Thanks for this. I have been doubting your reviews but after I gained my common sense back I realized you're one of the only blunt reviewers out there. Unbiased and true to your word.
People who are getting offended that I mentioned people in their 40's using a heart rate sensor, it was not an age discrimination. It was an arbitrary number in a possible usage scenario. I could have said 50's, 70's or whatever else. I truly see nothing wrong with aging.
I love the fact that your first impressions are longer than other you tube channels reviews. You always try to cover anything as much as possible of every device you review and that's awesome plus your so objective. Your channel rocks, keep on the great work Erica Griffin
Subscribed because I can tell you are one of the honest tech reviewers on RUclips, you buy most of the devices you review (at least I think I remember you saying so), and your very informative. Keep up the good work!
I really love your in-depth video's! It's a big help for me ;) and I also really love how you interact with your viewers in the comments, not all youtubers put so much effort in their video's! Keep it going ;)
You look like Adriana Grande lol nice review enjoyed it. what do you guys do after reviewing them are those devices yours or you have to send it back or what exactly
I feel like the GS5 has a lot of useless upgrades, though they are all pretty neat. I feel like a lot of them are "Hey look what I can do!" kind of features. I won't be upgrading this time unless my GS4 breaks. Oh well!
Yeah, I'm still happy with my s4 and updated to KitKat. I haven't found any issues with it on AT&T, but you brought up the copying pics to card issue. Haven't known about that issue.
I really like your videos. And the fact that they are time coded is even more awesome.That way I can find the thing i am searching for in a certain review. Thank you
I honestly do love your videos they are long but they are in depth and informative good shit ! this video makes me want to stick with my nexus 5 for a while and I will wait for something else to come out !
I have a s3 at the moment but looking to upgrade soon. Should I go for the s5, m8, or xperia z2? Multi window is a big thing for me on my s3, and I watch a lot of videos on my phone, so better speakers would be perfect. Also a better camera would be great. Just not sure what to upgrade to...
Erica, I watch a lot of different videos on technology and devices, but I have to say yours is among the very best. I worked for Sprint, Sony, Playstation, among others for a while as a certified tech and took apart every phone/device you can think of. You are incredibly knowledgeable, and you surprise me again, and again on how deep into the overall construct of the phone you dive into! Keep it going, and maybe consider a field in journalism for electronics and devices! Oh, and keep the S5 out of any lingering soup. K?
Lol yes, sir Ryan. No soup this time I swear!!! Though I am tempted hahaha. Thank you for the feedback. I gotta get down to the nitty gritty of everything =)
As always, very nice preliminary review Erica. I think you and The Mobile Tech review channel are the 2 BEST gals for mobile technology reviews and exploration. Thank you for your efforts!!! :)
Erica Griffin you do know that the detection of signal bands is software-based for example my droid DNA was CDMA but able to access multiple networks albeit not full LTE and then I rooted and installed cyanogen now I can access any band and its a GSM phone I'm getting LTE in Europe Asia USA so if you're willing to root install cyanogen for more experiences on the s5 then signals are never a problem for you
So for the fingerprint scanner if while programming it you ever so slightly shift the direction of your thumb while swiping it, this will allow you to pretty much unlock the phone in any position with your thumb. now it works for me 9/10 times
i have a SM-G900H factory unlocked,any option is installed but i ordered a 3.0 usb cable beacuse it came with a 2.0 one.very wierd,but it is small money and this phone is just freaking awesome.
Erica Griffin But I will say that the FX file explorer is a 3rd party app, so it's no fault of Android or Kit Kat. You're still able to copy and paste all files from the device to the sd card through the native device functions.
At 18:20 on the S5 its showing that little white tab on the middle left side of the screen. I'v seen this tab on the s4 in other vids, how do you activate it? I think its a widget? great vid
I had the opportunity to unbox the Samsung Galaxy S5 Black at my local carrier store and what an absolute disappointment. The device feels very very cheap, the back feels nice but looks awful, it literally feels like a toy and I can't believe people have to shell out hundreds for this? My Note 3 looks and feels a lot better even S4. I've got the M8 now and Z2 is on the way, chosed the black colour after watching your Z2 white getting stains video. Of course it's my personal preference and opinion but I see many people feeling the same way. I hope they don't do the same with Note 4.
Erica Griffin I'm one week away from obtaining the money to get either a Galaxy s5 or the new HTC One M8. I would like for you to do a full review and comparison on both phones explaining battery life, physical feel of the phones, display quality Ect. I love how the new HTC One M8 has the brushed hairline metal look, the boom sound speakers are and feel of the whole entire metal body. But it does not come close to how beautiful the back cover is on the Galaxy S5. I'm very confused and I still don't know which one to get . Can you help me?
