Samsung’s much-hyped Galaxy S5 could be launched as soon as February, if a new report from the tech giant’s native Korea is to be believed.
Samsung is looking to unleash the device ahead of the first anniversary of the Galaxy S4, which falls next April. Recent rumours have suggested that slow sales of that handset may have caused Sammy to bring forward plans for its new flagship.
Interestingly, the report serves up some juicy new morsels about the phone. Word is it’ll come in two variants: One a metal-chassis packing effort with a flexible screen; the other a plastic model with a regular display.
Specs-wise, both phones will come loaded with a blisteringly fast octa-core processor, Android 4.4 KitKat, 3GB of RAM and a 5-inch display. The same report claims that Samsung could launch the sequel to its Galaxy Gear smart watch at the same time.
A designer at the site has worked up a concept phone packing the flexible screen technology that’s been earmarked for Samsung phones for what feels like ages. But which has been omitted so far, presumably because it’s not market-ready yet.
The 5.3-inch flexible OLED YOUM screen wraps around the edges of the phone, with touch-sensitive controls where you’d normally expect to find a physical volume rocker. The standard physical home button has gone the way of all flesh too and is replaced by a touch sensor.
Interestingly given the rash of criticism Samsung copped for the Galaxy S3 and S4's 'cheap-feeling' plastic construction, the creator of the concept imagines the S5 packing a lavish unibody aluminium build, which is waterproof and dustproof.
That’s something that’s not totally out of the question in the light of Samsung’s attempt to give the recently launched Note 3 a more premium feel by incorporating a leather back panel. It's also consistent with rumours that metal casings were considered for the S4, before being rejected due to manufacturing issues.
And of course because this is strictly in the realms of fantasy, this handset's spec sheet is wonderfully lavish. Think: 16-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, a 2GHz Exynos 5 OctaCore processor and Android 4.4 Kit Kat out of the box.
Not enough for you? It's also home to quad-surround speakers, wireless charging and a 3,200mAh Li-ion battery that delivers “50% more battery life than the current Galaxy S4”. With smartphones’ disappointing longevity remaining the industry’s dirty little secret, the latter is something that we'd welcome.
For what it's worth, we really like the design. Not least because it deviates from the big-black-slab school of phone design that's all-too dominant right now.
Production of the Galaxy S5 will apparently ramp up at the start of the New Year, with a potential release at or around Mobile World Congress, held in Barcelona next February.
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