The Galaxy S5

[Vegastouch]

Sure you are...You know you can't just quit smartphones cold turkey.

Especially with the LG G3 read to come out in a few weeks.

Your stretch beats my best (or worst, depending on your perspective). From May 2012 until April 2013, I went iPhone 4 > 4S > Galaxy Nexus > iPhone 5 > Nexus 4 > iPhone 5 > Note 2 > iPhone 5 > HTC One (M7). And my tablet addiction isn't much better (iPad 3, Nexus 7 first gen, iPad Mini, Nexus 7 (2013)--twice, LG G Pad GPE, iPad Air, iPad rMini).

Geez, I have a problem...

Wow, just glad i have self control. Or maybe its just i think buying and selling is a hassle because i surely wouldnt keep them all. Two is my limit and ive yet to even do that, lol.

 

[tbayrgs]

Massive problems there, good to know we are not alone, i have stuck with iPads but sold a 3 for a mini 1 didn't like it, got a 4 then a Air. Would like a retina mini

I left my wife and daughter in the car yesterday and went into a electrical store to get some printer ink Came out with the ink and a S5. Tried to sell the phone to her when we got home and i set it up and she bolted with her hands over her ears lol

She doesn't get it

Thankfully mine just doesn't pay close enough attention to what I'm using to keep track and when she does notice, I get the usually roll of the eyes and that's about it. She's not too hard on me as I typically flip devices for pretty close to break even (or even a profit, like the iPhones or Nexus 4). Others get handed down to family members.

Bigger problem for me is espresso and coffee gear--that's far more expensive and only makes coffee.

 

[Robster3]

I'm liking the S5 still, it has some obvious pros and cons compared to the M8. The camera is awesome though, the S5 is much better than the M8 in that aspect, as many have said. I also picked up a few cases today, mainly Spigen and this one:

http://www.amazon.com/URBAN-ARMOR-G...ie=UTF8&qid=1399175566&sr=8-1&keywords=uag+s5

I'm a big fan of rocking the UAG cases so hopefully it gets here Monday.

As much as i like the M8 and i may have to ask for forgiveness here, the for's are out weighing the against in favour of the S5.
S5 will open in iPhoto and Android transfer works. M8 won't.
I do a lot of driving so the screen being good with polarised sunnys is a big for.
Its lighter in the pocket. Yes camera kills M8.
Notification light that keeps blinking.
No case needed. Which will save me $$$$
The screen colour and especially whites in reading are nicer.
Wireless charging will be good. Accessories easily available.

Will give it a good run on the road this week as far as calls and reception goes.


What do you think does the M8 feel faster/smoother when opening closing apps. Maybe a touch for me hard to tell some are some not?

 

[tbayrgs]

Wow, just glad i have self control. Or maybe its just i think buying and selling is a hassle because i surely wouldnt keep them all. Two is my limit and ive yet to even do that, lol.

I hear ya, though I usually only ever have 2 at most and believe it or not, much of the time only one. After I switch, I usually sell the previous phone or as mentioned, occasionally hand a device down to wife or kids. It is admittedly a bit of work but, worth it if it lets me try new devices. Have done better over the past year, only used the HTC One, followed by the iPhone 5S.

And with that I'll end my mini thread hijack and return us to our regularly scheduled programming...

 

[Robster3]

Thankfully mine just doesn't pay close enough attention to what I'm using to keep track and when she does notice, I get the usually roll of the eyes and that's about it. She's not too hard on me as I typically flip devices for pretty close to break even (or even a profit, like the iPhones or Nexus 4). Others get handed down to family members.

Bigger problem for me is espresso and coffee gear--that's far more expensive and only makes coffee.

Yeah i am the same, usually break even, just sold 2 Sonos speakers not being used to pay for the S5.
My devices are used for Business so are deductible and i claim back 10% tax.