Based on what people say, the M8 can last 2 days without a charge if you're careful, it obviously feels better because of the metal construction and has a better display (pentile sucks!). It also has a really awesome UI. HTC had a very different approach to Android: it feels like a completely different OS without overdoing it. Sense 6 feels more like some kind of a tweak to Android rathe than a layer on top of it. While the principle of ‘less is more’ seems to be completely alien to Samsung, they're famous for adding too much shit no one is ever going to use anyway and never focus on the important things. For example, how many people are actually gonna be using that heartbeat sensor or the Smart-so-called-Scrolling? And how many people are gonna enjoy using the Boomsound speakers on the M8? Or Blinkfeed? (It's time consuming as hell) I say go for the M8.
jamayrian It may have a 20mp camera and 3 gigs of ram but Kit Kat is very good at managing ram anyway, it has pretty mediocre speakers and the UI is obviously not nearly as good as Sense 6, the rest of the specs are almost identical to the Galaxy S5 and the HTC One M8. It all probably comes down to personal preference. So far, I kinda prefer the One M8 over the Galaxy S5 because of the reasons I mentioned earlier, I don't know about the Sony, though from rumors I heard it's a great phone but it's way too early to certainly tell which phone is superior, which is why I haven't bought a new phone yet.
jamayrian the Sony Xperia z2, the back is made of glass that's easily to catch fingerprints I want a phone that eliminates fingerprints and that goes for what I know, the galaxy note 3,m8 from first glance, I think the s5, ect
TheMoises1213 The Gunmetal Grey One M8 does catch fingerprints and smudges if you have greasy fingers, but it's also easy to clean. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is very prone to scratching on the sides and just generally doesn't look like it would last very long if you're rough on your phones, the screen is also more likely to break which is why I'd recommend get a protective case if you plan on buying a Galaxy S5. It's not really the case with the One, the back of the phone can get scratched if you don't use a case but the screen is much less likely to break because the glass doesn't actually go all the way to the corners because of those speakers, and there's the obvious advantage of having an all aluminum construction, so even a thin case is enough.
Erica, are the side screen bezels wider on the S5 or does it just look like it on white model? Can't say I'm a fan of the update in the S5, especially the dimpled back. Given the fact that most people don't clean their phones enough, those dimples can hold some pretty nasty germs. I know most people don't think of this, but some phones carry more germs than a toilet.
Thanks for the review, Erica! Pretty informative! Love your videos and reviews! I learned how to fix/repair phones because of you! Lol keep up the good work!
if you have a s4 i wouldnt be sooo tempted or ready to go s5..with the s3 if rooted stillll..not a big deal to upgrade..with everything put togather id defanately upgrade from the s3..there is alot of good stuff in the s4/s5 to make me want to upgrade for sure...i like the s4's size..that phones so comfy in the hand..that was until the s5..with holding the note 3..and having owned the note 2..the s5 is right there..the note 3 is so sweeeet..i cant imagine the note 4..the note 2 is a phone i wouldnt be so quick to trade for a s5..i loveee the note 2..and it is still a competition phonee
The SD card permissions in 4.4.x only effects third party applications. you could still transfer files with stock file manager and apps can be stored on the SD card. ES file explorer has found a work arround witch would let there app use the external Sd card. iIf your planning on rooting, its really simple to change the permissions and theres even an app on the playstore that will do it for you. Do note this effects every device running android 4.4.x, this is not a samsung bug, This is google saying "the years of external sd cards are over, move on to OTG.
I've not found anything on th S5 I trailed that put it over the top for an upgrade from the S4. My provider has a special feature that lets me upgrade to any new phone while your on contract for a fraction of the non contract price, so the only thing I see about the S5 is the latest phone bragging rights. I also wonder if the S5 has the same magnetic detector/lock holder the S4 has, if you don't know what I mean look on ebay for the S4 fip covers, they have a plastic mini window at the top and the phone detects the closing of the protective cover, I also replaces the standard back cover so you can change the look of your S4 from metal to plastic if you so choose, my S4 is currently holding about 6 apps open including sat nav and test to speech apps with zero issues, I have upgraded to kitkat, the one thing now if that KIES AIR has vanished from the apps and that was very handy as the non standard mini usb 2 style connector is not so great at keeping a good link after a few hundred insertions and removals, charges fine but data linkage is very wobbly, I like the S5's new USB 3 but again it looks non standard, maybe I am wrong on this as I did not check it out much. I remember my Iphone 2 getting trashed as the bottom connector slowly fell apart, all of the smart phone makers should start putting much more robust cable links and also allowing critical updates to be done over wifi or bluetooth removing the need for any cable. Loved your review, thanks and have a great day everyone. Peace \/
What's the keyboard like? I'm thinking of switching from the Blackberry Z10 which has the best keyboard I've ever used and it's a pretty important feature to have a good keyboard for me!
In the settings menu for both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5 what's different about the preferences (toggles) for each desired choice such as sound, GPS, Wi-Fi etc.
What are u thinking about the lg g3 I have just saved the money and was going to get the g2 but am now going to wait and see what the g3 looks like in the flesh they r saying it will be in the uk on july 1 so not to long
Question: Will you be posting a video about the battery life of the HTC One M8 vs Samsung's Galaxy S5. Also which phone do you prefer if the cameras on the devices were not taken into consideration. Please and thank you, I love your reviews!
With all the waterproofing things I am wondering if it will run like the s4 active. For some reason I never liked the active I had it and then went back to the normal s4. Do u find that it runs the same way?
