The competition at the high-end of the smartphone segment just got intense after the Samsung Galaxy S5 hit the markets a few months ago.
Even though it has a head start over the upcoming iPhone 6, it is felt that even iPhone 5S is capable of going head-to-head with this latest Samsung offering. Apple launched the iPhone 5S almost 12 months ago, but it still retains the aura that has made its past generations an immense success.
Design
Both Apple and Samsung decided not to make numerous changes in terms of the product design, as it was almost reminiscent of the previous generation devices. The iPhone 5S and the Galaxy S5 feature only subtle changes, but they make them hugely effective. The iPhone 5S is undoubtedly of better quality and is the better designed product of the two. Despite using specific features like a leather cover for the back, the Galaxy S5 falls short in terms of the overall quality. However, the use of the leather aids in improved handling, which will come in handy given that the device is fairly large in comparison with the iPhone 5S.
Display
This largely comes about because of the 5.1 inch display, which is very close to becoming a challenger for the Galaxy Note 3 in terms of size. Samsung retains most other aspects of the display from the Galaxy S4. These include the Super AMOLED technology and the full HD resolution. The resolution, especially, will be a disappointment to some, considering that the industry is on the cusp of introducing 4K displays as standard.
Dimensions
The use of water and dust resistance features works against Samsung when it comes to the physical dimensions. Apart from the large display, these features have added to the weight and overall dimensions. While the iPhone 5S is one of the thinnest phones at just 7.6 mm, the Galaxy S5 actually thicker than the Galaxy S4 at 8.1 mm. Further, it is also heavier at 145 g compared to the light weight 112 g iPhone 5S.
Fingerprint Scanner
Like the iPhone 5S, the Galaxy S5 also introduces a fingerprint scanner. It works in a different way compared to the iPhone, but it is equally effective. There are sometimes, though, when the sensor doesn’t recognize the fingerprints unless a specific pattern is followed when sliding the finger. In the case of the iPhone 5S, one has to just place the finger on the fingerprint sensor in order to unlock the device. This method is slightly better in terms of reliability.
The iPhone 5S uses an 8 megapixel camera that is fairly good enough for shooting in most locations. However, the features of the 16 megapixel camera on the Galaxy S5 triumphs quite easily especially because it offers aspects like 4K video recording and underwater photography – due to its water resistant feature.
The Galaxy S5 has seen a price drop in recent weeks and the product should now cost about $590, while the iPhone 5S retails around the same $700.
Related ItemsiPhone 5SSamsung Galaxy S5