 

[Jspring86]

As much as i like the M8 and i may have to ask for forgiveness here, the for's are out weighing the against in favour of the S5.
S5 will open in iPhoto and Android transfer works. M8 won't.
I do a lot of driving so the screen being good with polarised sunnys is a big for.
Its lighter in the pocket. Yes camera kills M8.
Notification light that keeps blinking.
No case needed. Which will save me $$$$
The screen colour and especially whites in reading are nicer.
Wireless charging will be good. Accessories easily available.

Will give it a good run on the road this week as far as calls and reception goes.


What do you think does the M8 feel faster/smoother when opening closing apps. Maybe a touch for me hard to tell some are some not?

You know, I think the M8 is smoother out of the box. But if you play around with the animation settings on the S5 in the Developers Options, turn all that stuff off, this S5 is mad fast, no doubt.

I agree the screen is of a higher visual quality on the S5, but I really like the nice feel of the M8 screen, the HTC screens have always felt very nice to the touch and scroll, the actual glass itself I mean.

I probably wouldn't rock a case on this much since the back is durable, but I think I'll probably take this phone to the gym and pair it with my Gear 2. I'm always rough on my phone when working out so I'll just use my case for that particular use scenario.

This is actually my first time using TouchWiz out of the box and not being super frustrated right away. This version of TW is pretty smooth after I adjusted animations, I almost always install Nova launcher and rock that, which I am using on my Note 3. I'll continue using TouchWiz on the S5 for now so I can compare it to Sense 6. Time will tell what I prefer in the end.

 

[ritholtz]

Don't let all the negative people ruin it for you this is a great phone. I have one and life it! As others here will tell you it is a great phone! Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks man. Do you guys use phone one handed for everything. I am finding it uncomfortable to use with one handed. I need to use index finger from other hand for touch operations to make it comfortable.

I think, chrome strip around the phone and back makes it grip better. I got Spigen simple case. Not only makes it phone more slippery, it also makes more uncomfortable to use phone one handed.

Screen is amazing in bright light. It is bright and looks normal. I used to find a shade to check email on gnex.

 

[Robster3]

You know, I think the M8 is smoother out of the box. But if you play around with the animation settings on the S5 in the Developers Options, turn all that stuff off, this S5 is mad fast, no doubt.

I agree the screen is of a higher visual quality on the S5, but I really like the nice feel of the M8 screen, the HTC screens have always felt very nice to the touch and scroll, the actual glass itself I mean.

I probably wouldn't rock a case on this much since the back is durable, but I think I'll probably take this phone to the gym and pair it with my Gear 2. I'm always rough on my phone when working out so I'll just use my case for that particular use scenario.

This is actually my first time using TouchWiz out of the box and not being super frustrated right away. This version of TW is pretty smooth after I adjusted animations, I almost always install Nova launcher and rock that, which I am using on my Note 3. I'll continue using TouchWiz on the S5 for now so I can compare it to Sense 6. Time will tell what I prefer in the end.

What settings do you use in developer options or do you just turn it off on top?

 

[Technarchy]

Thanks man. Do you guys use phone one handed for everything. I am finding it uncomfortable to use with one handed. I need to use index finger from other hand for touch operations to make it comfortable.

I think, chrome strip around the phone and back makes it grip better. I got Spigen simple case. Not only makes it phone more slippery, it also makes more uncomfortable to use phone one handed.

Screen is amazing in bright light. It is bright and looks normal. I used to find a shade to check email on gnex.

No, I do not use one handed for everything. Only in some instances, and when the need arises, there is a solution that is literally perfect.

And those Spigen cases are not slim in my opinion. Especially not for a phone this big. That's why I went Ringke

 

[Jspring86]

What settings do you use in developer options or do you just turn it off on top?

I turned window animation scale, transition animation scale, and animation duration scale all off in developer options.

 

[Robster3]

I turned window animation scale, transition animation scale, and animation duration scale all off in developer options.