I love your in depth reviews. Great job! My comment is irrelevant to the specs and characteristics blah blah...but it is something that made me think... All these rounded buttons at the menu and settings remind me of Tizen design. I think Samsung is gradually introducing us to the Tizen feel and environment and I wouldn't be surprised if they moved away from Android with their next models, or if they introduced Tizen models simultaneously with the Android ones. That's something I don't like, and even though I have a Note 3, if they made a Tizen Note 4 I'm not buying it. Now, that's maybe me being paranoid but the design of the settings is suspicious.. :)
Erica Griffin I know this is old, but I've only had my GS5 for about a month. I got it in a trade. But, I'm still running 4.4.2 Kit Kat and I'm able to move things over from my device storage, to my media card. Was this a software update after the release? Or could it be possible it's just the carrier that won't allow you to do it? My device is Verizon.
What phone do you like better so far the m8 or s5? I'm still iffy on both of them, I guess I'm going to wait for the Note 4 and iPhone 6 to see what else is offered.
sure' it's also taste i agree, but i just can't like unnatural colors and s5 did not change that - even after using the whole different modes like cinema mode - the colors still are fake. no wonder samsung is the only one the jumps to amoled, it's still not grown enough to compete with IPS, i just prefer natural colors and ips is saturated enough for me, i can't possibly ask more saturation from a display like Z2 and M8 have and viewing angles are good enough, i'd like blackier blacks but i this IPS in not distant future will match amoled in blacks but i doubt amoled will match ips in accurate colors. displaymate results won't change s5 unbalanced colors.
This may be a different style question than the hardware of the phone, but do you think it was smart by Samsung to release this on the 4 major carriers AND some large MVNOs (Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile) a few weeks apart? Makes this device more accessible than the S4 was but it also shows that they are confident enough that people will still pay retail for this device depending on who they could have.
Have you done a review on the Galaxy Note 3. If yes can you send me the link because im a bit confused weather to go for it or the Xperia Z2. Thank you.... :)
Hi. I am still confused on whether to get the s4 s5 or the iPhone5. Currently I use a s3. I dont know if to stick to android or move onto Apple. Kindly suggest. Thanks
Hi, I have a request, if I may, can you fill a folder with videos, and enter it like for the first time, where the phone has to bild it´s thumbnails database of each one of them and in the time you enter you scroll down, would any of them S4 or S5 not lag on that situation?
Nice vid Erica! What really baffles me is Samsung's very odd insistence on designing their S3,S4,S5 phones with the camera window housing actually protruding from the back cover! What happens when you put the phone down on the flat surface like a table? The phone is actually resting on the glass of the camera...which is really terrible! Glass will easily scratch, chip, etc. Why not make the camera glass housing a bit recessed from the back cover to protect it against accidental bumps or scratches?
Erica Griffin Do you know if it is possible to downgrade a galaxy s5 to 4.2 or 4.3? And if its possible is there any compatible cyanogenmod roms compatible with the s5 yet?
Nevron Benjamin read above. there are tons of reasons to upgrade. such as waterproof, much brighter display, much, much, much faster chipset/processor, much better graphics chip, one hand usage, emergency super battery life, ten times better camera with 4k vid, 128gig memory card ability, and many, many more...
Exetic Then why get the s4 at $600 unlocked when all you are a light user, a Nexus 5(like I have) or a moto g to do those things at the same speed and around the same battery life. You could've saved money, and I don't mean to be mean or disagreeing with you, just killing time.
The thing people forget, or don't realize about Android devices, is that even when carriers remove things, the entire essence of what an Android device is, allows a workaround. Just type in "Download booster APK" or "workaround". BAM!
Samsung irritates me....... i hate what they do and don't ask me why cuz i don't know but but still great video Erica, I'm here to hearing your opinion only. and will you ever do z1 compact full review?
Hi Erica Griffin, I want to ask u if u know Apps for Note3, The first one to download vids from any website and the second office converter even these Apps not free no problem.
can u make a comparison video about the s5 and m8? Can u make it in few weeks when u feel u had time to experience the phones after a period of time. I like to hear your point of view about the phones in few weeks
Hi Erica. Ok so first of all...your videos are awesome and have really helped me over the last 2 years, so thank you and keep up the good work! Quick question for you. Is it me or does the s5 take worse front facing camera shots than the s4. I've tested this on both mine and my friends against my old s4 and both times the pictures have seemed a little grainy.
I was at the store trying out this phone and I didn't get very far before the phone got stuck and after a while of waiting it informed me that basically all the apps had crashed (one at a time). Is this a common problem or was I just unlucky or had someone purposely tried making it crash?
Love my S5. The battery life is great,screen is gorgeous. When choosing my phones I look for expandable memory,removable battery and great camera. I never have my phone naked (I have always used bumper/case/cover). So the pure aesthetics aren't to important to me (keeping the phone in great condition to retain as much value for me is essential and to keep the phone protected!). All phones have the same form factors the chocolate tab shape. Highly recommend.
Annoyed that the Australian versions of the s5 from carriers did not come with USB 3.0 plug.. That and I would of liked to see the back panel to be designed like the note 3. S4 black edition looks great with this option!
