term “recognize”, and then writes that “the computer does not see it,” that is, the computer “does not detect” the connected device. In this case, you should try to correct the fact that the computer does not see the Samsung phone. What I can recommend is to change the USB connection. And here's how...

Why doesn't the computer see Samsung Galaxy via USB?

If the computer does not see the Samsung Galaxy when connected using the included USB cable, then you will have to troubleshoot problems in the computer itself. If you know that other computers can see the phone, the problem may be with the USB port.

If this is not the problem, then the problem may be with the cable or the port for charging the phone has become loose. Taking all this into account, here are a few steps to help fix this problem:

Step 1: Connect your phone to other USB ports on your computer

Simply connect your phone to your computer with a charging or data cable. If your phone remains invisible, try connecting it to a different port. Try one port at a time to see if this is the problem.

Step 2: Restart your computer if no USB ports work

There is also a chance that your computer has system problems that are preventing it from detecting connected devices. While we don't know for sure whether this is a problem, it's worth restarting your computer and seeing if it works. If the problem remains after a reboot, it means that something is wrong not with the computer, but with the cable or phone.

Still, I advise you to try other devices, such as a flash drive that connects via a USB port. If the computer sees all devices except the phone, proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Make sure the USB cable is not damaged

By inspecting the cable, you can check for visible damage. If you don't see any, try charging your phone with it. Inside the cable there are wires responsible for both charging and data transfer.

By charging your phone with it, you can understand whether it works or not. If there is damage, the phone may not charge, especially if some wire has come loose.

Another way to check is to use a different cable. If the phone works with it, then the original cable is simply broken. If this is really the problem, then you need to replace the old cable with a working one.

Step 4: Make sure to connect the device as "storage device"

This is very important since phones are mostly connected to a computer to recharge. If so, then the computer may not see it, since data transfer is temporarily unavailable. Go to notifications and see if there is a selection icon for USB. If yes, then consider the problem already solved.

All you need to do is click on it and select “Data storage device”. If this is the first connection, then installing the drivers will take some time. But if you don’t have such an icon, try this:

1. Disconnect USB from Samsung.
2. Turn off your phone.
3. Wait 20 seconds.
4. Turn it on.
5. Connect the cable again.
6. Check to see if the options icon appears.

If it's not there, go to the next step.

Step 5: Check the charger socket

At a minimum, you need two cables to figure out if there is a problem with it. If your computer still doesn't see Samsung, it's time to check the charger port.

The connection may not be able to be established, or some debris, fiber, or dust may have gotten into the connector. A stream of compressed air will help get rid of the latter, but if the connection is loosened, you need to move on.

If the contacts of the charging socket are in order and there is no dirt, connect the cable and check if the contact has come loose. If the cable fits in properly and the connection is not interrupted when it moves, then everything is fine.

Otherwise, you will have to purchase a cable that fits perfectly under the port. If a new cable does not help, then your device has much more serious problems.

Step 3: Reset your phone if the problem persists after installing KIES or Smart Switch

The second step is aimed at solving the problem with the drivers, but if this does not help, you need to back up all files and information and reset the settings to a working state.

1. Turn off your Samsung Galaxy.
2. Press and hold the Home, Volume Up, and Power buttons
3. When Samsung Galaxy appears on the screen, release "Power" but continue to hold the remaining two.
4. When the Android logo appears, release all buttons and wait 30-60 seconds.
5. Using the Volume Down button, toggle between options and select 'wipe data / factory reset.'
6. Click "Power" to confirm.
7. Then select ‘Yes - delete all user data’ using Volume Down and confirm by pressing Power.
8. Wait until the process is completed. Then select ‘Reboot system now’ and click “Power”.
9. The phone will take a little longer to reboot than usual.

If after this the problem is not solved, the help of a specialist is required. I hope this instruction will help you in one way or another. If you feel you need further assistance, please contact us.