Thanks, fast now

 

[MRU]

Thanks, fast now

Another very helpful tip...


If you launch S-Finder and type in the word 'fickle' ...


... it brings up your contact details




Lol. Enjoy. Glad to see that this may end the silly war between devices. The reality is that both the S5 & M8 are great fast handsets. Both with their ups and downs.

S5
Pros - fast, feature packed (arguably too feature packed for its own good) and a great camera + waterproof. Finger print scanner. Great screen. Battery life is very good.

Cons - Samsung bloat and memory heavy skin. Lack of design consistency throughout the stock apps and GUI. Knox Warranty Void !!!



M8
Pros - very optimised software, even faster (though at this stage were talking micro seconds between devices) boom sound with its clearer fuller crisper audio, good rom/root support without banjaxing your warranty. Great battery life.

The best 4mp camera but....

Cons - that's still only 4mp and the u-focus thing could have been done in software. Metal construction may be a little heavy for some. Not waterproof certified.




So yeah, both are great devices and both devices do good things more than they do things wrong. Most folks would be ok with either device, as for preferences it boils down to where you stand on the things important to you.

I'd personally love a mythical hybrid of the devices where we had

Samsung's water-proof, great screen and 16mp camera technology inside HTC's device design ethos, with sense 6, boom sound and friendly rom community support.

 

[Robster3]

Another very helpful tip...


If you launch S-Finder and type in the word 'fickle' ...


... it brings up your contact details




Lol. Enjoy. Glad to see that this may end the silly war between devices. The reality is that both the S5 & M8 are great fast handsets. Both with their ups and downs.

S5
Pros - fast, feature packed (arguably too feature packed for its own good) and a great camera + waterproof. Finger print scanner. Great screen. Battery life is very good.

Cons - Samsung bloat and memory heavy skin. Lack of design consistency throughout the stock apps and GUI. Knox Warranty Void !!!



M8
Pros - very optimised software, even faster (though at this stage were talking micro seconds between devices) boom sound with its clearer fuller crisper audio, good rom/root support without banjaxing your warranty. Great battery life.

The best 4mp camera but....

Cons - that's still only 4mp and the u-focus thing could have been done in software. Metal construction may be a little heavy for some. Not waterproof certified.




So yeah, both are great devices and both devices do good things more than they do things wrong. Most folks would be ok with either device, as for preferences it boils down to where you stand on the things important to you.

I'd personally love a mythical hybrid of the devices where we had

Samsung's water-proof, great screen and 16mp camera technology inside HTC's device design ethos, with sense 6, boom sound and friendly rom community support.

Very funny.

Where you notice the speed is closing a app, the M8 with the on screen button is instant, the S5 is slower or dare i say lags
S5 screen is much brighter.
The M8 screen is very touch sensitive, always seem to be enlarging pages or just now deleted the weather widget on top.

Its a toss up one of them will go

ps i only got one as i read on the Apple forum Samsung S5 sales are lagging behind!!

 

[MRU]

Very funny.

Where you notice the speed is closing a app, the M8 with the on screen button is instant, the S5 is slower or dare i say lags
S5 screen is much brighter.
The M8 screen is very touch sensitive, always seem to be enlarging pages or just now deleted the weather widget on top.

Its a toss up one of them will go

ps i only got one as i read on the Apple forum Samsung S5 sales are lagging behind!!

The other area you'll notice difference is when launching older apps when multitasking; the S5 will tend to have to refresh / reload data in apps whereas the M8 manages to keep them in memory far longer..... But again the reality is this amounts to a couple of seconds - unless you were doing a side by side thing I doubt most folks will be too bothered - but it is there nether the less.



I just wish Samsung did exactly what HTC did a couple years back and actually take the whole of touchwiz and build it afresh, rather than just give it a little facelift but leave everything under the hood the same. Its like putting boy racer style pimped out bits on a fiat punto. It may look faster and shinier but its still a punto under the gloss... Instead they need to go back to the garage and build us a proper supercar that does their hardware justice.