I'm in a state of arguing with the voices in my head that if the S5 would be a worthwhile step up from my iPhone 5 on T-Mobile. Despite my main computer being a Mac, I'm curious about the accessibility features of the Galaxy S5 vs. the iPhone in general. My voice isn't very clear but Siri has been a amazing tool for just about every feature on the device. On the flip side, recently I picked up a Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 as an impulse purchase and am quite happy with it aside from the outdated Android OS version on the Tab 3. The big difference for me was weight. My faithful iPad 2 has and still is a great tablet but also getting a bit heavy and that's where the Tab 3 really saved the day. My main point being as Siri is a amazingly useful tool for those with limited hand function to operate most all the features of the phone, it's also amazingly accurate in voice dictation as my Tab 3 is and what my soldier of an iPad 2 lacks at the system level. I thank you for any advice you may have as not only will it help me but also others who have disabilities similar to my stage of ALS. Those with CP, or spinal cord injuries have limited use to tech and must compromise or adapt any existing phone or tablet on the market for everyday use. My longest used phone was my beloved old school BlackBerry 9700 which was a great no frills smartphone, but also was one of my favorite phones. Tech moves on and so must we as well where the iPhone at first was impossible for such things until Siri and rather accurate voice dictation was added. The small screen is still an issue at times and that concerns me on how well a modern powerful Android device would work and also avoid the "Apple tax" paying much more for less. Any phone wars fans, please ignore the last sentence in my last paragraph. As an Apple consumer of Macs, iPads, and various iPhones as well as other hardware. Apple does come at a premium price and it's a well known fact. Sure the build quality is amazing and I love finely crafted devices such as the latest HTC One M8 Design under the hood is also helpful and one actual useful thing for me is the heart rate sensor on the GS5. (Yes I'm 40, but that's beside the point) :-)
Hey Erica i have a problem ik this is not the type of video this is for but the problem i have is that my Sony Xperia P just wont factory reset nor delete apps my music or pictures wont delete but if i install a recent app or update the app or send pictures or take pictures it deletes the update deletes but no the app if i use the phone continuously the apps starts crashing and stuff please if u do know what that problem is please let me know thanks in advance if u see this comment i hope u do to PS i love all your videos they are always good and high in detail =))
S4 I9506 has pretty much the same internal specs as S5, the difference is negligible, it's snapdragon 800 2.3 GHz vs snapdragon 801 2.5 GHz. Taking that into account, is a fingerprint scanner + waterproofing + camera improvements worth double the price?
I love my S4! The S5 actually looks to have a lot of cool features. I like the new camera features, the waterproofing, the fingerprint scanner, and the heart rate monitor. It is pretty ugly looking though and I'm pretty sure I would miss the old menu format, and being able to transfer things to my SD card (SD card and removable battery are the main reasons why I choose Samsung). I think my S4 is a beautiful machine. I'm not due for an upgrade very soon, to my knowledge anyway, without breaking a contract so I'll probably just wait for the S6 or maybe the Note 4.
The quality will get better. The video is taking a long time to process for some reason.
Thanks for this. I have been doubting your reviews but after I gained my common sense back I realized you're one of the only blunt reviewers out there. Unbiased and true to your word.
Long video but really imformitive on what I was wanting to know. Still don't like samsung but great video.
Thomas Rubio my biggest desire is to be truthful to you all. I need to be thorough to be truthful. I'm glad you can respect what I do.
2014 phones very nice
Has it arrived? Your Z2 for review?
People who are getting offended that I mentioned people in their 40's using a heart rate sensor, it was not an age discrimination. It was an arbitrary number in a possible usage scenario. I could have said 50's, 70's or whatever else. I truly see nothing wrong with aging.
Don´t worry ericka we love you! =)
People are sensitive there's no way to avoid it 100% of the time
Erica rules!
You is my next girlfriend, God are listen me
The heart rate monitor is kinda useless.
I love the fact that your first impressions are longer than other you tube channels reviews. You always try to cover anything as much as possible of every device you review and that's awesome plus your so objective. Your channel rocks, keep on the great work Erica Griffin
Subscribed because I can tell you are one of the honest tech reviewers on RUclips, you buy most of the devices you review (at least I think I remember you saying so), and your very informative. Keep up the good work!
Yes, I buy many many devices and when I do get to borrow one I still stay fair.
I really love your in-depth video's! It's a big help for me ;) and I also really love how you interact with your viewers in the comments, not all youtubers put so much effort in their video's! Keep it going ;)
You look like Adriana Grande lol
nice review enjoyed it. what do you guys do after reviewing them are those devices yours or you have to send it back or what exactly
I feel like the GS5 has a lot of useless upgrades, though they are all pretty neat. I feel like a lot of them are "Hey look what I can do!" kind of features. I won't be upgrading this time unless my GS4 breaks. Oh well!
always nicely detailed reviews keep it up erica
Ayyy my boo with the second best reviews on RUclips been waiting for this video. Thanks Erica
Yeah, I'm still happy with my s4 and updated to KitKat. I haven't found any issues with it on AT&T, but you brought up the copying pics to card issue. Haven't known about that issue.
6:22 [supports up to 128GB]
Actually, all devices that support microSDXC support up to 2TB.
I really like your videos.
And the fact that they are time coded is even more awesome.That way I can find the thing i am searching for in a certain review.
Thank you
I honestly do love your videos they are long but they are in depth and informative good shit ! this video makes me want to stick with my nexus 5 for a while and I will wait for something else to come out !
I can't wait for you to make an review of the Sony Xperia Z2 :-)
I have a s3 at the moment but looking to upgrade soon. Should I go for the s5, m8, or xperia z2? Multi window is a big thing for me on my s3, and I watch a lot of videos on my phone, so better speakers would be perfect. Also a better camera would be great. Just not sure what to upgrade to...
Go with a note 3
Z2 i would go with or i would wait till the note 4 comes out
Erica, I watch a lot of different videos on technology and devices, but I have to say yours is among the very best. I worked for Sprint, Sony, Playstation, among others for a while as a certified tech and took apart every phone/device you can think of. You are incredibly knowledgeable, and you surprise me again, and again on how deep into the overall construct of the phone you dive into! Keep it going, and maybe consider a field in journalism for electronics and devices! Oh, and keep the S5 out of any lingering soup. K?
Lol yes, sir Ryan. No soup this time I swear!!! Though I am tempted hahaha. Thank you for the feedback. I gotta get down to the nitty gritty of everything =)
As always, very nice preliminary review Erica. I think you and The Mobile Tech review channel are the 2 BEST gals for mobile technology reviews and exploration. Thank you for your efforts!!! :)
Erica Griffin you do know that the detection of signal bands is software-based for example my droid DNA was CDMA but able to access multiple networks albeit not full LTE and then I rooted and installed cyanogen now I can access any band and its a GSM phone I'm getting LTE in Europe Asia USA so if you're willing to root install cyanogen for more experiences on the s5 then signals are never a problem for you
Great Erica! Really informative as always! Greetings from Argentina.-
So for the fingerprint scanner if while programming it you ever so slightly shift the direction of your thumb while swiping it, this will allow you to pretty much unlock the phone in any position with your thumb. now it works for me 9/10 times
Oh excellent tip! I must try that!
Erica, are you going to do a comparison video between the S5 and the Note 3? How about the Note 3 and a N3 clone?
i have a SM-G900H factory unlocked,any option is installed but i ordered a 3.0 usb cable beacuse it came with a 2.0 one.very wierd,but it is small money and this phone is just freaking awesome.
Erica Griffin But I will say that the FX file explorer is a 3rd party app, so it's no fault of Android or Kit Kat. You're still able to copy and paste all files from the device to the sd card through the native device functions.
At 18:20 on the S5 its showing that little white tab on the middle left side of the screen. I'v seen this tab on the s4 in other vids, how do you activate it? I think its a widget?
great vid
That's to split the screen with another app.
Corey Stevens thanks !
I had the opportunity to unbox the Samsung Galaxy S5 Black at my local carrier store and what an absolute disappointment. The device feels very very cheap, the back feels nice but looks awful, it literally feels like a toy and I can't believe people have to shell out hundreds for this? My Note 3 looks and feels a lot better even S4. I've got the M8 now and Z2 is on the way, chosed the black colour after watching your Z2 white getting stains video. Of course it's my personal preference and opinion but I see many people feeling the same way. I hope they don't do the same with Note 4.
I like your video's because you are very intuitive and professional too say the least, Keep up the good work.
Erica Griffin I'm one week away from obtaining the money to get either a Galaxy s5 or the new HTC One M8. I would like for you to do a full review and comparison on both phones explaining battery life, physical feel of the phones, display quality Ect. I love how the new HTC One M8 has the brushed hairline metal look, the boom sound speakers are and feel of the whole entire metal body. But it does not come close to how beautiful the back cover is on the Galaxy S5. I'm very confused and I still don't know which one to get . Can you help me?
Based on what people say, the M8 can last 2 days without a charge if you're careful, it obviously feels better because of the metal construction and has a better display (pentile sucks!).
It also has a really awesome UI. HTC had a very different approach to Android: it feels like a completely different OS without overdoing it. Sense 6 feels more like some kind of a tweak to Android rathe than a layer on top of it. While the principle of ‘less is more’ seems to be completely alien to Samsung, they're famous for adding too much shit no one is ever going to use anyway and never focus on the important things. For example, how many people are actually gonna be using that heartbeat sensor or the Smart-so-called-Scrolling? And how many people are gonna enjoy using the Boomsound speakers on the M8? Or Blinkfeed? (It's time consuming as hell)
I say go for the M8.
The z2 is superior why would you take any of those lol
jamayrian It may have a 20mp camera and 3 gigs of ram but Kit Kat is very good at managing ram anyway, it has pretty mediocre speakers and the UI is obviously not nearly as good as Sense 6, the rest of the specs are almost identical to the Galaxy S5 and the HTC One M8.
It all probably comes down to personal preference. So far, I kinda prefer the One M8 over the Galaxy S5 because of the reasons I mentioned earlier, I don't know about the Sony, though from rumors I heard it's a great phone but it's way too early to certainly tell which phone is superior, which is why I haven't bought a new phone yet.
jamayrian the Sony Xperia z2, the back is made of glass that's easily to catch fingerprints I want a phone that eliminates fingerprints and that goes for what I know, the galaxy note 3,m8 from first glance, I think the s5, ect
TheMoises1213 The Gunmetal Grey One M8 does catch fingerprints and smudges if you have greasy fingers, but it's also easy to clean. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is very prone to scratching on the sides and just generally doesn't look like it would last very long if you're rough on your phones, the screen is also more likely to break which is why I'd recommend get a protective case if you plan on buying a Galaxy S5. It's not really the case with the One, the back of the phone can get scratched if you don't use a case but the screen is much less likely to break because the glass doesn't actually go all the way to the corners because of those speakers, and there's the obvious advantage of having an all aluminum construction, so even a thin case is enough.