----------

The next phone I'll likely buy is either a one plus one or wait and see what Apple do with the iPhone 6.

 

[daveathall]

I picked an S5 up on Friday, so far Im very impressed and like it, I will keep it and my Nexus 5 for a month and sell the one I enjoy the least.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Very funny.

Where you notice the speed is closing a app, the M8 with the on screen button is instant, the S5 is slower or dare i say lags
S5 screen is much brighter.
The M8 screen is very touch sensitive, always seem to be enlarging pages or just now deleted the weather widget on top.

Its a toss up one of them will go

ps i only got one as i read on the Apple forum Samsung S5 sales are lagging behind!!

S5 sales are lagging behind?

Maybe in someone's fantasies.

 

[MRU]

S5 sales are lagging behind?

Maybe in someone's fantasies.

He was being sarcastic

 

[AppleRobert]

I just like to sit back, relax and watch all of you guys with your new phones and comment on how good or bad they are

I saw your post somewhere about laying back and not flipping phones as much. While prior smartphones are very usable for me and I essentially do the same things on each carrier and manufacturer, I find a change is needed especially when I use it as much as I do daily.

I can understand folks not needing a change if they do not use it as much as folks here do. It is not boredom that sets in per se but a change is refreshing.

 

[jamezr]

Thanks man. Do you guys use phone one handed for everything. I am finding it uncomfortable to use with one handed. I need to use index finger from other hand for touch operations to make it comfortable.

I think, chrome strip around the phone and back makes it grip better. I got Spigen simple case. Not only makes it phone more slippery, it also makes more uncomfortable to use phone one handed.

Screen is amazing in bright light. It is bright and looks normal. I used to find a shade to check email on gnex.

What funny is I never use any phone one handed. Even the IP5s when I had it. It's just not that east for me to use any phone with one hand.

 

[Dmunjal]

When is the S5 GPE coming out? That would be the ideal phone.

 

[Sensamic]

I think the G3 will be even better than both S5 and M8.

5.5 QHD screen in the same body size as the M8. Plus it's IPS, which I prefer to AMOLED.
Proper on screen buttons (no menu button).
No waterproof (I don't want the USB cover. Plus it makes the phones bigger).
MicroSD.
3000 removable battery.
3GB RAM in the 32GB model.
13Mpx camera with OIS+ and 4K video recording.
Double tap to wake (Knock On).
1 watt or whatever it's named speaker (so in theory louder than S5).

I'm pretty excited.

 

[jamezr]

The S5 has a great connection speeds. It seems to produce faster speeds than my other phones.

 

[MRU]

I think the G3 will be even better than both S5 and M8.

5.5 QHD screen in the same body size as the M8. Plus it's IPS, which I prefer to AMOLED.
Proper on screen buttons (no menu button).
No waterproof (I don't want the USB cover. Plus it makes the phones bigger).
MicroSD.
3000 removable battery.
3GB RAM in the 32GB model.
13Mpx camera with OIS+ and 4K video recording.
Double tap to wake (Knock On).
1 watt or whatever it's named speaker (so in theory louder than S5).

I'm pretty excited.

If it has the horrible LG skin it on - it rules out the phone despite its specs. Those specs as a GPE would be drool worthy though.....

 

[jamezr]

If it has the horrible LG skin it on - it rules out the phone despite its specs. Those specs as a GPE would be drool worthy though.....

I wasn't a fan of the LG skin either. Seemed cartoonish to me. Then button on the back was the deal breaker. Never got used to it.....

 

[MRU]

I wasn't a fan of the LG skin either. Seemed cartoonish to me. Then button on the back was the deal breaker. Never got used to it.....

It reminded me of the episode of The Simpsons where Homer is video editing and putting 'star wipes' on everything. That's like LG's skin - one big OTT star wipe.