Is it worth it to upgrade my S3 to to the S5? Yes, getting the Z2 soon! ;D
That bezel on the s5 is huge! What was Samsung thinking! Everybody needs to stop buying Samsung phones so they can step up their game.
They really did.
Erica, are the side screen bezels wider on the S5 or does it just look like it on white model? Can't say I'm a fan of the update in the S5, especially the dimpled back. Given the fact that most people don't clean their phones enough, those dimples can hold some pretty nasty germs. I know most people don't think of this, but some phones carry more germs than a toilet.
Thanks for the review, Erica! Pretty informative! Love your videos and reviews! I learned how to fix/repair phones because of you! Lol keep up the good work!
Nice Work Erica
if you have a s4 i wouldnt be sooo tempted or ready to go s5..with the s3 if rooted stillll..not a big deal to upgrade..with everything put togather id defanately upgrade from the s3..there is alot of good stuff in the s4/s5 to make me want to upgrade for sure...i like the s4's size..that phones so comfy in the hand..that was until the s5..with holding the note 3..and having owned the note 2..the s5 is right there..the note 3 is so sweeeet..i cant imagine the note 4..the note 2 is a phone i wouldnt be so quick to trade for a s5..i loveee the note 2..and it is still a competition phonee
Hi Erica, by any chance, do you know if the Octa core version of the S5 supports LTE? Exynos 5422 SOC?
Always a Great review. I have the S4 & will be KEEPING it for I'm so unimpressed w/any of these flagships so far. Thanks for sharing though. :)
)hgj
One again a very good reveiw. Looking forward to your reveiw of the Oppo Find 7's and hopefully the One Plus One.
Erica Griffin Great intro... Lol. Cute. Great open box review as always. I agree the 4G / WiFi is something that was a waste.
The SD card permissions in 4.4.x only effects third party applications. you could still transfer files with stock file manager and apps can be stored on the SD card.
ES file explorer has found a work arround witch would let there app use the external Sd card.
iIf your planning on rooting, its really simple to change the permissions and theres even an app on the playstore that will do it for you.
Do note this effects every device running android 4.4.x, this is not a samsung bug, This is google saying "the years of external sd cards are over, move on to OTG.
I've not found anything on th S5 I trailed that put it over the top for an upgrade from the S4. My provider has a special feature that lets me upgrade to any new phone while your on contract for a fraction of the non contract price, so the only thing I see about the S5 is the latest phone bragging rights. I also wonder if the S5 has the same magnetic detector/lock holder the S4 has, if you don't know what I mean look on ebay for the S4 fip covers, they have a plastic mini window at the top and the phone detects the closing of the protective cover, I also replaces the standard back cover so you can change the look of your S4 from metal to plastic if you so choose, my S4 is currently holding about 6 apps open including sat nav and test to speech apps with zero issues, I have upgraded to kitkat, the one thing now if that KIES AIR has vanished from the apps and that was very handy as the non standard mini usb 2 style connector is not so great at keeping a good link after a few hundred insertions and removals, charges fine but data linkage is very wobbly, I like the S5's new USB 3 but again it looks non standard, maybe I am wrong on this as I did not check it out much. I remember my Iphone 2 getting trashed as the bottom connector slowly fell apart, all of the smart phone makers should start putting much more robust cable links and also allowing critical updates to be done over wifi or bluetooth removing the need for any cable.
Loved your review, thanks and have a great day everyone.
Peace \/
What's the keyboard like? I'm thinking of switching from the Blackberry Z10 which has the best keyboard I've ever used and it's a pretty important feature to have a good keyboard for me!
In the settings menu for both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5 what's different about the preferences (toggles) for each desired choice such as sound, GPS, Wi-Fi etc.
I like the intro song. KEEP IT!!!
What are u thinking about the lg g3 I have just saved the money and was going to get the g2 but am now going to wait and see what the g3 looks like in the flesh they r saying it will be in the uk on july 1 so not to long
I wonder how the LED Flash performs in dark conditions compared to the S4 since it's significantly smaller than all the previous devices...
Question: Will you be posting a video about the battery life of the HTC One M8 vs Samsung's Galaxy S5. Also which phone do you prefer if the cameras on the devices were not taken into consideration.
Please and thank you, I love your reviews!
With all the waterproofing things I am wondering if it will run like the s4 active. For some reason I never liked the active I had it and then went back to the normal s4. Do u find that it runs the same way?
I love your in depth reviews. Great job!
My comment is irrelevant to the specs and characteristics blah blah...but it is something that made me think...
All these rounded buttons at the menu and settings remind me of Tizen design. I think Samsung is gradually introducing us to the Tizen feel and environment and I wouldn't be surprised if they moved away from Android with their next models, or if they introduced Tizen models simultaneously with the Android ones.
That's something I don't like, and even though I have a Note 3, if they made a Tizen Note 4 I'm not buying it.
Now, that's maybe me being paranoid but the design of the settings is suspicious.. :)
Erica Griffin Are you downloading from PublicHD Erica? :p
Erica Griffin I know this is old, but I've only had my GS5 for about a month. I got it in a trade. But, I'm still running 4.4.2 Kit Kat and I'm able to move things over from my device storage, to my media card. Was this a software update after the release? Or could it be possible it's just the carrier that won't allow you to do it? My device is Verizon.
What phone do you like better so far the m8 or s5? I'm still iffy on both of them, I guess I'm going to wait for the Note 4 and iPhone 6 to see what else is offered.
Erica. Do you know if I can buy the International Snapdragon Model SM G900F Unlocked in United States in some Samsung Store???
Erica Griffin Samsung has its problems with SD card since gingerbread you can do anything such as move to and from with files on Kit Kat
Please make a video about the differences between the exynos version and the snapdragon one like you did with the s4.
ips>amoled. "displaymate" s5 results or s5 "calibration" won't change that. amoled just can't match ips colors.
its a matter of opinion. I have both, an amoled and an ips device and I really like the stronger colours of the amoled but also like ips quite a lot
sure' it's also taste i agree, but i just can't like unnatural colors and s5 did not change that - even after using the whole different modes like cinema mode - the colors still are fake. no wonder samsung is the only one the jumps to amoled, it's still not grown enough to compete with IPS, i just prefer natural colors and ips is saturated enough for me, i can't possibly ask more saturation from a display like Z2 and M8 have and viewing angles are good enough, i'd like blackier blacks but i this IPS in not distant future will match amoled in blacks but i doubt amoled will match ips in accurate colors. displaymate results won't change s5 unbalanced colors.
This may be a different style question than the hardware of the phone, but do you think it was smart by Samsung to release this on the 4 major carriers AND some large MVNOs (Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile) a few weeks apart? Makes this device more accessible than the S4 was but it also shows that they are confident enough that people will still pay retail for this device depending on who they could have.
Erica, did you notice if the notification light on the S5 isn't as bright as on the S4?
Have you done a review on the Galaxy Note 3.
If yes can you send me the link because im a bit confused weather to go for it or the Xperia Z2.
Thank you.... :)
Hi. I am still confused on whether to get the s4 s5 or the iPhone5. Currently I use a s3. I dont know if to stick to android or move onto Apple. Kindly suggest. Thanks
Hi, I have a request, if I may, can you fill a folder with videos, and enter it like for the first time, where the phone has to bild it´s thumbnails database of each one of them and in the time you enter you scroll down, would any of them S4 or S5 not lag on that situation?
do the htc m7 vs m8! Deciding if it is worth the upgrade...hmmmmm
thanks. great vid as always
Nice vid Erica! What really baffles me is Samsung's very odd insistence on designing their S3,S4,S5 phones with the camera window housing actually protruding from the back cover! What happens when you put the phone down on the flat surface like a table? The phone is actually resting on the glass of the camera...which is really terrible! Glass will easily scratch, chip, etc. Why not make the camera glass housing a bit recessed from the back cover to protect it against accidental bumps or scratches?
Nice first impression on the s5 vs the s4 I enjoy all of your videos :) (y)
Erica Griffin Do you know if it is possible to downgrade a galaxy s5 to 4.2 or 4.3? And if its possible is there any compatible cyanogenmod roms compatible with the s5 yet?
I guess the grayscale mode helps because of the amoled display...?
i'm gonna keep my s4 for sure, i see no reason what so ever to upgrade :/
Ya it's not a big upgrade from teh S4. If you had an S3 or something old, then it's worth it to upgrade.
Nevron Benjamin
read above. there are tons of reasons to upgrade. such as waterproof, much brighter display, much, much, much faster chipset/processor, much better graphics chip, one hand usage, emergency super battery life, ten times better camera with 4k vid, 128gig memory card ability, and many, many more...
Stev We still doesn't get me with all this fancy shit. My s4 can a lot more than i need.. all i use it for is snapchat, calls and spotify
I went for the M8. It's sexier and faster.
Exetic Then why get the s4 at $600 unlocked when all you are a light user, a Nexus 5(like I have) or a moto g to do those things at the same speed and around the same battery life. You could've saved money, and I don't mean to be mean or disagreeing with you, just killing time.
The thing people forget, or don't realize about Android devices, is that even when carriers remove things, the entire essence of what an Android device is, allows a workaround. Just type in "Download booster APK" or "workaround". BAM!
Samsung irritates me.......
i hate what they do and don't ask me why cuz i don't know
but but still great video Erica, I'm here to hearing your opinion only.
and will you ever do z1 compact full review?
Hi Erica Griffin,
I want to ask u if u know Apps for Note3, The first one to download vids from any website and the second office converter even these Apps not free no problem.
Great video. I wonder which device you prefer between the S5 and M8.
Erica, what did you name your Galaxy S5
since u always name ur device
what is the phone that you use every day? just wondering
can u make a comparison video about the s5 and m8? Can u make it in few weeks when u feel u had time to experience the phones after a period of time. I like to hear your point of view about the phones in few weeks
superb non stop explanation .:).keep it up errica
04:06 that noise you made frightened me
Hi Erica. Ok so first of all...your videos are awesome and have really helped me over the last 2 years, so thank you and keep up the good work! Quick question for you. Is it me or does the s5 take worse front facing camera shots than the s4. I've tested this on both mine and my friends against my old s4 and both times the pictures have seemed a little grainy.
I was at the store trying out this phone and I didn't get very far before the phone got stuck and after a while of waiting it informed me that basically all the apps had crashed (one at a time). Is this a common problem or was I just unlucky or had someone purposely tried making it crash?
Love my S5. The battery life is great,screen is gorgeous. When choosing my phones I look for expandable memory,removable battery and great camera. I never have my phone naked (I have always used bumper/case/cover). So the pure aesthetics aren't to important to me (keeping the phone in great condition to retain as much value for me is essential and to keep the phone protected!). All phones have the same form factors the chocolate tab shape. Highly recommend.
I have a question
I heard that it has 13 hours screen on time in airplane mode and full brightness (for watching movies)
is that true?
I'm still using the ancient s3.
Me too but mine is s3 mini
Barron Ong that's worse than ancient
I just bought a second hand S2 LTE, at least it's the updated version...
tech4life0431 you should have bought a nexus 5
Luis Ojeda A nexus 5 doesn't cost $80 however, anyway I already own a Z1
Can you tell me if you're having problems with the finger print reader mine hardly works
Erica Griffin The finger print scanner should have been designed to swipe up not down ... Just my opinion... Or at least given the option.
You should do a review of the new update for the samsung galaxy s4. I have a at&t phone but I use it as straight talk..
Annoyed that the Australian versions of the s5 from carriers did not come with USB 3.0 plug.. That and I would of liked to see the back panel to be designed like the note 3. S4 black edition looks great with this option!
Erica Griffin Where is your Sony Xperia Z2?
I'm in a state of arguing with the voices in my head that if the S5 would be a worthwhile step up from my iPhone 5 on T-Mobile. Despite my main computer being a Mac, I'm curious about the accessibility features of the Galaxy S5 vs. the iPhone in general.
My voice isn't very clear but Siri has been a amazing tool for just about every feature on the device. On the flip side, recently I picked up a Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 as an impulse purchase and am quite happy with it aside from the outdated Android OS version on the Tab 3. The big difference for me was weight. My faithful iPad 2 has and still is a great tablet but also getting a bit heavy and that's where the Tab 3 really saved the day.
My main point being as Siri is a amazingly useful tool for those with limited hand function to operate most all the features of the phone, it's also amazingly accurate in voice dictation as my Tab 3 is and what my soldier of an iPad 2 lacks at the system level.
I thank you for any advice you may have as not only will it help me but also others who have disabilities similar to my stage of ALS. Those with CP, or spinal cord injuries have limited use to tech and must compromise or adapt any existing phone or tablet on the market for everyday use.
My longest used phone was my beloved old school BlackBerry 9700 which was a great no frills smartphone, but also was one of my favorite phones.
Tech moves on and so must we as well where the iPhone at first was impossible for such things until Siri and rather accurate voice dictation was added. The small screen is still an issue at times and that concerns me on how well a modern powerful Android device would work and also avoid the "Apple tax" paying much more for less.
Any phone wars fans, please ignore the last sentence in my last paragraph. As an Apple consumer of Macs, iPads, and various iPhones as well as other hardware. Apple does come at a premium price and it's a well known fact. Sure the build quality is amazing and I love finely crafted devices such as the latest HTC One M8
Design under the hood is also helpful and one actual useful thing for me is the heart rate sensor on the GS5. (Yes I'm 40, but that's beside the point) :-)
Hey Erica i have a problem ik this is not the type of video this is for but the problem i have is that my Sony Xperia P just wont factory reset nor delete apps my music or pictures wont delete but if i install a recent app or update the app or send pictures or take pictures it deletes the update deletes but no the app if i use the phone continuously the apps starts crashing and stuff please if u do know what that problem is please let me know thanks in advance if u see this comment i hope u do to PS i love all your videos they are always good and high in detail =))
Hey Erica, is it worth getting the galaxy or the HTC m8?
S4 I9506 has pretty much the same internal specs as S5, the difference is negligible, it's snapdragon 800 2.3 GHz vs snapdragon 801 2.5 GHz.
Taking that into account, is a fingerprint scanner + waterproofing + camera improvements worth double the price?
The USB flap warning happens every time you unplug the USB, it doesn't detect if it's left open, just warn you when you might have left it open.
Could you review chromecast, and roku stream stick
I think the display alter it's colored gamut and temperature on purpose to match the environment. But maybe it's only in the auto mode.
I was wondering if you can you do some reviews for the Blu phones?
when describing the heart monitor, you made "in your 40's" sound very old.
Very thorough overview as usual. Thanks.
It was an arbitrary number.
Erica Griffin It was a tad silly, Erica, but other than this, am a fan. A very thorough reviewer you are. :)
Erica Griffin My response was lighthearted in nature. i'm fresh out of emoji on my work pc to distinguish that
Where is share shot? If you can find it that would be great!
In the UK there is only one network that offers unlimited data and that is three.
erica griffin can you do the review 4 oppo find 7? its not a device to dismiss
What do you use as your primary phone?
I love my S4! The S5 actually looks to have a lot of cool features. I like the new camera features, the waterproofing, the fingerprint scanner, and the heart rate monitor. It is pretty ugly looking though and I'm pretty sure I would miss the old menu format, and being able to transfer things to my SD card (SD card and removable battery are the main reasons why I choose Samsung). I think my S4 is a beautiful machine. I'm not due for an upgrade very soon, to my knowledge anyway, without breaking a contract so I'll probably just wait for the S6 or maybe the Note 4.
I dont get why nobody talks about the MIMO antenna and the ISOCELL camera...
Its.because their not that impressive the z2 camera's still.better so yeah
Great review Erika! I think I will keep my s4 for now, Samsung failed on giving us a new devices.